What brought you to UPEI? Why did you choose to teach here?

I am originally from Shanxi, China. I was attracted by the UPEI’s plan to launch the first of its kind undergraduate program in climate change: the Bachelor of Science in Applied Climate Change and Adaptation. I joined UPEI in July 2018, and in September 2018 we welcomed the first cohort of students enrolled into this unique program. It is very exciting to have the opportunity to teach the young generation about the basic sciences of climate change and what we should do to tackle climate change as a society.

What courses are you teaching currently?

I am teaching some courses related to the fundamental sciences of climate change, climate change modelling, climate data analytics and visualization, as well as the state-of-the-art techniques and tools we need to study climate change.

What kinds of research are you involved in, and what are your areas of expertise?

My research is very much multidisciplinary as climate change is affecting all aspects of our daily lives and we need to investigate the impacts of climate change on many sectors: infrastructure, communities, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, ecosystems, health, and others. My areas of expertise include regional climate modelling, climate downscaling, hydrological modelling and flooding risk analysis, climate smart agriculture, energy systems modelling under climate change, climate change impact assessment and adaptation studies, GIS and remote sensing, spatial modelling and analysis, big data analysis and visualization, and so on.

"Our goal is to provide comprehensive trainings to our next generation so that they have sufficient knowledge and expertise to understand the fundamental causes of the emerging climate change issues and then explore innovative solutions to address these issues."

Are there opportunities for UPEI students to work with you in a research capacity?

Yes, there are many opportunities. I am the director of Climate Smart Lab in the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI, where I am currently supervising three post-doctoral students, 13 PhD students, four Master of Science students, and four undergraduate research assistants. They are working on various research projects related to climate modelling, hydrological and flood modelling, coastal erosion and protection, remote sensing and GIS, climate change impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and human health. 
 

I am constantly looking for graduate students and undergraduate research assistants to join our group. Anyone who is interested in joining our Climate Smart Lab can learn more details from our lab website.

What do you consider unique and interesting traits of UPEI’s Applied Climate Change and Adaptation program?

This unique undergraduate program in climate change at UPEI is different from traditional programs because of the multidisciplinary nature of climate change issues. Although we are currently hosted within the Faculty of Science, our teaching and research activities are way beyond the traditional science programs, we have faculty members from different backgrounds, such as climate science, computer science, environmental engineering, hydrology, remote sensing, agriculture engineering, biology, political sciences, Indigenous knowledge, social sciences, and so on. Our goal is to provide comprehensive trainings to our next generation so that they have sufficient knowledge and expertise to understand the fundamental causes of the emerging climate change issues and then explore innovative solutions to address these issues.

Have I forgotten anything essential prospective students should know about UPEI?

If you are graduating from high school, please consider joining our unique Bachelor of Science in Applied Climate Change and Adaptation program at UPEI. If you are looking for a graduate school to pursue your graduate studies, please consider joining our Climate Smart Lab in the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation. Let’s work together to build a climate-smart future for our next generation and many generations to come!