As a relatively new university, UBU is in the process of establishing itself as an institution involved in and promoting fields of research that are beneficial to the local area, the north-east region, the country and the international community. Categories (adapted from the NISS Directory of Networked Resources) of research include Agricultural Science, Engineering, Health Science, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Further details may be obtained from research@ubu.ac.th
RESEARCH BITS AND PIECES
This section is intended to be a collection of some of the on-going and completed works of academics at UBU to show interested international visitors to the website examples of the university’s research and/or areas of expertise. It is by no means an exhaustive list of UBU research but an indication of some of what is being achieved. Please feel free to contact the researcher if their contact details are displayed.
Research in the Faculty of Engineering
The Faculty of Engineeringat UBU has a strong research profile of studies funded through the university and by external agencies. Some of the topics of research projects financed by the university and their amounts of research funding are:
- bricks for the construction of energy-efficient buildings (703,100 baht)
- use of ultra-sonic in pipe-laying (443,100)
- effects of land use on pumping water (423,400)
- manufacture of particle board from recycled materials (421,600)
- air-conditioning (421,600)
- use of solar energy for baking (411,200)
- water supply to rural communities (388,500)
- waste disposal – composting (326,700)
- energy-saving in the milling of rice (255,500)
More information about these and other projects in the Faculty of Engineering can be obtained by accessing the faculty’s website at www.eng.ubu.ac.th and/or contacting Sdhabhon Bhokal on nyakobo@gmail.com or nyakobo@hotmail.com
Dr Brendan Whyte is a geographer, currently teaching mathematics and statistics in the Faculty of Management Science. His research interests cover cartography, and historical, political and military geography. Brendan’s recent research includes Siamese involvement in World War One, international enclaves in Europe, the use of maps as vexillological blazons, and a worldwide analysis of visa-free travel privileges.
Whyte, B. Whyte, S., (forthcoming, 2008), “The Inscriptions on the First World War Volunteers Memorial, Bangkok”, Journal of the Siam Society.
Whyte, B., (forthcoming, 2008), “Visa-free Travel Privileges: an Exploratory Geographical Analysis”, Tourism Geographies, 10(2).
Whyte, B., (2007), “On Cartographic Vexillology”, Cartographica, 42(3):251-262.
Whyte, B. (2007), “The Role of Siam in World War One”, Strategy and Tactics, 245: 34-36.
Whyte, B. (2007), “Baarle-Hertog’s war: a Clandestine Radio Station in Unoccupied Belgium: 1915-18”, Strategy and Tactics, 241: 31-34.
Whyte, B., (2007), “The Enclave Problem”, The Statesman, Calcutta, Sun 22 & Mon 23 July.
Dr Anun Chaikoolvatana from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is undertaking a 3 month (February to April 2008) position as an ITRC Research Visiting with the Scholar International TB Research Centre in South Korea. The project is involved with the development of therapeutic drug monitoring in second line drugs for MDR-TB management.
Anun can be contacted on kkjc5476@yahoo.com
Dr Michael Hare, in the Faculty of Agriculture, has a long record of work within the
pasture and seed research area. He and his group have been successful in
obtaining funding to the value of 25 million baht from the Thailand
Research Fund for six programs in the dairy production industry.
Since 2003, a workingrelationship has been developed between the UBU
team and Grupo Papalotla, a Mexican seed company, to produce brachiaria
hybrid seed. The decision to produce seed in Thailand was due forage seed
quality, smallholder experience and professionalism, and public sector
involvement inforage seed production.Grupo Papalotla also wanted to
break into the Asian market for forage seed. In addition, there was an
expectationthat seed yields of brachiaria hybrids may be higher in Thailand,
because of intensive agronomic management and hand harvesting of
seed from small fields, than in Brazil and Mexico under extensive
management and machine sweeping of seed from the ground from large
fields.Low seed yields in Brazil and Mexico (less than 200 kg/ha) meant that
the price of brachiaria hybrids seeds was 3-4 times higher than that of
seeds of other commercial Brachiariaspp. in Latin America.
Grupo Papalotla now employs Michael and 7 researchers to produce seed
of several forage species. The seed is produced by local farmers on contract
in Mukdahan, Amnart Chareon, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. The seeds
are processed and packaged at the university and then exported overseas,
mainly to countries in Central America, but also to Vanuatu, Cambodia,
Vietnam, and China.Other markets will develop in the future.
Currently, research is well underway to select new brachiaria hybrids with
high forage production and high seed yields. These promising new forages
are now being processed for Plant Variety Rights.
Recent publications by Michael include:
Hare, M.D. and Wongpichet, K. 2007 (eds) Forages: A Pathway to Prosperity
for Smallholder Farmers. Proceedings of an International Forage
Symposium,Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani University,
Thailand.
Hare, M.D., Tatsapong P. and Saipraset, K. 2007 Seed production of two
brachiaria hybrid cultivars in north-east Thailand. 1. Method and time
of planting. Tropical Grasslands, 41, 26-34.
Hare, M.D., Tatsapong, P. and Saipraset, K. 2007 Seed production of two
brachiaria hybrid cultivars in north-east Thailand. 2. Closing date.
Tropical Grasslands, 41, 35-42.
Hare, M.D., Tatsapong, P. and Saipraset, K. 2007 Seed production of two brachiaria hybrid cultivars in north-east Thailand. 3. Harvesting
method. Tropical Grasslands, 41, 43-49.
Hare, M.D., Tatsapong P., Phengphet, S. and Lunpha, A. 2007 Stylosanthes
species in north-east Thailand: dry matter yields and seed production
Tropical Grasslands, 41, 253-259.
Michael Hare can be contacted at michaelhareubon@hotmail.com