Technology 16 November 2016

Kanchana Kanchanasut Honored with Jonathan B. Postel Service Award

Pioneer recognized for three decades of spreading the Internet across Southeast Asia

[Seoul, South Korea — November 16, 2016]— The Internet Society today announced that its prestigious Jonathan B. Postel Service Award was presented to Dr. Kanchana Kanchanasut, a leading computer scientist in Thailand and Vice President of Research at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). The award was presented for her pioneering work in establishing the Internet is Southeast Asia and for enabling countless others to spread the Internet across the region.

Dr. Kanchansut was selected by an international award committee comprised of former Jonathan B. Postel award winners. The committee placed particular emphasis on candidates who have supported and enabled others in addition to their own specific actions.

Dr. Kanchanasut was among the first to bring the Internet to Thailand in the 1980s. In 1986, at the Asian Institute of Technology, she teamed up with her Japanese colleague to connect by email from their institute, AIT in Thailand, to the rest of the world at that time which enabled email conversations with computer scientists outside the country. After working to increase connections beyond Thailand, with many other countries in the region and the global networking community through the 1990’s, Dr. Kanchanasut set up the Internet Education and Research Laboratory (intERLab) at AIT to provide much needed capacity building for Internet engineers in the region in addition to producing a steady stream of graduates in Computer Science and Engineering for students from all across Asia. In 2015, Dr. Kanchanasut started the Bangkok Neutral Internet Exchange (BKNIX), the first open and neutral Internet Exchange Point in Southeast Asia.

In recognition of her substantial contribution to the Internet in Asia, Dr. Kanchanasut was also inducted into the Internet Society’s Internet Hall of Fame program and virtual museum in 2013.

“Kanchana’s devotion and pioneering work has helped extend the Internet to people both in Thailand and across southeast Asia,” said Gonzalo Camarillo, Chair of the Internet Society Board of Trustees, who presented the award to Kanchana. “Beyond the networking infrastructure, her work has spread understanding about the Internet across academia, industry and government.”

The Postel Award was established by the Internet Society to honor individuals or organizations that, like Jon Postel, have made outstanding contributions to the data communications community. The award is focused on sustained and substantial technical contributions, service to the community, and leadership.

The Internet Society presented the award, including a US$20,000 honorarium and a crystal engraved globe, during the 97th meeting of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) held in Seoul, South Korea, 13-18 November 2016.

For more information about the Jonathan B. Postel Service Award, please visit: https://www.internetsociety.org/postel.

About the Internet Society

The Internet Society (www.internetsociety.org) is the trusted independent source for Internet information and thought leadership around the world. It is also the organizational home for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). With its principled vision, substantial technological foundation and its global presence, the Internet Society promotes open dialogue on Internet policy, technology, and future development among users, companies, governments, and other organizations. Working with its members and Chapters around the world, the Internet Society enables the continued evolution and growth of the Internet for everyone.

Media Contact:
Allesandra de Santillana
[email protected]

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