Cang Hui () is a mathematical ecologist at

Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch University ( af, Universiteit Stellenbosch) is a public research university situated in Stellenbosch, a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Stellenbosch is the oldest university in South Africa and the oldest extant ...

. His research interests are proposing models and theories for explaining emerging patterns of biodiversity, networks and adaptive traits in ecology and evolution.

Background

Hui was born in

Xi'an Xi'an ( , ; ; Chinese: ), frequently spelled as Xian and also known by other names, is the capital of Shaanxi Province. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong Plain, the city is the third most populous city in Western China, after Chongqi ...

and received his BSc (1998) in Applied Mathematics from

Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU, ) is a public research university in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. As a member of Double First Class University Plan, C9 League, Project 985, and Project 211, it is a leading national university with special strengths ...

, his MSc (2001) in Applied Mathematics from

Lanzhou University Lanzhou University () is a major research university in Lanzhou, Gansu, China. Founded in 1909, it is one of the key universities under China's Ministry of Education (Double First Class University Plan, former Project 985 and Project 211). It ...

, and his PhD (2004) in Mathematical Ecology from the same university. Hui was a Researcher at th
DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology
from 2008 to 2013, and has remained a Core-Team Member of the center since. Hui was appointed Visiting Professor in the MOE Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (also known as the Research School of Arid Environment & Climate Change) from 2006 to 2009 and Adjunct Professor since 2011 at

. In January 2014, Hui was promoted to Full Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at

for his appointment as the South African Research Chair in Mathematical & Theoretical Physical Biosciences by the

National Research Foundation of South Africa South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) is the intermediary agency between the policies and strategies of the Government of South Africa and South Africa's research institutions. It was established on 1 April 1999 as an autonomous ...

. This appointment is co-hosted by the

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a tertiary education and research institute in Muizenberg, South Africa, established in September 2003, and an associated network of linked institutes in Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzan ...

, located in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

. In 2011 he was awarded the Elsevier Young Scientist Award at the National Research Foundation of South Africa.

Major works

In 2021, Hui and colleague

David Mark Richardson David Mark Richardson (born 16 June 1958) is a South African ecologist, particularly known for his work on invasive species, especially invasive trees and shrubs. Biography Richardson was born in Pretoria. He received his BSc degree in Fores ...

published the book ''Invading Ecological Networks''. This volume defines an agenda for Invasion Science 2.0 by providing new framings and classification of research topics and by offering tentative solutions to vexing problems. In particular, it conceptualises a transformative ecosystem as an open adaptive network with critical transitions and turnover, with resident species heuristically learning and fine-tuning their niches and roles in a multiplayer eco-evolutionary game. It erects signposts pertaining to network interactions, structures, stability, dynamics, scaling, and invasibility. In 2018, Hui and colleagues published the book ''Ecological and Evolutionary Modelling''. The book introduces key concepts in

ecology Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overl ...

and

evolution Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...

, explains classic and recent important mathematical models for investigating ecological and evolutionary dynamics, and provides real examples in ecology that have used these models to address relevant issues. Ecology studies

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

in its variety and complexity. In 2017, Hui and colleague

published the book ''Invasion Dynamics''.Hui, C. & Richardson, D.M. (2017) Invasion Dynamics. Oxford University Press. . The book depicts how non-native species spread and perform in their novel ranges and how recipient socio-ecological systems are reshaped and how they respond to the new incursions.

References

External links

Personal webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hui, Cang 1977 births Living people Lanzhou University alumni Mathematical ecologists People from Xi'an Stellenbosch University faculty Xi'an Jiaotong University alumni Educators from Shaanxi Mathematicians from Shaanxi