Water, energy, and food stand as the cornerstone strategic resources underpinning the survival and development of human society, with their significance deeply intertwined with the national economy and people's well-being. This year, the United Nations has earmarked "Glacier Preservation" as the theme for World Water Day. Glaciers, hailed as the "fountainhead of river life", hold approximately 69% of the world's freshwater in storage. The river runoff replenished by their melting serves as a crucial water source for downstream agricultural irrigation. Nonetheless, climate change has precipitated an accelerated retreat of glaciers. This has given rise to a pronounced contradiction: a shortage of irrigation water sources in spring and summer, juxtaposed with an elevated risk of floods in autumn and winter. Research findings indicate that for every 10% hike in the glacier melting rate, the yields of irrigated agriculture could potentially decline by 15-20%.

At ZJUI, there is a professor dedicated to addressing the challenges of sustainable management within global water and food systems amidst the backdrop of climate change. He has spearheaded his team in constructing a collaborative model for water, food, energy, and the environment. This model is centered around exploring the dynamic equilibrium among the sustainable utilization of water resources, regional development, ecological security, and economic growth. Moreover, he is committed to offering innovative solutions to tackle the complex and intractable issues in water resource management.

Today, let's have a conversation with this scholar together—Zhu Tingju, a Professor at the Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI).

Dr. Zhu Tingju, Professor of ZJUI, graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2004. From 2005 to 2018, he worked at the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, D.C. as a Postdoctoral Fellow, Senior Scientist and Research Fellow, conducting interdisciplinary research at the interface of hydrology, engineering, and economics for addressing real-world problems concerning sustainable water resource management, food security and associated socioeconomic outcomes under changing environment. 

01 Homeward Journey Fueled by Educational Passion

Before joining ZJUI, Prof. Zhu Tingju worked at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). As one of the core developers of IMPACT, the Institute's highly influential flagship model, he was mainly responsible for constructing key components in the model, such as global surface hydrology and groundwater hydrology simulation, the transmission of climate change impacts, and climate adaptation scenarios. He enhanced the applicability and reliability of IMPACT in the simulation and analysis of global water and food policies in a changing environment. The related achievements have been widely applied in policy-making by international institutions and many countries around the world, providing important support for the scientific planning and implementation of water and food security and regional development.

At the same time, in the fields of constructing regional hydrological economic models as well as simulating and predicting global water and food systems, Prof. Zhu Tingju has also achieved remarkable accomplishments and obtained a series of eye-catching results. His research has been recognized by the Editors’ Choice Award (2011) of Water Resources Research (WRR), the flagship water journal of the American Geophysical Union, WRR Research Highlight (2018) and the INFORMS ENRE Best Publication Award in Natural Resources (2018), among others.

In today's era of rapid development, amidst an unprecedented wave of transformation, he looks forward to seizing opportunities bravely. While realizing his personal value, he also hopes to contribute to social development. His research on water resources and food systems is like sowing seeds in the soil. Even though it may seem insignificant, it will eventually converge into a green force that impacts the world and injects vitality into sustainable development.

"Zhejiang University and UIUC, both being top-tier universities globally, have long-established and renowned academic reputations in the academic community. Against the backdrop of the booming development of interdisciplinary education, ZJUI, as an international platform that integrates the educational advantages of China and the West, with its innovative interdisciplinary educational model, has a strong appeal to me,"said Prof. Zhu Tingju. In his view, in the tide of the globalization of higher education, the uniqueness of ZJUI lies in that it is not only a collision ground for Eastern and Western educational philosophy but also an experimental field for interdisciplinary innovation. The high-quality disciplinary resources, international academic atmosphere, faculty and students from all over the world, and the beautiful campus environment of ZJUI all present an excellent opportunity for his development.

In 2018, he officially joined ZJUI.

02 Research Endeavors Bear First Fruits

In recent years, the research group led by Prof. Zhu Tingju has focused on the in-depth integration of the theoretical innovation of hydrological-economic models and the practice of regional water resources management. In the research of modeling theory, adhering to a problem-oriented approach, the research group has explored engineering measures, management strategies, and policy tools for the sustainable development of water resources by integrating the principles of water science and engineering, the theories of agricultural and resource economics, and operational research methods.

When selecting typical regions, Prof. Zhu Tingju led his research group to meticulously construct several hydrological-economic models with different characteristics. At the regional scale, the research group developed models for the Hetao Irrigation District in Inner Mongolia and the Qingtongxia Irrigation District in Ningxia. These models are like precisely tailored "magnifying glasses" for these two major irrigation districts, enabling a clear insight into the details of their water resources and land use, and predicting their responses to changes in external resources and market conditions. At the river basin scale, the research group established hydrological-economic models for the Yellow River Basin and the Lancang-Mekong River Basin. These models are like intelligent "navigation devices" for these ever-flowing rivers, thus helping to explore the collaborative code between water resources and economic development within the river basins.

The research group utilized these models to conduct in-depth research based on the characteristics of different regions, covering a wide range of issues. Taking the regional and basin levels as examples, the research group has been making every effort to explore the path of coordinated optimization of "water-food-energy-ecology". Through these efforts, they hope to achieve the most efficient use of resources while protecting the ecological environment and maintaining a balance between the two. When talking about the future, Prof. Zhu Tingju is full of anticipation. "In addition to focusing on the innovation of theoretical knowledge in the professional field, we should also contribute to the world’s sustainable water resource management and food security, making every drop of water yield more wheat ears."

▲ The Conceptual Elaboration of the Coordinated Optimization of "Water-Food-Energy-Ecology" in Arid Environments (Derived from the Doctoral Dissertation of Dr. Cao Zhaodan in the Research Group)

Under the influence of Prof. Zhu Tingju's words and deeds, the students in the research group are also actively engaged in tackling the technical challenges in the field of sustainable development of water resources systems. And for Prof. Zhu Tingju, the most fulfilling moment is witnessing his students gradually become independent and start to make academic contributions.

Luo Yuanyuan, a master's student under the guidance of Prof. Zhu Tingju, told us, "When I first joined the research group, my knowledge reserve was insufficient. Prof. Zhu Tingju was always extremely patient and guided me step by step. On the path of academic exploration, Prof. Zhu Tingju carefully guided me to review literature and build models, opening the door to the field of water resources systems engineering for me and allowing me to delve deeply into the knowledge related to optimal water resources management." Inspired by Prof. Zhu Tingju, Luo Yuanyuan is about to go to the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School to start her doctoral studies. She will continue to engage in in-depth research in the fields of climate change and ecosystems and hopes to achieve more outstanding results in the interdisciplinary field of water resources management, food security, and sustainable development in the future.

▲ Luo Yuanyuan (the third from the left in the second row), a master's student under the guidance of Prof. Zhu Tingju, completed the defense of her master's degree thesis

03 Nurturing Students with Tender Care to Foster Growth

Moreover, in the classroom, Prof. Zhu Tingju always tries to simplify complex issues and explain profound theories in an easy-to-understand way. He breaks down complex professional knowledge into easily comprehensible parts and, with vivid examples, patiently guides students to understand. When explaining complex hydrology concepts, he would combine real-world cases, such as the calculation of storm runoff in urban flood control projects, the rational allocation of water for hydropower generation and agricultural irrigation, etc. This enables students not only to clearly master theoretical knowledge but also to thoroughly understand how these knowledge can be precisely applied to actual water resource management. Whenever a student shows a confused expression, he would pause the lecture, gently ask if there are any questions, and give students sufficient opportunities to express themselves. "Prof. Zhu Tingju attaches great importance to interaction and communication with students. After class, he always patiently answers students' questions. For students who encounter difficulties in learning, Prof. Zhu Tingju shows even more concern and is willing to spend extra time to provide them with careful guidance." Zheng Li, an undergraduate student in civil engineering from the class of 2025 and the teaching assistant for Prof. Zhu Tingju's CEE450 Surface Hydrology, told us.  

Outside the classroom, he also serves as the students' "spiritual mentor". With his nurturing support and company, he has become a solid backing on the students' path to growth.

▲ Photo of Zhang Rui and Professor Zhu Tingju

When Zhang Rui, an undergraduate in the class of 2021 in civil engineering of ZJUI, first entered ZJUI, she encountered some difficulties in her studies due to lack of confidence. However, with the careful help of Prof. Zhu Tingju, everything took a positive turn. Prof. Zhu Tingju is known for his unassuming demeanor and deep care for students. He demonstrates remarkable patience, especially with undergraduate students in their early years who may still be building their foundational knowledge. With great meticulousness, he guides them through each step of the learning process, encouraging them to strengthen their professional roots by actively exploring and engaging with academic literature. Guided by Prof. Zhu Tingju, Zhang Rui gradually immersed herself in research on water resources systems engineering. Her work focuses on the scientific planning, optimal design, and efficient operation management of complex water systems—a focus that not only deepened her expertise but also solidified her decision to pursue this field as her academic specialization. "Without the support of Prof. Zhu Tingju, I might have been stuck in a low ebb and unable to get out. But Prof. Zhu Tingju's trust really gave me a great impetus to continue believing in myself," Zhang Rui said.