My name is ChulinLikasiri. I am an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, Chiang Mai University. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 9th International Conference on Engineering and Applied Sciences in my hometown of Chiang Mai, Thailand. As your local host, I am excited to kick off this conference and share insights into our local efforts to tackle pressing challenges through engineering innovations.
A little about my background: I received my Ph.D. in System and Control Engineering and my M.S. in Management Science from Case Western Reserve University in the USA. Additionally, I hold a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Mahidol University, Bangkok, and a bachelor’s in Mathematics from Chiang Mai University. My research focuses on nonlinear optimization and operations research, areas that are essential for addressing many of today’s most significant challenges.
Everyone here is well aware of the critical changes occurring globally. Thailand has not been immune to the challenges, and as a long-term resident of Chiang Mai, Ihave witnessed considerable changes in both the environment and the community. One major concern is the severe air pollution caused by the burning of agricultural residues, which significantly contributes to the ongoing PM 2.5 crisis. This pollution poses serious risk to the health and quality of life of countlesslocal residents. Another pressing issue is the rapidly growing elderly population, which puts increasing pressure on our healthcare system to provide effective and efficient care.
This year's theme, "Engineering Innovations for a Sustainable Future," emphasizes the use of engineering as a catalyst for positive change. Locally, this has been a focus of our projects, including one on creating efficient vehicle routing solutions for managing corn residues. Allowing the burning of these farm residues to continue would further exacerbate the air quality issues, so the project seeks to collect and convert them into fuel pallets, offering farmers a supplementary income source while also reducing environmental harm. This project exemplifies how engineering can turn challenges into opportunities.
To address the needs of Thailand’s aging population, I have been working on optimizing home healthcare scheduling. With the increasing number of elderly individuals, it is crucial to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services. Our project aims to minimize total completion time in home healthcare systems through advanced routing and scheduling models. These models are designed to improve the delivery of care, ensuring that elderly patients receive timely and personalized attention. This work supports the development of a more sustainable and responsive healthcare system to better meet the needs of our aging population.
These projects are just two examples of how engineering can find innovative and practical solutions for real-world problems. They are in line with the broader theme of our conference and reflect our commitment to building a sustainable and resilient future.
As we move forward in this conference, I urge you to engage with the sessions and discussions, explore the latest advancements in our field, and connect with fellow researchers and practitioners. Use this opportunity to share your insights and collaborate on new ideas that can drive progress in engineering and applied sciences.
Thank you for joining us. I hope you find this conference both inspiring and productive. I very much look forward to the meaningful discussions and collaborations that will arise from our time together.
