Shuming Bao received his Ph. D. in applied economics from Clemson University in 1996. He was a research scientist at MathSoft from 1996-97, and is currently a senior research coordinator for China initiatives of the International Institute and the senior research associate of the China Data Center at the University of Michigan. He served as the president of the International Association for Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Science (CPGIS) for 1999-2000, the Vice-President of the Chinese Economists Society (CES) for 2002-2003,�the Executive Director of the Chinese Economists Society (CES) since 2005, and the General Secretary of� the International Association for Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Science since 2009.