Dr. Shi focuses on the research of natural disaster and environment change. His recent research interests include: global climate change and risk assessment, etc. 

Dr. Shi is an academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences. He is the co-chair of the scientific committee of the Integrated Risk Governance Project, a core project of Future Earth and the International Human Dimensions Programme of Global Environmental Change. Dr. Shi also services as the member of the UNISDR Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, the jury member of the Volvo Environment Prize, the chairman of The Expert Committee of National Disaster Reduction Commission of China, the technical group leader of the first national natural disaster risk survey in China, and the member of the Expert Group of the State Emergency Management Office under The State Council of China.