Wanlin Bai, a senior undergraduate economics student at Duke Kunshan University, attended the 100th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society (AES 2026) at Wadham College and the Examination Schools, University of Oxford, from 23 to 25 March 2026, where she presented her research. This participation was supported by the Duke Kunshan University Office of Academic Services through a student conference travel grant, as well as by her Signature Work mentor’s National Natural Science Foundation of China grant.
01 Conference Overview
The centenary conference was held at Wadham College and Examination Schools, University of Oxford, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and early-career researchers from around the world. The three-day programme featured plenary sessions, parallel contributed paper sessions, symposia, poster presentations, and panel discussions. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including climate change and agricultural adaptation, food systems, agricultural trade and markets, agricultural policy, development economics, as well as technological innovation and sustainability, providing a high-level platform for academic communication.
Group photo of participants at the 100th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society (Wanlin Bai, third from the right, front row)
02 Presentation Highlights
During the conference, Wanlin Bai presented in the session “Climate Extremes and Agricultural Adaptation,” showcasing her research on the effects of extreme temperatures on climate-smart agricultural innovation
Wanlin Bai’s research, based on global patent data and meteorological observations, focuses on the impacts of extreme temperatures on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) innovation. Her analysis shows that cold exposure significantly stimulates CSA patenting, while the effects of heat exposure vary across technological domains. In addition, innovation responses exhibit cumulative and lagged effects over the medium to long term. The study reveals the spatial and temporal patterns of global CSA innovation and its key drivers, providing scientific insights for policymakers to promote climate-adaptive agricultural technologies.
Professor Jingbo Cui provided comprehensive guidance throughout the research process, from topic selection, data processing, and model construction to analysis and interpretation, offering professional support that ensured the study was conducted rigorously and systematically.
03 Conference Experience
During the conference, Wanlin Bai engaged with international scholars and peers through session discussions, poster presentations, and panel interactions, receiving constructive feedback on research methods and empirical analysis.
Wanlin Bai said, “I am very honored to have the opportunity to represent Duke Kunshan University at this conference. Interacting with leading scholars from around the world at the University of Oxford not only provided me with valuable academic insights but also broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of cutting-edge research in climate change, agricultural innovation, and policy studies.”
This achievement reflects Duke Kunshan University’s commitment to fostering undergraduate research excellence and providing students with opportunities to contribute to the global academic community.