Colleen Chiu-Shee

About Colleen Chiu-Shee

Colleen Chiu-Shee brings a professional background in architecture and urban design as well as scholarly trainings in social sciences. She is broadly interested in pathways towards more sustainable urban futures. Her research explores innovative spatial and sociopolitical interventions that transcend conventional paradigms to advance environmental sustainability and foster socio-ecological equity. Dr. Chiu-Shee’s doctoral dissertation critically examined how developing countries forge adaptive capacity while grappling with the dual challenges of environmental degradation and rapid urbanization. This investigation was framed through the lens of eco-city experiments in China. Continuing to broaden her intellectual horizons, Dr. Chiu-Shee extends her purview across international boundaries and diverse cultural contexts and employs a comparative analytical framework to reimagine green city practices beyond failure.

Dr. Chiu-Shee’s scholarly contributions encompass her commitment to cross-disciplinary dialogue within the realm of urban studies. This commitment involves forging connections among diverse knowledge domains, experiences, and epistemological perspectives across global boundaries. She has developed collaborative initiatives bridging insights between North America and Asia. These initiatives include a range of subjects, including housing policy and affordability, community development and collective governance, urban informality and land politics, climate resilience in vulnerable regions, land reclamation and coastal development, masterplanned new cities, and digital infrastructure for pandemic management.

Amid the challenges posed by the pandemic, Dr. Chiu-Shee embarked on a transcontinental journey, immersing herself in disparate sociopolitical landscapes. This enriching experience has cultivated a profound cross-cultural outlook. She concluded a postdoctoral fellowship at the Asia Research Institute (ARI) at the National University of Singapore, and she continues to contribute as an Associate in ARI’s Urbanisms Cluster. Prior to joining UIUC, Dr. Chiu-Shee held of position of Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Hong Kong. Her teaching revolves around the intersection of design and planning theory and practice. She advocates experiential learning, reflective practice, and cosmopolitan engagement and integrates these principles into her pedagogical approach.