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Post-Doctoral Research Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change (PRoACC)
Research areas
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Research areas

PRoACC research areas, postdocs and partners.

Bikesh Shrestha

Impacts on Sediment Due to Climate Change and Human Activities in the Mekong River Basin
Postdoc: Mr. Bikesh Shrestha
Local / regional institute: Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand
Bikesh Shrestha is a Research Associate at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. He obtained his Master degree from AIT in Water Engineering and Management recently. In the PROACC Programme Mr. Shrestha’s core focus is to evaluate the impacts on sediment due to climate change and human activities in selected sub basin of the Mekong River Basin and to formulate the strategies for adaptation. Sediments are a key factor in many Mekong processes. Navigation, bank erosion, filling up reservoirs, aquatic and agricultural productions are all dependent in some extent on sediment processes. Climate change can alter the flow regime and sediment yield. Further basin development activities, especially the hydropower reservoirs, can affect the sedimentation and erosion processes in the downstream river channels and the connected floodplains, lakes, the delta and the coastal areas. The varying conditions and processes along the Mekong set high demands for sediment monitoring methodology and modeling to respond to the complexity of the system. Hence the analysis of flow and sediment will help understand the physical processes operating in the catchment and plan for the adaptation to suit the likelihood future scenarios.

Huynh Thi Lan Huong

Climate change and urbanization
Postdoc: Ms. Huynh Thi Lan Huong
Local / regional institute: Viet Nam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment
Huynh Thi Lan Huong from the Viet Nam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment (IMHEN) as a senior researcher and Acting Director of the Climate Change Research Division. Her main expertise is in the area of flood forecasting and river basin modeling. "Viet Nam is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world with regard to climate change. With the rapid economic growth that the country experienced over the last years, the cities are expanding immensely and trying to cope with the emerging challenges in urban developments. Sector organizations in Viet Nam need to strengthen their capacity in order to respond adequately to climate change. In addition, it is necessary to learn more about new tools and technology in forecasting events such as extreme rainfall, sea level rise, etc. After my post-doc research at UNESCO-IHE I will apply these tools to a real-life environment in order to anticipate and respond to climate change challenges in my country.

Van Pham Dang Tri

Vulnerabilities management and risk modeling
Postdoc: Mr. Van Pham Dang Tri
Local / regional institute: Cantho University, Viet Nam

With a wide range of scientific background (Land Management, Soil Science and River Modelling and Geomorphology), VAN Pham Dang Tri currently working at Can Tho University, Vietnam is focusing on integrated research with great attention to river modelling and understanding the impact of climate change on the behaviour of the river network. Within the PRoACC project, he is in charge of (i) integrating results from different previous research on future climate pattern (focusing mainly on hydrological and temperature pattern) along the Mekong River and sea level rise in the East Sea; and, (ii) modelling the river network in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam and projecting the impact of future climate change scenarios on the flood pattern and annual hydrograph along the river network. The findings from this project will be valuable not only for the Mekong Delta but also for other deltaic systems around the world. Further information on his CV and research can be found at www.trivan.bravehost.com or contact him directly at vpdtri@ctu.edu.vn

Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc

Mangrove ecosystems under climate change conditions
Postdoc: Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc
Local / regional institute: Water Resources University (WRU), Viet Nam

Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc is currently lecturing at the Water Resources University in Hanoi, Viet Nam. She obtained her PhD in Forest Ecology at Ehime University in Japan. "My current occupation and personal interest requires broad knowledge of climate change and its effect on ecosystems. Viet Nam is one of the largest rice exporting countries in the world with the largest number of rice fields situated in the Mekong River Delta. According to predictions from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, if the sea level rises by 1m (as a consequence of climate change), around 70 percent of the Mekong Delta will be flooded with salt water. This will result in the loss of around 2 million hectares of rice fields. In turn, this will not only affect the region, but food security levels around the world as well. By actively participating in the PRoACC Programme I will be able to gain the knowledge that is needed to develop sound strategies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change, through an integrated approach. Furthermore, an opportunity to have discussions with multi-disciplinary experts and participants from other countries forms the basis for a strong network in the future."

Trinh Thi Long

Waste water reuse towards climate change
Postdoc: Ms. Trinh Thi Long
Local / regional institute: Southern Institute of Water Resources Research (SIWRR), Viet Nam

Trinh Thi Long is currently employed at the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research in Viet Nam and the Director of the Centre of Environment Science and Technology. Climate change in the Mekong Delta is likely to impact water resources. Drought becomes severe, water scarcer, and more pollution while the demand for water is increasing, whether for intensive agriculture, recently expanding aquaculture, residential development, or for newly developed commercial and industrial enterprises. The academic and professional publications are also the outputs of the study. With the wish in this study to contribution to sound water resources management toward adaptation to climate change in the Mekong Delta and that in the years to come, the indicators identifying and the wastewater management strategies promoting will provide data and scientific basic to help decision makers decide how best to use its policy-making and programme management resources in general and wastewater treatment in particular, to respond to climate change toward adaptation and mitigation. Ultimately, this data will aid authorities and their constituents to evaluate the success of their climate change efforts, for environmental indicators are a key tool for evaluating existing and future programs and supporting informed decisions with sound science. We, the post-docs coming from different regions in the Mekong river basin, fully hope that the postdoctoral scholars are a valued segment of the research community of UNESCO-IHE and contribute to its success.

Ram Bastakoti

Institutional adaptation strategies to climate risks
Postdoc: Mr. Ram Chandra Bastakoti
Local / regional institute: Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand

Ram Chandra Bastakoti is originally from Nepal, but currently employed at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Bangkok, Thailand. He is working as a Research Specialist at AIT where he also obtained his PhD in Natural Resources Management. Previously, Bastakoti was involved in institutional analysis and governance of agricultural and natural resources, particularly agricultural water management, and adaptation to climate change. His post-doctoral research at UNESCO-IHE will be the role of local institutions in adaptation to the climate change risks in the Mekong region. "Climate change has severe impacts on the Mekong region but institutional aspects of climate change adaptation has not been addressed properly in my view. By participating in the PRoACC Programme I hope to contribute to filling this gap."

Jun Li

Vegetation productivity, water use, climate change
Postdoc: Mr. Jun Li
Local / regional institute: Chinese Academy of Science (CAS)

Jun Li is an associate professor of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He obtained his PhD in ecology at the same institute. His main expertise are (1) surface flux measurements using different techniques (eddy covariance, Bowen ratio, and chamber methods, and so on); (2) vegetation water use, scaling up from leaf level to the ecosystem level; (3) carbon budget in terrestrial ecosystems and its response to the environmental factors; and (4) biogenic sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, mainly focus on N2O and CH4 exchange between plants and the atmosphere. By joining the PRoACC programme Jun Li will extend his research fields from ecology and micrometeorology to ecohydrology. His current researches focus on the interaction of climate and vegetation and their impacts on hydrological processes.

Hao Li

Institutions and climate change
Postdoc: Mr. Hao Li
Local / regional institute: Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI), China

Hao LI is employed by Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute as an engineer. His main expertise is water resource management and climate change. His post-doctoral research at UNESCO-IHE will focus on institutional adaptive capacity in rural area of Lancang River which is upstream of Mekong river basin. Throughout human history, institutions (social patterns) are important for addressing and mitigating factors of insecurity and instability, dealing in particular with various aspects of vulnerability. Therefore, understanding the institutional capacity to adaptation in the Lancang river basin will contribute to the adaptation research and policy making, especially from the viewer of local institution. From this research, we could know what farmers can do when they face climate risk and point out what we should do to improve adaptive capacity from perspective of institution.