Jason Tianchi Fan

Hometown: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Education Background: BA in Political Science at Simon Fraser University

How did you get interested in your field? 
During my undergraduate studies, I took a gerontology elective course which led me to spending a year as a research assistant exploring how the built environment affected ageing in place. This experience changed the way I viewed the built environment and shifted my interests toward addressing urban challenges and creating livable, equitable cities.

What was your background prior to coming to Penn? 
Prior to Penn, I received my BA at Simon Fraser University. I majored in Political Science with a focus was on diplomacy, defence & development, and minored in International Studies.

Why did you choose Penn? 
Penn stood out to me due to its faculty and its flexibility in courses. Coming from a policy background, I was looking to gain technical and quantitative prospectives which were provided in the smart city concentration. Overall I wanted a rigours and rewarding graduate school experience and Penn stood out as the best choice for me.

What has been your favorite class so far?
Studio One (CPLN6000) is easily my favourite class as it made use of many of the skills I learned throughout my first semester. With each studio group being relatively small (around 6 people), we were able to form a close bond with our instructor and familiarize ourselves with different aspects of creating city plans.

What are you learning right now that will help you in the future?
I’m currently in Geospatial Data Science in Python (MUSA5500) which is instrumental for future work in gathering, manipulating, visualising, and analysing geospatial datasets in Python. With planning being an interdisciplinary field, it never hurts to be proficient in geospatial data analytics in more coding languages.

What do you like best about Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is one of the most walkable cities in the country which makes for a fun city to explore. Morning jogs along the Schuylkill River trail, exploring the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and listening to performances at the Philadelphia Orchestra are all a quick walk away.

What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in? 
I’m on the board of the Student Planning Association and the Wharton-Weitzman Future of Cities Conference. I am also an active participant in the Real Estate Club.

What are your career ambitions? 
I hope to find work in the fields of sustainability, equity, and accessibility. Having learned so much over the past year, I am still trying to narrow down my career path. With how interdisciplinary city planning is, the opportunities and career directions are endless!