From February 21-25, 2025, the Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD), Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University successfully hosted a workshop on “Resource Decentralization, Social Inclusion, Environmental Justice, and Climate Change in Transitional Myanmar.” The workshop was launched by Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Dr. Wasan Panyagaew and RCSD director, Dr. Chayan Vaddhanaphuti.
The five-day workshop brought together 19 emerging scholars from Myanmar to join lectures, discussions, and a field trip to Huay E-Khang Karen community. Participants’ had strong research backgrounds, and this workshop was able to serve as a platform for them to exchange experiences and identify gaps in Myanmar’s research landscape. Following the workshop, 4–5 research proposals will be selected for four to six-month research grants, with recipients receiving academic mentorship throughout the grant period.
Part of the “Cultivating the Humanities and Social Sciences and Supporting Under-Represented Scholars of Asia” project, supported by the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) and The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), this workshop aimed to support disadvantaged scholars, particularly junior faculty, graduate students, senior and independent scholars, women, and scholars from ethnic groups. It is co-funded by the Herry Luce Foundation under the project “Co-Producing Knowledge on Inclusivity in Myanmar.”
The workshop focused on five main themes related to Myanmar:
- Resource management & resource decentralization linked with current Myanmar’s transformation
- Social inclusion in emerging education and the cultural landscape
- Environment, land, and agroecological transition,
- Local initiatives in commoning
- Climate change and climate resilience