29 November 2024 – The Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM) program at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) celebrated its 60th anniversary on November 29, 2024. EEM is recognized for its contributions to global environmental solutions and has consistently developed outstanding professionals who make significant impacts worldwide.
The event brought together a vibrant community of alumni, students, and faculty who shared stories of resilience, innovation, and collaboration. A day filled with heartfelt moments and insightful dialogues that reaffirmed EEM’s enduring legacy in addressing the world’s pressing environmental challenges.
The morning session held at the EEM department was a nostalgic journey down memory lane. Alumni and students revisited the cherished moments that shaped their academic and professional journeys. At the afternoon session, where notable alumni and faculty shared inspiring moments from their journeys. Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President of AIT, welcomed the attendees, followed by remarks from Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, and Dr. Monthip Sriratana, Senior Advisor to the National Research Council of Thailand and a distinguished EEM alumna.
The highlight was a keynote panel featuring eminent alumni: Dr. Bindu Lohani, Member of the AIT Board of Trustees and former Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank; Prof. Shabbir H. Gheewala, Professor at the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi and Mr Srinivasa Popuri, Chief of the UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
These distinguished panelists shared heartfelt stories of their time at AIT, emphasizing the program’s influence on their personal and professional lives. From academic hurdles to lifelong friendships, their reflections illuminated EEM’s role as a beacon of excellence and community.
The evening session facilitated lively discussions among alumni from diverse sectors—government, academia, and industry. They shared how the EEM program shaped their careers, the opportunities it opened, and strategies for leveraging EEM’s foundation in professional endeavors. A closing address by Dr. Wenchao Xue, Associate Professor at EEM, emphasized efforts to enhance the curriculum and foster deeper connections within the EEM community. As the evening concluded, Prof. Sangam Shrestha and Dr. Ekbordin Winijkul, Associate Professor and Head of the WREE Department shared words of gratitude and optimism for the future of EEM.
The gathering was a celebration of the relationships, knowledge, and experiences that form the foundation of EEM’s legacy. It highlighted EEM’s remarkable history and served as an inspiration for current students, alumni, and those embarking on new journeys. It strengthened connections within the EEM community and reaffirmed its impact, which resonates globally.
About EEM
The Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM) Program is currently under the School of Engineering and Technology, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering. Over the last six decades, the program has been developing solutions to environmental problems in the two focal areas of Environmental Technology and Management (ETM) and Water and Wastewater Engineering (WWE). The EEM Alumni have been making significant contributions globally in addressing critical environmental challenges. They have advanced innovations in areas such as water security, sustainable wastewater management, integrated air quality control, and solid waste and plastic abatement. Their expertise also extends to hazardous waste management, circular and bio-based economies, sustainable sanitation systems, and cutting-edge technologies like membrane systems, ensuring environmental quality and climate co-benefits while promoting decentralized pollution controls.
