Dr.
Shigeru Morichi
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It is a great honor for me to lead the Eastern Asia Society for
Transportation Studies (EASTS) as its new president. I would like to
recognize
the great efforts of the past presidents, Professor Nakamura and
Professor Cal,
in the first 10 years of the Society’s existence and I would exert my
best
efforts for its development.
In 1992, when I was visiting professor at the University of the Philippines
for the establishment of the National Center
for Transportation Studies (NCTS), Professor Nakamura told me before my
departure to establish an Asian society in transportation. I replied
that I
have to work first for the Philippines
and it would be a very big task. At that time, I discussed with
Professor Cal
and established the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines
(TSSP)
and visited Thailand,
Indonesia,
Korea,
Singapore
and discussed with many key persons regarding the establishment of the
society.
They had supported the proposal and thereafter, EASTS was founded in
1994 and
had grown in the past 10 years.
An organization loses its
momentum in expansion and energy after
10 years, and it usually starts to face problems and difficulties.
There is a
need to set new targets and be always reminded that the main principles
of the
Society are to increase and upgrade research activities, improve
transport
systems in the region and promote collaboration of young experts in the
region
beyond university and country. For my
generation, collaboration was successful.
The research output was good and the field of
research had expanded but
I feel that the collaboration is still not enough.
There is still a need for
increased level of research activities
and collaborative research among members from different countries in
the
region. I envision the Society to expand to include more countries in
the Eastern Asia region as well as to
invite
transportation-related industries to support the Society as corporate
members.
Shigeru Morichi
President
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