On January 13, 2023, Professor Xu Ming of the University of Michigan was invited to the center to give an academic report entitled "Carbon Neutralization and Life Cycle Thought". More than 100 teachers and students of the center participated in the report.
Professor Xu Ming starts from the concept of carbon neutrality and how to achieve it, and then points out that the Carbon footprint based on life cycle assessment may become an important carbon neutrality technical indicator in the future. After a comprehensive review of the origin and development process of life cycle assessment, Professor Xu analyzed the role of life cycle thinking in achieving carbon neutrality, focusing on brainstorming and targeted analysis. Finally, he emphasized the issue of data acquisition and supplementation in life cycle assessment. After the report, the participating teachers and students had in-depth discussions with Professor Xu on life cycle assessment of Electric vehicle battery, the joint application of life cycle assessment methods and input-output models, domestic and foreign carbon labeling policies and other issues.
Xu Ming received his bachelor's and master's degrees in environmental science and engineering from Tsinghua University in 2003 and 2006 respectively, and his doctor's degree in civil and Environmental engineering from Arizona State University in 2009. He is currently a professor in the School of Environment and Sustainable Development and a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental engineering of the University of Michigan. The research field involves environmental systems engineering and industrial ecology. In 2016, he was awarded the highest CAREER Award by the National Science Foundation for Young Teachers in the United States. In 2021, he won the highest award of Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize for scientists in the middle of their career from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Served as the editor in chief of the journal Resources, Conservation&Recycling (2020 Impact Factor 10.204, Chinese Academy of Sciences Zone 1). Due to his outstanding contributions in the field of ecological industries, he was awarded the International Society for Industrial Ecology Youth Scientist Award (Laudie Award) in 2015, and was elected as the President of the Gordon Research Conference on Industrial Ecology in 2014. He was also elected as the President of the International Industrial Ecology Society (term 2023-2024).
