Internship & Volunteering​

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Internship & Volunteering​

Naturemind-ED Research Program in Krabi, Thailand, offers an immersive experience in community-based biodiversity conservation.

Participants engage in academic-level naturalist explorations, gaining practical skills in research design, ecosystem restoration, data collection, statistical analyses, and scientific reporting. The program emphasizes community engagement and facilitation strategies, providing interns with the opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts while experiencing the local culture. Working with a diverse team of academics, project leaders, community representatives, scientists, and educators, participants learn to contextualize ecosystem restoration within a broader social-ecological framework, gaining insights into resilience building and sustainability in a real-world context.

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For-rest

Forest & terrestrial biodiversity restoration 

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Seagong

Seagrass and dugong conservation

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Man-core

Mangrove ecological restoration

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coral

Reef

Coral reef ecosystem restoration

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Wast-ed

Waste management & circularity education 

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KRABI, THAILAND

Krabi, Thailand has breathtaking landscapes known for its stunning natural beauty and unique culture. It is the perfect place for the NatureMindED Research Program, which focuses on community-based biodiversity conservation and aims to provide transformative experiences to deeply connect with Nature.

COMMUNITY-BASED BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Our Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation Internship Program in Krabi offers an unparalleled opportunity to understand the theory and practice of tropical ecosystem restoration while contributing to cutting edge transdisciplinary research at the interface between nature and society.

GOALS

Building adaptive capacity in coastal communities to support nature-based social innovation and social-ecological resilience

01

Community-based

Implement research for restoration and build technical capacity towards resource monitoring, data analysis & coordination of regional adaptive community-led management efforts

02

experiential learning

Co-developing manuals and experiential learning curriculum for schools and professional and development enters (from forest to coral)

03

Nature-based solutions

Co-design "Nature-based solutions" alternative livelihood pathways and community events for social-ecological resilience

FOR-REST

Community-based tropical forest and terrestrial biodiversity restoration.

Increasing resilience of terrestrial ecosystems and the local communities depending on them, through increasing forest cover and habitat connectivity using ecological restoration and agroecology.

• Short-sighted housing development and land use

• Lack of solutions from local stakeholders, lack of incentives and coordinated action plans

• Conflicts short term gain and long term priorities

  1. Monitor patterns & trends, establish tree nurseries and biodiversity corridors
  2. Collaborate with universities, local institutions and key community members for community-based forest management
  3. Engagement with schools, development of curriculum and test of experiential Forest restoration program
  4. Community workshops for alternative income business model development

  1. Restoration research, including framework species selection, nursery set up, forest monitoring
  2. Drone aerial surveys to inform Forest cover expansion and biodiversity corridor establishment via community planting campaigns
  3. Agroecological models for holistic food security and traditional Ecological knowledge revival
  4. Ethical carbon-offsetting program with regional and international organizations to finance the project and secure alternative livelihoods
  5. Integration of the program in Education, Eco-tourism and citizen science, including program development for schools, labelled program for ecotourism and educative tools for citizens.
  6. Online and offline project promotion and insights sharing through active communication to all stakeholders from policy makers to scientists and civil society

SEAGONG

a community-based seagrass and dugong conservation initiative

Set up a community-based sea grass and dugong conservation initiative in the Andaman region, safeguarding food security and resilience in vulnerable Andaman coastal communities in a changing climate.

  • Economy based on unsustainable fishing and intensive tourism practices compromised by global pandemic
  • Lack of education from local stakeholders, lack of incentives and coordinated action plans
  • Conflicts short term gain and long term priorities, problem

  1. Monitor patterns & trends, establish seagrass nurseries and increase seagrass cover
  2. Set up framework with university and local partners Training material development 
  3. Engagement with schools, development of curriculum and test of experiential seagrass conservation program
  4. Community workshops for alternative income business model development.

  1. Participatory Design of conservation areas 
  2. Technical expertise, including nursery facility set up, seagrass monitoring methodological tools development & training,
  3. Seagrass cover expansion
  4. Business models start up from inclusive ideation workshop to implementation with 3 local communities, 
  5. Integration of the program in Education, Eco-tourism and citizen science, including program development for schools, labelled program for ecotourism and educative tools for citizens.
  6. Online and offline project promotion and insights sharing through active communication to all stakeholders from policy makers to scientists and civil society.

MAN-CORE

Community based mangrove ecological restoration

Initiating and coordinating a regional community-based mangrove restoration effort geared towards increased social ecological resilience.

• Co-design, through participatory methodologies, of mangrove conservation areas co-managed by communities

• Technical capacity building and leadership related to mangrove nursery establishment, in situ propagation and monitoring and biodiversity assessment

• Alternative livelihood co-design, participatory assessment of market needs, and financial plans

  1. framework with local partners. Research material development. Initial mapping & monitoring
  2. Nursery set up Ecological diagnostic in selected sites and restoration strategy definition
  3. Engagement with schools, development of curriculum and test of experiential mangrove conservation program
  4. Community workshops for alternative income business model development.

  1. developing SoPs for mangrove ecological restoration focusing on
    connectivity restoration ecosystem functions natural regeneration
  2.  building seed banks and nurseries to support the implementation of large
    scale mangrove cover expansion informed by our restoration protocol and
    supporting our carbon offsetting program
  3. Co-development and contextualization of an Experiential Mangrove Ecology
    & Restoration school curriculum grounded in communities local knowledge
    in collaboration with local environmental groups and local schools
  4. Engaging will community champions and various stakeholders across the
    institutional landscape to enable lasting community ownership of the issue.

REEF

Community-based coral reef ecosystem restoration in Southern Thailand’s Andaman region

Initiating and coordinating a regional community-based coral reef restoration and sustainable fisheries effort geared towards increased social-ecological resilience.

• Develop practical diagnostic tool and reef restauration protocols for adapted and contextualized community-based reef restoration,

• Establish a network of collaborative partners using the restoration protocols towards region-wide reef expansion and ecological restoration

• Develop experiential education material and professional trainings for local schools and community members willing to acquire new skills

  1. Governmental and Non-governmental Institutional partnership established
  2. Nursery set up Ecological diagnostic in selected sites and restoration strategy definition.
  3. Engagement with schools, development of curriculum and test of experiential coral conservation program

  4. Fishing community workshops for alternative income business model development.

  1. Research design development for optimal reef restoration through improved coral propagation techniques
  2. in situ coral nurseries creation and co-design of conservation areas through participatory mapping with local fishing communities
  3. Develop experiential education curriculum offered to local schools and learning centers as well as build community-based instruments used towards citizen science
  4. Engage with fishing communities to co-design sustainable fishing practices and resource management plans based on alternative livelihoods and win-win synergies towards financial, social and natural capital enhancement

WAST-ED

Integrated waste management & circularity education.

leading regional integrated waste management and circular economy in Krabi province

• Developing an integrated waste management system and circularity education curriculum to be implemented with schools and key learning center

• Improving sorting systems and infrastructure, involving multiple actors across institutions and social organisations at different level

• Optimising disposal options towards efficient recycling or reusing or complete destruction, including operationalising an efficient composting system

  1. Creation of a community-based learning and development center
  2. Organizing awareness building & public consultation events and fostering partnerships
  3. Implement a pilot investigation of sorting, collection, disposal and redistribution system

  4. Develop workshop and educational material for schools and businesses

  1. Research on plastic pollution to catalogue most commonly found items, identify provenance/production and identify pathways for proper disposal
  2. Improving sorting systems and infrastructure, involving multiple actors across institutions and social organizations at multiple levels.
  3. Identifying best disposal options towards efficient recycling or reusing or complete destruction, including operationalizing an efficient composting system
  4. organization of events, campaigns and communication material for awareness building and momentum creation
  5. working with the governor office to develop laws towards drastically reducing single use plastic consumption

Your questions answered

Internship / Volunteer Work FAQ

Yes, it is possible to help with coral restoration even if you do not have a diving diploma as some of the tasks do not require underwater activities (protocol designs, data analysis, snorkeling based surveys, etc.). However, you will need to get scuba certified at a separate cost (click here for information about courses) if you are interested in our underwater restoration activities. There are also other opportunities to be involved with coral restoration, including intertidal coral restoration which can be done at low tide.

Yes we have a WhatsApp group for the volunteers or interns which you will be invited to be part of.

For planned activities, you will always work with a research coordinator from the team. However, for weekly tasks and personal projects, we will expect you to work independently.

We will assign you to a core research topic, but we will discuss with you a more specific project that relates to your interest.

You will have Saturday and Sunday off. We may have weekend activities, but they will be planned well ahead of time.

Please see our project guide for information on the current and concrete missions on site for the tropical forest and coral reefs.

Yes, there are volunteers already on site year round (except in mid august – September during which the site is closed for renovation and staff vacation)

Yes, we encourage you to propose a project which we will discuss with you in relation to our ongoing projects during our Pre-arrival zoom meeting and fine tune in person during the first few days of your internship.

We encourage you to participate in all activities and independently work on your projects and tasks, which will total 35 hours per week.

No, you will work together in support of each other and additionally collaborate with our Experiences program team. This indeed can be adapted after initial onboarding.

Your questions answered

Everyday Life FAQ

Some places are big business and accept credit cards, but you can take cash out of an ATM for a small fee (220 THB).

Breakfast (8:30 am) and Lunch (12:30pm) during Monday to Friday are provided at Spirit Mountain. Breakfast is a combination of eggs, toast, fruits and coffee/tea. Lunches are thai dishes ranging from Padthai, curries, fried rice, diverse veggie dishes and locally made snacks. Most dinners will be on your charge but we have scheduled dinner together every once in a while.

Most meals at Spirit Mountain are served buffet-style. Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free options are available upon request.

Yes, you do have access to the kitchen at spirit mountain to prepare your own meals.

No, water bottles are not provided. However, we have refillable water stations. You can also purchase reusable water bottles from us.

Yes, there is wifi in the bedrooms and at Spirit Mountain.

You can buy SIM cards at the airport and at several stores in the city. We recommend TRUE or AIS brands.

It is a 15-minute drive to the closest town, Aonang. Krabi Town is a 30-minute drive from Spirit Mountain.

Krabi is a popular tourist destination in Thailand known for its beautiful beaches, limestone cliffs, and lush forests. It is located on the west coast of southern Thailand and offers a wide range of activities for visitors, including rock climbing, kayaking, and island hopping. The town of Aonang, located near Spirit Mountain, has a vibrant nightlife scene with a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops. Krabi is also home to several national parks, including Khao Phanom Bencha National Park and Than Bokkhorani National Park, which offer opportunities for hiking and wildlife watching.

You will have a room to store your items.

You will have your own travel insurance to cover any theft. We will support you if this issue were to occur; however, we find an issue like this is unlikely to happen.

There is no curfew.

While transport to and from scheduled activities is organized by us, your every day movements (groceries, restaurant, personal excursion) will require either using a bicycle, scooter or booking a taxi. Thailand in general is not a pedestrian friendly destination and everything is scattered. From experience, the most convenient and affordable is to rent a scooter. All interns so far have relied on this option very successfully. Upon your arrival our team will coordinate with the scooter provider and help you get started. If this option is not a good one for you we can share the phone number of our taxi drivers so you can arrange your rides directly. Bicycle are also available at no charge if you want to choose this option.

No, you can visit the washing machine station which has detergent. These laundry stations provide all-in one service from washing and drying to folding. You just have to collect the clean dry laundry when it is done. We do have a washing machine at the new office which you can use if you want but in practice it is really easy and convenient to rely on the laundry service widely available in the area.

No, you will be in a closed room. However, we strongly suggest that you embrace nature and bring mosquito repellant (chemical-free).

The vaccinations required to travel to Thailand depend on several factors, including your current health status, the length of your stay, and the areas you plan to visit.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all travelers to Thailand be up to date on routine vaccinations, including measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP), polio, varicella (chickenpox), and yearly flu shots.

Additionally, the CDC recommends the following vaccines for travelers to Thailand:

  • Hepatitis A: This vaccine is recommended for all travelers to Thailand.
  • Typhoid: This vaccine is recommended for travelers who will be staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or having adventurous or outdoor activities such as trekking or camping.
  • Hepatitis B: This vaccine is recommended for travelers who may have sexual contact with locals or plan to have medical procedures such as dental treatment while in Thailand.
  • Rabies: This vaccine is recommended for travelers who may have extensive outdoor or adventurous activities, or will be working with animals.

It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before traveling to Thailand to discuss which vaccines are recommended based on your individual health status and travel plans.

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