Aiyu Zheng 鄭艾雨
Born and raised in Sichuan, China, I am a forest ecologist with backgrounds in climate science and environmental education. I use mathematical models to understand how life histories of “grassy trees” like bamboo and palms evolved and their ecological impact on forest communities under resource competition and rapid climate change. I also lead the Beyond Trees research network, an international community exploring the ecology and societal importance of forest growth forms beyond trees. Besides forests of plants, I am equally fascinated by forests of people. I use ecological theory to study how individuals, infrastructure, and movement interact across space and time, generating emergent patterns that may help us build more sustainable cities. As an ecological educator, I enjoy teaching learners of all ages and inspiring ecological ways of seeing the world.
Outside academia, I enjoy writing. Click here to visit my Chinese blog.