COLLABORATING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Southeast Asia focus

Early career researchers (ECRs) from around the world collaborated on a project to bring data together to better understand flood risks in Vietnam and Thailand.

Four ECRs from Southampton, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the project. Together, they have produced models of flood risk to assess the economic and livelihood impacts in the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam and the Chao Phraya River Basin in Thailand.

Evelyn Pina Covarrubias, Research Fellow in Geography and Environmental Science, led Southampton’s involvement in the project called Integrated Strategies for Flood Risk Management in the ASEAN Region Under Climate Uncertainty: A Needs Analysis. She said: “Southeast Asian countries are highly vulnerable to climate change, and they have high population densities. The aim of our project was to identify gaps in knowledge on flooding risk and water management in the context of climate change.

“With our findings we want ultimately to inform local and regional governments on best practice in the design and implementation of policies regarding climate risk mitigation, and to contribute to social welfare.”

Chidsumon Sasirat, ECR at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, added: “I think this project is very valuable for our country. I hope we can make an impact and make a change in the future climate change risk scenario in Thailand.”

The collaboration has had other benefits too. Phan Kieu Diem, Research Fellow at Can Tho University in Vietnam, said: “The project has enhanced our understanding of the working cultures of different nations, and improved foreign languages and technical skills.”

So what’s next?

Aakanchya Budhathoki, ECR at Kyoto University in Japan, outlined: “We are looking to produce a review article in an international journal. Following this, we hope to run a similar project to focus on capacity building, with several ECRs and discussion with the experts on climate change adaptation strategies.”

Their project came about thanks to the University’s membership of RENKEI (the UK-Japan Research and Education Network for Knowledge Economy Initiatives) and a successful bid for COP26 Official Development Assistance funding.

RENKEI

RENKEI is a strategic partnership for research collaboration between universities in the UK and Japan. The University of Southampton is a member and, along with Japan’s Kyushu University, has been invited to chair a new governance system to champion the interests of members.

Under this, and to mark RENKEI’s 10th anniversary this year, the University’s International Partnerships team and Southampton researchers are collaborating on a one-year programme to develop and inspire a cohort of climate-focused ECRs, seeking to foster interdisciplinarity and closer industry links. ECRs from across RENKEI’s network will join the fellowship programme, leading to a September ‘summer school’ in Japan on the theme of climate adaptation. Senior academics from each RENKEI member institution will deliver the teaching at the summer school, and up to three ECRs from each institution will be invited to attend an in-person event.

If you are interested in finding out more, contact: partnerships@soton.ac.uk