The Research Center for Transformation & Development of Resource-Exhausted Cities

The Research Center for Transformation & Development of Resource-Exhausted Cities is approved by Hubei Provincial Department of Education (E Jiao Ke [2011] No. 3) in 2011 as the Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences in Universities and Colleges of Hubei. It was established ad operated on the basis of Research on the Removal and Recovery of Heavy Metals in Complex Heavy Metal Industrial Waste Water (by the innovation team of Hubei Provincial Department of Education), Research on Rural Economic Development and Resource-based City Transformation (Hu Shi Fa [2008] No. 41, carried out by the innovation team of Hubei Normal University), Urban Development Institute at Huangshi Branch of Hubei Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, and Hubei Provincial key discipline Applied Economics. Among the 20 staff members of the Center, 10 are professors and 15 hold doctor’s degrees. It is a rationally age-grouped, and well-educated interdisciplinary research team. There are 1 Chutian Scholar, 1 Cihu Scholar, 1 Rainbow Scholar, 2 Hubei Provincial Industry Professors, 2 experts enjoying Hubei Provincial Government Allowance, and 2 Huangshi Outstanding Contribution Experts. Many experts and scholars, including Zhang Wenzhong, Shen Lei, and Dong Suocheng, Researchers of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chen Yao, Researcher of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences；Yu Fawen, Researcher of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences；Yang Yanlin, a PH. D. advisor of Wuhan University; Xu Changsheng, a PH. D. advisor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology；Yan Lidong, a PH. D. advisor of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law；Cheng Jinhua, a PH. D. advisor of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)；Liu Yutang and Qin Zunwen, Vice Presidents of Hubei Academy of Social Sciences, are engaged as Academic Advisors or members of Academic Committees

There are four main research interests:

1. Research on the economic transformation of resource exhausted cities

Under the leadership of Dr. Yan Yongcai, the research team have successively undertaken 7 provincial or ministerial projects including Research on the Implementation Effects and Optimization Paths of Science and Technology Innovation Policies in Hubei Free Trade Zone (Zhang Li, 2019), and The Efficiency Evaluation of Hubei’s Tax Preferential Policies to Encourage Enterprise Technology Innovation(Xia Jing, 2019), The Adaptability Evaluation and Regulation Countermeasure Research of the Industrial Innovation System in Resource-based Cities (Yan Yongcai, 18Q106), Research on Governance Mechanism and Countermeasures of Excess Capacity Based on the Combination of Industry and Finance (Xu Yebiao, 2018), Research on the Path to Improve the Independent Innovation Capability of Resource-based Cities in Hubei Province (Yan Yongcai, 2016ADC046), Research on the Mechanism and Path of Science and Technology Insurance to Support Small and Micro Enterprises' Innovation (Jiang Xilin, 2016ADC045). The team have also published 8 monographs and more than 30 related papers, among which Nie Yazhen's Huangshi City's Choice of Leading Industries won the third prize of the 7th Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award of Hubei Province.

2. Research on social transformation of resource exhausted cities

Under the leadership of Professor Xiao Liuyi, the research team have undertaken 15 scientific research projects and published more than 40 related papers. Among them, Professor Nie Yazhen's Analysis of the Path of Rural Economic Growth Mode Changes in the Underdeveloped Areas won the third prize of Huangshi Social Science Outstanding Achievements. Professor Xiao Liuyi's Driving Force of Labor Flow: Technological Progress won the first prize of Huangshi Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award.

3. Research on the ecological environment in the transformation of resource exhausted cities

Under the leadership of Professor Wang Hukun, the research team have undertaken two projects sponsored by the National Social Science Fund, namely, Research on the Low-Carbon Development Path of China's Urbanization Stage (Yi Yanchun, 14BJY068),  and “The Research on the Current Status and Development Model of China's Low-Carbon Agricultural Economy”(Wu Lezhi, 2012), 4 projects from National Natural Science Foundation, and 60 other projects such as Research on Removal and Recovery Methods of Heavy Metals in Complex Heavy Metal Industrial Waste water, Research on Comprehensive Utilization of Copper Smelting Sludge in Daye Nonferrous Metals Corporation, etc. The team have also participated in the national Ninth Five-Year Plan key research project, 973 projects and the National Natural Science Foundation projects, presided over one of Hubei Provincial Eleventh Five-Year Plan key scientific and technological projects. More than 50 papers and 7 monographs have been published, among which, Professor Wang Hukun's Preparation of granulated adsorption material of water-quenched slag / rectorite composite for removal of Cu (Ⅱ) ions from copper smelter waste water won the third prize of the 13th Hubei Province Natural Science Outstanding Academic Paper.

4. Research on the development of resource exhausted cities

The research team, under the leadership of Professor Nie Yazhen, has made a large number of related achievements. Professor Chen Yanhe and 4 other doctors have participated the“2013 Involving-in-Enterprise Action Plan of Hubei Provincial Department of Education”, and undertook 5 provincial or ministerial projects such as“Research on Strategic Transformation of the Development of Hubei’s Resource-Exhausted Cities” (Deng Guangjun, 2013), “Survey and Research on Hubei Aging Industrial Infrastructure” (Chen Yanhe, 2014). They have published 12 monographs and over 70 papers, and submitted more than 20 research reports, which attracted great attention in the academic and political circles. Professor Nie Yazhen’s research report “Out of Imbalance and toward Harmony”won the third prize of Huangshi Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award;“From the Industrial City to the Ecological City” won the third prize of Hubei Provincial Government’s Hubei Development Research Award in 2009; “Low Carbon Economy Leading the Industrial Transformation of Resource-based Cities won the third prize of the Hubei Provincial Government Hubei Development Research Award in 2011; Nie Yazhen's Sustainable Development Strategy of Resource-Exhausted Cities won the second prize of Huangshi Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award; Liu Jinlin et al’  Industrial Heritage Research of Resource-Exhausted Cities won the second prize of the 10th Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award of Hubei Province.