Introduction to the Lecture

Against the backdrops of the Earth entering the Anthropocene, from the perspective of realizing the sustainable development of the world and building a community of shared futures, and addressing such problems as the complexity of land surface system, and disasters, resource shortage and environmental risks confronting mankind, this lecture puts forward the theory of developing geographical synergy, the mechanism, process and dynamics of the Earth's surface system and regional sustainability, in order to transform geographical research from understanding the human-Earth relationship to designing human-Earth synergy. In addition, this lecture introduces the cohesion mode of human-Earth synergy to achieve the coordinated development and mutual promotion between humans and the environment, and explores relevant case studies of human-Earth synergy.

Profile of the Speaker

Shi Peijun is Professor at Beijing Normal University, Vice President of the Institute of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management of the Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Education, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Director of the Expert Committee of the 4th National Disaster Reduction Committee, Head of the Technical Team of the First National Comprehensive Risk Survey Office of Natural Disasters in the State Council, Co-convener of the Geographical Evaluation Group of the State Council Academic Degree Committee, and Vice President of the China Society on the Tibetan Plateau. Meanwhile, Prof. Shi is Co-chairman of the Scientific Steering Committee of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP)/ Future Earth Core Scientific Plan-Integrated Risk Prevention (IRG), Co-leader of the Asia-Pacific Science and Technology Advisory Group of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Science (English version), Member of the jury of Volvo Environment Award, Winner of the National Outstanding Youth Fund, and Head of National Innovation Group of Earth Surface Process Model and Simulation. Prof. Shi used to Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Committee of the Ministry of Education, Vice President of the Geographical Society of China, Vice President of the China Society of Natural Resources Society, Vice President of the China Association for Geospatial Industry and Sciences and Vice President of the Insurance Society of China. He has successively presided over six national science and technology projects, including major national science and technology research projects, 973 projects and key special projects. In addition, he has published 207 papers as the first or corresponding author in academic journals such as Nature, Nature research journals, PNAS, Science China, Chinese Science Bulletin (in Chinese and English) and Journal of Geography, as well as 21 monographs as the first author (including atlases), with a total of 18,000 citations. Prof. Ahi has won two second prizes for national scientific and technological progress and 4 science and technology prizes at the ministerial level. He has been long engaged in research on physical geography and comprehensive disaster risks.