Mr Surain Thapanangkun

Mr. Surain Thapanangkun is director of Royal Project Foundation and King’s Recommended Project Supporting Center, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Thailand.

Surain is an economist interested in development and addressing inequality issues. Currently, he oversees KMUTT’s overall work in community and social engagement, a field in which the university has been involved for over four decades. KMUTT has used its academic excellence in science and engineering to develop relevant and meaningful research questions that address community problems. He now oversees the university’s work areas covering local villages and remote regions across Thailand. Most of these areas are rural societies and ethnic groups facing inequality issues and ecosystems threatened by monoculture farming.

Surain and his research team emphasize participatory work with communities and local stakeholders, analyzing the real needs of communities. By doing so, they create a learning platform called a “social lab” to foster joint problem-solving. Areas of work cover various aspects, such as ensuring food security, developing education for children and community learning, promoting alternative occupations for villagers to replace monoculture farming, promoting community health and well-being, and restoring ecosystems.

In addition to promoting the application of knowledge for community development, Surain and his colleagues also emphasize using the social lab as a learning platform for KMUTT students and staff. This is to encourage them to understand Thai social structures and real problems. It also aims to develop awareness of being global citizens responsible for society and sustainable development.