Special Lecture on Mekong Development, SDG Talk Series.
On 18 February 2026, School of Social Innovation, Mae Fah Luang University, hosted a Special Lecture on International Development Cooperation featuring Prof. Dr. Hermann Waibel (Leibniz University/Passau University, Germany). The lecture, titled “Villages along the Mekong River: Tragedy or Prosperity?”, was held hybrid, onsite at the E4A-717 Building and broadcast online.
The special lecture was opened by the Dean of School of Social Innnovation, Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanikun Chantra. After that, Prof. Waibel presented preliminary findings from a comprehensive 2023 survey covering 110 villages located along the Mekong River across six countries. His research examines socioeconomic and environmental transformations over the past two decades, including the impacts of hydropower development, sand extraction, mining-related pollution, agricultural intensification, and climate change.
The discussion emphasized shifts in livelihoods, land use, and exposure to environmental risks, highlighting the need for integrated river basin management and community-led adaptation strategies.
The event reinforced the importance of cross-border research collaboration and knowledge exchange in advancing SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, particularly within the Mekong region.
