Kai Chan

Kai M. A. Chan is a Full Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Re-Wilding and Social-Ecological Transformation at the University of British Columbia (UBC), leading the CHANS Lab. He holds dual appointments in the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability and the Institute for Oceans and Fisheries. His research focuses on interdisciplinary sustainability science, integrating ecology, policy, and ethics to address global environmental challenges.

Education: PhD (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology) from Princeton University, MSc from Stanford University, and postdoctoral training at Stanford’s Center for Conservation Biology. He has held visiting roles at UC Santa Barbara and is a Fellow of the Leopold Leadership Program and Royal Society of Canada.

Research interests center on social-ecological systems transformation, rewilding, and relational values. He co-leads CoSphere, a global initiative fostering sustainability advocacy. His work bridges natural and social sciences, emphasizing equitable outcomes and ecological restoration.

Key contributions include foundational ecosystem services frameworks, transformative change research, and leadership in the IPBES Global Assessment. His lab supports 15+ graduate students and postdocs, focusing on topics like urban biodiversity, climate policy, and conservation messaging.

Awards: UBC Killam Fellowship, Clean50 Sustainability Leader, and multiple grants from NSERC/SSHRC. He edits People and Nature and advises governments globally on ecosystems and climate resilience.