Dr. Adisorn Lertsinsrubtavee, Director of the Internet Education and Research Laboratory (intERLab) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), recently hosted Dr. Paweeya Raknim, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna. Dr. Raknim’s research focuses on Community Based Development, particularly in the context of environmental sustainability. We are collaborating with her for the deployment of low-cost air quality sensors and a forest fire monitoring system in the Doi Saket district of Chiang Mai. This visit provided a valuable opportunity for both institutions to explore areas of mutual interest and potential future collaboration.

During her visit, Dr. Raknim engaged with Dr. Adisorn and the intERLab team, learning about the lab’s ongoing projects in air pollution and forest fire monitoring. Dr. Adisorn presented an overview of intERLab’s research activities and discussed potential avenues for future development, with a specific emphasis on how community engagement could enhance the effectiveness of these systems.

Dr. Raknim shared insights from her expertise in Community Based Development, emphasizing the importance of integrating local knowledge and participation in environmental monitoring projects. The discussions focused on how intERLab’s data-driven approach could be combined with community-centric strategies to ensure the sustainability and relevance of the monitoring systems in Doi Saket.

Dr. Adisorn highlighted intERLab’s commitment to developing effective monitoring systems and emphasized the lab’s interest in fostering partnerships that prioritize community involvement. Dr. Raknim and Dr. Adisorn discussed how community workshops and educational programs could be integrated into the project to empower local residents to actively participate in data collection and interpretation.

The visit also included preliminary discussions regarding potential collaborative research projects focusing on the social impact of environmental monitoring systems and the development of community-led initiatives for sustainable resource management.

Dr. Raknim’s visit facilitated a valuable exchange of information and ideas, laying the groundwork for potential future collaborations between intERLab and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna. Both institutions expressed optimism about the possibilities for future collaboration in research, education, and community engagement.