Kerry Wong 鈥�23 and local children build water filters using natural materials at a community workshop at Safetist Farm in Thung Khru, Bangkok, Thailand
By Kendra Pintor
For many students at Scripps and Pitzer Colleges, their college journey is about to stretch halfway across the world.
Professors Katie Purvis-Roberts (left) and Pete Chandrangsu (right)
Thanks to a three-year $446,000 grant from the , Professors Katie Purvis-Roberts and Pete Chandrangsu will lead 18 student researchers in their intercontinental project, 鈥淐anal, Chemistry & Community: Understanding Chemical & Microbiological Water Quality & Biodiversity.鈥�鈥�
The grant will support summer research experiences in Bangkok, Thailand, with students spending up to 10 weeks exploring the chemical and microbiological water quality and biodiversity of Bangkok鈥檚 canal system. Working in partnership with faculty and researchers at , students will engage in both fieldwork along the canals and laboratory work on campus.
Together with Purvis-Roberts and Chandrangsu, their research will explore how biological and chemical inputs impact water quality, how these variables may be interconnected, and whether changes in biodiversity correlate with shifts in water conditions. A key component of the project includes testing the canal water鈥檚 potential for domestic and agricultural use.听
Answering the 鈥榃hy鈥�: Reviving Bangkok鈥檚 Canals through Global Collaboration听
鈥淒uring a previous sabbatical, I was a Jefferson Science Fellow at the US Department of State, and my work focused on energy and environmental issues for the ,鈥� explains Purvis-Roberts, professor of chemistry and environmental science and chair of Scripps鈥� Department of Art Conservation. 鈥淚 met policymakers and faculty in the region, including Professor Kanjanee Budthimedhee at KMUTT, who was doing research in a semi-rural community of Bangkok.鈥�听
It was Purvis-Robert’s connection to Budthimedhee that sparked the idea for a globally collaborative project focused on water quality and biodiversity.听
鈥淸Budthimedhee鈥檚] goal was to understand the needs of people living in the Bang Mod area, then use her urban design background to help them gain better access to transportation and develop economic growth in the area,鈥� says Purvis-Roberts. “She knew that understanding air and water quality in the area was important, so we started a collaboration.鈥�听
For the past five years, Purvis-Roberts has partnered with Budthimedhee to bring Claremont students into this work.听听
鈥淪tudents from my environmental chemistry class analyze air and water quality data taken in real time,鈥� says Purvis-Roberts. 鈥淧rofessor Budthimedhee鈥檚 design students work with our Claremont students to communicate their findings to the community with an art project.鈥�
During the past three years, the class projects have been part of Bangkok Design Week, where residents can interact with citywide art installations.听
Kienwad Art Space during Bangkok Design Week, Fall 2024
Rosie Movich-Fields 鈥�26, a senior majoring in environmental science, saw her research displayed last year. Her project combined science, art, and community engagement in meaningful ways.听
鈥淚t was very gratifying to see our research ideas become a tangible product,鈥� says Movich-Fields. 鈥淚t made the entire research and design process feel more meaningful.鈥�听
This new NSF grant will also allow the Scripps鈥揚itzer and KMUTT team to significantly expand the work students have already begun. 听
鈥淚n addition to understanding water temperature, salinity, total dissolved solids, and chemistry, we will probe the diversity of the microbiome and the plants and insects along the canal, which will greatly expand the water quality knowledge in the area,鈥� explains Purvis-Roberts.听
Launching the Next Generation of Community-Minded Scientists听
鈥淭his project provides our students with a truly transformative experience,鈥� says Chandrangsu, associate professor of biology. 鈥淎t the , we emphasize hands-on learning and close mentorship, and this project lets students apply their knowledge of chemistry, ecology, and engineering to address public health questions with real-world consequences.鈥�听
Students will also practice scientific communication by translating data into easy-to-grasp stories and outreach that serve local communities.听
鈥淏eyond scientific skills, students will develop cultural humility by working side by side with Thai scientists and community members,鈥� explains Chandrangsu. 鈥淔or students who may never have had an opportunity to travel abroad, this experience will broaden their perspectives on science as a global, collaborative endeavor.鈥�听
Kerry Wong 鈥�23, a biology major and Asian American studies minor, traces her passion for the canal project back to her time in Chandrangsu鈥檚 lab. Her senior thesis focused on how land use influences salinity and microbial communities in water systems鈥攚ork that gained her a Projects for Peace Grant, which she used to community-centered research in Thailand.听
鈥淢y Projects for Peace experience was one of the most formative parts of my journey since graduating from Scripps,鈥� says Wong, who is now an incoming physician assistant studying her master鈥檚 in public health at Tufts University School of Medicine. 鈥淐ollaborating with everyone from longtail boat drivers to environmental engineers taught me to listen first, lead with humility, and make space for local knowledge to guide action. It broadened my understanding of global health systems and deepened my commitment to health education, environmental justice, and community-centered care.鈥�听
The Rocky Path to Funding Scientific Research听
Applying for the NSF funding was not easy, explains Purvis-Roberts.听
鈥淲e received positive reviews when we applied two years ago, but were not funded the first time around,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ow, we can choose the students who are going to work with us in Bangkok, and that is exciting.鈥�听
Chandrangsu adds that the process itself sharpened their vision for the project: 鈥淲riting the proposal pushed us to think deeply about how to design a program that is scientifically rigorous, culturally respectful, and educationally rich for our students.鈥�听
Goals and Outcomes: Improving Daily Life in Bangkok听
In Bangkok, students will use innovative, low-cost continuous monitors and paper sensors鈥攎any of their own design and build鈥攚ith DNA analysis to investigate microbial communities. They will also study the biodiversity of plants, animals, and invertebrates that live along the canal system.
听鈥淎ll of the students will host a workshop for school children who live in Bang Mod, where they will learn about water quality and how to protect their canals,鈥� says Purvis-Roberts. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that the project will have a significant impact on both Pitzer and Scripps students and on the Bang Mod community.鈥� 听
After returning to Claremont, students will continue with data analysis, virtual collaboration with international mentors, manuscript writing, and presentations at scientific conferences. They will also mentor the next cohort of researchers, creating a cycle of peer-to-peer learning across the three-year program. Chandrangsu echoes this, noting that the project鈥檚 challenges are also its strengths. 听
鈥淔ield research in Bangkok鈥檚 canals comes with unique challenges, from the complexity of sampling in a dynamic urban waterway to navigating language differences, field conditions, and safety concerns,鈥� he explains. 鈥淏ut these challenges are exactly what make the project so rewarding; students will learn resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills in a setting where science and society intersect.鈥�听
The power of this federal grant exemplifies the kind of globally engaged, hands-on research that is vital to the undergraduate experience at Scripps and Pitzer. Says Chandrangsu,听
鈥淜nowing that our research will not only train students, but also contribute to community well-being, is profoundly motivating.鈥澨�听
Students can apply to be a part of . To enrich the student experience at Scripps, please consider making a gift .听