Watcharapong “Win” Hongjamrassilp

Assistant professor, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University

Industry : Science

For Watcharapong “Win” Hongjamrassilp, biodiversity is not an abstract scientific concern but something closely entwined with food security, livelihoods and the wider economy. An assistant professor at Chulalongkorn University, he brings that connection into both his research and his public engagement.

Win specialises in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology, examining animal behaviour, adaptation and the effects of human activity on wildlife. His research ranges from freshwater shrimp migration in Ubon Ratchathani to communication among marine species, contributing to a deeper understanding of ecosystem relationships and environmental change.

Just as significant is his determination to take science beyond academia. By making research into Thailand’s ecosystems accessible to a broader audience, Win helps connect biodiversity loss and conservation with the realities of everyday life. Healthy natural systems, he emphasises, underpin local communities and industries as well as the species living within them.

That philosophy also shapes his community-based conservation work, particularly around freshwater ecosystems, where local participation becomes part of protecting habitats and species for the longer term.

The thread running through Win’s work is connection: between species, ecosystems and people. By combining research, education and community involvement, he is helping turn scientific knowledge into a practical case for protecting Thailand’s natural heritage.