Hanzhu Chen
Hi, I’m Hanzhu! I joined the Seascape Ecology Lab in 2023 as an MSc student in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management.
I am particularly interested in the connections between community and individual worldviews and their influence on responses to environmental degradation and conservation efforts. For my MSc research, I integrated organizational ecology frameworks with habitat suitability models and conservation priority mapping to better understand the role of NGOs in mangrove conservation in the South China Sea region. I aim to identify effective strategies and policies for maximizing conservation outcomes and cost-efficiency.
Before joining the Seascape Ecology Lab, I gained valuable experience working across six provinces in China. My work included monitoring snow leopard and wild yak populations on the Tibetan Plateau and giant panda conservation in southern China with local communities. I have also worked on marine plastic pollution, corporate ESG practices, and wetland conservation. My exposure to these diverse fields sparked a strong interest in marine ecology, which I continue to explore. I hold a BSc in Biodiversity and Conservation from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where I investigated the relationship between Taoist religion and environmental ethics in China.
In my free time, I enjoy hiking, playing badminton, baking, and knitting.