Theodore Lim

Theodore Lim is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP). He holds a PhD in City & Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Environmental Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University, and a BA in Immigrant Studies from Swarthmore College.

• PhD: University of Pennsylvania (City & Regional Planning)
• MS: Tsinghua University (Environmental Science and Engineering)
• BA: Swarthmore College (Immigrant Studies)

Theo's research focuses on urban climate adaptation and environmental justice, particularly through participatory action research with marginalized communities. His work bridges environmental science, data modeling, and community engagement to address issues like urban heat resilience using both grassroots and technical approaches.

His recent publications span interdisciplinary topics in climate adaptation, participatory modeling, and urban analytics. Key themes include integrating diverse knowledge systems into environmental governance, addressing power dynamics in socio-ecological systems modeling, and developing trauma-informed approaches to heat resilience planning.

• NSF CAREER Grant for computer model governance in sustainable water quality
• $1M NSF CIVIC Innovation award for heat resilience in Roanoke, VA

Theo mentors students in urban analytics and policy research, with former advisees including PhD student Ayda Kianmehr and undergraduate researcher Jack Carroll. He also serves as Social Media Editor for Planning Theory and Practice.