On May 9, Professor Ian Douglas, president of International Council on Ecopolis Development, visited Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES), Chinese Academy of Science, invited by CAE Academician Rusong Wang. He gave a wonderful presentation entitled Progress on Ecocity Development: from Ideas to Reality. Professor Ian Douglas elaborated the connotation and construction ways of ecocity, listed the typical example of ecocities around the world, and patiently answered the questions raised by researchers and students. The seminar was chaired by Professor Zhiyun Ouyang, vice director of RCEES and director of State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology. More than 100 researchers and postgraduate students participated the seminar. After the presentation, it was followed by a profound and enough communication and discussion between professor Iran Douglas and members of Urban Ecology Research Group.

Professor Iran Douglas is the president of International Council on Ecopolis Development (IntEcopolis), the president of International Society for Human Ecology, the chairman of Commonwealth Human Ecology Council, the former vice president of SCOPE. Iran Douglas has gained the International gold medal of AustraliaGeography Institute. He is the Emeritus Professor of University of Manchester, UK. He had rich experiences in the fields of urban environment, sustainable development, responding to the natural disasters and so on, especially in the region of Asia、Australia and UK. The SCOPE International urban environment and peri-urban ecology study chaired by Professor Iran Douglas had an important influence in the world. Through the communication and discussion, the graduate students had a deeply understanding about the construction of ecocities. Professor Iran Douglas and Academician Rusong Wang are now jointly chairing the Key Research on International Urban Future Project of UNESCO/SCOPE.

State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology

May 14, 2012