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 (APU ‘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 dive deeper into their professor’s area of 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.
本科目は、生物多様性保全分野の体験学習に重点を置いている。学生は保全における学際的な概念を探求し、保全の研究と実践に貢献し、環境教育活動に従事する。
Recruiting for Fall 2025
The HC Conservation Zemi will be offered through the College of Sustainability and Tourism from Fall 2025. Students interested in joining the zemi are asked to email Hubert directly for a consultation. In your email, please include the following:
Your CV (English or Japanese; PDF file);
Self-introduction (~150 words in English); and
Statement of interest in biodiversity conservation (~300 words in English).
生物多様性保全に関心のある日本語基準学生のゼミへの参加は歓迎しますが、授業や評価はすべて英語で行われますのでご了承ください。
Click here for the ST Undergraduate Seminar Booklet pages on the HC Conservation Zemi
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.
