By AIT Public Affairs
28 August 2025 – Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand – The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) paid tribute to the late Dr. Za-Chieh Moh, honoring his nearly six decades of exceptional service and pioneering contributions to engineering and education with his formal induction into the AIT Hall of Fame.
The ceremony, held at the AIT Conference Center, was attended by members of the AIT Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee, faculty, staff, students, as well as members of Dr. Moh’s family and professional community. The program featured a citation delivered by AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li, the conferment of the honor by AIT Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Anat Arbhabhirama, and the unveiling of Dr. Moh’s Hall of Fame board.
In his tribute, President Li reflected on Dr. Moh’s pioneering role at AIT since 1965, when he was entrusted with establishing the Geotechnical Engineering Division. Over the course of his distinguished career at the Institute, Dr. Moh served as Founding Head of the Division, Vice President, Provost, and Acting President (1975). He was instrumental in AIT’s transformation into an independent institute in 1967 and envisioned its rise as the “MIT of Asia.”
Beyond AIT, Dr. Moh’s influence was profound. He founded the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS), co-founded the Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia (REAAA), and advanced global geotechnical research by establishing Bangkok Clay as an international benchmark. Later, he founded Moh and Associates, Inc., which grew to become one of Asia’s leading engineering consultancies.
Dr. Moh’s association with AIT extended well beyond his academic leadership. He served as Vice Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees (2016–2023), advised three Presidential Search Committees, and was conferred an Honorary Doctorate in 1999.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Alexander Moh expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and reaffirmed the family’s continued commitment to AIT. He also announced an in-kind contribution for AIT’s Geotechnical and Earth Resources Engineering (GTE) laboratory. Mr. Richard Moh, joining online, highlighted ongoing collaborations with AIT, including internship and recruitment initiatives, while recalling his father’s guiding philosophy of being “EPIC”: (E: Effective, Efficient, Excellent, Ethical, Enterprising; P: Proper, Productive, Punctual, Perfect, Persistent; I: Imagination, Involvement, Information, Impact; and C: Current, Compatible, Clear, Concise) in both professional and personal life.
Also present at the ceremony were Angela Moh, Max Moh, Athena Shang, Greg Chiu, and Wichien Wilaingam, who, together with colleagues and students, celebrated Dr. Moh’s enduring legacy.
Dr. Moh’s induction into the AIT Hall of Fame stands as a permanent tribute to his visionary leadership, academic excellence, and lifelong dedication to advancing engineering education and practice across Asia and beyond.
