Volume 15 Number 2 - Mahidol University

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InnovationMU NewsMahidol University Develops World First InventionThe ‘Siam Gasohol Kit’(SG-Kit), a compact kit for prompt measuringof ethanol content in gasoline fuels (gasohol), has recently been developed bya group of researchers from Mahidol University and 5 other Thai universitiesforming the ‘Flow Innovation-Research for Science and TechnologyLaboratories’ (FIRST Labs). FIRST Labs is led by Assistant Prof. DuangjaiNacapricha from Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, MahidolUniversity, along with researchers from Srinakharinwirot University, KingMongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Burapha University, KingMongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok and Ubon RajathaneeUniversity. Research grants were received from the Center of Excellence forInnovation in Chemistry, Thailand Research Fund and Bangkok Highlab Co.Ltd. The SG-Kit has won the Mahidol University Award for OutstandingInnovation 2008, and the Prime Minister’s Prize 2008 for OutstandingInnovation.The SG-Kit consists of a colorimetric instrument, accompanyingapparatus and a dispensing bottle of reagent fitted in one convenient three-layer bag. SG-Kit is therefore suitable for on-site analysisfor efficient, laboratory-quality control of gasohol. Ethanol analysis by the SG-Kit is carried out by simply aliquoting 200 mL of thefuel into a reaction vial and placing the vial inside the chamber of the colorimetric instrument. Extraction and reaction will take placeautomatically inside the chamber. A readout of the ethanol content will appear as %(v/v) in 2 minutes. The SG-Kit-provides highprecision (small %RSD) and accuracy (>98%). High resolution allows differentiation of concentration levels of 9.7, 10.0 or 10.3%(v/v) ethanol in gasohol.Siam Gasohol Kit (SG-Kit) comes in a three-layerbag with compartments for meter, apparatus, reagentand manual.Ethanol is an octane booster for gasohol, which is a mixture of gasoline and ethanol. Ethanol is added to gasoline tosubstitute for fossil fuel. After production, the ethanol level may drop due to moisture contamination in fuel tanks or evaporation,thus the quality of the fuel must be monitored. Ethanol content is one of the parameters that must be monitored since ethanolcontent determines the octane number of the fuel.Presently, the SG-Kit is a Mahidol University commercialized product. For more information, please contact Asst. Prof.Duangjai Nacapricha at scdnc@mahidol.ac.th or dnacapricha@gmail.com, or visit www.firstlab-mahidol.com.Protecting Our Climate; Improving Our Health:An International Conference on the PublicHealth Implication of Climate ChangeDr. Maureen Birmingham,WHO Representative toThailand, gave Keynotespeech.A climate change wasorganized by the Faculty of PublicHealth, Mahidol University withsupport of the WHO SEARO,New Delhi and WHO ThailandCountry Office. The three-dayconference took place onAugust 20-22 with openingceremony presided over byH.R.H. Princess SomsaowaleePra Vora Raja Tinudamas.Over two hundredparticipants from 19 countries attended the conference whichserved to raise awareness of the health consequences of climatechange, promote the need for inter-sectoral collaboration, andact as a forum for discussion of strategies to mitigate the healthimpacts of climate change.International Workshop on ‘UniversityCooperation on UMAP Joint Study Program andResearch – Net’To promote wider cooperation for university mobilityin the Asia – Pacific region and beyond, Mahidol University incooperation with UMAP IS and the Commission on HigherEducation, Thailand, will co-organize the ‘InternationalWorkshop on UMAP Joint Study Program and Research-Net’on 11-13 October. The workshop aims to enhance cooperationamong UMAP participating universities, and provide a platformfor UMAP Academic and Research Mobility Forum meetingto share the interests on developing UMAP Joint Study Programand UMAP Research-Net, for increasing mobility ofuniversity students and staff in the Asia – Pacific region. TheOpening Address will be given by Dr. Sumate Yamnoon,UMAP Secretary General, on ‘UMAP Policy and ProjectSupport’. For more details, please visit http://www.umap.org/downloads/WkSpJointStudyProgram-ResearchNet-Oct2008.doc .10SPECTRUMMAHIDOL UNIVERSITY
Upcoming Conferences/Training/WorkshopJoint International Tropical MedicineMeeting 2008 on 13-14 October, 2008The annual Joint International Tropical MedicineMeeting is a highlight in the calendar of tropical medicinespecialists all around the world. The Joint International TropicalMedicine Meeting 2008 will be co-organized by the Facultyof Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, collaborating withParasitology and Tropical Medicine Association of Thailand,TROPMED Alumni Association, and SEAMEO TROPMEDNetwork on13-14 October. The theme of the two-day Meetingis ‘Tropical Medicine in the – omics Era’ and there are a varietyof symposia on topics including Avian Influenza; Cancer &Treatments; Dengue; Health Informatics; HIV/AIDS and OI;Leptospirosis and Rickettsiosis; Malaria; Melioidosis;Molecular Basis of Cholangiocarcinoma and OV; ParasiticInfections; Travel Medicine; Tuberculosis; Vaccines; Vectorsand Medical Entomology and Other Tropical Diseases. TheMeeting provides all those interested in tropical medicine witha not-to-be-missed opportunity to share the latest developmentsin research and treatment for tropical diseases, renew oldfriendships and collaborations, form new ones, and generateexciting new ideas for scientific and medical research.Participants who wish to present the results of their researchare invited to submit an abstract according to the guidelines.Accepted papers will be presented in either oral or postersession, as recommended by the Scientific Committee.Interested participants can register online or find more detailsof this Meeting at www.jitmm.com.‘International DNA Symposium 2008:Towards International Quality’The Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital,Mahidol University, will honorably host the first internationalforensic DNA symposium in Thailand, namely ‘InternationalDNA Symposium 2008: Towards the International Quality’on 9-11 November, 2008, at Pullman Hotels and Resorts,Bangkok. This is the third international forensic DNAsymposium in Southeast Asia. It is a continuous academicactivity involving forensic DNA issues which is open toeveryone interested in this field from all countries. Theobjective of the symposium is to continue the tradition ofkeeping up with forensic DNA technology and maintainpartnerships through international contacts and a variety ofacademic activities. Participants will have opportunities to meetand discuss topics relating to forensic DNA with expertsfrom many outstanding organizations, such as Dr. BruceBudowle, a senior scientist from the FBI in the US.Interested persons and students are cordially invited toattend the symposium. To register and find more details,please visit www.dnathailand2008.com.May - August 2008International Training Course onEnvironmental Health Impact AssessmentThe Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University,in cooperation with WHO Collaborating Center forEnvironmental Management for Disease Vector Control inSustainable Development will co-organize an InternationalTraining Course on Environmental Health Impact Assessmenton10-25 November. This training course aims to developprofessionals not only equipped with knowledge and skillsneeded to conduct a thorough environmental health impactassessment but also professionals imbued with a holistic viewof health and health development and advocates ofenvironmental health and healthy public policies. The coursewill be guided by adult learning principles and will thereforeutilize teaching and learning strategies that will maximizeparticipants’ prior knowledge and experience. This would meanusing a problem-learning approach in knowledge and skillsdevelopment. The course contents consist of six modulesincluding Foundations of EHIA; EHIA Process; ManagingEHIA and Ensuring Quality of Process; Monitoring Long termEffects of Development Projects; Communication andAdvocacy; and Field Exposure to a Development Project.For further information, please visit http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/ehia2008/ehia_index.htm.International Conference on Buddhism inthe Age of ConsumerismThe College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University,will organize an International Conference on Buddhism in theAge of Consumerism on 1-3 December. The conference isheld to honor H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej who lives andpromotes the philosophy of “sufficiency economy” to guideThai people to live in moderation and to help the poor earnenough income to keep them happy while preventing themfrom being swept away by the strong current of consumerism.Participants may see how Thai Buddhists manage to copewith the increasing influence of consumerism on their-lives andsociety. The conference will also be useful for Buddhiststhemselves in their struggle to grapple with this reality whileremaining faithful to the teachings. The conference programwill begin each day with lectures by invited speakers and willlater break up into discussion groups to take up the issuespresented in the lectures. Participants will have the opportunityto join in discussions and a later plenary session. 200participants including monks and academics, both Thai andforeign, are expected to join in this conference. For furtherinformation, please visit http://www.crs.mahidol.ac.th/eng/index.htm.SPECTRUM 11
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Page 3 and 4: FeaturesRoyal Jubilee BuildingOn 7
Page 5 and 6: MU NewsNew Administrators Appointed
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Page 9: Awards/HonorsMahidol Receives QS-AP

Volume 15 Number 2 - Mahidol University

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