Jack Liu gets Gunnerus Award in Sustainability Science | MSUToday

Liu requires a holistic approach to intricate issues where folks interact with the atmosphere.

Individuals and mother nature are one

Liu’s overarching information is that no scientific foundation exists for distinguishing among humans and nature. The two are inseparable, for improved or for worse. Liu’s investigate assists us deal with the various wounds and scars we expose our earth to.

Liu is a planet chief in the get the job done of integrating ecology with other disciplines, these types of as the social sciences, insurance policies and various systems that can assistance us have an understanding of and promote international sustainability.

“Dr. Liu’s outstanding scholarship beautifully signifies Michigan State University’s determination to fostering engaged investigation that helps make a sustainable effects to boost high-quality of daily life,” explained MSU Provost Teresa K. Woodruff. “We commend Dr. Liu on this global recognition of his great contributions in help of sustainable advancement – in particular for the ways in which his function has catalyzed real policy adjust and broadened our collective knowledge of the interconnectedness in between people and nature.”

Entire world chief in integration

His do the job has led to improved analysis collaboration, interaction, instruction and expertise sharing with the common general public. He is the founding director of MSU’s Centre for Techniques Integration and Sustainability.

Liu started the International Network of Analysis on Coupled Human and Natural Programs (CHANS-Internet.org), which promotes collaboration and communication amid researchers from multiple disciplines worldwide.

He has been involved with some 380 publications, 26 of which have appeared in Science and Nature. He is one of the most cited researchers in his subject.

Liu’s scientific conclusions have contributed to good environmental improvements, particularly in China. Examples are the conservation of pandas, better management of guarded parts and basically a revolution in environmental protection in the region that has tremendous implications for worldwide sustainability and local weather improve mitigation.

Proposes concrete improvements

“His significant perform with ecological contexts and organic range is of terrific significance. In specific, he’s revealed how diverse disciplines require to do the job alongside one another for sustainable progress,” mentioned Anne Borg, rector at the Norwegian university.

Professor Liu was a coordinating lead author of the worldwide assessment of organic variety and ecosystems executed by the Intergovernmental Science-Plan Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Companies.

Liu’s appointment is in the Office of Fisheries and Wildlife in the Faculty of Agriculture and Normal Means. Right before coming to Michigan Condition, Liu was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard. He was also a viewing scholar at Harvard, as nicely as at Stanford and Princeton universities.

Liu has obtained a variety of intercontinental awards and was elected to the American Philosophical Society (America’s oldest realized society) in 2015.

The Gunnerus Award in Sustainability Science is scheduled to be awarded on Oct. 1 throughout an celebration in Trondheim, Norway, barring a pandemic-associated have to have to improve the strategy.

Previous winners of the Gunnerus Award in Sustainability Science are biologist Kamal Bawa, environmental researcher Carl Folke and ecology professor Sandra M. Díaz.

This story is reprinted from the MSU Center for Methods Integration and Sustainability.