Kai M.A. Chan

Dr. Kai M.A. Chan is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Rewilding and Social-Ecological Transformation at the University of British Columbia's Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability (IRES), within the Faculty of Science. His interdisciplinary research focuses on sustainability science, integrating ecology, policy, and ethics. He leads the CHANS Lab (Connected Human-and-Natural Systems), exploring transformative changes to achieve socially just and ecologically vibrant systems.

Education: Ph.D. and postdoctoral training at Princeton and Stanford Universities. Former roles include Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at UC Santa Barbara and leadership in global initiatives like the IPBES Global Assessment.

Research Interests: Ecosystem services, rewilding, social-ecological resilience, and innovative conservation strategies. He emphasizes 'relational values'—how human-nature connections drive sustainability. Current projects include CoSphere, a movement for systemic change, and studies on urban ecosystems and climate impacts.

Key Achievements: Coordinating Lead Author of the IPBES Global Assessment, Royal Society of Canada Fellow, and recipient of the Clean16 Award. Over 100 peer-reviewed articles, with focuses on biodiversity, policy, and transformative action. Supervises a dynamic lab of graduate students and postdocs, contributing to conservation science and policy.

Awards: Leopold Leadership Fellow, Global Young Academy member, and co-founder of CoSphere. His work bridges science and activism, advocating for systemic shifts through initiatives like the 'Community of Small Planet Heroes.'