Published on Dec 9, 2009
The Launching Event and the award ceremony for the second small grants competition was held on Dec 8 2009, at Rama Gardens Hotel in Bangkok. During the program AIT Vice President for Research Prof Sudip K Rakshit, Senior Program Specialist IDRC Regional Office for Southeast and East Asia Dr Ellie Osir, Associate Professors of AIT Dr Edsel Sajor and Dr Bernadette Resurreccion were present. Five advisory committee members and seven international grant awardees were also present during the award ceremony.
Ms Cecilia Oh, Affiliated to Duke University (Research Area based on Thailand)
Research Topic: Intellectual Property Pooling and Open Source Innovation: Promoting Alternative Innovation Systems for Public Health

Dr Qiaoqiao Zhang of CABI Southeast and East Asia, China
Research Topic: Benefits and Risks of Genetically Modified Crops – the impact on the rural poor in China
Mr Marlon Sepe of Mindanao Center for Research and Development Cooperative (MCRDC), Philippines
Research Topic: Impact of Biosand Filter on Access to Safe Drinking Water in the Rural Communities of the Philippines
Mr Daneil Powell
of Fair Earth Consulting Co., Thailand
Research Topic: Mapping the Transmission of Knowledge in Natural Farming Innovations in Chiang Mai Province
Dr Wei Geng of Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, China
Research Topic: Bio-Innovation for Edible Mushroom Cultivation and Trade for Poverty Alleviation


Dr Simon Shackley & Ms Sarah Carter of University of Edinburgh (Research Area based on Cambodia and India)
Research Topic: Participative Distributed Innovation Processes and Biochar: Carbon Reduction, Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Management

Ms Geeta Bhatrai Bastakoti of Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development-Nepal, Nepal
Research Topic: Small scale aquaculture initiative in Nepal: Understanding gender implications and sustainability of innovative approach