Dr Yan Tan

Biography/ Background

Yan Tan is an ARC Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Fellow, and is currently working on the ARC Discovery project ‘Climate Change and Migration in China: Theoretical, Empirical and Policy Dimensions’ (2011-15, DP110105522).

 

Her research work on migration has centred around two major themes: (1) understanding the causes and processes of human displacement and resettlement produced by development projects and environmental degradation; and (2) understanding the social, economic and environmental impacts of internal and international migration in both the sending and receiving communities and on individuals. This work has focused particularly on China and Australia. Her research book Resettlement in the Three Gorges Project (Hong Kong University Press, 2008) is the first to be published outside China on the early stages of this mega-resettlement.

 

Since 2006, as a consultant, she has worked for the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the issues and strategies related to human displacement and resettlement caused by development projects and climatic/environmental change. She has been a member of a group, organised by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), the UN Environment Program (UNEP), and the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), to develop a policy-oriented research agenda on Migration and the Environment which met in 2008 in Munich, Germany. She has received awards for her research, most notably 2004 John Lewis Silver Medal, awarded by the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia. 

Recent projects that she has led or participated in include studies into: impact of climate change on disadvantaged groups – issues and interventions; extreme heat and climate change – adaptation in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities; climate change and migration in Asia and the Pacific; Australia’s temporary and skilled migration programs; long-term physical implications of net overseas migration; allied mental health workforce challenges; and how the vocational education sector responds to future skills demand and supply.

Qualifications

§  Ph.D. Human Geography, The University of Adelaide

§  M.Sc. Economic Geography, Southwest China University, China

§  B.Sc. Geography, Southwest China University, China

Research Interests

§  Migration and resettlement in China and Australia

§  Climate change and adaptation in Asia and Australia

§  Population ageing, its changing patterns, causes and implications for social and economic change in Australia

§  Labour demand and supply dynamics and implications for industry, health workforce, higher and vocational education in Australia

§  Social applications of GIS

Publications

Scholarly books

1.         (forthcoming) Hugo, G., Bardsley, D.K., Tan, Y., Sharma, V., Williams, M. Bedford, R. 2011. Climate Change and Migration in the Asia-Pacific Region. USA: Edward Elgar Publishing.

2.         Tan, Y. 2008. Resettlement in the Three Gorges Project. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press (pp. 310).

 

Scholarly book chapters

1.         Tan, Y., Hugo, G. 2011. ‘Demographic impacts of the Three Gorges Dam’. In S. Brunn (ed.) Engineering Earth, pp. 1583-1598. Bordrecht Heidelberg London New York: Springer.

2.         Tan, Y., Potter, L. 2009. ‘Three Gorges project: Impacts of rural resettlement and urban relocation on the environment in the reservoir area’. In Abe Ken-ichi and James Nickum (eds.) The Good Earths: Regional and Historical Insights into China, pp.29-55. Kyoto: Kyoto University Press and Trans Pacific Press.

3.         Tan, Y. 2008. ‘Country reports: China’. In International Organisation for Migration (IOM) (ed.) Situation Report on International Migration in East and South-East Asia, pp.19-28. Bangkok: IOM.

4.         Tan, Y. 2007. ‘Issues of female migrants and a gendered “lens” towards developmental resettlement in the Three Gorges project, China’. In United Nations ESCAP (ed.) Perspectives on Gender and Migration, pp. 48-79. New York: United Nations publication.

5.         Tan, Y. 1987. ‘Agricultural economic resources in Chengdu metropolis’. In Chengdu Municipal Planning Commission (ed.) Land Resources of Chengdu, pp.470-489. Chengdu: Chengdu Planning Commission (in Chinese).

 

Articles in refereed journals  

1.  Sherbinin, de A., Castro, M. Gemenne, F., Cernea, M. M., Adamo, S., Fearnside, P. M., Krieger, G., Lahmani, S., Oliver-Smith, A., Pankhurst, A., Scudder, T., Singer, B., Tan, Y., Wannier, G., Boncour, P., Ehrhart, C., Hugo, G., Pandey, B., Shi, G. 2011. Preparing for resettlement associate with climate change. Science, 334: 456-457.

2.  Xu X.B., Tan, Y., Yang, G.S., Li, H.P., Su, W.Z. 2011. Impacts of China’s Three Gorges Dam Project on net primary productivity in the reservoir area, Science of the Total Environment, 409:4656-4662.

3.  Tan, Y., Lester, L. 2011. Labour market and economic impacts of international working holiday temporary migrants to Australia. Population, Space and Place. Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/psp.674.

4.  Xu X.B., Tan, Y., Yang, G.S., Li, H.P. 2011. Three Gorges Project: Effects of resettlement on nutrient balance of the agro-ecosystems in the reservoir area. Journal of Environmental Planning & Management, 54(4): 517-537.

5.  Xu, X.B., Tan, Y., Yang, G.S., Li, H.P., Su, W.Z. 2011. Soil erosion in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 49(3): 212-222.

6.  Tan, Y., Chen, Y., Hugo, G. 2009. Displacement and economic consequences of the Three Gorges Project: A case study of resettlers in Sichuan province. Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 18(4): 473-496.

7.  Tan, Y., Richardson, S. 2009. Demographic effects on the future supply of vocational skills. Australian Bulletin of Labour, 35(1):247-286.

8.  Richardson, S., Tan, Y. 2008. Forecasting future demands: What we can and cannot know. Australian Bulletin of Labour, 34(2):154-191.

9.  Tan, Y., Laurence, L., Richardson, S. 2008. Labour force projections: A case for the greater metropolitan area of New South Wales. Australian Bulletin of Labour, 34(1): 79-99.

10.  Tan, Y. 2008. Displacement and resettlement in the Three Gorges Project: Issues Confronting Women Migrants. Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 17(1): 1-31.

11.  Wang, F., Tan, Y. 2007. Population ageing and workforce development and planning. Renkou Yu Fazhan (Population and Development), 2: 58-62 (in Chinese).

12.  Tan, Y., Yao. F.J. 2006. Three Gorges Project: Effects of resettlement on the environment in the reservoir area and countermeasures. Population and Environment 27(4): 351-371.

13.  Tan, Y., Hugo, G., Potter, L. 2005. Rural women, displacement, and the Three Gorges Project. Development and Change 36(4): 711-734.

14.  Tan, Y., Bryan, B., Hugo, G. 2005. Development, land-use change and rural resettlement capacity: A case study of the Three Gorges Project, China. Australian Geographer 36(2): 201-220.

15.  Tan, Y., Wang, Y.Q. 2004. Environmental migration and sustainable development in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Population and Environment 25(6): 613-636.

16.  Tan, Y., Hugo, G., Potter, L. 2003. Government-organised distant resettlement and the Three Gorges Project, China. Asia-Pacific Population Journal 18(3): 5-26.

17.  Tan, Y., Wang, Y.Q. 2003. Rural resettlement and land compensation in flooded areas: The case of the Three Gorges Project, China. Asia Pacific Viewpoint 44(1): 35-50.

18.  Wang, Y.Q., Tan, Y. 2003. Compensation for Land Inundation in reservoir resettlement: A case study of the Three Gorges Project, China. Wuhan University Journal of Natural Sciences, 8(3): 905-910.

19.  Tan, Y. 1999. Issues and strategies on land management in Chengdu metropolitan area, China. Journal of Sichuan Normal University 22(5): 594-598 (in Chinese).

20.  Tan, Y. 1998. Effects of environmental factors on commercial housing market in Chengdu metropolitan area, China. Journal of Sichuan Normal University 21(5): 587-592 (in Chinese).

21.  Tan, Y. 1998. Analyses on characteristics of economic structuring in China. Geography 11(2): 72-75 (in Chinese).

22.  Tan, Y. 1997. Cities’ and towns’ distribution and central roles in the Three Gorges reservoir area of Sichuan, China. Journal of Sichuan Normal University 20(1): 104-110 (in Chinese).

23.  Tan, Y. 1996. The characteristics of the latitudinal economic zone in Arabian peninsula. World Geography Research 2: 130-134 (in Chinese).

24.  Tan, Y. 1992. Regional economic structures in West Asia. Journal of Sichuan Normal University (Natural Science) 15(4): 64-73 (in Chinese).

 

Refereed conference papers

1.         Tan, Y., Guo, F. 2007. Environmental concerns and population displacement in West China. In Proceedings of the 8^th International Conference of Asian Pacific Migration Research Network (APMRN): Migration, Development and Poverty Reduction. Fuzhou, China, 26-29 May.

2.         Tan, Y. 2006. Issues of women migrants and a gendered ‘lens’ towards developmental resettlement in the Three Gorges Project, China. Technical paper prepared for the Regional Seminar on ‘Strengthening the Capacity of National Machineries for Gender Equality to Shape Migration Policies and Protect Migrant Women’, UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand, 21-24 November.  Available on http://www.unescap.org/esid/GAD/Events/RegSem22-24Nov06/index.asp.

3.         Tan, Y., Richardson, S., Lester, L. 2006. Labour force projections: A case for the greater metropolitan area of New South Wales to 2031. Paper presented to the European Population Conference 2006 – Population Challenges in Ageing Societies, Liverpool, UK, 20-24 June. Available on http://epc2006.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=60284.

4.         Tan, Y., Bryan, B., Hugo, G. 2002. Mapping land-use change and rural resettlement capability: A case study in the Three Gorges reservoir area. Paper presented to the conference organised by AURISA and Institution of Surveyors, Adelaide, Australia, 25-30 November.

 

Other publications

Conference publications (Non-Refereed)

 1.         Tan, Y., Hugo, G., Xu, X.B. 2011. Environmental migration in western China: causes and responses. Paper presented to the 1^st International Symposium Changing Urban Life. Shanghai, China. 20-22 October.

2.         Hugo, G., Tan, Y. 2011. Key issues in meeting skill needs through skilled regional migration: A case study in South Australia. Paper presented to the Migration Update Conference. Adelaide, Australia. 23-24 June.

3.         Tan, Y., Lester, L. 2011. Labour market and economic impacts of international working holiday temporary migrants to Australia. Paper presented to the 24th Annual Conference of the European Society for Population Economics (ESPE). Hangzhou, China. 16-18 June.

4.         Hugo, G., Tan, Y. 2011. Key issues in meeting skill needs through skilled migration in South Australia. Paper presented to the Conference Developing Sustainable Societies: Challenges and Prospectives. Adelaide, Australia. 22-23 March.

5.         Tan, Y., Hugo, G., Zuo, A. 2010. Wellbeing of Tibetan people displaced by environmental degradation in Sichuan province, China. Paper presented to the International Conference on Development-Caused Displacement and Resettlement. The Hague, The Netherlands. 4-8 October.

6.         Tan, Y., Hugo, G., Guo, F. 2009. Environmental concerns and people displacement in West China. Paper presented to XXVI International Population Conference, The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP). Marrakech, Morocco, 27 September-2 October.

7.         Tan, Y., Chen, Y. 2009. Are they urban residents or rural rarmers? Resettlement of rural people displaced by the Three Gorge project in Sichuan province. Paper presented to the 16^th World Congress of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences. Kunming, China, 27-31 July.

8.         Tan, Y., Hugo, G. 2008. Demographic impacts of the Three Gorges Dam. Paper presented to the international and interdisciplinary conference Engineering Earth: The Impacts of Megaengineering Projects. The University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA, 21-23 July.

9.         Tan, Y. 2008. Linking migration responses to environmental degradation and Change in West China. Position paper presented to the Expert Research Workshop on Migration and the Environment: Developing a Global Research Agenda. Munich, Germany, International Organisation of Migration. 16-18 April.

10.     Tan, Y., Hugo, G. 2007. An overview of resettlement in the Three Gorges project. Paper presented to the 12^th International Metropolis Conference: Migration, Economic Growth, and Social Cohesion. Melbourne, Australia, 8-12 October.

11.     Tan, Y. 2006. Some demographic trends in participation in vocational education and training in Australia. Paper presented to the APA (Australian Population Association) Conference 2006, Adelaide, Australia. 5-8 December.

12.     Tan, Y., Potter, L. 2004. Three Gorges Project: Impacts of rural resettlement and urban relocation on the environment in the reservoir area. Paper presented to the 8^th International Symposium ‘Impacts on the Good Earth: Recent Environmental History in China’, Kyoto, Japan, 23-25 January.

13.     Tan, Y., Hugo, G., Potter, L. 2003. Government-organised distant resettlement and the Three Gorges Project, China. Presentation to Expert Meeting on Migration, UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand, 27-29 August.

14.     Tan, Y. 2002. Compensation for land inundation in peri-urban districts and impacts on rural resettlement: A case study in the Three Gorges reservoir area, China. Paper presented at the 2^nd Plenary Conference of the Institute of Australian Geographers, Canberra, Australia, 9-12 July.

 

Research reports  

1.         Sobels, J., Richardson, S., Turner, G., Maude, A. Tan, Y., Beer, A., Wei, Z. 2010. Research into the Long-Term Physical Implications of Net Overseas Migration: Australia in 2050. Research report to Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). 22 December. http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/research [refereed]

2.         Tan, Y., Richardson, S., Fitzpatrick, D., Wei, Z. 2010. Review of Approach to Skilled and Business Migration in South Australia. Research report to Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) of the Government of South Australia. 22 July.

3.         King, D., Tan, T., Wainer, Jo., Smith, L., Fitzpatrick, D., Sun, L. Owada, K. 2010.  Evaluation of the Better Access Initiative Component C: Analysis of the Allied Mental Health Workforce Supply and Distribution. Research report to Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), Federal Government of Australia, Canberra. September. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-ba-eval-c [refereed]

4.         Tan, Y., Richardson, S., Lester, L., Bai, T., Sun, L. 2009. Evaluation of Australia’s Working   Holiday Maker Program. Research report to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Australia. 27 February. http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/research/_pdf/whm-report.pdf [refereed]

5.         Tan, Y. 2009. Climate change and related people displacement in China. Prepared for the Asia Development Bank. March.

6.         Tan Y., G. Hugo. 2009. Lessons that have been gained from resettlement programs associated with large scale development projects. Prepared for the Asia Development Bank. April.

7.         Molloy, S., Y. Tan. 2008. The labour force outlook in the Australian minerals sector: 2008 to 2020. Research report to the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), Australia. June. Available on http://www.minerals.org.au/ [refereed]

8.         Tan, Y., Richardson, S., Bai, T., Sun, L. 2008. CME skilled migration research project report. Prepared by KPMG (with NILS).

9.         Tan, Y., Richardson, S. 2007. University employment review to 2016. Research report to the Unisuper, Australia. October.

10.     Tan, Y., Richardson, S. 2006. Demographic effects on the supply of vocational skills. Research report to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Australia. October. Available on http://www.ncver.edu.au/research/proj/nr4022/Tan_Overview2_1.pdf [refereed]

11.     Richardson, S., Tan, Y. 2006. Forecasting future demands: What we can and cannot know. Research Report to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Australia. October. Available on http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/1744.html. [refereed]

12.     Richardson, S., Tan, Y., Lane, A., Flavell, J. 2006. Reasons why persons with VET qualifications are employed in lower skilled occupations and industries. Prepared for Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), Australia. July. Available on http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/investigation_content.asp?industry=5&sector=current&inquiry=94&doctype=5&doccategory=1&docgroup=1 [refereed]

13.     Lowry, D., Molloy, S., Tan, Y. 2006. Staffing the supercycle: Labour force outlook in the minerals sector, 2005 to 2015. Research Report to the Minerals Council of Australia. August. Available on http://www.mineralscouncil.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/17120/Staffing_the_Supercycle.pdf  [refereed]

14.     Lowry, D., Molloy, S., Tan. Y. 2006. Labour force outlook in South Australia and the minerals resources sector: Occupational projections. Report prepared for the Olympic Dam Expansion Project, BHP Billiton. July.

15.     Tan, Y., Lester, L. 2005. Labour force projections for the greater metropolitan area of NSW to 2031: Results and technical paper prepared for the Transport and Population Data Centre of the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources. July.

16.     Richardson, S., Tan, Y., Healy, J., Liu, P. 2005. Labour force projections for the greater metropolitan area of NSW. A discussion paper prepared for the Transport and Population Data Centre of the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources. June.

 

 

 

Professional Interests

Categories

 

Population, demography

 

Expertise

 

Human displacement and resettlement; climate/environment – migration linkages; internal and international migration; ageing of population and workforce; population geography and demography; demographic trends (population mobility) and their socio-economic implications; population in policy and planning; change in labour demand and supply and implications for Australian major industry, health workforce, higher and vocational education

Entry last updated: Saturday, 29 Oct 2011