Keynote Speakers

Research areas: Ecological infrastructure;  Resilient landscape; Ecological landscape design

Speech title: Environmental Design for Adaptation to Climate Change and Rapid Urbanization

Abstract: Sea level rise and land use change are likely to be some of the most fundamental and important challenges for biodiversity conservation in low-lying coastal areas in the 21st century. To protect biodiversity in coastal areas, there is an urgent need to identify conservation priorities in response to sea level rise and land use change. In this study, an integrated modeling process using a geomorphological model, species habitat models, and conservation prioritization is developed to identify conservation priorities in the face of sea level rise and land use change. We present a case study in the Matanzas River Basin of northeast Florida that utilizes this integrated modeling approach with data for 38 focal species. We incorporate species-specific connectivity requirements in the analysis and compare the conservation priorities with existing conservation datasets including current conservation areas and the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN). Results show that current reserves are not adequate to protect some of the most important conservation priorities in response to sea level rise but the updated FEGN does serve as a good foundation to inform future conservation decisions relevant to sea level rise. To protect the top 10% conservation priorities, approximately 11,700, 10,900 and 15,200 acres of additional land will need to be acquired for the 0.5 m, 1.0 m, and 2.5 m sea level rise scenarios respectively. 

Research areas: American legal system;  Anglo American Contract Law; Intellectual Property Law; Cross-cultural and Communication

Speech title: Innovation in China

Abstract: In recent years, China’s Innovation and Innovation Management System have been greatly improved and that can be witnessed in the great achievements on different fields of science. It might be a common mistake by many scholars to narrow the concept of innovation just into technology, while innovation indeed is more comprehensive and covers all fields of science and knowledge such as, and not limited to, law, social science, management, human resources, marketing and so on.Chinese innovation system in last few years was aware of this fact and was dynamic to play an important role in solving problems and challenges faced by researchers and scientists from China and abroad. Though there is more to be done, but current policies are very supportive and promising to realize more development.In the last decade, China succeed to become a global innovation leader and one of the rising stars of global innovation through investing more than 2.2 percent of GDP on R&D, and that equal to more than $200 Billion, and switched China from a country by which goods are made-in into a country by which goods and service are made-by. On the other hand, China also became a global leader in domestic patents, and has developed ground-breaking advances in key sectors such as high-speed trains, electric cars, e-commerce and mobile payments, and first country in terms of patents application on world level according to the World Intellectual Property Organization Report.An increasing number of Chinese companies are at the global technology frontier in recent years is another evidence about the innovation development of China.The Chinese government considers innovation as one of the key drivers of its future growth and convergence with more developed countries.The success that China is achieving today can be considered as a result of thousands of years of culture and heritage, the high discipline of its people and institutions, and most important is the vision and wisdom of its governmentwhich creates the future rather than predicting it.

Research area: Ecosystem Restoration; Environmental Research; Crop Genetic Diversity; Cross-cultural Research

Speech title:From Urban Aesthetics to Urban Landscape Sustainability: nature-based solutions for restoration and rehabilitation of urban ecosystems

Abstract: Unsustainable, non-resilient urbanization patterns, the expansion or neglect of urban areas have caused the fragmentation, depletion and destruction of habitats, biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems and their services. Increasing connectivity between existing, modified and new ecosystems and restoring and rehabilitating them within cities and at the urban-rural interface through nature-based solutions, is necessary to enhance ecosystem resilience and adaptive capacity to cope with the effects of climate and global changes and to enable ecosystems to deliver their services for more liveable, healthier and resilient cities. 

Speech title: One health: Alleviate the social crisis caused by antibiotic abuse

Research areas: Environmental Biology, Microbiology, Nutrition, Chinese medicine

Abstract:  Abuse of antibiotic is a growing public health concern worldwide, and it is now regarded as a critical One Health issue.The advent of multidrug resistanceamong pathogenic bacteria is imperiling the worth of antibiotics,which havepreviously transformed medical sciences.The crisis of antimicrobial resistance hasbeen ascribed to the misuse of these agents and due to unavailability of newer drugsattributable toexigent regulatory requirements and reduced financialinducements.As a result,addressing abuse of antibiotic through the One Health approach makes sense.Comprehensive efforts are needed to minimize the pace ofresistance by studying emergent microorganisms,resistance mechanisms,andantimicrobial agents.Multidisciplinary approaches are required across health caresettings as well as environment and agriculture sectors. Several countries have implemented national action plans based on the One Health approach to combatantibiotic-resistant microbes,following the Tripartite's Commitment Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)-World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)-WorldHealth Organization (WHO) guidelines.Abuse of antibiotic has been identified as aglobal health concern, and efforts are being made to mitigate this global healththreat. To summarize,global interdisciplinary and unified approaches based on OneHealth principles are required to limit the abuse of antibiotic, raise awareness andeducation about antibiotic use,and promote policy，advocacy,and antimicrobialstewardship.