Prior to joining EdUHK, Professor Jim Chi-yung was the Chair Professor in Geography at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and previously served as Head of the Department of Geography and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at HKU. Professor Jim obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Geology from HKU, his PhD in Agricultural Soil Science from the University of Reading in the UK, and a Certificate in Hydrology from the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colorado.

Professor Jim is recognised internationally as a leading researcher, educator and advocate for understanding, conserving, creating and refining nature in cities. He has published over 300 scientific papers and books, and has accumulated more than 37 years of teaching and research experience in both conceptual and applied domains. The International Society of Arboriculture awarded him the L.C. Chadwick Award for Arboricultural Research in recognition of his research excellence.

Professor Jim’s research revolves around the core theme of nature in the city, encompassing urban ecology, urban forestry, urban soil science, urban climatology, urban green infrastructure, green roofs, green walls (vertical greening), natural and artificial turf, and urban nature conservation. Adopting multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, with an emphasis on compact, densely populated cities, his geographical focus is on Hong Kong and other Chinese cities.

Besides his scholarly work, Professor Jim is active in community service, chairing or serving as a member of a number of government advisory bodies and NGOs. Contributing actively to knowledge exchange, he has extended his research findings to promoting and improving urban greening, especially in the context of high-density urbanisation.