Assessment of community water literacy in citizen science in using water management : a case study of Wang Mi Sub-district, Wang Nam Khiao,Thailand | |
| Author | Sai Than Lwin |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.DP-25-02 |
| Subject(s) | Water-supply--Government policy--Thailand Sanitation--Government policy--Thailand Water--Thailand--Management |
| Note | A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning Management and Innovation |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | As global water stress intensifies due to climate change, urbanization, and unsustainable usage, improving water governance through community engagement has become increasingly critical. Despite international commitments like SDG 6, many regions, particularly in Southeast Asia, struggle to implement participatory, inclusive approaches to water management. This study investigates how water literacy, which comprises of knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and citizen science interact to support rural water governance. Anchored in socio-ecological systems theory and Ostrom’s collective action framework, a mixed-methods approach was employed in Thailand’s Wang Mi subdistrict. Quantitative data from 228 respondents were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), complemented by 27 qualitative interviews. Results demonstrate that while water knowledge and attitudes shape practices, it is practice-based engagement that varies with access to water source impacting water governance, and can be improved by meaningful citizen science participation. These participatory pathways, in turn, significantly influence self-governance and institutional collaboration. However, water literacy alone was insufficient to drive governance outcomes without active community involvement. The study concludes by recommending locally adapted water literacy programs, support for grassroots citizen science, and integration of decentralized and inclusive self-governance mechanisms. Findings offer transferable insights for other developing regions seeking to foster resilient, community-led water governance under resource constraints. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Development Planning Management and Innovation (DPMI) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thi, Phuoc Lai Nguyen |
| Examination Committee(s) | Vilas Nitivattananon;Shanmugam, Mohana SundaramShrestha |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Scholarship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |