The Network for the Study of Social Ecological Systems Transformation was initiated in May 2026 and is coordinated by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance to consolidate our partnerships with SES researchers across a number of institutions. We work together to collaborate in conducting interdisciplinary research and knowledge dissemination, pursue funding opportunities and co-authored publications. Together with Society for Social-Ecological Systems (SocSES) and the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC), we are co-organising a joint network webinar series. The launch session is titled “The Evolution of SES Research and Practice in Asia”, featuring Professor Yahua Wang (representing this SES Transformation Network and IASC) and Mofizur Rahman (representing SocSES). “The SES Framework as a Common Language: Reflections Two Decades Later” – Prof. Yahua Wang (Tsinghua University) “A Traveling Idea, A Traveling Self: An Autoethnography of Social-Ecological Systems Thinking” – Mofizur Rahman (Humboldt University of Berlin) Discussant: Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava (Senior Researcher, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg; Director, Wednesdays.for.Water) Moderator: Dr Vivian Ho Yee Chu (Centre for Civil Society and Governance, The University of Hong Kong; Network for the Study of Social Ecological System (SES) Transformation) 🗓️ Date: 23 October (Friday) 🕑 Time: 11:30 AM Bangladesh Time, 12:30 PM ICT, 1:30 PM HKT / Beijing Time, 2:30 PM JST / KST 🔗 Register to attend here 🌐 Webinar info on SocSES website

The Beat the Heat Training & Study Tour was organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Singapore, in partnership with the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) and the Cool Coalition. It brought together international experts, policymakers, and researchers to address urban heat and climate vulnerability for more liveable cities. Two of our Centres staff members, Miss Daisy Yeung and Dr Tai Hu, joined global delegates to explore how Nature-based Solutions (NbS), passive cooling technologies, and collaborative governance can be deployed to strengthen heat resilience across nations. The programme provides an insightful reference for strengthening Hong Kong’s heat resilience. The central lesson we learn from the study tour is that heat exposure can be effectively reduced through design and implementation of passive cooling before relying on energy-intensive cooling measures. For example, Singapore integrates greenery, shade and natural ventilation into urban planning, supported by environmental modelling that helps planners assess how urban development can make use of wind corridors, shadings, and greenery’s evaporative effects to influence local thermal conditions. Climate-sensitive planning was a theme in the training and site visits. At Punggol Digital District (PDD), structural massing and building orientation are aligned with prevailing wind directions. PDD’s car-free boulevard and naturally ventilated public plazas eliminate vehicle heat exhaust. These measures demonstrate why cooling should be considered across neighbourhoods, rather than addressed solely within individual buildings. As a trained botanist, Dr Tai is particularly amazed by the integration of greenery as a passive cooling method. Greenery provides another layer of protection. Singapore’s roadside planting, park networks, rooftop gardens and vegetated façades combine shading with opportunities for biodiversity and recreation. The Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises (LUSH) scheme, in particular, illustrates how planning requirements and incentives can embed greenery within building and city development, making cooling part of the urban fabric rather than an optional addition. The LUSH scheme is very much a policy-driven, regulatory NbS. For Hong Kong, potential priorities during the city’s new urban (re)-development can include more continuous shaded walking routes linking homes, transport and community facilities; targeted tree planting in exposed public spaces; and maybe even trials of cool roofs and external shading on suitable buildings. Whenever possible, urban development projects should prioritise more with the vulnerable demographics in mind, such as older people, outdoor workers and residents with limited mobility, making cooling more affordable and accessible, while accounting for maintenance, typhoon safety and competing uses of space.

Preserving Living Heritage in the Asia-Pacific: The APHEN-ICH 2026 International Forum and General Meeting in Hanoi In August 2026, with our colleague Daisy Yeung’s presence, the Centre participated in the APHEN-ICH 2026 International Forum and General Meeting held at Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi. Over three days, we immersed in conversations with heritage practitioners, researchers, and community innovators, exploring the theme of Living Heritage and Cultural Industries in the Asia-Pacific: Community Creativity, Sustainable Transmission, and Cultural Innovation. Day 1: Navigating and Sustaining Heritage Discussions centred on how communities are creatively adapting Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) through local craft villages, heritage tourism, and digital innovation. What struck us most was the honesty of the practitioners, grappling openly with real tensions: balancing economic benefit with cultural authenticity, and encouraging generational transmission amidst modern career pressures. Rather than viewing marketisation and technology as threats to cultural authenticity, the forum highlighted how creative enterprise can be powerful for transmitting heritage knowledge to younger generations, using digital tools and new market channels,. Day 2: Youth Engagement and the General Meeting The second day speeches focused on youth, ICH and creative futures. The conversation with VNU students showcased their genuine passion for heritage work and a fresh, creative vision for its future. The afternoon APHEN-ICH General Meeting focused on discussing the network's strategic direction for 2026–2028, followed by  a heartfully warm farewell dinner hosted by our VNU colleagues. Day 3: Field Trips to Traditional Craft Villages The forum truly came alive during visits to the Đông Hồ folk painting village and Bát Tràng pottery village. We met a young villager working in community-initiated museums, leading guided tours with passion. He was even developing multilingual self-guided tour elements to make heritage accessible to new audiences — a brilliant example of local youth actively shaping how traditions thrive in the 21st century. When we visited artisans' homes, we heard something you don't find in academic papers: the vulnerability of their position, their pride in their craft, and their pragmatic creativity in adapting the contemporary markets. These exchanges reaffirmed that sustainable transmission it's not about freezing heritage in amber, but enabling communities to choose, adapt and evolve their practices. Looking Forward Our centre recognise that universities must serve as bridges, connecting heritage communities with resources, research support, and platforms for amplifying their voices; supporting young scholars and practitioners in heritage work; and generating knowledge that informs policy and practice. We're energized to deepen our engagement with the APHEN-ICH network and continue to create platforms for dialogue between academics, policymakers, and heritage communities.

The Centre for Civil Society and Governance (CCSG) at HKU, through the “Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment,” aims to harness innovation and technology (I&T) to support people with disabilities (PWD) and promote inclusive employment opportunities. In collaboration with GreenTomato, a leading digital transformation consultancy and AI solutions provider, we delivered a job tasting and discovery workshop for the social sector, students, PWD and industry practitioners. Participants learned about and explored how AI is reshaping job design, skill requirements, and inclusive hiring through interactive demonstrations, sharing session and a company tour. Key Highlights: AI localization and new roles: AI localization is creating new, accessible job opportunities, including AI Quality Support roles that align well with the strengths of PWD and SEN talent. Human-in-the-loop importance: Human oversight remains essential to ensure accuracy, compliance, and contextual judgment in AI applications. Shift to AI collaboration: As AI transforms the workplace, competitiveness is increasingly defined by the ability to collaborate with AI, prompting organizations to rethink job design and broaden their talent pipelines. At the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment, we are dedicated to fostering cross-sector collaborations that turn digital transformation into inclusive employment opportunities.

This project, centred on the 300-year-old Hakka village Lai Chi Wo, set out to conserve traditional knowledge while empowering both the local community and emerging artists. By immersing participants in the village’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, the programme focused on three core elements: Soil, Plant, and Sound. Guided by our staff and experienced mentors, artists explored the landscape, engaged with villagers, and rediscovered traditional crafts. They then translated their insight first in an Open House in Lai Chi Wo, and later in an 8-day exhibition in Central, Hong Kong.  The impact has been profound. Artists not only developed their creativity and traditional craft skills but also acted as bridges between rural wisdom and urban audiences. Activities included interactive workshops with social NGOs. These interactions brought Hakka heritage to life, making it accessible and relevant to a wider public.  Importantly, the project demonstrated the university's effectiveness as a connector, linking academic research, community trainers, and the rural context. The incubation model piloted here highlights how universities can help foster sustainable urban-rural partnerships, positioning villages like Lai Chi Wo as living laboratories for creative, co-created revitalisation.

A new exhibition, “Celebrating Traditional Wisdom Through Art,” will be hosted at the iconic Fringe Club in Central this June. This unique exhibition showcases how sustainability, cultural heritage, and creative expression come together. Since late last year, our Centre has been working with a group of emerging artists where they embarked on an incubation journey in the 300-year-old Hakka village of Lai Chi Wo. Drawing inspiration from the village's rich heritage and landscape, 15 artists have translated their experiences into contemporary artworks centered around three core elements: Soil, Plants, and Sound. From natural dyes created from native plants to soundscapes recorded in the village and ceramic creations, the exhibition offers a refreshing sensory exploration of rural sustainability and community resilience. Exhibition Details: Date: 16-23 June 2026 Time: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Venue: Anita Chan Lai-ling Gallery, The Fringe Club, Central (Google Map) For more information, please visit: https://www.instagram.com/villagelifezine/

To kick off our conference and network launch event for the Network for the Study of Social-Ecological Systems (SES) Transformations, the Centre for Civil Society and Governance hosted a public dialogue on “Building Resilient Urban-Rural Partnerships.” We were very pleased to welcome network members from across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside practitioners, government representatives, and guests from Hong Kong to the event. We would like to sincerely thank Professor Samson Tse, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Ms. Linda So, JP, Director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office, for delivering the opening remarks. Ms. So’s opening speech was both inspiring and timely, reinforcing the importance of advancing nature-based solutions and sustainable practices as well as the government’s understanding of the challenges and opportunities in building a resilient and sustainable future through the Northern Metropolis Development. We were also honoured to have Professor Yahua Wang (Tsinghua University) and Dr. Ruth Meinzen-Dick(International Food Policy Research Institute) as our keynote speakers. Professor Wang explained the challenges of applying the SES framework across contexts due to variability in variable selection and interpretation, while also highlighting the importance of complexity, robustness, collaborative networks, and the potential for integrating AI and SES research. He also reflected on the importance of collaborative networks in working toward a more common SES language. Building on this, Dr. Meinzen-Dick spoke to the importance of bridging theory and practice, transdisciplinarity, and building connections across people, institutions, and disciplines. She highlighted the importance of engaging with property rights and collective action in robust ways, and reflected on how experiential learning fosters collective action. We were pleased to also offer a panel session featuring Professor Maiko Nishi, Professor Ching-Ping Tang, Professor Stephen M.B. Tang, and our Centre Director Professor Wai-Fung Lam. Dr. Winnie Law led a fruitful discussion on critical issues such as challenges in evaluating and understanding social-ecological systems beyond conventional metrics, including how to capture the broader social, ecological, and long-term impacts of these systems and partnerships. Thank you once again to all keynote speakers, panelists, participants, and guests for contributing to such a thoughtful discussion.

The first conference and official launch of the Network for the Study of Social Ecological System (SES) Transformation will take place as a two-day event on 5–6 May 2026, organised by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong. The network brings together scholars working on social-ecological systems, governance, commons, cultural heritage, environmental policy, and sustainability transitions from a range of institutions across the Asia-Pacific and beyond. For more details: https://ccsg.hku.hk/en/network-for-the-study-of-social-ecological-systems-ses-transformation-network-launch/