Ai Liu is a PhD pre-candidate in Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the Daniels Faculty. Holding degrees in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, Ai's academic and research interests center on urban informality, the informal economy, commodity chains, and bottom-up critical urban practices. Her current research examines subdivided units and urban villages in East Asia, with a particular emphasis on the role of urban informality within the formal economy. She is interested in investigating the changing dynamics in light of digital innovations, focusing on production-consumption relationships, the contribution of female labor, and geopolitical factors.

In conjunction with her scholarly pursuits, Ai has gained rich experience from her involvement with non-governmental organizations and has engaged in artistic endeavors on a part-time basis. Her latest work scrutinizes themes such as female labor and scars, as well as cross-border supply chains. Ai maintains a broad interest in applying interdisciplinary theories and investigating potential urban interventions through experimental design practices, artwork, and action.

• Email: ai.liu@mail.utoronto.ca