....Humanity has passed the threshold where more than half of its population lives in cities. As a region, Asia has the world’s largest urban population, a majority of its megacities, and is experiencing some of its fastest urban growth rates. China has recently released a new urbanization strategy, which aims to achieve 60% urbanization ratio by 2020. Rapid urbanization presents great challenges in terms of the demand for resources, environmental impact and the management of growing cities. It also presents opportunities as cities are at the centre of economic growth and innovation. Cities in Asia provide a living laboratory to deepen our scientific understanding of cities as a human-dominant, complex system under rapid change, and of the opportunity that exists to positively influence the trajectories of urban growth towards sustainability.

Drawing on some of her recent works, and with a particular focus in China and Asia, this talk will explore the followings:

· Drivers and impacts of urbanization

· Environment/resource performance and dynamics of urban systems

· Emerging patterns and pathways and the role of innovative, sustainable urban practices in Asia

· Future of urban research