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Professor Kan Zihan from the Department of Geography and Resource Management at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has received the 2026 International Geographical Union (IGU) Early Career Award. She is the first scholar from a Hong Kong institution to be honoured with this prestigious international accolade since its inception.

The award was presented to Professor Kan by IGU President Professor Nathalie Lemarchand last month in Istanbul, Türkiye. Selected through a rigorous global review process chaired by former IGU First Vice President Professor Joos Droogleever Fortuijn, Professor Kan was recognised for her pioneering research in human mobility, environmental exposure and spatial equity. The IGU praised her contributions to addressing pressing societal challenges and her role as an inspiring leader and role model for the next generation of geographers.

Professor Kan said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this international recognition. This achievement belongs equally to my dedicated team, collaborators and mentors. I am grateful to my colleagues, the department and the University for their unwavering support and guidance. I look forward to continuing our work in translating advanced geospatial insights into tangible solutions for sustainable, healthy and liveable cities.”

Bridging cutting-edge geospatial methods with urban health and sustainability

With more than 100 publications in top-tier journals, Professor Kan’s research focuses on developing innovative geospatial analytical methods to examine the critical interactions between human activities and the environment. Utilising movement flows as a primary analytical lens, her interdisciplinary research tackles pressing urban challenges, including environmental impacts on human health, transport-related emissions, traffic congestion and the health effects of the built environment. By integrating advanced GIScience methodologies directly with urban planning and environmental health, she has developed robust, data-driven models that give city planners and policymakers practical tools to design healthier and smarter urban environments.

Professor Kan’s research leadership is further reflected in her strong track record of securing highly competitive national and local research grants. She has served as Principal Investigator on multiple projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (including both the Young Scientists Fund and General Program), the Research Grants Council’s General Research Fund, and the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation.

This historic achievement demonstrates CUHK’s commitment to empowering early-career researchers, cultivating academic leadership and driving research that yields meaningful societal impact, while highlighting the University’s pivotal role in advancing the position of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area as a leading global hub for geographical science and sustainable urban innovation.