Wen Bo is assistant dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) and associate professor in the Department of Government and Public Administration of FSS at the University of Macau (UM). While institutions are often perceived as impersonal and rigid, Prof Wen challenges this conventional view—he believes that institutions can inspire human nature and serve as the foundation for a better life. As one the first Chinese scholars to receive the prestigious William E. Mosher and Frederick C. Mosher Award from the American Society for Public Administration, Prof Wen strives to transcend disciplinary boundaries. By integrating insights from genetics, psychology, and public administration, he delves into the essence of institutions while exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in public service. This scholar aspires to drive institutional reform through a multidisciplinary lens.

From exposing problems to solving them

‘At first, my dream was to become a journalist,’ Prof Wen recalls, reflecting on his teenage aspirations during a time marked by the September 11 attacks. Inspired by war correspondents like Lüqiu Rose Luwei, he admired the compassion and humanity often reflected in their work. ‘I was energetic and curious. My parents and teachers never discouraged my playful nature. Instead, they recognised my divergent thinking and encouraged me to pursue journalism.’ With their support, Prof Wen enrolled in the journalism programme at Shenzhen University, where he threw himself into his studies, earned numerous awards, and graduated as the top student in his programme with a national scholarship.

During his time as a journalism student, Prof Wen came to appreciate the power of journalism to shed light on critical issues. However, he also began to realise that while journalism could expose problems, it could not address their root causes. This realisation led him to conclude that meaningful changes requires reshaping institutions to optimise the use of power and promote long-term social progress. Driven by this insight, Prof Wen shifted his focus from journalism to public administration and set a clear goal. ‘I wanted to drive institutional reform, ensure that self-interest was rightly understood by members of society, and lay the groundwork for sustainable, long-term social development,’ he says.

Prof Wen’s academic journey then took him to the US, where he earned a Master of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, followed by a PhD in Public Policy and Management at the University of Southern California (USC). After completing his studies, he began his academic career as an assistant professor at the City University of Hong Kong. Having grown up in Shenzhen, just across the river from Hong Kong, Prof Wen was already familiar with the city. However, he was eager to explore new environments and use academic research to contribute to solving modern societal challenges. In September 2023, Prof Wen joined UM. With the historic development opportunities presented by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao proved to be a perfect match for his academic ambitions. ‘I feel very fortunate to join UM,’ he shares. ‘The university provides abundant resources and opportunities to advance academic research with real-world significance.’

Breaking new ground in research through an interdisciplinary paradigm

In March 2024, at the age of 34, Prof Wen, along with two other scholars, was honoured with the 2023 William E. Mosher and Frederick C. Mosher Award. Established by the American Society for Public Administration, this prestigious award recognises the best academic paper published each year in Public Administration Review, a leading journal in the field of public administration. Remarkably, this marked the first time that Chinese—and even Asian—scholars had won the award since its establishment in 2001.

Prof Wen receives the FSS Distinguished Scholar Award for the 2024/2025 academic year

The winning paper, Advancing the frontiers of genomic public administration: From genetics to administrative attitudes, behaviors, and practices, was co-authored by Prof Wen; his PhD supervisor, Prof Shui Yan Tang, Frances R. and John J. Duggan Professor and chair of the Department of Public Policy and Management in the Sol Price School of Public Policy at USC; and Tao Lei, Prof Wen’s doctoral student and an assistant professor at the Education University of Hong Kong. In his citation, Jos Raadschelders, co-editor-in-chief of Public Administration Review, described the paper as an excellent example of interdisciplinary research in public administration and noted that it was unanimously selected by experts as the best paper of the year. Interdisciplinary research has always been at the core of Prof Wen’s academic work, and this award-winning paper exemplifies that approach. It introduces a groundbreaking integrated research framework that links genetics, psychology, and public administration by incorporating behavioural genetics into the study of public administration institutions. The paper highlights the importance of considering individual genetic and personality differences when analysing people’s attitudes and behaviours toward the same systems and regulations. It argues that public service institutions should account for the unique characteristics of every civil servant. By providing organisational opportunities to amplify their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses, institutions can address potential genetic predispositions and personality weaknesses, prevent burnout, and foster a stronger sense of identity and humanity in civil servants. Ultimately, this approach can enhance the overall quality of public service.

Reflecting on his inspiration to merge genetics and public administration, Prof Wen shares stories from his transformative journey. ‘Switching from journalism to public administration was just the first step in my interdisciplinary journey. Since then, I have made many more leaps.’ During his doctoral studies at USC, while classroom learning progressed smoothly, research initially felt overwhelming. One classmate dropped out, and the unfamiliar campus, paired with a lack of research partners, left Prof Wen feeling alone. In this challenging period, he reminded himself of his original goal: to drive institutional reform. Determined to persevere, he enrolled in rigorous core business school courses to broaden his perspective. Studying alongside competitive business doctoral students reignited his passion and helped him find his direction. This interdisciplinary experience expanded his research horizons, further nurtured his innate divergent thinking, and prepared him to integrate management knowledge into his later work.

Prof Wen’s time abroad also deepened his understanding of individual differences. He observed that some people are naturally reserved while others are outgoing, and even siblings raised in the same environment can exhibit vastly different personalities. These observations sparked questions: Is personality influenced by genetics? How does personality shape career choices? Are there connections between the two? Motivated by these questions, he delved into genetics, unlocking an innovative research direction. Under his leadership, Prof Wen’s research team conducted extensive literature reviews, interviewed experts and scholars, and analysed data from international gene banks. The road to publication, however, was arduous. Interdisciplinary research requires expertise across multiple fields, which led to several changes in the composition of the journal’s review panel. Ultimately, biologists, computer scientists, and public administration scholars were brought together to evaluate the work. After numerous revisions, the team successfully published their award-winning paper.

Prof Wen’s educational philosophy of leading by example and explaining ideas in simple terms has endeared him to his students

Adapting research perspectives to address modern challenges

UM provides a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment, making it a fertile breeding ground for Prof Wen’s academic pursuits. His research is rooted in the core principles of public administration, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary exploration. By doing so, he seeks to bring forward-thinking and diverse perspectives to his ambitious goal of institutional reform.

At the end of 2024, Prof Wen published an article titled The effects of artificial intelligence and victims’ deservingness information on citizens’ blame attribution towards administrative errors in Public Management Review, an internationally renowned journal in public administration and public management. The article examines the impact of AI on public service, offering insights that contribute to institutional development in the era of digital governance. Building on this work, Prof Wen now aims to incorporate individual behavioural motivations into the intersection of computer science and public policy design. He strives to ensure that public administration policies are closely aligned with real-world needs.

Prof Wen speaks at the APEC Workshop on Green Vocational Skills

The importance of such an interdisciplinary approach becomes particularly evident when it comes to investigating specific policy challenges. For example, consider the policies supporting Macao youth entrepreneurship in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Prof Wen poses critical questions: What do young people in Macao really need? What can the Cooperation Zone offer within its regulatory framework? What policies can be both appealing and practical? Can big data and large language modelling help predict the outcomes of such policies? Prof Wen emphasises that policy innovation must always consider cost-effectiveness to ensure the efficient use of public funds. He envisions developing a highly reliable prediction system that could not only enhance policy innovation, but also improve cost control, boost efficiency, and even support career planning for young people.

Upholding longtermism

Prof Wen with his PhD mentor, Prof Shui Yan Tang, professor at the University of Southern California

Throughout his academic journey, Prof Wen has come to appreciate the significance of longtermism. During his doctoral studies, he was mentored by Prof Shui Yan Tang, a member of the renowned public resource governance research team led by the late Prof Elinor Ostrom, the 2009 Nobel Laureate in Economics. Working under Prof Tang’s guidance was both a privilege and a challenge. Eager to meet expectations, Prof Wen initially focused too heavily on producing many papers in the shortest time possible. However, Prof Tang offered him a piece of advice that profoundly changed his perspective: ‘If you want time to be your friend instead of your enemy, you must uphold longtermism.’ He explained that steady progress yields far more meaningful results than rushing to produce work without sufficient knowledge and depth, which inevitably comprises quality. Taking this wisdom to heart, Prof Wen shifted his approach. He slowed down, immersed himself in classic literature and foundational papers, and prioritised building a strong knowledge base. This commitment to quality over quantity has become a cornerstone of his academic philosophy.

Prof Tang’s mentorship and wisdom left a lasting impression on Prof Wen, who now encourages his students to embrace longtermism and focus on research directions that genuinely excite and inspire them. Drawing from his own interdisciplinary experiences, Prof Wen also emphasises the importance of broadening horizons. He leads his students to participate in academic seminars and critical thinking activities worldwide, exposing them to fresh perspectives and inspiration across diverse fields and experiences.

Reflecting on his interdisciplinary journey, Prof Wen cites a quote from Lu Xun: ‘For actually there were no roads to begin with, but when many people pass one way, a road is made.’ He candidly acknowledges that while his goal is ambitious and the path to achieving it has been full of challenges, he is grateful for the guidance and support he has received along the way—from teachers, colleagues, students, and even anonymous journal reviewers he has never met. ‘In life, love and trust are the two things you can never afford to betray,’ Prof Wen remarks. He firmly believes that no matter how difficult the journey, giving his best effort allows him to face it with a clear conscience. His vision of institutional reform remains his ultimate goal, and it is a direction he continues to pursue with unwavering determination.

Olympic champion Yang Yilin is one of Prof Wen’s doctoral students