Dr. Jong Geel Je who was used to work for Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) for 20 years since 1984 is director of City and Nature Institue located in Ansan. He was born in 1955 at Changwon, the southern coastal city and educated at Konkuk University and Seoul National University where he gained M.A. in zoological science and Ph D. in marine ecology respectively.  He was once mayor of Ansan city during 2014-2018 and a member of the National Assembly during 2004-2008.  His main interest was nature conservation especially marine ecosystem management, environmental education and ecotourism.  He has remained actively involved in natural and urban ecosystem management, urban regeneration and integrated coastal management and has participated extensively in diverse nature management activities including policy making.  In recent years he has combined his experiences of nature and urban ecosystem management and politics.     

Positions

2018-now   Director, City and Nature Institute (CNI)

2018-now   Inviting Professor, Hanyang University

2014-2018  Mayor, Ansan City

2012-2015  Co-President, Ecotourism Korea

2012-2014  Natioan Coodinator, China-Korea Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Project

2012-2014  Chair, Gyeonggi DMZ Forum

2011-2014  Director, Climate Change Policy Institute

2010-2017  Chair, Korea Protected Forum

2010-2014  Co-Chair, Korea Environmental Education Network (KEEN)

2007-2008  Co-Chair, Climate Change Forum of National Assembly

2005-2007  Chair, Ocean Forum of National Assembly

2004-2008  Member, National Assembly

2004-2014  Vice President / Advisor, the Wetland Society of Korea

2003-2014  Member, Korean Committee of UNESCO MAB

2002-2003  Member, the Sustainable Committee, Korea

2000-2003  Member, the Advisory Committee of National Parks, Korea

1984-2004  Research Scientist - Principle Research Scientist, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST)

Education

1995 Feb.-1996 Feb Post D. Course.  Marine Environment, Department of Biology and Chemisry,

 Deakin University, Australia. Majors: marine population genetics, marine environment,

conservation, mollusks.
1988 - 1993 Ph.D. Marine Ecology, Department of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Korea.

Majors: benthic ecology, distribution pattern, conservation, mollusks.

1983 - 1985 M.Sc. Zoology,  Department of Biology , Konkuk University, Korea. Majors: marine

animal taxonomy, polychaetes.

Current interests and activities

• Urban Regeneration
• Urban Forest
• Ecosystem Services
• Integrated Coastal Mangement
• New and Renewable Energy
• Local Community Based Ecotourism
• Urban Biodiversity and ecosystem service
• Local Food Culture

Publications and other output/activities

• > 70 refereed publications
• > 50 chapters in books, monographs, conference proceedings and reports.
• > 60 (international) seminars and presentations (scientific as well as informational).

Scientific educational

• Lectures on marine biology, conservation biology, zoological taxonomy, coastal habitat restoration, and costal management in five universities (1993-2014)
• Supervision of the Marine Environmental Education Leadership Training Course (1988-2003)
• > 30 lectures per year for public awarwness on nature conservation, climate change, ecotourism, and scientific diving (1993-2014)
•  

Others  

• Member executive board, Korean Federation for Environment Movement (2000-now)
• Vice president, Korea Underwater Association (2004-now)
• Member executive board, Climate Change Action Institute (2009-now)
• Chair, Daebu Island Ecotourism Village Building Committee (2012-2014)
• Member board, Dadohae Island Tidal Flat (2011-now)
• Adivisor, Marine and Island Culture Research Institute, Mokpo National Universty (2011-now)
• National delegate, Ramsar Convention and Convention on Biological Diversity (1999-2014)
• Member, editorial committee for three different magazines
• Reviewer for journals and granting agencies