Caitlynn Du, a 16-year-old student from Beijing, China, is an environmental researcher and youth advocate exploring how science, policy, and diverse knowledge systems shape environmental decision-making.

Growing up in a rapidly urbanizing city, she became aware of the environmental challenges embedded in everyday life, from campus flooding to the gradual loss of local biodiversity. Motivated to create change, she has led multiple sustainability initiatives at her school, focusing on reducing waste, improving campus systems, and raising environmental awareness among her peers.

Her work extends beyond campus. Through her research on China’s South-to-North Water Transfer Project, she examines ecological trade-offs and environmental justice, while her seagrass mapping project integrates data on biodiversity and carbon to support decision-making. Her research has been presented at two international conferences, where she was the only high school presenter.

Beyond research, Caitlynn is committed to advancing youth participation in environmental governance. She participates actively in forums to learn about global crises. As the founder of an environmental education organization in China and a member of Heirs to Our Ocean’s Youth Inclusion Expert Working Group, she collaborates with partners to promote meaningful youth inclusion both nationally and globally.

She believes that addressing environmental challenges requires not only scientific solutions, but also more inclusive ways of understanding the world.