By Water Engineering and Management, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
25 March 2026 – The Water International Symposium and Exchange (WISE) 2026, organized by the Water Engineering and Management (WEM) program on 24 March 2026, successfully brought together doctoral and master’s students and faculty members from three prestigious institutions, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). The symposium served as a dynamic platform to share knowledge and solutions to contemporary water-related challenges. The initiative was developed by Asst. Prof. Natthachet Tangdamrongsub, Academic Program Chair of WEM, and led by the team of AIT Doctoral students, including PhD candidate G A Chinthaka Ganepola, PhD candidate Hoang Minh “Thomas” Nguyen, PhD graduand Pyae Mon Naing, and Research Associate Ms. Udomporn Tupbucha.
The symposium coincided with World Water Day 2026, embracing the global theme “Water and Gender” and the campaign slogan “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows.” The event provided an inclusive platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, highlighting the importance of collaborative approaches in addressing water sustainability challenges across diverse socio-environmental contexts.
Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Professor at the WEM Program and Co-Director of the Global Water and Sanitation Center delivered the welcome remarks. He emphasized the value of knowledge exchange in advancing water solutions noting the diversity of participants and research topics, which ranged from artificial intelligence and hydrological modelling to urban water systems and socio-hydrology. He also highlighted the geographical diversity of studies across Mainland Southeast Asia and South Asia and expressed optimism for the continued growth of the WISE initiative.
The opening remarks was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Adichai Pornprommin, Head of the Department of Water Resources Engineering, at Kasetsart University and an alumnus of the WEM program. He underscored the importance of collaboration between Thai universities and AITs international academic community emphasizing that such exchanges are essential for effectively addressing water-related challenges.
The symposium featured a well-structured program with three oral presentation sessions, a lightning poster session, and networking opportunities throughout the day.
The first session focused on advanced computational approaches in water science, covering artificial intelligence, hydrological modelling, and forecasting techniques. Presentations explored seasonal forecasting improvements, reservoir impacts on streamflow, climate model evaluation, and radar rainfall estimation, highlighting the growing role of data-driven and AI-enhanced methods in improving predictive capabilities.
The second session addressed urban water systems and infrastructure resilience, with discussions on urban flood management, water losses, compound flood hazards, and leak detection in distribution systems. The session emphasized the importance of digitalization and integrated systems in enhancing climate resilience in rapidly urbanizing areas.
Naw Shareen from Kasetsart University presenting her research during Oral sessions
Presenters at the Oral Session
The final session explored environmental monitoring and socio-hydrological dimensions, including soil erosion mapping, climate-driven hydrological changes, water quality prediction using remote sensing, and traditional ecological knowledge in climate risk communication. These discussions highlighted the need to integrating scientific, technological, and socio-cultural perspectives in tackling water challenges.
Assoc. Prof. Adichai Pornprommin, and Asst. Prof. Natthachet Tangdamrongsub, Asst. Prof. Mohana S. Shanmugam, Asst. Prof. Nurul H. Hassan, Dr. Dibesh Khadka from the WEM program, and Dr. Somchai Chonwattana Senior Expert from the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Thailand, served as session chairs in the three oral sessions providing further technical insights.
The lightning poster session showcased emerging research topics such as groundwater management, nature-based solutions, satellite data applications, drought propagation, and flash drought characterization in Mainland Southeast Asia.
These sessions encouraged active engagement and facilitated meaningful academic exchange among participants.
WISE 2026 witnessed strong participation, with 15 oral presenters, 10 lightning poster presenters and around 10 junior master’s students. Notably, the symposium reflected its commitment to inclusivity, with 11 female researchers among the 25 presenters, aligning with the World Water Day 2026 theme.
The symposium concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions:
- Best Oral Presenter – Mr. Kandit Taedulyasatit (AIT)
- Best Oral Presenter – Ms. Ramal Ijaz (AIT)
- Special Recognition Award – Mr. Pyay Thar (Chulalongkorn University)
- Best Poster Presenter – Mr. Marvin Jade Genoguin (AIT)
These awards acknowledged excellence in research quality, presentation, and innovation.
Best Oral Presenter: Mr. Kandit Taedulyasatit (AIT) receiving the award from Asst. Prof. Mohana S. Shanmugam
Special Recognition Award: Mr. Pyay Thar (Chulalongkorn University) receiving the award from Distinguished Professor Mukand S. Babel
Best Oral Presenter: Ms. Ramal Ijaz (AIT) receiving the award from Asst. Prof. Nurul H. Hassan
Best Poster Presenter: Mr. Marvin Jade Genoguin (AIT) receiving the award from Assoc. Prof. Adichai Pornprommin
Closing remarks were delivered by the Distinguished Professor Mukand S. Babel, Director of the Centre for Water and Climate Adaptation (CWCA) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adichai Pornprommin. They commended the symposium as a highly successful and impactful initiative and emphasized the importance of sustaining such platforms for knowledge exchange and collaboration in the water sector. It was also announced that Kasetsart University will host the next WISE symposium, signalling the continued expansion of this initiative.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adichai Pornprommin receiving the token of appreciation from Distinguished Professor Mukand S. Babel
Distinguished Professor Mukand S. Babel delivering closing remarks
WISE 2026 strongly aligned with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Central to the discussions was SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), reflected in innovations in water management, forecasting, and infrastructure resilience. The emphasis on inclusivity supported SDG 5 (Gender Equality), while research on urban flood management and resilient water systems contributed to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Studies on climate-driven hydrological changes and drought dynamics advanced SDG 13 (Climate Action) and the collaboration among institutions highlighted SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals.
Overall, WISE 2026 demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange, and inclusive participation in addressing global water challenges. By aligning with the theme of “Water and Gender”, the symposium not only highlighted technical advancements but also reinforced the importance of equity and inclusivity in water resource management. As water-related challenges become increasingly complex under climate change, initiatives like WISE play a crucial role in fostering innovative, collaborative, and socially responsive solutions for a sustainable future.
