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Below the Tides
Our Background
Arin Thongtang (In)
I am an ordinary boy who is deeply in love with animals. I have taken care of dogs, chickens, rabbits, fish, hedgehog, hamsters, and lizards. I hold a deep affinity for reptiles. I have raised tortoises and freshwater turtles, even constructing ponds at home to nurture them. My house is located in Central Bangkok, Thailand, but it often welcomes unwanted visitors like geckos, snakes and the Common Water Monitor. After visiting the Koh Man Nai Sea Turtle Conservation Center, I am motivated to transform my personal interest in animal care into a meaningful contribution to society and the environment. This sanctuary has nurtured tens of thousands of hatchlings and provided care and rehabilitation for injured turtles, with its initiation dating back to the Queen of the Ninth Reign in 1975.
I gained invaluable insights into the challenges faced by sea turtles and the center's commendable efforts. This experience ignited within me the desire to initiate a public awareness project, fostering change and enlightening others about these magnificent creatures. Sea turtles are my very first passion project, brimming with enthusiasm.
Education
2011 - present
Shrewsbury International School, Riverside, Bangkok, Thailand
I am a sixth-form student at Shrewsbury International School, Riverside Bangkok. I am hardworking, energetic, and approach tasks with a positive attitude. Additionally, I actively participate in several school sports teams, such as U19 Volleyball, Volleyball Varsity, Basketball, and Badminton. I also hold the position of House Captain.
Extracurricular Activities
Year 10 - Year 12
Year 11
Year 11
Year 7 - Year 10
Year 7 - Year 12
Member of the JV Basketball team
Member of the Junior Varsity Volleyball team
Member of the FOBISIA Volleyball U19 team
Member of the Volleyball team
Badminton Singles School team
School Role
Sixth Form
House Captain
School Awards
December 2023
Received Floreat recognition from the school for my initiation in the Zero Starving Sea Turtle project.
Year 11
1st place in House Music Competition
Year 11
Sport Excellence Awards 2024 Breakthrough U19 Boys Volleyball
Year 11
Sport Excellence Awards 2024 Breakthrough U19 Boys Basketball
Year 11
Sport Excellence Awards 2024 Breakthrough U19 Boys Badminton
October 2024
Received the Floreat token for the second time, recognizing my understanding and appreciation of flourishing at Shrewsbury while encouraging others to do the same; this award follows my first-place win in the national SRC competition and an honorable mention from the World Bank.
Supracurricular Activities
Dec 2022 - Present
Founder
Below the Tides
Established and lead a marine conservation organization dedicated to protecting and preserving marin ecosystems.
July 2023 - Present
Volunteer Tutor
Sor So Foundation, Thailand
Provide educational support and mentorship to underprivileged children every Sunday afternoon on a mat laid on the pavement under a bridge.
National Sport Excellence
2024
The Thailand Volleyball Assoication
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach for the U19 Boys National Volleyball Team under the auspices of the Thailand Volleyball Association
Key Achievements
15 July 2024
Speaker, National Geographic Photo Ark Exhibition
US Embassy, Thailand
Invited by the US Embassy in Thailand to present on "Engaging Youth in Conservation: Initiatives and Inspirations" at the first-ever National Geographic Photo Ark exhibition in Thailand.
7 September 2024
Recipient of Certificate of Appreciation
Governor of Samut Songkram
Received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Governor of Samut Songkram for the AI initiative "Echoes of the Past: Sustainable Heritage Tourism," which integrates local history with modern technology.
23 September 2024
Youth Delegate
Thai Parliament
Had the honor of being the only youth group invited to witness and exhibit our conservation efforts at the Thai Parliament event. We presented initiatives aligned with the Parliament’s sustainability goals, demonstrating the importance of youth engagement in environmental advocacy.
21 October 2024
Recipient of the Gold Ocean Conservationist Medal
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
December 2024
Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization)
Honored with the prestigious Gold Award for Conservationist in recognition of my outstanding contributions to marine and coastal conservation. This award celebrates my efforts through the Below the Tides organization, where I have worked tirelessly to protect and restore vital marine ecosystems.
Net Zero Man
Recognized as the first Net Zero Person in Thailand, alongside my sister, I have been acknowledged for my efforts in supporting the Domestic GHG Removal Enhancement Project. I played a key role in Thailand's push toward a Low-Carbon Society and contributed to significant GHG reductions.
National Academic Achievements
April 2024
The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology, Thailand.
1st Place Winner
Achieved 1st place out of 32 finalists in the high-school level category of the National 2024 Student Research Competition organized by the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology, Thailand.
May 2024
Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Honorable Mention
Developed a transformative proposal under the initiative “Echoes of the Past: Sustainable Heritage Tourism” to introduce a sustainable travel model in Samut Songkhram, focusing on minimizing carbon footprints and integrating advanced technologies.
June 2024
The World Bank Thailand
Honorable Mention
Earned an honorable mention from the World Bank's Thailand Young Economist Contest for my short video on "Building Tomorrow: Unlocking the Economic Potential of Thailand's Secondary Cities for the Youth."
August 2024
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand
Finalist
Competed in creating a short video titled "Bridge Beyond Borders," centered on the theme "Young Generation Makes a Better Society," in the category for individuals under 18 years old, and advanced to the final round. I served as the head of the production team and an actor.
August 2024
The Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) in Bangkok
Gold Medalist
Participated in a poster presentation on our research titled "Green Secrets Unveiled: Probing Carbon Storage and Assessing Footprint in Living Spaces" at the Academic Conference and Research Presentation (ACRP), organized by the GATE Program at Suankularb Wittayalai in collaboration with the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) in Bangkok. Among 68 poster presentations, our team earned the gold medal.
August 2024
Department of Climate Change and Environment, Thailand
Project Lead
Innovated a low-carbon solution using areca palm husk, titled 'From Waste to Growth: Enhancing Sustainable Gardening with Areca Palm Husk Pots, Nutrient-Rich Medium, Natural Pest Control, Husk Shade, and Solar-Powered Innovations' at the Youth Climate Innovators 2024. This project showcased creativity and potential impact in sustainable gardening practices.
International Academic Achievements
April 2024
Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment Program (GLOBE) - NASA
Research Presenter
My research, titled 'Green Secrets Unveiled: Probing Carbon Storage and Assessing Footprint in Living Spaces,' was published on www.globe.gov and presented at the GLOBE Program's International Virtual Science Symposium in 2024. The symposium received submissions of 285 student reports from 30 countries. I am proud to share that my work was among the 125 reports that received high scores.
July 2024
The 27th IUPAC International Conference on Chemistry Education
Gold Medalist
Our oral presentation titled 'Green Secrets Unveiled: Probing Carbon Storage and Assessing Footprint in Living Spaces' earned us a gold medal at the high-school level in the Science Projects in Schools Showcase.