Climate Resilience in Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand
- Dates – June 23–July 15, 2025
- Max Enrollment – 32
- Taught In – English
- Prerequisites – No
- Academic Areas – Community & Regional Development; Landscape Architecture; Sustainable Environmental Design
Program Overview
Come discover why Bangkok, Thailand is considered ‘the Venice of the East’ by exploring the significance of water in the culture, design and planning of this Southeast Asian mega-city. During your time in Bangkok, you will explore the ways that conceptualizations of water in Thai culture has informed policy, planning, and design of the city and the implications of that decision-making on future climate resilience. We will examine vernacular building techniques that enabled the Thai people to adapt to living in an active tidal estuary, as well as more recent Westernized strategies of water management (and their impacts) within the city. Kayaking through ‘klongs,’ urban agricultural tours and a community-wide water fight will be all part of the experience.
Program Contacts
- Program Coordinator – Sophia Ferris-Green
- Instructor – Claire Napawan
Program Highlights
- Collaborate with students, instructors, and environmental designers studying and working on Climate Resilience projects in the region, including esteemed faculty from the Chulongkorn University School of Architecture and Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts.
- Explore the ‘amphibious’ lifestyle of floating markets and open canals.
- Tour UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the former capital, Ayutthaya.
- Experience real Thai food at street vendors and market stalls (some Michelin-rated)!
- Ride a tuk-tuk weaving through the crowded streets of Bangkok.
- Check out the instructor's program Instagram page.
What Students Are Saying
- "This study abroad experience was a great way to explore my first Asian country and learn about the climate related issues the city is coping with, while seeing the social and cultural aspects of Thailand. I learned so much and will hopefully implement this new knowledge into my future projects and studies at Davis and even after graduation.”
- “I had the greatest abroad experience - more so that I had anticipated. The people in my group were extremely inviting and we always had fun and intellectual discussions about our course and Thai culture. The people, food, and experience were great!”
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