Prof. Song Youtao is a second-level professor and doctoral supervisor of Liaoning University. He was selected as an outstanding high-level talent in Shenyang in 2020. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Nankai University, master’s degree from Yamaguchi University, and Ph.D. degree from Tottori University. He is a postdoctoral fellow of National Institutes of Health of the US and Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. From 2006 to 2011, he served as Director of Scientific Research Department of Liaoning University, and from 2011 to 2022, he served as Dean of Environmental College. He is currently Director of Liaoning Financial Research Center and Director of Institute of Environmental Economics of Liaoning University.

He has been awarded the Special Government Allowance by the State Council, “outstanding expert” of Liaoning Province, “leading academic goose” of Liaoning Province, leading talent of science and technology innovation in the plan to promote Liaoning Province, distinguished professor of Liaoning Province, and an expert of science and technology think tank of Liaoning Province.

His research directions include ecological product value accounting, ecological environment damage identification and evaluation, comprehensive management of river basin ecological environment, etc. In recent years, he has presided over four national-level projects, such as the National Science and Technology Major Project (27.46 million yuan allocated by the country) and the National Natural Science Foundation, and 26 provincial and ministerial-level and horizontal projects, such as “Research on Ecological Protection Compensation System and Mechanism in Liaodong Green Economic Zone”. He published more than 120 academic papers, including 74 papers included in SCI and 15 authorized invention patents. He is the editor-in-chief of seven national textbooks and monographs such as Introduction to the Fourth Industry of Ecological Products, Introduction to Environmental Economics and Introduction to Judicial Appraisal of Environmental Damage. He compiled seven local standards and guidelines including Technical Specifications for Accounting of Total Ecological Products (GEP) in Liaoning Province. He won four provincial and ministerial science and technology awards and six teaching awards. A series of accounting results on the value of ecological products and ice and snow services in the three northeastern provinces and North China have been reported by Xinhua News Agency, China Reform Daily, Economic Information Daily, China Environment News and other media, and have been approved by provincial leaders.