Yuan Daoxian
Yuan Daoxian is arguably the most experienced karst and hydrogeology researcher in China. With his teams in Guilin and Chongqing, he contributes to the investigation and resolution of the huge environmental problems in the karst regions of Southwest China, which are home to more than 100 million people. Soil erosion, rock desertification, groundwater contamination and local or temporal water shortages are key problems to be addressed. In this interview, Yuan Daoxian tells about his life and research, which is closely related to the younger history of China and the present environmental problems in this emerging economic power.