#Introduction This document shows the need for an organization to coordinate and fund research into bamboo and the by products of the bamboo of Cambodia.

https://chiselapp.com/user/jahbini/repository/bamboo/artifact/e2cf171427d120f

##Focus Areas Bamboo is one of the most useful materials that nature provides. In western cultures bamboo has limited distribution, and correspondingly less importance in their culture. In bamboo growing regions, that utility is beyond measure. Bamboo deserves a center of research, collect information and make recommendations on new and useful ways it can be used in Cambodia and for export.

These separate ways we use bamboo, from eating, to eating utensils, to furniture and crafts is continually documented, and new information here would be championed by the CBSS. Two important topics can be immediately started under CBSS governance are adaptations in construction and by products

Construction

Concrete construction has the down-side in that if a building falls into obsolescence, it is abandoned, and the property it sits upon is now worthless. In many cases, a semi-temporary structure is preferable: pens for livestock, greenhouses, pavilions are examples where bamboo could and should be a candidate for use. Technologies like the pre-fabricated joints described in the attached appendix “truss” would make construction and repair of all these semi-temporary structures within the reach of all.

Charcoal

Bamboo makes excellent charcoal prized for it’s filtration and cooking abilities. Bamboo charcoal is used to filter water and alcohol for drinking, it removes odors from closed areas, and very importantly, starts and burns more quickly for roadside grills and barbecues. Additionally, the thinner wall structure of bamboo makes conversion faster than a thick woody mass. Recent advances in charcoal retorts can be found and adapted for use in Cambodia. One such survey is attached in the appendix “charcoal”

By-products

A topic of original research is with a natural, and inevitable by-product of bamboo: Bamboo Snow, the frass of the Dinoderus Minutus fed a diet of bamboo, is a substance so completely digested and devoid of anything except the cellulose of the cell walls. As such, it acts as an organic mediator by absorbing, dehydrating, eliminating odor, stopping bacterial action and cleaning nearly any surface. It is highly human compatible, and is suitable for personal skin and hair care. Cambodia’s nearly limitless sources of bamboo , if channelled and produced for local and western culture, could provide enormous opportunities for both remote villages and Phnom Penn’s central commerce. The chnnellling of the monitoring required for remote agricultural production is central to tis effort, and is within the technical reach of Prek Leap’s students.

The Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture (PLNIA) is perfectly located to coordinate the academic, logistical and resources needed for this project.

Charter

The Cambodia Center for Bamboo Snow (hereafter CCBS) is founded to coordinate the research needed to document useful properties of the bamboo by product named Bamboo Snow - the frass of bamboo as eaten by the beetle Dinoderus Minutus. CCBS will coordinate and fund the resources needed for these activities. CCBS facilitates the interaction and collaboration between researchers from agriculture, remote computer monitoring, and manufacturing technology who have common interests in real-world applications. CCBS provides them the necessary infrastructure and environment to carry out research activities.

In addition, CCBS contributes to the education of undergraduate and graduate students, with a goal of preparing them for careers and graduate study in remote monitoring, agriculture, processing, quality assurance and uses of the substance. The center seeks to increase the participation of highly qualified undergraduates – particularly those from underrepresented groups – in careers and/or graduate studies in fields that require a strong background in agriculture, remote monitoring and this new substance. Through these activities, CCBS strengthens the research and education capacity, infrastructure, and culture of PLNIA.

The center accomplishes these goals by conducting interdisciplinary research projects through the participation of faculty members at PLNIA, fostering partnerships and collaborations between academic departments, building collaborations with similar institutes and centers at other universities, and proposing joint projects with local and national industries. The aim of the center is to function as an independent and self-sustained entity. Its proper function depends to a great extent on external funding.

In the arena of education and mentoring, CCBS serves as a bridge between academics and interdisciplinary careers in associated careers. It provides highly motivated and dedicated students with solid training in agricultural and computational sciences by engaging them in group and individualized research projects of an interdisciplinary nature. Participating students will discover the intricacies of real-world scientific problems, and experience the rewards of interdisciplinary work in agriculture and technology.

Membership

Membership is open to all interested faculty, students, and researchers who come from communities within the region, as well as national and international researchers of prominence. CCBS will conduct interdisciplinary research projects through the participation of faculty members at PLNIA; foster partnerships and collaborations between academic departments; build collaborations with similar institutes and centers at other universities; and propose joint projects with local and national industries. A preliminary list of PLNIA Research faculty is included in the Appendix (See Section 8).

SUPERVISING Institute UNIT

CCBS shall be an Institute Center that will operate under the general administrative supervision and oversight of the President of the institute.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

CCBS shall be administrated and managed by a Director and assisted by an Executive Board. Ad hoc project committees may be created to assist with specific projects. Such committees will be appointed by the Director in consultation with the Executive Board. These committees will meet as needed to pursue such activities as the development of new initiatives, coordination and assessment of current projects, and grant proposals. In addition, CCBS shall have an External Advisory Board to review the center’s activities, suggest new leads and/or directions for funding opportunities, and set the performance goals for future years.

Director

The first Director of CCBS shall be appointed by the President of the institute. Thereafter, if a vacancy of the directorship arises, that position shall be filled by the President of the institute in consultation with the Executive Board of PLNIA. The Director is responsible for the general operation and administration of CCBS. Responsibility of the direct operation of a specific program/project may be delegated, as may other responsibilities of the Director, as necessary. The Director shall be responsible for managing funds, staffing programs, and administrative operations, as well as for arranging for space, equipment, and other resources and facilities required to support the work of CCBS. The President of the institute is ultimately responsible for all financial matters related to CCBS.

Executive Board

The Director of CCBS, in consultation with the President of the institute, shall select the Executive Board consisting of a number of PLNIA members of CCBS who reflect the diversity of disciplines involved. When vacancies arise on the Executive Board, they will be filled by the Director in consultation with the President of the institute and extant members of the Executive Board. The Director shall convene the Executive Board as deemed appropriate, to provide counsel on matters of policy, development, and to ensure that CCBS activities are consistent with its purposes and functions. CCBS shall operate within the policies of the Cambodia National Institute of Agriculture and shall be governed under bylaws and operating rules established by the Executive Board.

External Advisory Board

The External Advisory Board shall consist of an External Scientific Committee and an Industrial Advisory Committee. The Director of CCBS in consultation with the President of the institute and the members of the Executive Board shall select the External Board consisting of worldwide recognized researchers from academia for the External Scientific Committee, and leaders of local and national industries for the Industrial Advisory Committee. The External Advisory Board will review the center’s activities, suggest new leads and/or directions for funding opportunities, and set the performance goals for future years. The External Advisory Board shall meet at least once per academic year.

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS AND FUNDING

The aim of CCBS is to function as an independent and self-sustained entity. Its effective functioning depends to a great extent on external funding. CCBS funds will be administrated by the Institute Corporation or the Institute Foundation, depending on the requirements of the funding agency. The Director will be responsible for oversight. However, during its first five years, CCBS will be supported by the Institute to initiate the proper functioning of its activities. These activities include (but are not restricted to) writing grant proposals, performing lab and numerical experiments, attending and/or organizing workshops and conferences, and hosting visiting scholars. The institute support will be provided as follows:

FUNDING

Currently, the funding is provided “out of the pocket” of the current research staff. This needs proper accounting of current expenditures, as well as future staff directed funding sources that require proper international banking procedures. The current contracts for remote monitoring can be taken over by CCBS and should provide funding of $15 to $40 thousand US dollars over the next year. Additional funding will need to come from the PLNIA, external business investment and internet online activities. All of these funding agencies will require proper international banking procedures.

PERSONNEL

To Be Specified

FACILITIES

Space will be provided as needed. To Be Specified

ANNUAL REPORT

By December 15 of each year, the Director shall issue a written annual report of CCBS’s activities and operations, including finances, in conformity with institute regulations. Additionally, this report shall contain a narrative and budget plan for the next academic year. The plan shall set forth the measurable goals and objectives of CCBS for the next year (or longer). The report shall be submitted to the President of the institute. The Director shall then meet with the President of the institute to review all proposed activities, plans, committees changes, and budget projections for proposed CCBS projects. The Dean shall review additional activities proposed during the academic year, as necessary.

PERIOD OF OPERATION

All projects and component organizations of CCBS will operate for fixed periods and will be automatically dissolved at the end of the period unless renewed by the Director in consultation with the Executive Board. The initial period of operation shall not extend beyond December 15 of the fifth year following CCBS’ establishment, at which time CCBS is expected to be fully self-supported by grants and contracts. CCBS may be renewed in accordance with established institute policies. In the event of the center’s dissolution, any remaining assets will become the property of the institute. APPENDIX A PLNIA Research Faculty and Student Members - preliminary

Appendix: Truss

# Appendix: charcoal