Prof. Vallam Sundar, an internationally recognized academician and researcher in the fields of hydraulic, ocean, and coastal engineering, delivered a seminar to the Masters and Ph.D. students of the Water Engineering and Management (WEM) program of the Asian Institute of Thailand (AIT) on 30 January 2025. Hosted by Dr. Mohana Sundaram, Assistant Professor & Program Chair at WEM, the seminar, as part of the Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre (ABCD-Centre) activities, explored the critical theme of “Few Multi-Functional Structures for Blue Economy and Coastal Protection”. Prof. Sundar presented fundamental concepts on the importance of balancing ocean resource utilization and ecological preservation, a core principle of the blue economy. He highlighted the increasing risks posed by rising sea levels and extreme weather events, which threaten coastal infrastructure and livelihoods. To address these challenges, he introduced multi-functional coastal protection structures, including integrated wave energy converters, offshore breakwaters, and raised buffer blocks with projections, which offer enhanced energy dissipation while serving as recreational spaces. Furthermore, the seminar also explored nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration, and their role in complementing engineered structures to fortify coastlines.