On 13 – 16 March 2023, Mae Fah Luang University co-hosted the NexGen Mekong Scientists Programme 2023 and 2023 Mekong Research Symposium: Data into Action for a Resilient Mekong in collaboration with US-Mekong Partnership, Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) implemented by Pact at Mae Fah Luang University and Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort.
There were five MFU lecturers and students from the School of Law and the School of Social Innovation who were selected to participate in the NexGen Mekong Scientists Programme 2023. The NexGen Mekong Scientists Programme was held by the U.S. Department of State, Arizona State University, and the U.S. Department of Interior on 13 March 2023 at Mae Fah Luang University. This programme aimed to empower early career professionals and scientists from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam to increase science-policy engagement and foster responsible and sustainable stewardship of the Mekong Rivers Basin. The programme helped participants develop research proposals focused on the co-management of food, energy, water and biodiversity for sustainable development.
Moreover, MFU co-organised the opening ceremony of 2023 Mekong Research Symposium on 14 March 2023 at Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort. There were guests of honour giving welcome remarks which were Thomas Schmidt, Director of Regional Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Office of East & Southeast Asia Hub, U.S. Embassy Bangkok, US Department of State; Aaron Brownell, Director of Regional Environmental Office, USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia; Asst. Prof. Dr. Chutamat Niwat, Assistant to President of Mae Fah Luang University; Christy Owen, Country Director, Pact Thailand; and Dr. Tho Nguyen, National Academy of Science, USA.
The Mekong Research Symposium (MRS) was held from 14 - 16 March 2023 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It brought together academics, students, early career and senior professionals, local civil society organizations, NGOs, and applied scientists from all Mekong countries to discuss and share organizational practices in climate change adaptation and resilience in sustainable natural resources management through several panel sessions. There were also field trips to communities in Chiang Rai province.
In addition, participants had the opportunity to share approaches and discuss how data can be put to action for Mekong-driven solutions, including nature-based, locally-led solutions and other climate-sensitive approaches that will provide long-term, equitable benefits across the Mekong sub-region.
Altogether, the symposium outcomes have been recorded in the meeting report which will later feed into deliberations of the Mekong-US Partnership (MUSP) and Friends of the Mekong (a grouping of governments and intergovernmental organizations) to support their own decision making such as how donors and development partners can support environmental governance in the Mekong region.
