Chia-Pin Yu
Dr. Chia-Pin Yu is a professor at the School of Forestry and Resource Conservation at National Taiwan University (NTU) and also serves as the Deputy Director of NTU’s Experimental Forest. From 2019 to 2020, he was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University. He was listed among the top 2% of the most-cited scientists globally in the Stanford/Elsevier ranking in 2022, 2023, and 2024. His research interests include nature, recreation, and human health, forest therapy, health tourism, and the application of new technologies (such as virtual reality) in nature-based recreation and tourism research. His research adopts evidence-based approaches to understand the physiological and psychological health benefits of nature-based recreation experiences from a health perspective.
Education
Ph.D.
Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana
Dept. of Recreation, Park and Tourism Study
Leisure behavior with a minor in Marketing
Dissertation: Investigating resident attitudes toward tourism development: A community quality of life perspective.
Advisor: Dr. Shu Cole
MPA
National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
Institute of Public Affair Management, College of Management
Thesis: A study on the donors’ behavior intention to NPOs — Applying Theory of Planned Behavior.
Advisor: Dr. Guo-liang Huang
B.S.
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Dept. of Agricultural Economics, College of Bio-resources and Agriculture
Position
Professor
08. 2023 - now
School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University
Associate Director, University Courses Division
08. 2023 - now
Digital Learning Center, National Taiwan University
Deputy Director
08. 2018 - 07. 2019, 08. 2023 - now
The Experimental Forest, National Taiwan University
Visiting Scholar
08. 2019 - 07. 2020
Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University
Associate Professor
08. 2018 - 07. 2023
School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University
Head of Teaching and Research Division
08. 2017 - 07. 2018
The Experimental Forest, National Taiwan University
Assistant Professor
08. 2012 - 07. 2018
School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University
Service
Professional Service
- Chair. Taiwan Forest Therapy Society, Taiwan (2022-present)
- General secretary. Taiwan Forest Therapy Society, Taiwan (2016-2022)
- Fulbright campus advisor.
Fulbright Foundation (2021-present) - Grant reviewer. Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (2018-present)
- Government contract reviewer. Forestry Bureau, Taiwan (2018-present)
- Co-author. White Book of Taiwan Forests Future — Forest ecotourism and forest therapy,Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency,Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan (2020)
University Service
- Department
Admissions committee; Spatial planning committee; Curriculum committee; Student advisory committee; Teaching evaluation committee; Promotion and tenure committee. - College
Journal editor of college of bioresources & agriculture; Curriculum committee; College affairs representative; Deputy Director of the Experimental Forest. - University
Associate director, Digital Learning Center, National Taiwan University
Public Engagement
In my career as a researcher specializing in the interdisciplinary field of environmental health and forest therapy, I have passionately pursued public engagement. My research on the health benefits of forest therapy has garnered significant media attention, helping to raise public awareness about the connection between forests and human health. A notable highlight was my feature in a news segment by Zhongtian News titled “Human Laboratory—Forest Therapy Science,” which aired in August 2017 and reached about 530,000 views. This segment highlighted the restorative effects of forest therapy, increasing the public’s growing interest in this area. More recently, I was invited to serve as a supporting actor in the popular reality show “Extreme Forest 2,” where I portrayed a professor and forest therapist. My role involved facilitating the restorative forest experiences of other actors, further promoting the concept of forest and health promotion to the general public through entertainment marketing.
Beyond media appearances, more than twenty media platforms, such as Huashi News Magazine, Da-Ai Television, and the Meide Character Magazine (Podcast), have been instrumental in disseminating my research findings. My public speaking engagements have included more than fifty lectures and workshops for organizations like the Wilderness Conservation Association, the Asian Experiential Education Association, and various forest therapy professional workshops, reaching around 1,500 participants in total.
My work in shaping forest therapy-related policies has been one of my most significant contributions.
Since 2017, I have been actively involved with the Taiwan Forestry Bureau, assisting in the execution of the “Forest Therapy Development Strategy and Action Plan.” This initiative outlined the promotion strategies for forest therapy in Taiwan. In 2018, I contributed to the “Forest Recreation Area Forest Therapy Health Promotion Plan,” focusing on the planning and design of forest therapy activities in national forest recreation areas. Furthermore, our team assisted the Taiwan Forestry Bureau in developing the Taiwan Forest Therapy Certificate, training forest therapists, and providing services to the public.
My advocacy for forest therapy has extended beyond national borders. I have had the honor of being invited to speak in places like Hong Kong, Italy, and at esteemed institutions such as Harvard University, North Carolina State University, and Clemson University. My tenure as a Fulbright Senior Visiting Scholar Fellow (2019-2020) at Harvard University’s School of Public Health enabled me to collaborate on research related to biophilic design and the application of virtual reality in natural health benefits. Additionally, my contribution to the International Handbook of Forest Therapy assists in training forest therapists worldwide.
My journey in public engagement and research has been incredibly fulfilling, enhancing both academic understanding and public awareness. My efforts in policy-making and international collaboration in forest therapy and environmental health underscore the critical role that scientific research plays in shaping public policy and enhancing societal well-being.
Honors and Awards
Listed in the world’s top 2% of
the most-cited scientists
by Stanford University
2022, 2023
Ioannidis, John P.A. (2023), October 2023 data-update for
“Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators”, Elsevier Data Repository, V6, doi:10.17632/btchxktzyw.6
Research Performance Premium,
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
2021-2024
Fulbright Senior Scholar Fellowship,
Fulbright Foundation, US
2019-2020
Young Scholar Elite Grant Award,
Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
2016-2018
Talent Scholar Premium,
National Science Council, Taiwan
2012-2015
Outstanding Doctoral Student Award,
Indiana University Bloomington, US
2009
Research Excellence Award,
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
2017-2023
Laurel Research Project Fellowship,
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
2016-2018
Excellent Teaching Award,
National Taiwan University, Taiwan
2014-2018
Dissertation Fellowship Award,
Indiana University Bloomington, US
2011
Study Abroad Fellowship
(marine leisure focus),
Ministry of Education, Taiwan
2008