13.3.1

13.3.1 Local education programmes on climate

In 2025, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) provided local education programmes on climate change risks, impacts, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. Under the research programme "Innovation for Water Security", funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), SWU trained local officials and community leaders in Phayao and Nan provinces to understand local flood, flash-flood and drought risks, use evacuation maps and risk calendars, and operate early-warning tools. In Bangkok, SWU joined a climate justice learning programme led by the Siam Society under Royal Patronage, in which community members and SWU students explored how climate change affects urban communities in the Asok area and how they can adapt.

1. "Living with Water" training on flood and drought risks in Phayao Province (28–31 October 2025)

From 28 to 31 October 2025, the SWU team held workshops and training at the Phu Kam Yao, Mueang Phayao, Pong and Chun district offices in Phayao Province. A total of 67 participants took part, including deputy district chiefs, mayors, engineering division officers, community leaders and officers of the provincial and district disaster prevention and mitigation offices. Participants analysed local climate-related hazards, exposure, vulnerability and capacity, prepared local evacuation maps and local flood, flash-flood and drought calendars, and joined the training "Living with Water: Understanding Floods and Drought in Phayao through Local Wisdom and Everyday Life".

The team also trained participants to use the evacuation map manual and the local risk calendar, which shows the months when lake overflow, flash floods, drought and storms are likely to occur, so that communities can prepare before the disaster season.

Training and workshops at four district offices in Phayao

Figure 1. Training and workshops with district officials, local administrative organisations, disaster prevention officers and community leaders at four district offices in Phayao Province, 28–31 October 2025.

Source: Activity report, Innovation for Water Security research programme, Srinakharinwirot University

Training session on evacuation map manual and flood calendar

Figure 2. Training on the use of the evacuation map manual and the local flood, flash-flood and drought calendar, Phayao Province.

Source: Full report, Innovation for Water Security: Research for Area Development and Integrated Water System Solutions, Srinakharinwirot University, submitted to the National Research Council of Thailand

2. Flash-flood early-warning training in Nan Province (27 October 2025)

On 27 October 2025, the SWU team held a technology-transfer workshop for officers of the Nan Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and subdistrict administrative organisations. Participants learned how the four-level flash-flood early-warning system works, from the watch level to the evacuation level, and marked suitable warning stations for their own villages.

In the afternoon session, 25 participants were trained to use the National Hydroinformatics and Climate Data Center (Thaiwater.net) and the Nan provincial water data system (nan.thaiwater.net). They learned to read daily rainfall, soil moisture, reservoir levels, and rainfall and flood forecasts, and practised using the data to set warning thresholds at the subdistrict level, monitor flood-risk areas and communicate warnings to communities during a crisis.

Model of flash flood warning station locations

Figure 3. Model of the four-level flash-flood early-warning network used in the training, Nan Province.

Local officers practising with early warning data

Figure 4. Disaster prevention officers and local government officers practising with early-warning data, Nan Province, October 2025.

Group work during the Nan early warning training

Figure 5. Group work on warning station locations and water data, Nan Province, October 2025.

3. Climate justice learning walk with urban communities in the Asok area, Bangkok (15 February 2025)

On 15 February 2025, the project "Climate Justice in the Cultural Dimension of Urban Communities" held its first walking survey in the Asok area. The project is led by the Siam Society under Royal Patronage, a member of the SWU-led Sook Asok network, together with Thai PBS, SWU, Thai Climate Justice for All (TCJA) and Hear and Found, and the Local Development Institute also joined the walk. Participants collected information on how climate change affects urban communities and how these communities adapt, along two routes: Soi Nana, the Makkasan railway housing, the Nana and Asok piers; and Sukhumvit Soi 21 (Asok Montri) to Soi SWU (Sukhumvit 23).

The project aims to build the knowledge of people in the community on coping with climate change, and to extend this learning to young people, especially SWU students, so that they understand the urban environment, its links with everyday life and local culture, and the impacts of climate change on urban communities.

Participants talking with street vendors in Asok

Figure 6. Participants learning from street vendors about climate impacts on daily life in the Asok area, 15 February 2025.

Source: Social Engagement Office, Srinakharinwirot University

Figure 7. Participants talking with community members at a local community centre, 15 February 2025.

Source: Social Engagement Office, Srinakharinwirot University

Participants walking through a market in Asok

Figure 8. Climate justice learning walk through a local market in the Asok area, 15 February 2025.

Source: Social Engagement Office, Srinakharinwirot University

4. Flash-flood forecasting workshops for flood-prone communities in Chaiyaphum Province (6–7 November 2025)

In Chaiyaphum Province, where communities face repeated flash floods and drought, the SWU team introduced a web-based flash-flood forecasting model (Fastflood) and a flood preparedness manual to local people. On 6 November 2025, a workshop for people involved in water management and community development in Ban Khwao District was held at Lum Lam Chi Subdistrict Municipality, chaired by the Ban Khwao District Chief, with 99 participants. On 7 November 2025, a second workshop for Mueang Chaiyaphum District and Chaiyaphum Town Municipality was held at the Siam River Hotel, chaired by the Mueang Chaiyaphum District Chief, with 124 participants.

Participants learned how the flash-flood model works, tried it with data from their own areas, and gave suggestions to improve the manual and the guidelines on how to prepare for, respond to and recover from floods. Participants came from 10 subdistricts with repeated flood and drought problems.

Poster of the Ban Khwao workshop on 6 November 2025

Figure 9. Flash-flood forecasting workshop for communities in Ban Khwao District, Chaiyaphum Province, 6 November 2025.

Poster of the Mueang Chaiyaphum workshop on 7 November 2025

Figure 10. Flash-flood forecasting workshop for communities in Mueang Chaiyaphum District, 7 November 2025.

Pages of the flood preparedness manual

Figure 11. Flood preparedness manual developed with communities in Chaiyaphum Province.

Summary

In 2025, SWU provided local education programmes on climate change risks, adaptation and early warning for local officials and communities. In Phayao and Nan, SWU trained district officials, local government officers, disaster prevention officers and community leaders on local flood and drought risks, evacuation maps, risk calendars and flash-flood early warning. In Bangkok, SWU took part in a climate justice learning programme with the Siam Society under Royal Patronage and its partners, helping urban community members and students learn about climate impacts and adaptation in their own neighbourhood. In Chaiyaphum, SWU ran flash-flood forecasting workshops for 223 people from flood-prone communities.