PARE Spring School 2020

Hello, I am Nugroho Wahyu Sumartono, PARE 2020 Alumni from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. My specialty is environmental chemistry. In 2020, I participated in the PARE Spring School Program at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand (February 17 – March 1). During this program, I participated in some activities including lectures, fieldwork, group discussions, mid-term and final presentations, cultural nights, and field trips. I learned some topics, such as Water, Land Use and Ecology in Thailand, Data Collection Methodology & Workshop for Fieldwork, Food Security and Agriculture in Thailand, Introduction to GIS, Eastern Economic Corridor (ECC) in Thailand, Environmental Impact on Food Safety, Water Management, and Agricultural Development in Indonesia. Professors from both Japan and Thailand presented the topic of lectures with clearly. We used Google Classroom to share materials and information about the program easily.
Besides that, we carried out fieldwork such as water sampling and determining water quality in the Bang Pakong River. Water quality parameters measured, including physical, chemical, and biological parameters. We used some sensor instruments, test kits, and paper tests to measure those parameters. After we got the data, we shared it with other groups and discussed it together as presentation material. During this program, I had a chance to discuss with other students from different specialties, universities, and culture from Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia. It was refreshing to hear different specialties, universities, and culture from Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia. Furthermore, Group discussions were important for understanding the meaning of lecture topics and for preparing mid-term and final presentations about fieldwork activities, data analysis, and vision for solving problems about sustainable development in Thailand.
This was my first visit to Thailand and I wasn’t disappointed by what I saw there. I tried to communicate with local people and learn about their habits, values, traditions, relations to the government, family, friends, foreigners, and so on. On the campus, I saw some main buildings, some facilities, shady trees, and some student activities. I also heard beautiful songs of wild birds. It gave different impressions when visiting Chulalongkorn University. Our friends from Chulalongkorn University accompanied us to tour the campus by electric bus and also to visit some places in Bangkok. In Thailand, I visited some locations. There were Toyota Banpho (biotype), Bangpakong Training Center, Si Chang Island, Siam Square, Aquatic, and Wat Arun. However, some parts of the schedule had to be changed to avoid COVID-19 infection. During the program, we were required to wear masks, wash our hands with handsanitizer frequently, and take care of our own health.

I hope that the knowledge and experience gained during this program will prove to be useful in my academic career as a major in Environmental Chemistry. I am sincerely grateful for the unique opportunity to participate in the PARE Spring School program. This program allowed me to gain new knowledge and experience studying in a different country, meet new people, and exchange ideas. I have an unforgettable and incomparable experience in PARE issues, a wonderful opportunity to improve my language and communication skills, to learn new information, to get new experiences, and to travel. I hope that this program will continue to exist and evolve so that future generations of Indonesian, Thai, and Japanese students can communicate and share experiences. Thanks to all professors, committees, and my friends.