Keep tuned to this page and the monthly DUAL mailings for updates.

Many thanks to the efforts of Saurabh Tiwari (IIT alumnus) for establishing this weblog, and also Abinash Kumar Tiwari (IIT alumnus) and Woo Kang Wei (Cornell alumnus).

Any enquiries on DUAL DS email Li Lin Goh, DUAL DS Chairperson at lilingoh@ksg.harvard.edu or Hau Yee Ng, DUAL President at HauYee.Ng@alum.mit.edu

The initial response by Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers in the vital first few days of the crisis in evacuating survivors and providing emergency relief materials is being bolstered by an international operation which will assist over two million people in the most vulnerable communities affected by the crisis over the next six months.

In Indonesia, where some 80,000 lives have been lost, the focus remains on providing shelter and health care. An International Federation field assessment team is in the country to assess the most urgent needs faced by the country, and how best to support the efforts of the Indonesian Red Cross. Five emergency response units (ERUs), specialising in logistics, water and sanitation and basic health care will be in place this weekend. These teams have been provided as part of the Federation’s operation by the Danish, French, German, Japanese and Spanish Red Cross Societies

In Sri Lanka, where over 27,000 people have died and almost 900,000 are displaced, the need for basic shelter and food is immense. Seven flights carrying Red Cross health materials and relief goods from all over the world have already arrived on the island, with four more scheduled to land in Colombo by Friday morning.

Five ERUs specialising in telecommunications, health care, water and sanitation, and logistics are now in place and another three teams with expertise in relief and health care are due to arrive in the next few days. A Federation field assessment team has arrived in the Maldives, where while destruction was less severe, initial reports indicate that the need for safe water and sanitation is high.

“The main challenge we are facing is to ensure continuity of relief supplies, and guaranteeing the health of these vulnerable communities. This will be easier to achieve with the deployment of our specialised ERUs,” says Mostafa Mohaghegh, operations coordinator for the International Federation. “It is vital we get people under shelter and receiving adequate assistance as quickly as possible to avoid preventable physical and psychological problems.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
PO Box 372
CH-1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland

Telephone: +41 22 730 42 22
Fax: +41 22 733 03 95

Email: secretariat@ifrc.org
Link: http://www.ifrc.org/index.asp

The contest aims to foster understanding of technology’s potential for contributing to innovative life, economic deveopment, and social good and these goals:-

2. To develop a body of technology case studies to help improve the understanding of how technology can be better developed in business and society. To improve the diffusion of such knowledge, in ways consistent with the DUAL member universities’ goals to advance knowledge, education, and social well-being.

3. To develop the creative thinking potential of students, and help further their problem-solving abilities by combining the educative environment with business and public problems in innovative and socially meaningful ways.

4. To facilitate a platform for networking, mentoring, and development for student project groups, and to provide opportunities for further developing or commercializing good student project topics with external members of the business community, such as the DUAL alumni.

Winning entries will be on DUAL DS' Content Library, and upcoming events featuring shortlisted and winning entries will be announced to allow DUAL alumni the opportunity to engage winning and shortlisted teams and their ideas.

We warmly thank the coordinating Professors from SMU - Dr Ted Tschang, Dr Terence Fan, Dr Stefano Perlusz.

From DUAL, many thanks especially to Hau Yee Ng, Shawn Tan.
And Ya Ning Tung, Karen Zung, Edwin Padlan, Pek Hooi Soh, Chee We Ng.

Best,
Li Lin Goh
DUAL DS Chairperson, DUAL Vice-President

The competition:-

2. Disseminates information to foster awareness on the above in line with MIT's commitment to advance knowledge, excellence, innovation, education, and

3. Facilitates a networking, mentoring, and development platform between students who may wish to further explore or commercialize areas of interest and alumni in MITCS and DUAL.

Winning entries will be on MIT Club's website and DUAL DS' Content Library, and upcoming events featuring shortlisted and winning entries will be announced to allow DUAL alumni the opportunity to engage winning and shortlisted teams and their ideas. As of now, we are pleased to announce 4 winning teams and their entries at http://alumweb.mit.edu/clubs/singapore/

We warmly thank the MIT Club for sponsoring the prizes, Chee We Ng, Lawrence Pak, and the Professors/organizers from NUS:-

Dr Soh Pek Hooi (coordinating organizer for NUS)
Dr Lim Kwang Hui
Dr Hsiao Rueylin

Regards,
Li Lin Goh
MITClub TD/DUAL DS Chair