Outreach and Education

January 18, 2020

Taihangshan National Nature Reserve (TNNR) at Henan Province of China will be our study site for the NSF CNH2 project "CNH-L: People, Place, and Payments in Complex Human-Environment Systems". Dr. Li An had a trip to TNNR during January 9-17, 2020.

November 27, 2019

SDSU President de la Torre, Director of SDSU Sponsored Research Contracting and Compliance Sandra M. Nordahl, and Dean of College of Urban and Environmental Sciences (Peking University) Dr. Canfei He have signed a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Complex Human-Environment Systems Center between San Diego State University (SDSU), San Diego State University Research Foundation, and College of Urban and Environmental Sciences (CUES) at Peking University (PKU). This MOU was also approved by California State University Chancellor' office. Learn more about this event.

March 06, 2019

The "Complex Human-Environment Systems (CHES) Center" has been approved by SDSU Deans Council on March. CHES is an international research hub for integrating complex systems theory and human-environment science. The CHES Center is jointly sponsored by San Diego State University (operated by College of Arts and Letters) and Peking University (operated by College of Urban and Environmental Sciences or CUES). In the near future, this CHES will be intrumental to Dr. Li An's newly established $1.45 million grant.

August 22, 2016

Teachers Workshop Spring 2016

Our NSF project team has teamed up with a group of highly-productive local K-12 teachers, in order to use the data, models, and other related information from this project to teach relevant concepts (conservation, coupled natural and human systems, ecosystem services) and principles to students of a variety of age levels and subject areas. See more at this site.




March 25 - April 8, 2016

FNNR Teamwork Spring 2016

Two spring scholars, Michael Cassidy and Inka Cresswell (SDSU undergraduate students), went to the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve (FNNR) in China with funding from Dr. An’s NSF project and SDSU President Leadership Fund (PLF). They experienced all aspects of an international field trip, from camera trapping of monkey behavior, to vegetation sampling, to land use mapping, to a different culture, to new food style … They first worked with Dr. Hsiang Ling Chen for camera deployment and vegetation data collection, then they joined Shuang Yang's household survey at several local villages. View the project blog, Inka's project report, and Michael's project report for more details.



March 5, 2015

By the invitation of Dr. Heejun Chang, Dr. Li An went to Portland State University and presented his research as part of their Winter 2015 Ecosystem Services Seminar sponsored by an NSF IGERT award. More

September 11, 2013

Dr. Li An and Shuang Yang attended the annual Campanile Foundation Board Dinner and presented the poster "The Clock Is Ticking for the Golden Monkeys. More

2013 Summer Workshop

2013 Summer workshop for high school teachers in San Diego.

Research-Education-Outreach Partnership

A Research-Education-Outreach Partnership (REO Partnership hereunder) has been maintained since 2007 between Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve (FNNR) for the endangered Guizhou Golden monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi), San Diego State University, and Chinese Academy of Sciences. The activities under this partnership include:

  • The College of Arts and Letters at SDSU and Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve renewed the agreement for the REO Partnership in October 2016 (here the English and Chinese versions).

  • FNNR delegation's visit of SDSU in Fall 2015.

  • FNNR delegation's visit of SDSU in Spring 2014.

  • FNNR delegation's visit of SDSU in Spring 2013.

  • FNNR delegation's visit of SDSU in Winter 2011.

  • The College of Arts and Letters at SDSU and Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve signed an agreement for the REO Partnership in August 2010 (here the English and Chinese versions).

  • Drs. Aikten, An, Riley and Tan's visit of FNNR in 2009 summer (invited and paid by FNNR's grant from China's Bureau of Foreign Experts; 3 weeks. Three students, Amanda Sheries and Sarah Wandersee from SDSU and a student from Italy, joined the trip. Sarah Wandersee's visit to FNNR from January to March 2010 was part of dissertation data collection.

  • This partnership has caused considerable attention. The 360 Magazine (SDSU's official magazine) and the SDSU Website (as the headline news with a color photo) reported our work after a few interviews.

  • Dr. An's visit of FNNR in 2008 summer (3 weeks).

  • Drs. An, Riley, and Tan's visit of FNNR in 2008 spring (2 weeks).

  • Dr. An's visit of FNNR in 2007 summer (3 weeks).