SUMERNET Young Professionals (SYP)

Originally named the SUMERNET Youth Network, it was initiated in 2021 under the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET). The core team at the time comprised SUMERNET Fellows and dedicated young professional SUMERNET members. Together, they organized a series of virtual events, ranging from webinars on innovative methodologies and environmental health to online training workshops on proposal writing and publishing blogs. These initiatives received significant attendance and support from SUMERNET Advisors, SSC, Secretariat, and other young professionals within the network.

In late 2022, a new core team was formed, incorporating additional members from the latest cohort of SUMERNET Fellows and country coordinators from the 6 Mekong countries namely Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. This team opted to rebrand the initiative, transitioning from the SUMERNET Youth Network to SUMERNET Young Professionals (SYP) to better reflect the early career individuals in the team.

SUMERNET Young Professionals (SYP) pushes to enhance regional ownership of the network through a bottom-up initiative from young professionals of SUMERNET network that aims to:

1. Build a network of young professionals from the Mekong Region in the field of environmental science.
2. Strengthen research skills and capacity of young professionals in the Mekong Region.
3. Provide a platform for young professionals to exchange ideas about environmental challenges and solutions.
4. Facilitate cooperation and friendship among young members in the network with other SUMERNET network members, partner organisations and beyond.

• SYP set up SUMERNET Young Professionals Facebook Page.
• SYP conducted the seminar on “The Role of Young Professionals in Environmental Communication: Experience from the Mekong Region”.
• SYP conducted the Photo story competition for researchers-media professionals, theme “Water Security for All”.
  • 1st place – “Our Water, Our Security”: A photo story
  • 2nd place – “Sailing Towards Water Security”: A photo story
  • 3rd place – “Freshwater in the Mekong Delta’s National Park: Now abundance and then shortage”: A photo story
• SYP conducted a training on “Understanding the importance of integration of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) lens into your work”.
• SYP develops partnerships and networking, SYP has partnered with Lancang Mekong Cooperation and Vietnam Academy Social Studies, promoting SUMERNET brand to young professionals in the region and beyond. More details

The network is governed through the SUMERNET Program Steering Committee, the Program Secretariat, and Program Advisors.