Bangkok--28 Nov--Asian Institute of Technology
An alumnus of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Dr. Seree Supratid has been labelled the “Nostradamus of Bangkok floods” by the English daily Bangkok Post. Dr. Seree has emerged as a national celebrity following his accurate flood warnings and predictions, easy to understand reliable information and technical advice.
A feature on Dr. Seree in the English daily Bangkok Post states that “The Nostradamus of Bangkok floods has become a sort of celebrity with the result that people now wave to him, approach him and pose for photographs, and even seek his autograph when out inspecting flood situation in their neighbourhoods.” Dr. Seree’s fame has increased following the 15 minute daily news programme, Vikraw Satanakarn Nam (Analysing the Flood Situation) that is broadcast daily at 2000 hours on the Thai PBS channel. Dr. Seree is an alumnus of AIT, and Chulalongkorn University, and is currently teaching disaster management at Rangsit University.
After graduating from AIT with a Master’s in Engineering in Water Resource Engineering in 1987, Dr. Seree has maintained his links with the Institute. He was the co-chair for the session “Assessing the damage and mapping the risks” during a regional symposium on “Scientific forum on the tsunami, its impact and recovery” organized at AIT in June 2005.
Says the Bangkok Post in the article titled “A Matter of Credibility”,the program has “captivated the viewer's attention with their daily updates and prognosis of the flood situation in inundated areas and those at risk.” The program has been providing predictions and warnings, besides maps and charts which detail the direction of flow of water. It also estimates the anticipated arrival of flood water and lists the areas that are at risk of flooding.
An earlier article in the Bangkok Post termed him “The Flood Expert”.Other articles both in the traditional and new media have also hailed him. A expatriate calls him an “intelligent, rational and calm man” in the article “Why farangs love Dr Seree Supratid.”