Suchana “Apple” Chavanich

Professor, Dept of Marine Science, Chulalongkorn University

Industry : Science

Thailand’s foremost marine scientist is a Sustainable Ocean Ambassador appointed by UN-AFMA-FAO Annex, and recipient of the 2018 Explorer Awards from National Geographic Thailand. She was the first Thai scientist to set foot and conduct research on Antarctica. Her biggest challenge is raising awareness on environmental issues such as impact of climate change and marine debris. Her upcoming initiatives include promoting the restoration and conservation of coral reefs and the impact of climate change among local people and youths, and promoting the reduction of single use plastics in communities outside of Bangkok and close to coastal areas. She hopes her research work on Arctic-Antarctica and coral reefs will inspire young Thais on the value of marine ecosystems and the importance of international collaborations between Thailand and other Asian countries. Most of all, she hopes to make a difference to protect the marine ecosystem. She enjoys hiking and scuba diving. Not surprisingly, she cites American oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle as her role model.