I’m a professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, yet much of my work as a philosopher takes place outside libraries and lecture halls. Recently, one of my most formative “thinking spaces” has been Manila Zoo. What began as a research interest in environmental ethics gradually became a collaborative project involving students, city officials, animal-welfare advocates, and local communities, all asking a deceptively simple question: what does it mean to care well for shared, vulnerable lives in a crowded city? Spending time there has reminded me that philosophy is not only about arguments, but about attention, responsibility, and learning to see familiar places differently. I am also interested in how philosophical questions surface in popular culture. One recent project explores Taylor Swift’s music as a lens on love, identity, loss, and the search for meaning—topics that resonate powerfully with students and invite reflection beyond the classroom. When I am not teaching or writing, I enjoy walking dogs (I currently have three), practicing yoga, and thinking about how everyday practices—how we move, eat, or inhabit space—quietly shape our moral lives. Residential colleges matter to me for precisely this reason: they foster shared spaces where ideas, habits, and forms of attention are cultivated together as part of daily life.
Professor Yu-Tao Xiang, who is known for his important work in public health, has some interesting hobbies. One of his favorite things to do is playing ping pong. You might find him playing matches at the university’s sports complex (N8) sometimes, showing off his skills against students and other professors.
Apart from his ping pong games, Professor Xiang also loves running marathons. His lab members and students often joke about trying to keep up with him, both in his research work and on the running track.
In addition to sports, Professor Xiang enjoys cooking. His office often smells of delicious food that he prepares, sharing his love for trying new recipes with his students.
With his academic activities and achievements, it is these simple hobbies, playing ping pong, running marathons, and cooking, that reveal the fun and interesting person behind the academic titles in our academic community.
