- City Science
Chance Jiajie Li is a Master’s student and Research Assistant at the City Science Group, MIT Media Lab. As a developer and researcher, his work focuses on designing and building human-AI systems to address complex urban challenges. He seeks to understand how technological interventions can shape urban systems and society in meaningful, responsible ways.
Chance’s research investigates how computational systems influence and are shaped by human behavior in urban environments. He explores how to design systems that capture the complexities of social interactions and how simulation and modeling can guide urban policy decisions for more sustainable urban development. By integrating urban policy, system dynamics, and social science, his work connects theoretical frameworks with practical applications, creating impactful solutions for cities.
His research spans several critical areas:
- Decentralized Systems and Urban Sustainability: Drawing on decentralized technologies and complex systems thinking, this work explores how to promote sustainable, prosocial behaviors in cities. It aims to strengthen collaboration in sustainability initiatives and ensure the integrity of systems like carbon credits.
- Computational Urban Analytics: Using urban sensing, simulation, and computational methods, this research investigates the intricate relationship between urban environments and human behavior. It models the impacts of urban interventions and provides insights that guide effective decision-making in urban planning.
- Dynamic Urban Planning: Developing adaptive urban planning strategies by integrating real-time data, algorithmic zoning, and decentralized governance. This approach aims to optimize resource allocation, urban development, and sustainability efforts, ensuring cities evolve in response to emerging needs.
Chance has a background in Software Engineering with a concentration in media arts and science. Before joining MIT, he earned his B.Eng. degree in software engineering from Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Please feel free to send me an email if you are interested in collaborating or simply having a chat about science!