In order to develop local capacity, UNU provides support to post graduate research programs in a number of institutions. In these programs, the host institutions take up global themes which are of interest to UNU as graduate student research topics. UNU provide joint student supervision, introduction of research results to global community.

Research Program with AIT, Bangkok, Thailand

AIT has recently become an affiliated institute of UNU. ESD and WEM of AIT have carried out a joint program on post graduate research since 2004. Generally, 3-4 students /per year take up these joint research themes.

Year 2007

• Urban Infrastructure design for managing urban water cycle

Urbanization changes the both water and energy cycles of urban areas. Water sensitive urban intrastate design is an approach that use local retention and infiltration systems to modify the water cycle so that it remains unaffected by urban development. In this research a case study of Kerala, India will be carried out develop policies and guidelines for urban development.

• Forecasting rice yield under climate change scenario and evaluation of agro-adaptation measures for Mekong basin region: A simulation study

The potential climate change impacts on rice yield will be analyzed through simulation technique, using different crop simulation models. The crop simulation models will be used are: CERES-Rice of DSSAT , ORYZA, and InfoCrop. The model parameters will be calibrated by collecting field experimental data of the proposed region Mekong basin. The calibrated model will be used to simulate crop yield using historical weather data and changed scenario data from GCM. Various crop adaptation strategies may be evaluated, especially managing water resources to compensate adverse impacts of climate change.

• Water Infrastructure Inventory for Mekong Basin

Water scarcity is one of the major looming problems world is facing in the near future. This problem will be more pronounced in transboundary basins such as Mekong basin. Many studies have been carried out to asses the expected water deficit by estimating available water resources against the water demands in small spatial units. In assessing water deficits, it is common to assume that a certain fraction of available water resources can be effectively used by the inhabitance in the locality. In this research a more detailed inventory of existing and planned water infrastructure such as water supply systems, canals, wells, will be made in order to find out accessibility of existing water resources. Such an inventory will be extremely useful in understanding future water development policies for the region.

Year 2006

• Hydro-power reservoir operation with environmental flow consideration in La Nga Basin, Viet Nam

Operation of reservoirs to satisfy human demands such as hydro-power, irrigation, and navigation has caused significant changes in natural flow regimes and unanticipated ecological loss. Mitigating environmental impacts has become an essential component in management and operation of reservoirs. While human water demands are rising rapidly due to the population growth and economic development, available water resources is finite, thereby making water more and more scarce. The scarcity of water leads to further decline of water for eco-systems and hence demands for careful analysis of water needs for protecting vital ecosystems. In this study trade-offs between conflicting reservoir operation to meet human demands and instream flow releases are explored for human and environmental benefits.

• Vulnerability Assessment of Freshwater resources: A Case Study of Bagmati River Basin

The objective of the research is to assess the water resources vulnerability using available indicators. This index is expected to be a holistic tool to reflect diverse issues related to water resources and form a basis for policy makers to prioritize action. It is also expected to be a key to formulate IWRM policy and protection measures by drawing attention to main areas of vulnerability. The study formulate a water stress index and an adaptive capacity index for a given spatial extent. Then the vulnerability index is defined as Water Stress Index / Adaptive capacity index.

• Water Poverty Index in Mekong Delta, VietNam

The study address the question of whether there can be a single index that describe the 'water richness' of a community, region or country. A water poverty index is defined as a composite index that reflect resources, access, capacity, etc., with sub categories. Indicators are used to quantify each aspect, which are then normalized and weighted to estimate the final Water Poverty Index. The spatial and temporal variability of the index is investigated.

Year 2005

1. Analysis of the Flow Regime of the Mekong River and its Environmental Consequences. Abstract

2. Assessment of Water Resources Management from Socio-economic Perspective: A Case Study of Bangladesh. Abstract

3. Numerical Weather Forecasting System for Bhutan. Abstract

Year 2004

1. Vulnerability Assessment of Hanoi City against a
   Catastrophic Flood

2. Sediment transport in Mekong Basin

3. Pakistan Water Policy Assessment. Abstract

4. Analysis of Soil Erosion and Sediment Transport using Empirical Models and a Process-based Distributed Model. Abstract

Research Program with Univerity of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Research programs with faculty and students of University of Peradeniya are carried out covering hydrology and disaster reduction fields.

Research Program with University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Research with Moratuwa univeristy covers programs related to Information Communication Tools, development of monitoring systems, etc.