Installation of President Professor Paul Ching-Wu Chu

Abstract

[evdate 2001-11-09] Installation of President 9 November 2001 ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS

The Pro-Chancellor declares the Ceremony open The University Orator reads the introduction of the new President The Pro-Chancellor installs the new President The Council Chairman presents the Seal of the University to the President The President delivers the installation address

Introduction of Professor Paul Ching-Wu CHU Perseverance a quality that takes us far When combined with vision, insight and hard work, it becomes the mark of a great scientist, and of a great human being.

This unique combination of qualities is embodied in the person of Professor Paul Ching-Wu Chu. They have taken him further than any other scientist in the world of superconductivity today. And it is these qualities of his, indeed just some of the many he possesses, which will propel the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology into its next decade and beyond.

Perseverance has been much in evidence in Professor Chu's pursuit of superconductivity, from his early days of PhD research under the famous scientist Bernd T Matthias at the University of California in San Diego. It steered him through a career as an eminent physicist, to his breakthrough discovery in 1987 of stable superconductivity above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen-a discovery that has been called one of the most significant advances in modern physics. This epoch-making achievement prompted the state of Texas to establish the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston under Professor Chu's directorship, in recognition of the huge potential of his research breakthrough.

To find the root of this tenacity, though, we need to go back further in Professor Chu's life. As a child growing up in Taiwan, he loved anything electric or magnetic, and could put together radios and small motors from scraps and parts that he had found. In school he pursued science, and even when a teacher encouraged him to study painting instead, he never wavered. From undergraduate work at the prestigious Cheng-Kung University, he went on to complete one year of service in the Taiwan Air Force.

The United States was the next stop on Professor Chu's quest for discovery. He obtained his Master's degree in science at Fordham University in New York, but it was California and the exciting research going on in superconductivity that drew him to the University of California at San Diego and PhD studies.

His work in superconductivity and other areas drove him not just to excel at research, but also to instill a love of science and a persevering attitude in his students, as he went on to develop a distinguished academic career at Cleveland State University and the University of Houston after two years at Bell Labs, New Jersey, as a member of the Technical Staff.

Perseverance, vision and hard work apply not only t.3 scientific discovery, however. As founding Director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity, Professor Chu built the institution from an organization of just seven of what it is today: one of the world's leading centers for high temperature superconductivity, with over 260 faculty, staff and students. All this in the face of cyclical budget cuts, media downplay, and even lack of optimism from fellow scientists.

Professor Chu's career has taken him to the topmost echelons in the world of science. He has consulted and worked as a visiting staff member in some of the most prestigious research centers in the world, including Bell I abs, Dupont, Los Alamos National Laboratory, TJASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Argonne National Laboratory. He has won some of the highest awards in science, just a few of which are: the World Congress on SuperConductivity's Award for Excellence, the National Medal of Science of the US, the Bernd Matthas Prize, and the John Fritz Medal, which he shares with such great names as Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and Erico Fermi.

He was selected the Best Researcher in the US by US News and World Report in 1990, and was invited in 2000 to contribute a sample of his work to the White House National Millennium Time Capsule at the National Archives, commemorating the most important scientific achievements of the 20th century.

Professor Chu is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Third World Academy of Sciences, Academia Sinica, and is also a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others. His research activities extend beyond superconductivity to magnetics and dielectrics. He serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals, and has published over 460 papers.

Added to these impressive achievements, another of Professor Chu's enduring qualities shines clearly-care for the outcome. His staff, students and colleagues over the years remember his interest and care for even the smallest details of their work. That attitude has earned him loyalty and gratitude, and nurtured younger generations of dedicated scientists who are also concerned members of society. Indeed, students at HKUST are already discovering this-when they find him sitting down to dine with them in the canteens on campus.

Our students are also finding out that Professor Chu wants them to be "all-rounders". He himself is lover of classical Chinese poetry, and knows that only total development makes great human beings, great leaders.

We are proud to have this persevering scientist, caring academic administrator and teacher, and all-round leader at the helm of HKUST today.

Mr Pro-Chancellor, 1 have the honor to present to you the new President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Paul Ching-Wu Chu. 1 am confident that Professor Chu will, from the strong foundation laid down by his predecessor, lead HKUST to even greater heights and to make even greater contributions to Hong Kong, China and the entire world.

Read by Professor Yuk-Shee Chan, Acting Vice-president for Academic Affairs Professor Paul Ching-Wu CHU'S Address I have the honor to take over the helm of this very dynamic and successful University at a crucial time in HKUST's and Hong Kong's development.

After 10 years of extraordinary advancement, HKUST has established itself as a beacon for young universities globally. In just one decade, HKUST's scientific and technological discoveries, and the outstanding work of its Schools of Business and Management, and Humanities and Social Science, have secured it a world- class reputation. The University is proud to have achieved this for Hong Kong, and the community at large should be too.

Yet, surprisingly, I find that HKUST's accomplishments often go unrecognized in the very place that created it and on whose behalf it strives. Our success has shone abroad yet remains largely unseen at home.

The result has been that many of Hong Kong's high-flying secondary school graduates have failed to take advantage of our first-rate faculty and excellent facilities. We are, however, starting to perceive a change as more top young minds are taking up the exciting and top- notch education that awaits so near at hand. I intend to reveal to every one of them the added value of attending HKUST; and to make all Hong Kong people realize the asset in its midst.

I shall turn the spotlight on Hong Kong's best-kept secret by beginning to forge the University's remarkable energies into a distinctive HKUST culture. We are still very young compared to Oxford and Cambridge, Stanford and MIT. However, HKUST was planned, built and opened in just five years and has risen to international prominence in less than 10. It is part of our founding tradition, the soil in which our roots are planted, to defy the odds and move rapidly towards our goals.

As we come of age in our second decade, I seek to define and nurture a spirit that makes HKUST students instantly recognizable. This spirit will be a badge of distinction that not only identifies our graduates in Hong Kong, but in all the corners of our global society. A place at HKUST will be a passport to the world of decision-makers, creative thinkers and international innovators.

HKUST is Hong Kong's only research university dedicated to science and technology development and its management, with a specific mission to assist the region's social and economic development. Its spirit will be born of the hard work, pursuit of excellence and creativity that already distinguish the University and will Ensure this engine of change continues to drive Hong Kong forward.

Such a powerhouse of learning will be in great demand. Local students and scholars will mix with the brightest and best from other countries who will be drawn to Hong Kong by the prospect of studying and working at HKUST. The University can truly serve as a meeting point bringing together the minds of East and West, and the multicultural citizens who emerge from our beautiful Clear Water Bay campus will be rich in vision and awareness.

My vision is tied to the times we now face. Much has changed in the 10 years since the University was founded. Hong Kong faces an economic slowdown at home and uncertainty abroad. Funding cuts place a major strain on HKUST's plans for progress. The reduction of tertiary education budgets between 1998 and 2001 will be followed by further cuts in the next three years for all Hong Kong universities. Given the wider economic climate, our effort to raise financial support from the private sector will not be easy.

In the past 12 months, the glittering advance of information technology has appeared to many to lose its luster. The community appears to stand a t the crossroads in its development as a high-tech society. But now is definitely not the time to waver. While the dotcom bubble has burst, the technological revolution goes on and Hong Kong must not be left behind. The economic challenge Hong Kong is facing can only be met with the development of high-value added products and services via high-tech development.

HKUST specializes in the key areas driving leading economies: nano science and technology, biotechnology, molecular neuroscience, advanced materials, microelectronics and microsystems, Internet and information technology, China and global business management. Our graduates, with their top-class academic training and all-round cultural nourishment, provide the much-needed human resources to implement high-tech change. Our research and development with local industry brings new businesses into being. The University has an essential role to play in lifting the economic gloom currently descending on Hong Kong minds.

I rise to this challenge and as the University's chief coach and cheerleader encourage others to do the same. I will need my dedicated faculty and staff to create efficiencies and yet continue to build a rewarding environment that attracts the best researchers, teachers, staff and students. I will need the community's support. With the guidance of the University Council, I will actively work with all sectors of Hong Kong- Government, business, industry and the public-to build social awareness of the University's important mission and to strive for the much-needed resources.

Together we will make an unbeatable team. Together we will nurture well-rounded leaders of tomorrow, create new knowledge and technology, and propel Hong Kong through the current economic transition. Together we will light the way to the future.

Thank you

香港科技大學校長就職典禮 朱經武教授 二零零一年十一月九日

校長就職典禮 典禮程序 大學副監督宣佈典禮開始 校方代表介紹新任校長 大學副監督主持就職儀式 大學校董會主席轉交大學印鑑予新任校長 校長致就職講辭

朱經武教授之介紹 有志者，事竟成。堅毅的意志，加上遠大的眼光、深刻的 洞察力、以及鍥而不捨的精神，可以造就偉大的科學家 與偉大的人物。 朱經武教授集上述特點於一身，因此在今天的超導領域 中領袖群倫。他更將憑他的意志、遠見、洞察力、勤奮等 素質，帶領香港科技大學邁進第二個十年，創造更輝煌的 未來。 朱教授鍥而不捨的性格，在他的超導研究中顯露無遺。 他早年於聖地牙哥加州大學修讀博士學位課程，追隨著名科 學家伯爾尼德．馬提雅斯研究超導，遺種精神一直引領他成為 傑出的物理學家，於1987年在液化氮沸點以上發現穩定的超 導特性。這個重大突破被譽為現代物理學最重要的成就之 一。德州更因這劃時代的成就對未來影響深遠，特別在休斯 敦大學成立了德州超導中心，聘請朱教授為首位中心主任。 朱教授對超導研究不離不棄，其根源可追溯至童年時 代。那時候，居於台灣的他，對一切有關電力或磁力的東西 都深感興趣。一些廢鐵、雷件到了他手上，就可裝嵌成無線 電收音機和小型引擎。在學校裏，他專攻理科，雖然也有 老師鼓勵他轉為習畫，他也不為所動。在著名的成功大學 修畢本科課程之後，他加入台灣空軍服役了一年。 美國是朱教授科研旅程的第二站。他在紐約霍涵大學取 得科學碩士學位；但加州和那裏引人入勝的超導研究，驅使 他轉往聖地牙哥加州大學攻讀博士學位課程。 畢業後，朱教授在新澤西州的貝爾實驗室當了兩年技術 員，然後轉往克利夫蘭州立大學和休斯敦大學任教，卓然有 成。不但在超導和其他研究領域成果豐碩，也喚起了學生 鑽研科學的熱忱，培養他們鍥而不捨的處事態度。 堅毅、遠見和勤奮這些特質不僅有助於科學發明。作為 德州超導中心的創辦主任，朱教授領導中心從最初只有七名 工作人員，發展為今天世界頂尖的高溫超導研究中心，旗下 教員、工作人員、學生等有260多人。在這之前，超導研究 經歷了多次削支、傳媒的輕視，甚至連科學界同僚也不表 樂觀；然而他都一一克服過來。 朱教授在事業上步步登高，成為科學界的頂尖人物。 他曾在一些著名的研究中心擔任顧問和訪問研究員，包括 貝爾實驗室、杜邦、洛斯阿拉莫斯國家實驗室、美國太空 總署馬歇爾太空飛行中心、阿爾岡國家實驗室等。並且獲頒 多個科學界最高榮譽奬項，包括世界超導大會卓越成就奬、 美國國家科學奬章、伯爾尼德馬提雅斯奬、約翰弗里茨大奬 等。歷史上一些科學偉人，如貝爾、愛迪生及弗米等，都曾 獲的翰弗里茨大奬。 朱教授於1990年獲《美國新聞及世界報道》雜誌選為全 美國最優秀研究員，並於2000年應邀把其發明的超導體樣本 置於美國國家檔案館的白宮國家千禧時間囊內，以紀念20世 紀的重大科研成果。 朱教授是美國國家科學院、美國文理學院、第三世界 科學院、台灣中央研究院，以及其他多個主要學術機構的 院士，並且是中國科學院的外國院士。他的研究範圍除了 超導外，還有磁學和介電學。他也是好幾份科學期刊的 編輯委員會成員，曾發表逾460篇學術論文。 朱教授不但成就輝煌，他那用心細密、一絲不苟的處事 態度也令人佩服。多年來，他的下屬、學生和同僚都記得朱 教授對他們工作的重視和關心及於最細微的小節。這種 態度為朱教授贏得愛戴和感激，並影響了獻身科學的後輩 培養關心他人的情操。科大學生也發現這位新校長在校園的 食堂裏和他們同席進餐，漸漸體會到朱教授這種性格特質。 學生們也漸漸了解朱教授期望他們全面發展、廣見 洽聞。朱教授本人酷愛中國古典詩辭，並深明全人教育才能 造就偉大的人物、偉大的領袖。 今天，科大有幸聘得這位鍥而不捨的科學家、這位洞察 力强的學術主管和教師、這位目光遠大的領袖主持校政， 實在値得我們自豪。 副監督先生，我們深信朱經武教授在前人奠下的穩固 基礎上，將領導香港科技大學登上更高峰，為香港、中國， 以至全世界作出更大的貢獻。 署理學術副校長陳玉樹教授宣讀

朱經武教授之講辭 我感到十分榮幸，能夠在科大和香港發展的關鍵時刻， 接掌這所朝氣蓬勃、成就不凡的大學。 經過十年的突飛猛進，科大已成為全球新成立大學的 典範。在短短十年內，科大憑著科學和技術上的優秀發明， 以及工商管理學院和人文社會科學學院的傑出表現，贏得 國際聲譽。科大能為香港爭光，我們固然感到自豪，香港各 界人士也應該引以為榮。 奇怪的是，科大雖然建於香港並致力造福香港，她的 成就在本地卻往往受到忽視。我們的傑出表現光耀海外，但 相形之下，在本地卻鮮為人知。 結果，許多成績優異的本地中學畢業生沒有好好利用 本校一流的師資和先進的設備。可幸這種情況正在改變。 愈來愈多頂尖的中學生開始把握這個近在咫尺、接受一流教 育的機會。我希望讓每一個本港中學生都知道入讀科大的附 加價値，也要讓全港市民認識這個在他們中間的珍貴資產。 我要彰顯這個香港'最隱蔽的秘密'，匯聚校內各種 卓越的力量，創造別樹一幟的科大文化。跟英國的牛津、 劍橋，和美國的史丹福、麻省理工相比，我們仍是一所十分 年輕的大學。然而，科大從籌備、興建，以至開辦只花了 五年時間，更在十年之內蜚聲國際，可見我們的創校傳統 就是不懼艱難，大步邁進；而這個傳統正是讓我們繼續茁壯 的土壤。 科大正邁進第二個十年，逐步趨向成熟。我希望能界定 並培養一種科大精神，使科大學生能即時為人辨識。這種 精神將成為科大畢業生的標記，讓香港社會以至全世界都 看到科大學生的優秀素質。入讀香港科技大學將等於取得 護照，進入決策者、創意思想家和國際發明家的世界。 作為香港唯一主力發展科技和管理的研究型大學，科大 肩負獨特的使命，推動本港及鄰近地區的社會和經濟發展。 科大的努力不懈、精益求精和銳意創新，將會孕育一種科大 精神，鼓勵我們繼續推動香港前進。 社會上實在非常需要科大這種充滿動力的知識泉源。本 地學生和學者可以與前來科大求學或執教的海外精英同遊 共學。科大將會成為東西學者的匯聚點；而從這個優美的 清水灣校園培育出來的人才將懂得欣賞不同文化，識見 高遠。 我上述這些理想與我們的時代有密切關係。創校十年 來，杜會經歷了不少變化。香港經濟轉弱，外國的情況也不 明朗。大學資助被削，嚴重影響科大的發展計劃。政府 繼1998至2001年度縮減高等教育經費後，在未來三年度將 進一步削支。而從整體經濟情況看來，向私營機構籌款並不 容易。 過去一年，資訊科技這顆明珠似乎有黯淡無光之勢。 香港正處於發展高科技的十宇街頭。然而，現在絕不是猶疑 的時候。雖然網站泡沬爆破，科技革命卻沒有中斷，香港 決不可落後於人。要克服面前的經濟挑戰，唯一的辦法是 發展高科技，開發高增値產品和服務。 科大精研的學科都是推動世界先進經濟體系發展的 領域，例如：納米科技、生物技術、分子神經科學、微電子 及微系統、互聯網及資訊科技、中國及全球經濟管理等。 科大畢業生憑著優秀的學術訓練和全人的文化素養，為高科 技發展提供迫切所需的人力資源；而我們和本地工業界合作 的研發計劃也創造了新的商機。要掃除正籠罩香港的經濟 陰霾，科大任重而道遠。 我願意接受這個挑戰；作為科大的領隊和啦啦除隊長， 我鼓勵大家一同接受這個挑戰。我呼籲有獻身精神的教職員 一起提高成效，並且繼續營造美好的環境，以招引最優秀的 教研人員、職員和學生。我呼籲社會人士支持科大。在大學 校董會的指導下，我會與香港各界--政府、工商界以及社 會大眾密切聯緊，讓社會人士了解科大的重要使命，積極爭 取資源。 只要我們攜手同心，就會成為一支無堅不摧的隊伍。 讓我們一起孕育未來社會博學通識的主人翁，創造新知 識和科技，推動香港經濟轉型。讓我們捫手照亮香港的 前路。 謝謝各位。