The SCI-China program is excited to welcome five new visiting scholars from China this year. These new visiting scholars are from Chengdu Institute of Planning and Design and China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. LTD. They are professional planners specializing in economic development, transportation planning and analysis, and landscape design. During their 9-month stay here at Oregon, these scholars will learn about planning issues via opportunities to take classes and conduct research on campus, have guided visits to various projects, and engage in experience-sharing with Oregon planning professionals.

The visiting scholars spent a busy October learning about sustainable urban development projects in Eugene and Portland, Oregon. The group had a three-hour bike tour of Eugene with City Transportation Planner, Rob Inerfeld. They also rode on Portland’s newest light rail—the Orange line, and shared experiences and insights with regional transportation planners at Lane County. They received lectures on various topics from Tom Schwetz, Planning and Developement manager, Lane Transit District; Robert Liberty, Director, Institute for Sustainable Solutions and Urban Sustainability Accelerator at Portland State University; and Metro’s chief economist, Dennis Yee. It has been an “eye-opening experience” for the visiting scholars.

For more information about SCI-China, including becoming a visiting scholar, hosting a visiting scholar, or conducting research or professional training on cross-Pacific issues, please contact SCI-China Program Director Yizhao Yang.