Bayer - Eco-Minds - Eco-Minds 2007 Feedbacks

Eco-Minds 2007

Eco-Minds 2007 Feedbacks

Video of delegates' feedbacks

Delegates' feedbacks

Ben Hutchison

Eco-minds 2007 was a fantastic opportunity to meet, discuss and experience sustainable development and water issues in an interdisciplinary manner with delegates across the Asia -Pacific region.

It was awesome meeting such a brilliant group of focused, passionate and friendly people from such a vast range of different countries, although we were all from the Asia -Pacific region the issues of water were so complex and different for every country. It was great to be able to come home with new and different ideas to approaching issues of sustainable development.

We need to continue to develop the links between youth in the Asia -Pacific region as we all learnt a lot from each other. I learnt a great deal about leadership and how to use the leadership skills I have effectively. It was a great honour to have received such an amazing opportunity to attend such a well put together and enjoyable event.

Chelsea Giles-Hansen

Attending the Bayer/UNEP Eco-Minds Forum was a one of a kind experience. In one week I not only gained a global perspective on sustainable development issues, but met amazing people from all over the Asia-Pacific region and experienced the wonderful Thai culture.

Working with other delegates from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds to formulate a sustainable solution for a real life situation was an invaluable experience. The case study reinforced the importance of collaborative and multi-disciplinary solutions in sustaining the Earth's increasingly scarce natural resources.

I found it motivating and mind opening to share experiences, opinions and ideas with the other delegates who were such friendly, inspiring and remarkable people. The whole experience strengthened my desire to work toward a sustainable future for New Zealand.

Eric Knight

"Eco Minds inspires great hope for our region and sustainable development in the future. It was amazing to meet our environmental leaders from Mahidol University, UNEP, Bayer and elsewhere and hear about clever solutions to fresh water supply in our region. But it was even more heartening to meet with delegates who will be our future environmental leaders and learn from their enthusiasm and dedication to environmental issues. I think that the team of Eco-Minders 2007 will work together to achieve sustainable development in the Asia Pacific long into the future."

Hee-Yoon Kim

“It was really a good experience for me to actually see the river basin from diverse perspective of views. Lectures and mentors from diverse fields of study or industry provided me a fresh viewpoint to face the problem of sustainable river basins. I learned a lot from other delegates during our teamwork hours, too. The whole process of the preparation and actual presentation was very impressive and memorable.”

Ji-Eun Kim

“In this forum, we were not taught by just lectures or explanation of basic environment’s value. We had various field experiences. For example, we experienced the dark room and therefore we could learn about importance of energy saving. All through the program, collaboration was emphasized rather than competition. I was surprised about making much of cooperation because these days so many other programs have different value bases. Besides, the presentation with special focus on water by Dr. Genz opened my eyes on importance of water issue.”

Laura Joseph

The eco-minds forum provided an invaluable experience that I will never forget.

I found the forum beneficial in many ways. Firstly, I was able to learn first hand from experts that had a wealth of knowledge in the field of environmental conservation and protection. Secondly, the trips along the river in Bangkok, visits to dams and eco-walks through the rain forest enabled me to gain a real understanding of the dynamics and issues in relation to water management and the sustainable development of river basins.

Thirdly, the most important part of the forum was meeting and becoming friends with the other 28 delegates. The willingness amongst the delegates to share knowledge and experiences from their own countries allowed us to learn from each other. It also illustrated the importance of working together and how co-operation can achieve far more than what would be possible otherwise.

Finally, I was able to take away with me many new insights. A reoccurring theme at the forum was the need for cooperation between governments, businesses and society and the international community in general to work together for the protection of our environment. Moreover, the difference that individuals can make could not be underestimated. It was reinforced that change starts with every person. Small efforts and lifestyle changes can make a huge difference.

Lucy Forgie

Eco-minds was a great opportunity to engage with other passionate youth from within the Asia Pacific region. In an increasingly globalised world, resource pressure and management within their countries will have a large impact within New Zealand.

We were fortunate to have the guidance of academics from the local Mahidol university, who were able to provide insight into some of Thailands freshwater management issues. The group project enabled us to work with intelligent young people from a variety of cultural backgrounds and disciplines. The project required us to propose some solutions to the freshwater management problems that we had experienced firsthand over the previous days. In formulating our teams solutions, we also gained knowledge about the political, social and economic issues within other team members countries.

It was also a great opportunity to travel and meet a group of friendly, entertaining and enthusiastic young people, whom I can now call friends. I would encourage any students interested in sustainable development to apply for future eco-minds conferences.

Nina Xie

This is the most invaluable experience I've ever had. Eco-minds did open my eyes to see how people from different culture can hold the same passion for a better world.

During the preparation for last day presentation, Delegates from 5 countries exchanged thoughtful views on how to achieve the common goal of sustainable development. The discussion was really constructive and creative. And we all had very pleasant talks on different cultures, society, economics, and environment protection. The trip to the MaeKlong river and three dams directly inspired me to do some research in my country this summer. At lease I could say, Eco-Minds provided me with a different view to see things in my country and other developing countries, such as real extreme poverty, rapid economic growth versus sustainable growth etc. more objectively, more squarely, and more sustainable.

Thailand is a magical country, the glorious palace, tremendous flowers, and smiling people all attracted me! Thanks for Bayer and UNEP, this memory will be the one I always treasured.

Pakaporn Kantapasara

"The experience and knowledge I have gained from the 2007 eco-minds forum is definitely remarkable. Amazingly, in such a short period of time, I have met so many great people, made wonderful friends and learnt life-long lessons. Working and sharing with new friends with totally different academic and cultural backgrounds has given me a wider perspective towards the global issue on freshwater supply as well as a reflection on myself and my personality. I feel that this forum did not only provide me the opportunity to learn about the environmental issue but also allowed me to discover myself through group works and activities. I would like to express my gratitude towards Bayer Thai, Mahidol University and UNEP for giving me the chance to be a part of this program. I really hope that there will be more of these types of program for youths in the future."

Pan-Gyu Kim

“In Eco-Minds, we were not each other’s competitors but partners to derive everyone’s ability and to create new solutions through cooperation and conversation. After this forum, we all returned to respective countries but I think we are still connected one another by this forum. In future, whenever I am, wherever I go, whatever I do, I will remember everything from Eco-Minds forum and it will be based on my life trying to make a better future.

Qiong Lu

Eco-Minds 2007 opened a door to the world for me. This was the first time for me to take part in an international forum and heard so many different voices from different countries. I learned a lot in this forum and got more happiness and friends than I can imagine. We are the young people who will share the world in the future. Although we have much difference in religion, culture, politics, national economy and endowment etc.,

We are looking for the way to the same goal of the world, sustainable development for the future.

Rachel Cain

Participating in the Eco-Minds Forum 2007 is one of the BEST things I've ever done! I learnt a great deal about sustainable river basin management using the Mae Klong River Basin, west of Bangkok, as a case study. I also had the privilege of meeting wonderful young people from across the Asia-Pacific region. Despite our varied backgrounds, we were all at the forum for the same reason - our passion for the environment and sustainability. Very inspiring!

Lastly, I was able to experience beautiful Thailand... we learnt about the culture, tasted the food and attempted to speak the language! I would recommend the Eco-Minds Forum 2009 to any young person keen for a challenge and willing to learn new perspectives. A big thank you to UNEP and Bayer for organizing such a worthwhile event.

Teo Shu Li

"This trip was definitely an enriching and memorable one. Aside from learning about the importance of proper resource management in ensuring environmental sustainability, I also made many new friends from countries in the region, and the unique perspectives that each was able to give certainly provided a much more holistic perspective on the issue."

Wee Yeong Wei

Eco-minds is one of those one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. Not only did I learn about the complexities that plague sustainable development, but I got to understand the environmental scene in other countries around the region. Knowing that we're not alone in the fight to make the world a better place was truly inspiring to me. I came back a different person, motivated to delve into my next level of involvement. And the people were simply amazing! It was the people that culminated it into an absolutely unforgettable experience. Huge thanks to Bayer Thailand for organising this!

I'm guessing that only quotes will be taken out of this, because I really couldnt shorten it any longer, just have so much to say. If the website wants a longer version, my fingers are already spilling out words for that!

Wilasinee Annapanurak

Water is so important for life. If I had not come for the Eco-minds Forum,I wouldn’t be aware of our water management issues. After this trip,I will be more careful about water consumption. I do promote effcient water consumption among my family and friends.

The Eco-minds Forum opened my mind to learn and share experiences together even though we are from different countries, we all can get along. Everyone is very cooperative. Now we still contact to each other as a network in the Asia Pacific. It’s very good. All things that happened during the forum also impressed me forever.

Yin Li

After I took part in the ECO-MINDS 2007 Youth Forum in Thailand, several achievements comes to me, besides the friendship we made and the sweet memories of Thai scenery and food, what I think more important is the "ECO" mind, i.e. several points learned and we should have for our future efforts on environmental protection.

In terms of ECO, I have the following explanation.

Initially, “E” means effective learner, from this forum, we could learn a lot, not only from the eco-games but from lectures and case study as well. We should be keen on what is happening around us and be ready to learn at anytime.

Secondly, “C” means cooperative group. Only the group works well under certain mechanisms, such as having good division of work and following the agreements quickly, will it be both effective and efficient.

Fnally, “O” means overall thinking. When preparing the presentation of case study, we met quite a lot of problems from varies aspects like science and technology, politics, economy and so on. In order to reach a better solution, we have to think comprehensively.

This is what I have gained from the Eco-minds 2007!