Professor Dr. Colleen Chiu Shee

Biography

Colleen Chiu-Shee brings a professional background in architecture and urban design along with scholarly training in social sciences. She is broadly interested in pathways to sustainable urban futures. Her research explores innovative spatial, social, and policy interventions that aim to reform existing practices and foster environmental sustainability and socio-ecological equity. Chiu-Shee’s doctoral dissertation critically examined eco-cities in China and reflected on the experiences of developing countries grappling with the dual challenges of environmental degradation and rapid urbanization. Building on her dissertation, she employed a comparative relational approach to explore green city practices in a broader international context. Her scholarship seeks to bridge theory and practice related to city design and development, aiming to enable cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural dialogues. Chiu-Shee has developed collaborations in North America and Asia, examining a range of subjects such as housing policy, community development, and climate resilience in vulnerable regions. Her teaching engages design planning history, theory, and practice, promoting experiential learning and cosmopolitan engagement. Chiu-Shee co-organized lecture series and workshops to facilitate global scholarly exchange and has served as an International Expert to support China’s international collaborations on environment and development.

Research Interests