Yueyue Wu recently completed the MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies with distinction. Her research examines urban morphology and heatwave exposure inequality in Global South cities. She was awarded the prestigious Alexander Pike Prize 2026 for the best technical dissertation. Yueyue is a member of the Collective Intelligence and Design Group, supervised by Dr Ramit Debnath.
The journey to Cambridge
Before coming to Cambridge, I had completed all my previous studies in China and had never studied overseas before. Moving to Cambridge was therefore a major step for me, both academically and personally. It was my first experience of studying in a different education system and living in a new cultural environment.
My academic journey before Cambridge was shaped by a strong interest in cities, climate change, and the ways in which quantitative methods can help us understand social and environmental inequalities. I was particularly interested in how urban environments affect people’s exposure to climate risks, especially in rapidly urbanising contexts.
Coming to Cambridge gave me the opportunity to bring these interests together in a more rigorous and interdisciplinary way. The MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies allowed me to develop both my theoretical understanding of urban issues and my technical skills in data analysis, machine learning, and climate-related research. It was a challenging but very rewarding experience, and it helped me become more independent and confident as a researcher.
Life at Eddies
I chose this field because I am interested in how cities can respond more fairly and effectively to climate change. This question is particularly urgent in Global South cities, where rapid urbanisation, infrastructure pressures, and the growth of informal settlements can make climate risks more unevenly distributed. Heatwaves are becoming an increasingly serious urban risk, but their impacts are not experienced equally by all residents. I wanted to understand how the physical form of cities can shape people’s exposure to extreme heat, and how this evidence might inform more climate-resilient and socially equitable urban planning and adaptation policy.
Memorable moments
One of my most memorable experiences at St Edmund’s was my birthday shortly after I arrived in the UK. At that time, I was still adjusting to a new country, a new academic environment, and living away from home overseas for the first time. My flatmates at St Edmund’s, who came from different countries and backgrounds, celebrated my birthday with me and even made a birthday cake. It was a small but very meaningful moment, and it made me feel welcomed and supported when I was still finding my feet. That experience helped me realise how important community, friendship, and cultural diversity are in making Cambridge feel like home.
Inspiring academics
I have been very fortunate to receive support from mentors and peers during my time at Cambridge. In particular, working with Dr Ramit Debnath has been highly influential in shaping my development as a researcher. His guidance helped me think more critically about the relationship between urban climate, inequality, and policy, while also encouraging me to develop the technical rigour needed for independent research.
I have also learned a great deal from classmates and research group members, whose different perspectives challenged me to communicate my work more clearly and think more broadly about its implications.
Recognising academic excellence
The Alexander Pike Prize is awarded for the best technical dissertation, and I am very honoured to have received the 2026 prize for my dissertation on urban morphology and heatwave exposure inequality in high-density Global South cities.
My dissertation brought together urban climate research, spatial data analysis, machine learning, and causal inference to examine how different forms of urban development shape population exposure to extreme heat. The project analysed multiple cities across the Global South and distinguished between daytime, night time, and compound heatwaves, allowing me to explore how heat risks vary across different urban and climatic contexts.
Receiving this prize means a great deal to me. It recognises not only the final dissertation, but also the sustained technical work behind it, including large-scale data processing, coding, modelling, interpretation, and revision. More personally, it has given me greater confidence in my ability to conduct independent and rigorous research. It also encourages me to continue developing work at the intersection of urban climate, inequality, and data-driven policy, with the hope of contributing evidence that can support more climate-resilient and socially equitable cities.
Shaping our global futures
After graduation, I will begin an NERC-funded PhD at the University of Birmingham. My doctoral research will continue to focus on urban climate, inequality, and evidence-based policy, with a particular interest in Global South cities.
In the longer term, I hope my research can contribute to more just and climate-resilient urban futures. As climate risks intensify, cities need evidence that helps identify who is most exposed, why inequalities emerge, and how planning and policy can reduce vulnerability.
Advice to future students
My advice would be to make full use of the College’s diverse and supportive community. St Edmund’s is a place where you can meet people with very different experiences and perspectives, and these conversations can be just as valuable as formal academic training.
I would also encourage prospective students to be open-minded and proactive. Cambridge can be intense, but it also offers many opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow. Do not be afraid to ask questions, seek support, and share your ideas.
