Yu Liu

Yu Liu is a Research Fellow at the Department of Technology and Innovation, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), with dual affiliations to the SDU Civil and Architectural Engineering VIP group and SDU Climate Cluster. Their work bridges Danish, Chinese, and global urban contexts through interdisciplinary climate resilience research.

Research focuses on urban green infrastructure as a catalyst for climate adaptation, integrating environmental engineering with social dimensions of urban planning. Key investigations include Sponge City performance evaluation in China, multi-hazard flood-drought management in NDCs, and transformative potential of schoolyards as heatwave shelters. Methodologies combine spatial analysis, user perception studies, and policy implementation frameworks to advance sustainable urban mobility and green space accessibility.

Recent publications reveal three dominant trajectories: (1) empirical validation of nature-based solutions in Chinese urban contexts, (2) socio-technical barriers to green travel adoption across European cities, and (3) integration of local climate action into international policy frameworks. The 2025 Blue-Green Systems paper establishes new evaluation metrics beyond hydrological benefits, while 2024 works emphasize transnational applicability of urban resilience strategies.

Award recognition includes:

• SCC Fast track award (November 2024) for innovative climate adaptation research

Liu leads media engagement on climate-resilient schoolyard design (May 2025 coverage across 4 outlets) and contributes to the EU-funded 'Network to create more holistic approaches to sustainable recreational spaces in Europe' (2024-2025). This project examines cross-cultural implementation of recreational spaces that simultaneously address physical inactivity, social cohesion, and climate extremes across 12 European cities, with field studies in Denmark and Germany.