Wei Xinchen ｜｜ An innovative researcher in the field of coastal resilience.

Coastal resilience and soft urban planning are important initiatives to ensure sustainability and safety in areas vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Based on this theme, we aim to protect communities from natural disasters while promoting biodiversity and enhancing the quality of life in cities. Coastal resilience requires technical solutions such as seawalls, tidal energy utilization, and nature-friendly coastline conservation measures. On the other hand, soft urban planning focuses on improving the quality of residents' living spaces, such as the creation of parks and green belts, the development of waterside recreational areas, and planning with citizen input. These initiatives aim to transform cities into stronger and more attractive places while minimizing the impact on the environment. The integration of coastal resilience and soft urban planning is a challenge that we all need to work on together to provide a safe and sustainable environment for future generations.

I received my Bachelor of Engineering degree from Tsinghua University and further received my Master of Landscape and Regional Planning and Certificate in Urban Resilience from the University of Pennsylvania. I worked as a student researcher in three different research groups, each of which made a unique contribution to my expertise in coastal resilience. In particular, I participated in the Retreat by Design project, a collaboration with government agencies and flood management authorities in New York City, focusing on coastal resilience and managed retreat. This effort combined geospatial analysis from above with community workshops from below, where I also conducted simulations of coastal dynamics and identified previously unrecognized risk areas. My work at Tsinghua University was dedicated to assessing the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and habitats, with a particular focus on the proposed Marin National Park. Additionally, earlier this year, I joined a research team studying climate migration and land use change at a global scale. These roles sharpened my abilities in spatial analysis, oceanography, and design, and enhanced my ability to translate theoretical solutions into practice, especially in delta environments.