Prof. Benjamin Horton Featured in SCMP: Hong Kong Emerges as a Safe Haven for Climate Researchers

In a recent South China Morning Post (SCMP) feature, Prof. Benjamin Horton, Dean of the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), highlighted a dynamic shift in global climate science, with Asia emerging as a key destination for top researchers. SEE has received a surge of applications from early-career scientists at leading U.S. institutions, reflecting growing international interest in the region’s research opportunities.

SEE has seen a notable increase in job applications from early-career researchers affiliated with prestigious U.S. universities, including Columbia, Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford and Yale. According to Prof. Horton, half of the more than 20 candidates for assistant professorships were currently based at top American institutions.

To support young scientists facing funding cuts and career uncertainty in the U.S., Prof. Horton has personally reached out to colleagues there to share job opportunities at CityUHK—offering Hong Kong as a “safe haven” for promising researchers seeking stability and impact.

Prof. Horton took up his new position at SEE in April with the goal of establishing a climate research hub at CityUHK. He emphasized that the university’s proactive recruitment strategy could serve as a model for other Asian institutions, fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment for scientific innovation. He also noted that this shift presents an opportunity to advance equity in science, particularly in areas of race, gender, and sexuality.

With a vision to elevate SEE by recruiting ideal candidates focused on solving environmental challenges across Hong Kong, mainland China, and Southeast Asia, Prof. Horton’s leadership marks an exciting new chapter for climate research in the region.

For the full article, please refer to the original SCMP publication (Link).