A little bit about the course

About Thailand

With the 2nd largest economy in southeast Asia (behind Indonesia), Thailand plays a leading role in driving development and forging regional policy. Its capital, Bangkok, is a global megacity with an estimated 10 million inhabitants in the metropolitan region and a current growth rate of over 2% per year. This generally positive economic outlook may obscure a more fraught future. Thailand has major vulnerabilities related to natural hazards. Although it is generally a tectonically quiescent region, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (with almost 10,000 confirmed dead or missing in Thailand) demonstrated a substantial (and under-appreciated) risk associated with its location surrounded by major plate boundary fault zones. It has also experienced moderate (but damaging) earthquakes within its borders; has evolving problems of groundwater degradation by saline incursion from both natural (sea level rise) and man-made (agricultural) causes; suffers from severe flooding in Bangkok and other major cities, and is seeing detrimental effects from climate change and sea level rise in coastal regions. Throughout this course we have developed a background in the underlying causes and impacts of these natural hazards, while also focusing on implications for the Thai society and its future.

About the Study Abroad Travel

During the 2019 Maymester, our class will travel to Thailand and see first-hand the intersection between natural hazards and societal well-being. Integrated into the Thailand trip will be visits to a range of historic and cultural sites including multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites.

This course will collaborate with faculty and students at Kasetsart University (KU) in Bangkok. KU is the #2 ranked university in Thailand (with ~70,000 students), and has a “land-grant” style history somewhat similar to PSU. Our trip leader, Dr. Kevin Furlong has a strong research and educational collaboration with Prof. Passakorn Pananont at KU, including joint research projects, and educational/outreach activities (several short courses taught to both professionals and teachers in Thailand and the southeast Asia region).

During the duration of the Maymester travel, classroom/writing days will be interspersed with site visits and travel. This will allow us to incorporate our experiences and observations into our analysis of interactions between hazards and society.

While in Thailand, we will meet with and  travel with a peer group of Thai students. This will allow us to develop longer-term links, and help us to better understand Thailand, its culture, and its people. Follow along with us as we embark on our 3 week journey to Thailand!

Also follow us on instagram: @psutakesthailand