Shuo Gao is an Associate Research Professor of Environmental Management at the University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research broadly focuses on ecological compensation, No Net Loss/Net Gain, environmental and conservation psychology, social justice, and human well-being. He is particularly interested in (i) improving the effectiveness of incentive-based conservation instruments such as payments for ecosystem services, biodiversity offsetting, and emerging nature credit and market mechanisms; (ii) developing conservation strategies that deliver beneficial outcomes for both nature and people; and (iii) understanding the socio-psychological mechanisms underlying human attitudes and behaviours towards the environment.

His research seeks to make meaningful contributions to conservation science and natural resource management by deepening understanding of environmental perceptions and misperceptions, including the Shifting Baseline Syndrome, enhancing the social-ecological planning of nature-based solutions - particularly in urban settings - and improving the design and effectiveness of compensatory conservation and No Net Loss/Net Gain policies in China and beyond.

Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, his research integrates psychology, sociology, geography, economics, and ecology, employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including geographic information systems, machine learning, demographic surveys, and in-depth interviews. He has published over 20 articles in leading academic journals, including Science and Nature Communications. He has collaborated closely with partner organisations such as the Chinese Academy of Natural Resources Economics and the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, focusing on real-world impacts and facilitating knowledge exchange with governments and policymakers.