This year, the educational and research project in southern Thailand has been building slowly. The research affiliation with a local university has enabled the ongoing research work of the SEEDS consultant, which is part of a bigger research project focused on the cultural heritage of southern Thailand. Our consultant has taken the role of the supervisor for the local researcher team, helping to coordinate and support the research team based in southern Thailand. A key highlight for our team has been the conference we coordinated mid-year. In July, we successfully held a research conference on the cultural heritage of southern Thailand. In partnership with the local university and another research team, the diverse cultural heritage of the region was explored. This was a unique conference that sought to bridge the gap between academia and local communities. The conference brought local and international academics together in the morning sessions. But in the afternoon sessions, local religious leaders, educators, and activists joined the conference. This wide range of participants led to dynamic interaction and opened the door for more community engagement on the region’s cultural heritage in the future. The importance of this topic for local academics and leaders was evident; it is an area which needs much attention. The research team has been following up with the key local leaders from the conference to explore ways to work together in documenting the region’s cultural heritage. We are expanding the research project and developing an extensive network of relationships through this initiative. It is hoped that this research project can have long long-lasting impact on a region where ethnic tension has rumbled on for many years.