Description

For several decades, Chris Carpenter observed the coral reefs of southern Thailand as an instructor for Wildlands Studies, a field ecology program formerly affiliated with Payap University’s Research and Development Institute and now an academic partner of Western Washington University.
Drawing on observations made between 1993 and 2024, this presentation examines the disturbances affecting coral reefs along Thailand’s Andaman coast, particularly in Mu Ko Surin and Mu Ko Tarutao Marine National Parks. Topics include the impacts of warming seas, ocean acidification, tsunamis, and tourism, as well as the factors that contribute to coral resilience. The presentation will be illustrated with numerous photographs and visuals, offering an engaging introduction to coral reef ecology and the environmental challenges facing Thailand’s reefs today.
The session will be presented in two 50-minute sessions with a break and time for questions.

Presenter:
Chris Carpenter received his PhD in Biological Ecology from the University of California, Davis. He works with the Wildlands Studies Program, an academic partner of Western Washington University, and specializes in ecology and environmental science. He has spent decades studying the ecosystems of southern Thailand, with a particular focus on coral reef ecology along the Andaman coast.

COST : 350 THB