NU NEWSLETTER Volume 7 October 2015 - March 2016

Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mary Elizabeth Sarawit

Dr. Suchart Muangkeow

Executive Editor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manupat Lohitnavy

Editorial Department Mrs. Sirimas Senaruk

Miss Phanngam Laksuchon

Mrs. Suthinee Punketnakhon

Mr. Witoon Thanuthong

Miss Kietnaree Tacheephan

Mr. Thiti Singkong

Art Editor Mrs. Supaleka Phanpanya

Mr. Naret Iam-in

Miss Yodwadee Saisueb

Prepared by PublicRelationsOffice,

DivisionofCentralAdministration,

NaresuanUniversity,

Phitsanulok,65000,Thailand

Telephone +6655961118

Fax +6655961005

Email naresuan_pr@nu.ac.th

Website www.nu.ac.th

University Ranking 1Announcement of the Awarding ofanHonoraryDegreebyNaresuanUniversity2015 2Announcement of the Awarding of an HonoraryDegree at the Naresuan University Commencement Ceremonyonthe20thofDecember2015 3NU’s25th Anniversary: Introducing Thai Textilesinto the ASEAN Market 4NU Power Station Debut 6NUStudent1stinThailandtoUseDNAtoIdentifytheGenderofPhoenixDactyliferaL.(Maejo36) 7- Silk Journey to Art A World Art Exhibition- Short Film Award from UNFPA Thailand- Awards for International Innovation Achievements from Taiwan- NU Holds International Conference to Present the Research of Gender Equity to Move Forward to Resolutions- NU Opens an International Conference Stage to Learn and Share about Stem Cells for Treating Severe Diseases- NU Holds International Conference on Alternative Energy to Exchange Academic Ideas and Experience between Leading Countries 8

Dear Colleagues:

In 2016, Naresuan University addresses 3 of its key strategies to transform the young campus into a research

university. Those include, 1) research, 2) internationalization and 3) green and clean university. In this issue, some

activities reflect our strong determination to achieve such goals and the strategies. For example, a group of our

university administrators embarked on a journey to tighten the relationship with TZU-CHI University, one of our

Taiwanese partners. In the same auspicious occasion, an honorary PhD degree from our university was humbly

conferred on Dhama Master Cheng Yen in recognition of her life time to humanity both in Taiwan and elsewhere in

the world. Naresuan University is now on its course to achieve its goal. It was ranked #3 in Thailand and among the

top-300 Asian universities by the Nature Index and QS World Ranking, respectively. These indicators have proven

in many ways that Naresuan University is now on the right track towards a world class university. However, it will

not stop until the ultimate goal is achieved.

Yours faithfully,

Manupat Lohitnavy,

Vice President for International Affairs, Naresuan University

Table of Contents

editor’s letter

NU NEWSLETTER | 1

UniversityRanking

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NU

2 | NU NEWSLETTER

Announcement of the Awarding ofan Honorary Degree by Naresuan University 2015

Naresuan University is pleased to announce the awarding of an Honorary Doctorate in Social Development to

VenerableDharmaMasterChengYen,founderofTzuChi,inrecognitionofhergreathumanitarianefforttorelievethe

physical and mental suffering of ordinary people through true compassion.

Startingin1966,VenerableDharmaMasterChengYenandherfivedisciplesbeganthecharitybysewingbaby

shoestoraisemoneyforthepooratasmalltempleineasternTaiwan.Today,theTzuChiFoundationhasbranchesin47

othercountrieswithover10milliondonors.Itisthelargestnon-governmentalorganizationintheChineseworld.

VenerableDharmaMasterChengYenwasbornin1937inasmalltowninTaiwan.Whenshewasyoung,shewent

to live with her childless aunt and uncle. She later witnessed the hardships and cruelty of WWII in Taiwan. At the age of

12,hermotherbecameveryillbutlaterrecovered;then,attheageof21,herfathersuddenlybecameillanddied.She

sought the meaning of life and found that meaning through the teachings of Buddha. She left home and her small family

tocareforhumanity.In1962attheageof25,shebeganherlifeasaBuddhistmonastic.TheVenerableMasterYinShun

gavehertheDharmaname,ChengYen.

Venerable Dharma Master Cheng Yen started Tzu Chi based on the Mission of Charity to help the poor and relieve

theirsuffering,butitsmandatequicklyexpandedtoencompasstheMissionofMedicinewiththeTzuChiFreeClinicfor

thePoorin1972andtheTzuChiGeneralHospitalin1986.TheMissionofEducationwasfulfilledwiththeestablishment

oftheTzuChiNursingCollege,openedin1989toproduceoutstandingandcompassionatemedicalprofessionals.The

fourthmissionistheMissionofHumanisticCulture“topurifythehumanmind,topacifyoursociety,tohelpthosewho

suffer,andtorectifyfrenziedandchaoticacts.”

In recognition of her lifelong commitment to serve humanity by actualizing kindness and compassion to bring

“innerpeaceandhappinesstotheindividual,”NaresuanUniversityishonoredtoawardVenerableDharmaMasterCheng

Yen an Honorary Doctorate in Social Development.

NU NEWSLETTER | 3

Announcement of the Awarding of an Honorary Degree at the Naresuan University Commencement Ceremony on the 20th of December 2015

Naresuan University is pleased to announce the awarding of an Honorary

Doctorate in Science to Professor Dr. Anthony Gerard O’Donnell in recognition of his

longandcontinuingcollaborationwithNaresuanUniversity,especiallyinthefield

ofenvironmentalinteraction,suchasagriculturalsoilsandcontaminatedsoil.

Naresuan University is pleased to announce the awarding of an Honorary

Doctorate in Medicine to Professor Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit in recognition of his

remarkable dedication in medical breakthroughs and engagement in public health

community service activities.

Naresuan University is pleased to announce the awarding of an Honorary

Doctorate in Engineering to Prof. Dr. Prida Wibulswas in recognition of his lifetime

contribution to research and innovation in engineering.

Naresuan University is pleased to announce the awarding of an Honorary Doctorate

inPoliticalSciencetoH.E.LutfiRauf,theIndonesianambassadortotheKingdomofThailand,

in recognition of his strong commitment to the relations between the Republic of Indonesia

andtheKingdomofThailand,especiallyforsupportingthecollaborativeprogramsbetween

Indonesian universities and Naresuan University.

Naresuan University is pleased to announce the awarding of an

Honorary Doctorate in Engineering to Professor Dr. Morinobu Endo in

recognition of his innovative work on carbon nanotubes and his

collaboration with Naresuan University.

4 | NU NEWSLETTER

Thai ladies both in the past and the present

often wear silk clothes in ceremonies. Mudmee silk is one

of the most famous kinds of silk for dressmaking due to

itsbeautifulappearance.Nowadays,Mudmeeiswidely

producedbecauseitisgoodwithbothcottonandsilk,

but especially silk. The methods of designing have been

passed on from generation to generation.

Aspartofthe25th Anniversary celebrations of

NaresuanUniversity,theUniversityheldtheexhibition

“Abhorn3:TheMagicalSpellofASEANTextiles”fromthe

20th–22ndofNovember,2015,topresentthebeautyofsilk

woven into clothes. The event included a show of the

clothes,incorporatingthedesignsofDr.DanaiReabsakul,a

lecturer in the Department of Art and Design in the Faculty

ofArchitectureatNaresuanUniversity(NU).

Dr.Danaihascreatedadesigncalled“SalaoFlower”;

theSalaoFlowerorLagerstroemialoudoniiistheflower

emblem representing Naresuan University. The design

alsoincludesthenumber25whichreferstotheUniversity’s

25years.Thedesignisalsoincorporatedintoaccessories,

referring to the beauty of Thai ladies. Mrs. Bociang

Khieokrabuang,theweaverof“SalaoFlower”clothes,

statedthattheSalaoflowerhasaspecialbeautyofits

own.Therefore,itisnecessarytobepainstakingwhen

creatingtheflowerdesign.Dr.Danaistatedthatthe

clothes were shown in the exhibition to present remarkable

modernThaiclothes,especiallytheexhibitionshowing

silk and Mudmee silk as the main materials in dressmak-

ing. There was also the presentation of ASEAN ladies’

clothes and the textiles designed by NU.

NU’s 25th Anniversary Introducing Thai Textilesinto the ASEAN Market

NU NEWSLETTER | 5

Dr. Danai also said that nowadays this kind of

dressmaking is rarely seen by the general public but is

beautiful and appropriate for ceremonies. Mudmee silk is

a high quality kind of silk which ladies like to wear on any

important occasion due to its luxurious texture and high

price. The textile trade in ASEAN is showing an upturn

ininterestintheproductionofthiskindofsilk,andthe

many designs are being created in order to respond to

the customers’ demand. This event was a cooperation

amongthe10countriesofASEAN,whichareBrunei,

Cambodia,Indonesia,Laos,Malaysia,Myanmar,Philippines,

Singapore,VietnamandThailand.Therewasanexhibition

of rare women’s costumes from ASEAN countries by Mr.

PaothongThongchua,atextileexpert.Thisexhibition

featuredafashionshowledbyCindySirinyaWinsiri,Miss

ThailandWorld1996;MeyaNontawanThongleng,Miss

ThailandWorld2014;PloyWarangkanaWuttayakorn,Miss

TourismThailand2014,andMissInternationalTourism

QueenoftheYear2014/2015atLifestyleHall,2ndFloor,

SiamParagon,Bangkok.

6 | NU NEWSLETTER

NU Power Station Debut Prof.Dr.SujinJinahyon,presidentofNaresuan

University,statedthaton1stDecember2015,thePower

StationattheSchoolofRenewableEnergyTechnology,

debuted the Power Station under the project “Smart

CampusPower.”Thisstationisthemodelforgovernmental

organizations where electric energy from solar power is

produced for use in the organization. The objectives are

to bring the station to net positive production and for the

organization to be a zero carbon dioxide emitter from

energy utilization activities. There is also the intention to

have energy management which reduces the expense of

energy and to meet peak demand. This would reduce

electricity utilization of Naresuan University by more than

66,000kWh/monthor792,000kWh/yearequallinga

savingsof3,168,000bahtperyear.ThisPowerStation

supportsmanyresearchesfromstudents,researchers,

and scholars from Thailand and other ASEAN countries.

Atpresent,theSchoolofRenewableEnergyTechnology,

NaresuanUniversity,hasproducedmorethan300grad-

uatesandisstillservingmorethan70currentstudents.

Those students can apply electricity production technolo-

gies with indoor-energy management in their studies. The

School of Renewable Energy Technology also encouvages

studentsinotherfieldsofstudyorinstitutestoapplythe

system to research and study.

NU NEWSLETTER | 7

NU Student 1st in Thailand to Use DNA to Identify the Genderof Phoenix Dactylifera L. (Maejo 36)

years after planting. The purpose of this research was to

findawaytoidentifythegenderinyoungplants,byusing

theDNAidentificationtechnique.Theresultsofthestudy

showedthatbyusing18kindsofprimerandPH02F-PH03R

primeraPCR-productofthesizeof320basepairsisonly

createdinmalePhoenixdactyliferaL,allowingtheidentification

ofthePhoenixdactyliferaL.(Maejo36)gender.So,Mr.

Nopparatdevelopedthisgenderidentificationmethodby

usingPH01primerasthecontrollerofPCRreactionby

giving430basepairs,bothmaleandfemale.Thiscould

identify the gender of Phoenix dactylifera L. in young

plants,shorteningthetimeperiodandreduceingthe

expense of planting Phoenix dactylifera L. and not knowing

its gender.

Mr.NopparatIntha,adoctoraldegreestudentin

theFacultyofAgriculture,NaturalResourcesand

EnvironmentatNaresuanUniversity,initiatedthefirst

studyinThailandonthetissuecultureandidentification

ofPhoenixDactyliferaL.(Maejo36)byusingDNAidentities.

This study was advised by Assist. Prof. Dr. Peerasak Chaiprasart

oftheFacultyofAgriculture,NaturalResourcesand

Environment. The research was supported by the Project

of Research and Researcher Development for Industry

and Thailand Research Fund.

Mr. Nopparat Intha said that Phoenix dactylifera

L. is one of the important economic fruits and is widely

plantedinthecountry.However,thereisaproblemwith

theidentificationofthegenderofPhoenixdactyliferaL.

whichcanonlybeidentifiedinthebloomingperiod5-8

8 | NU NEWSLETTER

Silk Journey to Art A World Art Exhibition

Short Film Award from UNFPA Thailand

Awards for International Innovation Achievements from Taiwan

Assoc. Prof Jirawat Phirasant from the Depart-

mentofArtandDesignintheFacultyofArchitecture,

NaresuanUniversity,togetherwithtwoartists,Mr.Wat-

tanachotTungatejaandMr.NukoonPanyadee,were

the representatives of Thailand joining “Silk Journey to

Art”attheChinaMillenniumMonumentalArtMuse-

um”inBeijing,China.Artworksfromartistsfrommore

than50countrieswereincludedintheexposition.

Assoc.Prof.Dr.PaisarnMuneesawang,alecturer

fromtheFacultyofEngineering,andAssist.Prof.Dr.

SuwannaTawonrungrojn,alecturerfromtheFacultyof

AlliedHealthScience,NaresuanUniversty,wonthe

Gold Coin and the Award for International Innovation

Achievements for their work “The program for screening

thevalvularheartdiseases.”Therewere980entrant

worksfrom13countriesrepresentedinthecompetition,

whichwasthe11th2015TaipeiInternationalInvention

Show&Technomart,heldintheTaipeiWorldTrade

Center,Taipei,Taiwan.

Students from the Department of Mass

Communications won the Short Film Competition under

theproject“2015UNFPAFAIRSHORTFILMCOMPETITION.”

The theme of the competition was “Love Selection

andSafetyAwareness”organizedbytheUnitedNations

PopulationFund(UNFPAThailand).Thetitleoftheshort

filmbytheNUstudents,teamnamedSakaqua,was

“HowCouldWeGetThisFar?”Theteamconsisted

ofMissWaruneeInthiya,Mr.KahatthaKaewpongpok,

Mr.SakchaiChaisakul,andMr.AnupongTungthanatsap,

all4th year students from the Department of Mass Communications. The team was advised by Mr. Teerut Satitkul and Dr.

OrawanSirisawatAphochiakul,lecturersfromtheDepartmentofMassCommunications.ThecompetitionwasheldatTK

Park,CentralWorld,Bangkok.

NU NEWSLETTER | 9

NU Holds International Conference to Present the Research of Gender Equity to Move Forward to Resolutions

NU Opens an International Conference Stage to Learn and Share about Stem Cells for Treating Severe Diseases

NU Holds International Conference on Alternative Energy to Exchange Academic Ideas and Experience between Leading Countries

On30thNovember2015,Prof.Dr.SujinJinahyon,

presidentofNaresuanUniversity,wasthechairmanof

the opening ceremony of the International Conference

on “World Social Development: Gender Equity & Cross

Culture.”Thepurposeoftheconferencewastopresent

recent research on gender equity and cross cultural

aspects. Special speeches on gender equity were

presented by leading experts Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rachel

HarrisonandDr.BenMurtagh,UniversityofLondon.

TheeventwasheldatEkatodsarodBuilding,Naresuan

University.

On30thNovember2015,Prof.Dr.SujinJinahyon,

presidentofNaresuanUniversity,wasthechairmanof

the opening ceremony of the International Conference

on“StemCell:Development&Management.”This

conference was the collaboration between Naresuan

UniversityandtheAssociationofCellTherapy,Thailand.

The objective of this conference was to create a stage

tolearnandshareexpertiseandknowledgeofexperts,

andresearchers,andaboutscholarships.Theevent

also included a special speech by the famous expert

Prof.Dr.SheilaMcniel,UniversityofSheffield,UK,andothers.TheeventwasheldatNaresuanUniversityHospital,Naresuan

University.

On30thNovember2015,Prof.Dr.SujinJinahyon,

presidentofNaresuanUniversity,wasthechairmanof

the opening ceremony of the International Conference

on“Energy:WorldFutureAlternative.”Thepurposeof

the conference was to create the stage for exchanging

and transferring academic knowledge and experience

from renewable energy experts from many leading

countries. The event was held at School of Renewable

EnergyTechnology,NaresuanUniversity.