Strengthening Groundwater Sustainability: AIT’s Participation at the 2nd Thailand Groundwater Symposium 2024
The 2nd Thailand Groundwater Symposium 2024, hosted by the Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), Thailand, and the Groundwater Development Fund, was a significant event held from 19–23 August 2024, at The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok, followed by an excursion on Groundwater Management to Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces. With a focus on the theme “Strengthening Groundwater Sustainability under Climate Change,” the symposium served as a crucial platform for participants to share experiences, research findings, and innovative technologies related to groundwater resource issues. The event gathered leading researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around the globe to identify emerging issues, explore groundwater governance and management opportunities, and further strengthen coalitions for sustainable practices
The symposium featured renowned keynote speakers from prestigious institutions such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), British Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Denmark, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) in Japan, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), CSIRO Land and Water in Australia, Geological Survey of Japan, Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP), Flinders University in South Australia, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, PELA GeoEnvironmental in the United States, and many more. The third day was particularly insightful, with research presentations focused on “Innovation in Groundwater Science and Technology,” “Groundwater Governance, Management, and Policy,” and “Groundwater Security and Sustainability” from different institutions and Universities.
Representing the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Ms. Rojina Shrestha, Business Development and Communication Officer for the Water Engineering and Management program, and Mr. Tungish Uprety, Research Associate at the Global Water and Sanitation Center (GWSC), actively participated in the symposium and the two-day excursion in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces. AIT’s Distinguished Professor Mukand Singh Babel, delivered a keynote presentation on the second day of the symposium, highlighting findings from his collaborative project titled “Sustaining Groundwater Resources in the Face of Climate Change: Lessons from the MARVI Project in Rural India.” Additionally, Mr. Uprety presented one of AIT’s research entitled “Strengthening Groundwater Infrastructure Sustainability in the Tak Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Thailand for Operational Groundwater Management,” a critical component of the Assessment of Groundwater Sustainability in the Special Economic Zone of Thailand for Operational Groundwater Management (GISA) project, a joint collaboration between AIT and the DGR, Thailand.
The post-symposium excursion on groundwater management had participants travel to three key project sites in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces. They observed highly effective systems delivering fresh water for local operations, which gave them a first-hand opportunity to see successful groundwater management practices. This practical experience further deepened the understanding gained during the symposium.
