About ACRS
It was in year of 1980, when several scientists from Asian countries decided to start the first association on Remote Sensing in an Asian style party in a hotel room in San Jose, Costa Rica. There is a little adventurous story, which goes behind the conception and conceptualization of Asian Conferance on Remote Sensing (ACRS).
Sunji Murai, who is now General Secretary of Asian Association on Remote Sensing, had gone to Costa Rica to attend the ERIM Symposium in 1980, which was the most advanced Remote Sensing Technology conference. When he arrived along with his assistants he met two groups from China; China Main Land group of Prof. Yong Shi-ren, Prof. Chen Qi-chen and China Taipei group of Mr. Liao, Prof. A.J. Chen, Prof, Jrao etc. with whom he became friendly. However, when they tried to check in the airplane they were stopped, as there was no more seats them. They had to wait for five hours to catch another plane to Mexico via San Salvador. After they reached Mexico they were again shocked to find no room in the hotel except a big suit with two bedrooms that they had to share, which they did and this decision was the first step towards formation of ACRS.
During the conference Mr. Murai met many other Asian scientists and it was during a small party hosted in his room, for them, that they felt a need for holding a conference in Asia. After a hot discussion following decisions were made:
The first conference should be organized in an Asian country within 1980. Otherwise everybody will forget about the discussion.
The venue should not be Japan but a developing country in Asia. It was because Japan was too expensive. In addition Japanese people should come and visit other Asian countries and understand and learn their culture.
The conference should be organized once a year.
The conference should not be in Western style but in Asian style.
The co-coordinator responsible for the first conference was Shunji Murai, so as to felicitate Japanese contribution.
It was later proposed that Bangkok be the venue of the first conference. From then Mr. Murai started working on organising the conference. He went to different countries to like China, India asking their government to nominate delegates and collecting papers to be presented in the conference, besides infusing enthusiasm in people to participate. The approval of the Thai government for letting them organizes the conference was a big success for Mr. Murai which he recalls with pleasure.
His hard-work was rewarded when this first Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (ACRS) was held with a success with 159 from 12 countries, including Thai participants, and one international organisation participated. All participants were invited to the welcome party, which was hosted on board of the Oriental Queen, a deluxe and white boat owned by the Oriental Hotel of Bangkok. Such pleasant welcome party with people's participation became the tradition of the ACRS since the very first Conference. Mr. Murali says 'The spirit of the ACRS comes from the Asian culture'.
Source : ACRS Memorial Book 1999
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