From France (Cambodian)
- Name
LAM, Heang - Country/ Region of Citizenship
Cambodia - Graduated from
Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (France) - Department
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering（Doctoral）
WASEDA University ASIA Special Scholarship Honor
What is the most important factor when you decide to come to Waseda University for your doctoral program?
The most important factor is that the research field of my supervisor, Professor YODA, is very close to what I’m interested in. I focus my study on bridge engineering while I was enrolled in an undergraduate course at ITC/Institute of Technology of Cambodia, and the stability analysis during master’s program in France. Prof. Yoda is an expert in bridge engineering and also in stability of thin-walled structure. Of course the scholarship I obtained is also an important factor that enables me economically to take the doctoral course at Waseda.
At Waseda, what point is especially attractive for you?
Waseda has very good facilities for researchers. Researchers normally need to prepare for both experiments and some thus the research fund is very important. My professor tells me if I have any suggestions for researches or experiments, Waseda can support me by providing the necessary purchase for my researches. I think this is very good condition for me and also other researchers. The Second point is the seminar system which enables students and researches to share their knowledge and finding. At Waseda, students of undergraduate 4 year, master and doctoral program are basically classified into each laboratory with appropriate professor. We have a seminar every week basically, and 2 or 3 students in the lab will do the presentation about what they research on. Through this seminar, we can share knowledge related to our field of study and also can have a good discussion if we have special problems regarding researches. I think seminar system is very helpful to keep us updated on how other researches do and what going on in the engineering society.
What is your research?
My research topic is “Redundancy Evaluation of composite I-girder bridge for Highway Bridge”. In engineering practice, bridge structures’ redundancy is one of the most important criteria for the safety of the bridges against accidents or member damage. A bridge is defined as redundant only if the failure of the critical fracture members will not lead to the failure or collapse of entire system or making the bridge unfit for use. A deep study on the safety factor and reliability problem about redundancy of Highway Bridge in AASHTO NHCR Report 406 is carried out in order to establish a reasonable and analytical factor for Japanese Bridge Design Code. Diana software will be used in this study to build the model. Base on the Finite Element Method use in Diana, a conventional graph will be built and can use to judge the redundancy of the composite I-girder bridge reasonably. This study on the redundancy of composite I-girder bridge is hopefully to bring a more detail concept and more deeply understanding about redundancy of the bridge to the civil engineer society and thus lead to more optimization in current and future Highway Bridge design.
Where do you usually do researches? How are the relationships with your supervisor and lab members?
I spend most of my time in my laboratory for researches, so I can discuss with not only my professor, but also with other 2 researchers who is currently the assistant of my professor and Associate Professor. When I have a special difficulty, I can ask my professor directly. Basically my professor and I have a discussion every 2-3 weeks and he always give me a lot of good advice and ideas about my research. Most of the time, we discussed about the ongoing issue concerning my research topic.
Daily life in Japan
Before coming to Japan, I do not have any Japanese language skills. I can say it is hard to live in Tokyo without any Japanese language skill, most of them will not speak English with you from local seller to even in the bank. For example, for opening bank account, I need a friend who can speak Japanese very well to accompany through all the process. About eating, if I’m going out alone, I would prefer restaurant with menu in picture, so that I can know what I’m ordering. I’m currently taking a Japanese language course now as I hope I can improve my Japanese language to make my life much more convenient after half or 1 year later. For most of the free time, I enjoy doing activity with friend, for example, I play football with my friend from Cambodia and other countries in the park for 2 hours every Sunday. Sometimes we have some plans to go around Tokyo and have a gathering party after that. I wish I could have a chance to go to Hokkaido where the climate is very different Tokyo and full of beautiful scenery.
Short message to the prospective students.
in English
Waseda University is a multi-cultural university. You will find a lot of international student here although Japanese student would be the majority. Make friend with both Japanese students and international students through your class and also through joining school community activity such as activities organize by ICC. Enjoy your life here by spending time exploring around Japan and you will find it is very fun and valuable experience for your future. And don’t forget one of the most important things, DO STUDY HARD!
in Cambodian
សាកលវិទ្យាល័យ Waseda គឺជាសាកលវិទ្យាល័យស្ដង់ដារអន្ដរជាតិ។ អ្នកនឹងជួបសិស្សអន្ដរជាតិជាច្រើននៅទីនេះទោះបីជានិសិ្សតភាគច្រើនជាជប៉ុនក៏ដោយ។ ចងមិត្តភាពជាមួយនិសិ្សតជប៉ុននិងនិស្សិតអន្តរជាតិឱ្យបានច្រើនតាមរយៈថ្នាក់របស់អ្នកនិងតាមរយៈការចូលរួមសកម្មភាពសហគមន៍របស់សាលា ដូចជាសកម្មភាពរៀបចំដោយ International Community Center (http://www.waseda-icc.jp/)។ សូមរីករាយជាមួយជីវិតរបស់អ្នកនៅទីនេះដោយចំណាយពេលដើរកំសាន្តនៅជុំវិញប្រទេសជប៉ុនហើយអ្នកនឹងឃើញថាវានាំមកនូវភាពសប្បាយរីករាយជាច្រើនសំរាប់អ្នក។ ទន្ទឹមនឹងនេះ អ្នកនឹងទទួលបានបទពិសោធដ៏មានតម្លៃសម្រាប់អនាគតរបស់អ្នក។ហើយក៏កុំភ្លេចនូវអ្វីដែលសំខាន់បំផុតនោះគឺត្រូវព្យាយាមសិក្សា។
