Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Mahidol University is committed to being a leader in sustainability, having recognized the importance of marine ecosystem conservation, and is promoting the utilization of marine resources for sustainable development. The University has developed unicellular-algae technology to produce double-stranded RNA to control viral disease in shrimp, which affects the aquaculture industry. Therefore, the Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CENTEX Shrimp), in the Faculty of Science, is collaborating with the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology to produce stranded RNA in chloroplasts of microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to help control shrimp disease outbreaks. As a consequence of utilizing the research results, the impact on the aquaculture industry can effectively be reduced due to decreased virus populations. The University is conducting a prototype project to manage the water retention problem in the wetlands of Bueng Boraphet. The area is biodiverse and suitable for the conservation of aquatic life and the coexistence of people and crocodiles. This area can attract visitors as a new eco-cultural tourism destination. Apart from these, the University campus is well-endowed with water resources and forests over more than 36.4% of its total area. The area comprises the canals surrounding the University, which have been preserved to provide habitats for 54 species of aquatic plants. Mahidol University International College (MUIC) joins hands with the European Union (EU) every academic year to clean the canals and help preserve the canal environment. MUIC has also continuously participated in beach cleaning activities at Koh Sak, to promote an appreciation of marine natural resources. Academic staff from the Faculty of Environment and Resources have collaborated with partners from various organizations, and joined one of the missions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to protect coastal and marine ecosystems from coastal erosion, which affects the way of life of coastal communities. Scientific research is used to help improve the living environment in coastal areas while conserving sustainable marine biodiversity.
