FCU Construction and Disaster Prevention Research Center and ARUP Co-Host Workshop on Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability

As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify worldwide, enhancing urban resilience has become a critical issue for both academia and industry. On April 16, the Construction and Disaster Prevention Research Center at Feng Chia University and the global engineering consultancy Arup Group Limited (ARUP) jointly organized the “Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Mini Workshop.”

Drawing on extensive international experience, the workshop provided a platform for interdisciplinary exchange on climate adaptation and sustainable development. Dr. Wei F. Lee, Managing Director and East Asia Arup Fellow of ARUP’s Taipei Office, emphasized that addressing increasingly uncertain climate risks requires the integration of engineering expertise, policy planning, and international collaboration to effectively advance adaptation efforts.

The workshop featured two keynote presentations and welcomed faculty members and students from multiple disciplines across Feng Chia University. Participants included Bing-Jean Lee, Distinguished Chair Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering; Assistant Professors Wei-Chen Tseng and Chih-Hsuan Liu from the same department; Chia-Ling Chang, Chair of the Department of Water Resources Engineering and Conservation; Associate Professor Chen-Chia Huang; and Associate Professor Sung-Yueh Yang from the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Information.

The first keynote address, “Responding to Systemic Climate Risk Through Integrated Adaptation,” was delivered by Dr. Kaitlin Shilling of ARUP, who explored comprehensive approaches to climate adaptation strategies. This was followed by Dr. Vincent Cheng, Director of ARUP, who presented “Sustainable Design for APAC Cities,” sharing successful examples of sustainable urban development across the Asia-Pacific region.

Bing-Jean Lee, Distinguished Chair Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering, poses with Dr. Wei F. Lee, Managing Director and East Asia Arup Fellow of ARUP Taipei; Dr. Kaitlin Shilling; and Dr. Vincent Cheng during their visit to the Construction and Disaster Prevention Research Center at Feng Chia University.

Following the presentations, a panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Ping-Hsien Lin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Water Resources Engineering and Conservation and Division Head of the Construction and Disaster Prevention Research Center.

Faculty members, students, and ARUP experts engaged in in-depth discussions on climate change, sustainability, and the future of resilient urban development. The lively exchange of ideas not only brought the workshop to a successful conclusion but also laid the groundwork for future collaboration between FCU and ARUP in climate adaptation and sustainability initiatives.

The Construction and Disaster Prevention Research Center has long focused on climate change adaptation and disaster prevention research. Through numerous projects commissioned by central and local governments, the Center has accumulated significant expertise in areas ranging from flood-prone area management to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for environmental resilience.

Moving forward, the Center will continue leveraging its interdisciplinary strengths to advance research and practical applications in urban flood mitigation, climate adaptation policy, and sustainable development, further reinforcing its commitment to environmental sustainability and societal resilience.

The Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Mini Workshop, jointly organized by the Construction and Disaster Prevention Research Center at Feng Chia University and ARUP, was held in the Fourth International Conference Hall on April 16.