[Yangtze Forum] Prof. Shi Zhilei from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law Lectures on Yangtze Forum as a guest speaker

On the afternoon of May 20, Professor Shi Zhilei, Dean of the School of Economics at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, delivered an academic lecture titled “Urban Green Development and Infant Health: A Neighborhood-Based Spatial Analysis” at the 216th Yangtze Forum, held in the Social Security Research Center of Wuhan University.

In his lecture, Prof. Shi pointed out that while China has several large-scale surveys covering general populations, research targeting specific groups or special cohorts often suffers from sample scarcity. To address this gap, his team launched the Wuhan Birth Cohort Survey (WBCS) in 2020, focusing on individuals born in Wuhan that year. The long-term study gathers data on personal, family, and community-level factors affecting human development, including social cognition, emotional development, behavior, education, career progression, marital status, health, and life expectancy

Professor Shi Zhilei then provided a detailed empirical introduction to the research methods and content of the current project. His explanation progressed step by step, combining depth with clarity, making complex technical concepts and research models accessible and easy to understand. As a result, the faculty and students in attendance gained a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which urban green development impacts neonatal health.

Professor Shi went on to share three key research findings and insights from the project. First, the urban green environment serves as an important vehicle for "investing in people." Investments in green spaces at the community level play a positive role in alleviating "urban diseases," improving citizens’ well-being, and enhancing neonatal health, particularly that of newborns from disadvantaged families. Second, efforts should be made to strengthen the cultivation of residents’ green literacy, encouraging the formation of values that emphasize respect for, closeness to, and protection of nature. This in turn can help generate greater socio-economic benefits from urban ecological development. The government should organize diverse and informative public education initiatives to raise residents’ green literacy.

During the discussion session, Professor Shi engaged in in-depth exchanges with faculty and students on topics such as research themes, data collection, and empirical design, and patiently addressed the questions raised. Professor Meng Yingying delivered the concluding remarks. She noted that Professor Shi’s lecture offered both profound theoretical analysis and cutting-edge mathematical models, as well as vivid discussions on urban green development and in-depth insights into current demographic trends. It provided valuable inspiration for understanding reforms in the field of social security and for advancing the Healthy China initiative.

(Edited by: Zhang Dingling)