On 19th June, the SIMPLE project marked its presence at the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ceremony between Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and France’s Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD). The event took place to renew the five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reaffirming NSTDA and IRD’s deep commitment to advancing scientific research and education in the face of pressing environmental and sustainability challenges.

Held at Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), the MoU (2025–2030) sets the stage for intensified collaboration. Key focus areas include critical biodiversity research, carbon storage initiatives, and pioneering immersive environmental education programs, building significantly on the successful joint efforts initiated by both institutions since 2017.

“This partnership represents not only a scientific alliance, but a shared responsibility to our planet and future generations,” stated Dr. Somboon Sahasithiwat, Executive Vice President of NSTDA. “Together with IRD, we aim to generate knowledge, tools, and talent that support regional and global sustainability goals.”

As a prominent component of this strengthened commitment to Biodiversity, Climate, and Environmental Education, the SIMPLE project stands as a testament to the dedicated joint collaboration between NSTDA and IRD in Thailand. The project’s core aim is to design innovative teaching methods that leverage combinations of serious games, scientific models, and virtual reality (VR) activities. Its ultimate goal is to provide every child with access to evidence-based knowledge and experiential learning on vital environmental issues directly within the classroom setting.

Since its inception in 2023, the SIMPLE project has already demonstrated the remarkable effectiveness of its approach. Through a nationwide pilot titled “BiodiVRestorer: Immersive VR experience for biodiversity restoration,” the initiative has successfully engaged 219 high school students across 21 schools in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, and Chiang Mai. This pilot has notably succeeded in simplifying complex environmental topics and significantly enhancing classroom engagement through immersive VR experiences.

The renewal of this crucial MoU underscores the enduring partnership between NSTDA and IRD, paving the way for continued advancements in scientific understanding and the development of impactful educational tools like the SIMPLE project, which are vital for addressing regional and global sustainability issues.