Being an institute of higher learning, and the first international university in Thailand, Assumption University has a definite policy to provide quality instruction to the students, both undergraduates and graduates, and both Thai and foreign nationals. An equally important function of the University is to conduct research in all fields.
Assumption University is one of the leading universities in the field of science and technology. During the past year, several of our faculty members participated in various international meetings held in Thailand and abroad; many have also presented their papers at these meetings. The Management of Assumption University is proud of their performance and achievements.
In order to keep record of their endeavors as well as to encourage other faculty members to make similar contributions, all abstracts of scientific papers presented at the international scientific meetings during this one-year period from June 2001 to June 2002 have been compiled and published for distribution to interested individuals and institutions. The present publication is the fourth issue of the series of the AU Abstracts; the first one, 'AU Abstracts - 1999' was published in September 1999, covering the presentation period from May 1998 to June 1999. The second one, 'AU Abstracts - 2000' was published in July 2000, covering the presentation period from July 1999 to June 2000. The third one, 'AU Abstracts - 2001' was published in July 2001, covering the presentation period from July 2000 to June 2001.
Due to financial crisis which is still prevailing in Thailand as well as at Assumption University, many faculty members from certain faculties, who could not find financial support for their travel, could not present their papers in the international meetings held abroad during the past academic year. Except for one international conference held in Thailand in which a faculty member of the Faculty of Nursing Science could attend, there was no such international meeting for the faculty members of other faculties to present their papers. As a result, no paper from the faculty members of the School of Architecture and the Faculty of Biotechnology is published in the AU Abstracts - 2003. It is hoped that the situation will be improved in the academic year 2003 - 4, and that the faculty members of all science and technology faculties will be able to present their papers in the international meetings held abroad as well as in Thailand.
It is hoped that this small publication will be of some benefit to our readers and that it will serve the dual function of giving information as well as encouragement to all the faculty members of the science and technology faculties. It is our determination to continue this particular series of publication every year.
On behalf of Assumption University, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Narong Chomchalow, Editor of AU Journal of Technology, for his initiative, as well as the hard work involved in compiling, editing, and preparing the manuscripts of the AU Abstracts - 2003. I also wish to thank Dr. Gigante MacBaines, Assistant Editor of AU Journal of Technology, who assisted in editing the manuscripts of this publication.
Dr. Bancha Saenghiran, FSG
President, Assumption University