Wumeng He is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics at Duke Kunshan University. His research explores the economics and culture of environmental conservation in China, focusing on forest ecological compensation, land use transitions, and the interaction between natural and cultural capital. His work combines quantitative analysis, spatial data, and policy evaluation to understand how human activity and institutional design shape ecological outcomes.

Dr. He’s current projects include collaborative studies with colleagues at Duke University and international partners examining land use trade-offs, forest protection programs, and the cultural dimensions of conservation. His broader intellectual interest lies in understanding how societies assign value to nature—economically, culturally, and historically—and how such values inform sustainable policy design.

He teaches courses such as Environmental Economics I & II and Environmental Policy Analysis, integrating theory with experiential learning through carbon market simulations, policy games, and data-driven case studies. Dr. He received his B.A. in Environmental Studies from Brown University, an M.A. in Economics from New York University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy from Duke University.