The N.E.T. Program Award Committee is honored to name PhD candidate in Ecology Meizi You as a recipient of the 2025 N.E.T. Award for Academic Excellence.
Now entering her fourth year at NYU Shanghai, to You, the award recognition represents “more than financial support—it affirms my research direction and potential.” You’s research explores how urban residents perceive and respond to climate change, and how these perceptions can help shape climate-adaptive urban planning through both infrastructure and participatory mechanisms.
For You, the decision to pursue a PhD in the N.E.T. program signified a, “surprising but deeply meaningful turning point in my life,” that’s allowed her to make a conscious effort to engage with climate change and civic responsibility. “I’ve been fascinated by how ordinary people—despite lacking institutional power—can still shape climate adaptation through perception, action, and advocacy,” You comments. “In many cities of the Global South, the gap between public voice and planning decisions is profound. I hope my work can help bridge this divide.”
Working closely with her advisor, LOUD Co-director and Assistant Professor of Urban Science and Policy ChengHe Guan, You’s research leverages social media analytics, complexity theory, and AI-driven models to explore urban heat perception and optimize urban green spaces by informing meaningful policy changes. “Professor ChengHe Guan is a truly unique mentor,” You shares. “He gave me early exposure to the realities of both academia and the professional world and offered me significant freedom in my research, which allowed me to complete projects independently from an early stage. Every experience I’ve had in our lab has left a lasting impression.”
Straddling multiple disciplines, You has worked to expand her research horizons through collaboration. “Complex urban issues require complex thinking. Collaborating with experts from public health, energy, ecology, and urban planning has allowed me to see problems from multiple angles and design more comprehensive solutions. Interdisciplinary work not only makes research more rigorous but also more relevant to real-world challenges.”
The N.E.T. Program has played a critical role in helping her navigate this complexity. “My research requires a broad and integrated understanding of diverse knowledge and tools,” she reflects. “There’s no shortcut—I've had to learn gradually, make mistakes, and iterate. Each step feels like stitching together a larger intellectual map to find truly valuable and impactful questions.”
Participation in the N.E.T. community has provided lasting support and inspiration. “Through seminars, roundtables, and collaborative projects, I’ve gained access to diverse perspectives, improved my communication skills, and learned to work across disciplines. In the early stage of my research, this vibrant community gave me confidence and a sense of belonging.”
Looking back on the award process, You shares: “My work is built upon the collective contributions of many scholars who’ve come before me. Their foundational work allows my research to keep evolving. At this stage of my academic journey, such recognition is especially meaningful.”
The N.E.T. Award Committee congratulates Meizi You on her achievements and looks forward to the continued success of her research.