HC Conservation Lab
HC生物多様性保全学研究室
Mission
Biodiversity conservation
We improve biodiversity outcomes by informing policy and practice through interdisciplinary research.
Philosophy
Our lab is a team
We guide, support and empower one another to achieve individual goals and deliver our collective mission.
Team members
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Hubert Cheung
Principal Investigator
Hubert’s research focuses on wildlife trade, conservation geopolitics, and inclusion in conservation and science. He is a Canadian Hong Konger. Find out more about Hubert here.
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Morgan Do
Undergraduate Researcher (APS ‘26)
Morgan engages environmental issues through the lens of international relations. Her research interests are in environmental peacebuilding and aesthetic politics. Morgan is from Vietnam.
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Zemi
The zemi (ゼミ) is a unique facet of university life in Japan. Students work together in small-group seminars to study an academic area that aligns with their professor’s expertise. The zemi facilitates research-led education by enabling professors to incorporate their research directly into their teaching.
The HC Conservation Zemi at APU is envisaged as an extension of the lab, and will focus on experiential learning. Undergraduate students variously explore advanced concepts in biological science, contribute to conservation research and practice, and engage in environmental education activities.
Recruitment Pending
The HC Conservation Zemi is currently being proposed and will be offered through the College of Sustainability and Tourism in forthcoming semesters (Fall 2025 pending).
In the meantime, undergraduate students interested in biodiversity conservation are encouraged to explore zemis run by Thomas E. Jones and Rie Usui, as we collaborate closely on research.
Global network
We collaborate extensively with interdisciplinary scholars in Japan and around the world to maximize the reach and impact of our conservation research. We work particularly closely with the following groups and individuals:
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Sapienza University of Rome
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Moreno Di Marco’s group investigates the impact of global change on biodiversity, the effect of this impact on humanity, and the strategies to minimize this impact.
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The University of Queensland
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
CBCS is a world-leading solution-oriented research center for biodiversity conservation. CBCS works in partnership with scientists, governments, non-governmental organizations, and industry to solve the most important conservation problems around the world.
Hubert is an alumnus of the Possingham Lab.
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The University of Oxford
Oxford, United Kingdom
This collaborative and interdisciplinary team at the University of Oxford focuses on understanding and addressing the consumer demand aspect of the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade.
We work particularly closely with Amy Hinsley.
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Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Headed by Duan Biggs, the Resilient Conservation lab aims to inform the development of conservation actions and policies that address the intricate challenges of the Anthropocene.
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The University of Tokyo
Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
Nao Takashina’s lab aims to understand methodologies for balancing human activities and ecosystem conservation from an interdisciplinary perspective.
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Yonsei University
Wonju, Gangwon, South Korea
Annie Young Song conducts research on environmental politics and governance in the East Asian region. Currently, she examines (1) China’s role in ocean governance, including marine biodiversity and fishing activities, and (2) environmental security in the Korean peninsula.
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City University of Hong Kong
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Rebecca W.Y. Wong’s research interests concern the intersections of green criminology, illegal trade in protected & endangered wildlife, animal abuse, criminal networks and issues of trust in the underworld.
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National Institute of Environmental Studies
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
Takahiro Kubo and his group at NIES study the economics and behavior change concerning biodiversity conservation, as well as wildlife and tourism management.
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Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Yifu Wang conducts interdisciplinary research on the wildlife trade in China and across Asia, with a particular focus on pangolins.
Opportunities
Are you looking for postdoctoral research opportunities in biodiversity conservation? Maybe you’d like to collaborate as a visiting scholar? Do you want to pursue graduate studies?
We’re seeking senior researchers to join our lab in Beppu, Oita, Japan. Please get in touch, and we can explore funding and scholarship opportunities together.
