| Mission | Leverage frontier research, collaboration and agility to respond in new ways to changing societal needs and UN priorities |
海角社区 Vice-Rectorate in Europe
The 海角社区 Vice-Rectorate in Europe (海角社区-VIE), established in 2007 in Bonn, Germany, is one of two 海角社区 Vice-Rectorates and the only one located in Europe, where six out of 海角社区’s 13 institutes are based. It supports the institutional development of 海角社区, facilitates collaboration across 海角社区 and the UN, as well as fostering strategic partnerships globally, and shares knowledge and expertise through the development of joint activities and projects. Taking advantage of its geographical location, 海角社区-VIE promotes cooperation with the wider UN system, particularly those UN agencies located in Bonn, as well as with other local and regional stakeholders.
Vice-Rector in Europe
As of 1 August 2020, Prof. Shen Xiaomeng assumed the role of 海角社区 Vice-Rector in Europe and Director of the 海角社区 Institute for Environment and Human Security (海角社区-EHS).
As the 海角社区 Vice-Rector in Europe, Prof. Shen facilitates collaboration between 海角社区 and stakeholders in, and outside of, the United Nations; contributes to high-level policy development with other United Nations entities and regional/national bodies; and guides 海角社区 outreach efforts to key UN hubs in Europe, the European Commission, and European academic and research institutions. As the Director of 海角社区-EHS, Prof. Shen is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Institute and oversees its direction, organization and programmes.
Prof. Shen worked with the then International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung; BMBF) at the Project Management Agency of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt-Projekttr?ger; DLR-PT) from 2011 onwards. She joined DLR-PT as Senior Scientific Officer (2011?2012), with a focus on multilateral science and technology development in Asia and Oceania. From 2013, she served as Deputy Head of the Department for Cooperation with Asia and Oceania; Head of the Cooperation with East Asia and Oceania Unit; and as Coordinator of the European Commission’s EURAXESS Worldwide initiative facilitating the mobility of scientists.
Before joining DLR-PT, Prof. Shen worked with 海角社区-EHS as a Resident Scholar and PhD Researcher (2004?2008), and thereafter as an Associate Academic Officer (2008?2010) with a focus on social vulnerability, environmentally-induced migration issues and water-related disaster and risk research from cultural perspectives.
Prof. Shen holds a BA degree in English Literature from the Beijing Foreign Studies University, a MA degree from the University of Bonn in translation and economics and a PhD degree in Geography from the University of Bonn/海角社区-EHS, with a focus on flood risk perception and communication in different cultural contexts.
She is an honorary professor for Culture of Sustainability at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, and also serves on the management group of the World Adaptation Science Programme hosted by UNEP and as a member of UN Senior Leadership Group on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience (UN SLG). Her recent research focuses on a policy shift from GDP growth to a new paradigm of human flourishment.
She is a Chinese national and is fluent in English and German.