On April 16, 2026, Dr. Yuwei Shi, Visiting Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, was recently invited by Zhiyuan College to deliver a lecture titled “Expanding Learning Boundaries: From Ocean Metabolism to the Foundations of Ecological Investment.” Drawing on his interdisciplinary background in science, engineering, finance, and marine conservation, Dr. Shi shared his transition from venture capital to ecological investment.

Using sea cucumber farming and seagrass bed restoration as entry points, Dr. Shi connected micro-level ecological governance with the complexities of “true economics.” He highlighted sea cucumbers as essential “ocean cleaners” and argued that sustainable value can be created through socio-ecosystem construction. He noted that natural ecosystems, community governance, and capital logic are deeply entangled—neither traditional theories nor technical tools alone can address today’s layered challenges.

Dr. Shi presented several case studies. He discussed the Zanja conflict, where poaching of sea cucumbers led to armed intervention, illustrating the vulnerability of ecological investment in geopolitically complex settings. He also underscored the importance of local customs and community empowerment. Through the “mirage” case of HIV vaccine funding dropping from $45 million to $2 million, he warned against cognitive traps behind capital frenzies, urging students to prioritize social impact over short-term returns.

After the lecture, Dr. Shi continued the conversation with students, encouraging them to transform their current learning into real-world action that drives meaningful change.