On 3-5, December 2024 — Representative from Asian Institute of Technology Belt and Road Research Center，Ms. Mutita Wattanasuk, research associate of AIT BRRC, participated in the 14th International Symposium on Southeast Asian Water Environment (SEAWE-14). The event was organized by the Research Center for Water Environment Technology (RECWET) at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo, Japan), in collaboration with the Sustainable Process Engineering Center (SPEC) at Universiti Malaya (UM, Malaysia), and held at the Wyndham Grand Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
During the symposium, Ms. Mutita delivered a presentation titled “Elimination of Microplastics in Urban Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: A Case Study in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand.” The study, conducted under the guidance of Dr. Wenchao Xue, Director of BRRC and Associate Professor at AIT, focused on the potential of decentralized wastewater treatment systems to address microplastic pollution. These systems are gaining popularity in developing countries as cost-effective alternatives to traditional centralized treatment plants. The research aimed to assess their ability to remove microplastics, which have become a significant environmental concern in urban areas. The findings are expected to inform future decisions on wastewater treatment infrastructure and encourage the broader adoption of decentralized systems as sustainable alternatives to conventional facilities.
The presentation and the participation of BRRC contributed significantly to the symposium’s discussions on improving water quality and sustainability in urban areas across Southeast Asia. SEAWE-14 brought together leading researchers, environmental experts, and policymakers to address critical water-related challenges in the region.
Through active participation in international research, BRRC, under the leadership of AIT, continues to expand its influence in the field, strengthening regional collaboration and advancing sustainable solutions for water management.
