Journey through sustainability: Celebrating 20 years of SUMERNET (2005-2025)

Since its founding in 2005, SUMERNET has contributed to shaping environmental sustainability by building a community of researchers, practitioners, media and think tanks in the Mekong Region. 

In November, at the Mekong Environmental Resilience Week, a photo exhibition was organized to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of SUMERNET program to show in visual media the two decades of its contribution to sustainable development and research-to-policy engagement in the region. 

The exhibition selected and highlighted “20 stories of change” featuring the work of SUMERNET partners from across the region in the last two decades.

The exhibition offered a visual journey of these projects

The true impact of the network lies in the experiences of the people behind them and some of the partners were invited to share their work and experiences with SUMERNET in celebration of the many milestone moments that have defined their journey with SUMERNET.

Reflecting on his work with the network, Dr. Yanyong Inmuong, Mahasarakham University, recalled a pivotal success in 2018 in Northeast Thailand’s Huay Sai Bat River Basin. His team worked to solve severe water shortages by proposing a mix of surface and groundwater use, a solution that was eventually adopted into provincial policy.

"Within a year, drought-affected communities were provided water through this mixed water-use approach," Dr. Yanyong said.

Dr. Yanyong Inmuong reflected on his special moments working with SUMERNET Photo: Wichai Juntavaro

For Mai Kieu, a journalist from Vietnam, the most memorable impact was seeing how infrastructure could bring happiness to a community. She described a moment in Vietnam's Tam Thai commune, watching children swimming in a lake next to a newly built concrete road which was a direct result of the SUMERNET project's recommendations.

"I joined the field trip on the day it was inaugurated, surrounded by songs and smiles," she said. "It was then I realized how collaboration could truly turn research into real, life-changing impact."

SUMERNET “20 stories of change” photo exhibition Photo: Wichai Juntavaro

Celebrating the many milestone moments that have defined the journey of SUMERNET

As SUMERNET looks toward the next chapter, these partners emphasized that deep collaboration remains the key to the success of SUMERNET. 

Dr. Yanyong noted that the most effective policy influence happens when research "bridges the needs of affected communities with feasible policy options."

Oher partners also echoed this, stressing the need to connect across countries, borders and disciplines. The event stressed that the most valuable lesson is about collaboration especially between researchers, policymakers, media, think tanks and local communities. As Mai Kieu emphasized, “in order to create real and lasting change, the knowledge that is produced by research needs to reach the people who need it most.”

The photo exhibition is also available as an online link, please see below:

Click here to view the SUMERNET 20th Anniversary Virtual Exhibition