Further Information

Research

I am deeply inspired by the resilience demonstrated by people across the globe when confronting extreme weather, disasters, and risks. People’s ability to adapt to ever-changing environments, the mutual support within and across groups, and their efforts in post-disaster recovery attract me a lot.

The questions I am always asking are: a) How do macro-level outcomes, such as community flood resilience, emerge from the micro-level interactions of diverse actors? b) How do individual factors, such as knowledge and skills, attitudes and perceptions, and socio-economic status, interact with structural elements, including infrastructure, institutional frameworks, social and cultural norms, and environmental conditions, to shape climate adaptation practices? To answer these complex questions, I use diverse tools and methodologies in empirical research, such as agent-based modeling, fieldwork, household surveys, GIS, environmental policy analysis, and social network analysis.

My research aims to: a) Understand the social processes households, communities, and cities respond to climate-related hazards. b) Incorporate community and local perspectives to redefine flood resilience, promoting social justice and equity. c) Develop evidence-based, context-specific intervention strategies to support climate resilient development.

My research interests include flood resilience, community resilience, urban climate change adaptation, environmental governance, and climate resilient development. Beyond scientific research, I try to apply research insights in practice, cooperating with NGOs and contributing to initiatives and actions in community and urban climate adaptation process.

Publication

Zhu A., X. Pan, M. Chen et al. (2025): Chinese NGOs’ engagement in trans-boundary renewable energy technology transfer, Energy and Climate Management, 1(1), 9400009. https://doi.org/10.26599/ECM.2024.9400009

Biography

I hold a Master's degree in Sustainable Development Management from Renmin University of China (2024) and a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Sun Yat-sen University (2022). I have been actively supporting and involved in local and international environmental NGOs, grassroots environmental initiatives, and civic participation efforts in coping with climate change.