HKUST Newsletter, Autumn 2001

Abstract

[evdate 2001-10-15] Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Newsletter Autumn 2001 Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China Celebrating the Past . . . and Driving the Future

Prof Paul Ching-Wu CHU, President of HKUST, summed up the feeling: "The founding members had the vision, ideals, and entrepreneurial spirit to bet on an unproven university for the good of Hong Kong." Dr Vincent H S LO, Council Chairman, noted the contributions of the late Sir Edward YOUDE, former Governor of Hong Kong, the Stewards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club under Sir Gordon MACWHINNIE, founding Council Chairman Dr the Hon Sze-Yuen Chung, and founding President Prof Chia-Wei WOO. The evening culminated in a vote of thanks from two people instrumental in the success of HKUST. Prof Woo expressed the vision and great dynamism that founded the University: "We shall once again lift off and soar into our second decade of achievement." He was followed by Dr Chung, who said: "The result of our effort is a world class

university that has contributed to the transformation of Hong Kong as a whole Finally, the current Court and Council members, many of whom were founding members, joined Dr Chung on stage for a rousing toast, a fitting salute to a truly memorable evening. Court and Council members toast HKUST's beginnings and its future. (From left) Dr Steven K L Poon, Dr Alice Lam, and Dr Sze- Yuen Chung share some happy memories. One of the capstones of an exciting 10th anniversary year took place at HKUST on 5 October, as founding members of the University gathered together for an evening of celebration, conviviality, and reminiscence at the Founders' Dinner. Organized to mark the tremendous contribution the founders have made to HKUST's unprecedented growth and success, the evening saw the S H Ho Sports Hall transformed into a panorama of light and sound with multimedia, games, and songs adding brilliance. Close to 500 people attended the event, with founders coming from as far away as San Francisco, Glasgow, and Taipei. Reflection on the founding days brought a sense of pride, for what the founding members of HKUST accomplished in a brief span of time is truly remarkable. The Planning Committee, led by Dr the Hon Sze-Yuen CHUNG, set the fast pace in 1986 for building the University. Rapid development ensued, but realizing Hong Kong's urgent need for this institution, the founders brought the opening day forward by three years, to 1991, and within five years the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology had been planned, designed, built, organized, and opened to the first group of bright young students. Members of the Planning Committee receive warm congratulations. Two people instrumental in the development and success of HKUST: founding President Prof Chia-Wei Woo (left) and Planning Committee Chairman Dr the Hon Sze-Yuen Chung. The success and achievements that followed have been equally remarkable. HKUST is honored to have founding and succeeding members who represent the best and the brightest-leaders and innovators in academia, government, commerce, industry, and the community- from both Hong Kong and abroad. It is no accident that the majority of founders attending the event are still an integral part of this University. Autumn 2001 2 President's Progress Report Continuing the Drive Propelling Hong Kong's Development into a Knowledge-based Society Prof Paul C W CHU

Today, university professors need to create, disseminate, and apply knowledge. Their role far exceeds the one laid down in HAN Yu's (768-824) Shi Shuo (An Essay on Teaching): "Preaching the right way; passing on knowledge; solving questions and doubts." University professors enrich our store of knowledge, cultivate talents needed by society, and develop technological knowledge to create wealth for all. New knowledge, coupled with appropriate human capital and the right opportunities, gives rise to new technologies for industry. The World Wide Web is a prime example of this. It was originally developed by a physicist to disseminate large quantities of experimental data and to exchange views with fellow scientists. Since its development in 1991, the Web has gone on to change our way of life and social organization. The highly beneficial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique used by medical professionals today was also developed by physicists in the 1940s to analyze materials. These examples illustrate how new knowledge can lead to unexpected achievements. Favorable environments encourage talents to create new knowledge and that new knowledge in turn engenders new technology, although the speed of commercialization may vary.

HKUST has already established a solid foundation in its short 10 years, and we must continue to build on our strengths by pursuing excellence. To this end, the University must recruit and retain the best faculty, students, and staff, in order to provide a first-rate environment for first-rate talents to create pioneering scientific knowledge in a free academic milieu and develop groundbreaking technology. Under the leadership and support of Council Chairman Dr Vincent H S LO and the Council members, I believe that all of us here at HKUST will continue to work at our best for the betterment of Hong Kong, China, and the rest of the world. Charting a new path for high-tech development Hong Kong's uncertain economic prospects and the collapse of the dotcom bubble have shaken some people's confidence in high-tech development. However, dotcom businesses are just a small part of high technology, and their collapse was due in part to the desire for quick returns. Technological development is a world trend, and the long-term well being of society necessitates Hong Kong's transformation into a knowledge economy. We should ask ourselves: What areas of high technology should we chart? What should a research university do to support Hong Kong's high-tech development? To answer these questions, we have to understand Hong Kong's strengths. Finance, real estate, and tourism have long been the lifeblood of Hong Kong's economy. Many people assume that Hong Kong lacks the foundation for high technology and therefore do not have As the only science and technology research university in Hong Kong, HKUST's prime responsibility is to spur high-tech education. We have an urgent need to solicit support from all quarters, so that we can continue to assist in Hong Kong's economic transition and contribute to the welfare of Hong Kong, Greater China, and beyond. I am deeply honored to be able to succeed Prof Chia-Wei WOO as President of HKUST. This University has a history of just 10 years, yet its remarkable academic achievements have already won international acclaim, thanks to the foresight and hard work of the first Council Chairman Dr the Hon Sze-Yuen CHUNG, founding President Prof Chia-Wei Woo, the many founding members of HKUST, our faculty, and administrative staff. They have opened new vistas for Hong Kong in scientific research and the development of high technology. In the University's second decade, I will uphold the indomitable spirit of the founding members and lead HKUST to further advances in science, technology, business and management education, and research and development , bringing HKUST to fur ther prominence on the international stage. The globalization of economies and societies is accelerating in this new century, and the transition to a knowledge economy is inevitable if we want to maintain Hong Kong's competitive edge. We have to create new knowledge in science and technology, and train new generations of technology professionals and managers. It is just such a mission that the farsighted Council and founding members of this University have been carrying out for the past 10 years, keeping pace with the SAR Government's recent goal to promote the development of high technology. Our work will have a far-reaching impact on the future of Hong Kong, offering new and exciting opportunities to students, faculty, and staff. In this report, I will discuss how we can further enhance HKUST's achievements and realize people's expectations of this dynamic University. Focus on excellence-creating new knowledge; developing new technology Scientific research and education in universities was subsidized heavily in the west after the second world war, creating a wealth of new knowledge and talents-a phenomenon that history had not witnessed before. New technologies flourished, bringing tremendous changes to the entire society. In the new era, intellectual resources have become the most valuable assets. Innovative scientific knowledge and technology are the lifeblood of intellectual pursuits, and universities are the breeding grounds for this knowledge and technology. We should be grateful that we live in this era and can enjoy the benefits of technological advances. But is it possible for such development to progress at the same speed? My answer is yes; but to ensure that it does, we must continue the tradition of the west-sustain long-term investment in university education-to create new knowledge and technology. 3 Autumn 2001 confidence in its development. However, our living standard has improved as a result of Hong Kong's economic development over the past 40 years, and Hong Kong's average income per capita is ranked 2nd in Asia (following Japan). While Hong Kong has gradually lost its labor-intensive manufacturing industry, compared with other regions, it possesses sound legal and financial systems, free access to information, and rich experience in management, all of which are first rate. Hong Kong's edge lies in its capacity to coordinate different fields of scientific research and achievements, talented manpower, market needs, and business products in developing high value-added products. Hong Kong should therefore focus on invention and integration, and collaborate with multinational enterprises in developing high-tech goods and services. Research universities such as HKUST can provide the required technology and human resources for high-tech enterprises, while enterprises in turn can help in the selection of research areas and by providing the necessary financial support and information for research. The areas of high technology Hong Kong is well placed to develop include: information technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, new and advanced materials, microelectronics and the design of microsystems, and logistics management. All these are HKUST's high impact research areas, and we can be justifiably proud of our world-class achievements. In the area of nanotechnology, physicists at HKUST have successfully synthesized the world's smallest single-walled carbon nanotubes which display superconductivity. Our physics researchers have also invented a super thin film that absorbs microwave radiation emitted by cellular phones. This protective film contains nano-structured materials and can be produced at low cost. HKUST's research project on molecular neuroscience has recently been selected by the University Grants Committee as one of the three Areas of Excellence this year. The project combines molecular approaches with the utilization of Chinese herbal medicine to discover drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders. All these examples prove that Hong Kong has the edge in its capacity to integrate different resources, and the appropriate exploitation of such an edge would place Hong Kong in a significant "upstream" position. This means that in the foreseeable future, Hong Kong can create knowledge more effectively than other regions. In addition, HKUST's School of Business and Management is recognized as No.1 in Asia, and its MBA program is ranked among the world's top 50. HKUST also has a host of distinguished scholars in the humanities and social sciences. The combination of these strengths allows HKUST to help Hong Kong create new and advanced technology, pioneer new industries, and educate well-rounded professionals who can serve the needs of a knowledge based society. HKUST needs the support of the community When HKUST was first established, its initial plan was to gradually increase the number of students to 10,000, of which at least 30 percent would be postgraduate. The plan was divided into 3 phases, with the last phase due for completion in 1996/97. To date, however, this third phase has not yet been initiated, which means that HKUST cannot fully tap into its potential. As the only science and technology research university in Hong Kong, HKUST has the prime responsibility to spur high-tech education. We have an urgent need to solicit support from the Government, business and industry, and the general public so that HKUST can use the best of its strengths to assist in Hong Kong's economic transition and contribute to the welfare of Hong Kong, Greater China, and beyond. In the face of recent economic stringency, HKUST must cut down its expenditure and increase its revenue. To do this, we will continue to streamline the administrative structure and practice economy as we have in the past. At the same time, under the leadership of Dr Vincent Lo and the Council members, we are actively soliciting the support of business, industry, and the public in order to increase our revenue for teaching and research. I am convinced that with the concerted efforts of the University community and the support of the public, HKUST will function as a locomotive of Hong Kong's drive towards a prosperous knowledge economy. Autumn 2001 4 Research & Development Window on a New World of Nanotechnology material such as carbon is nano-structured in the form of an ultra small tube, novel properties emerge. The Department's successes have put HKUST at the forefront of nanotechnology, hailed as this century's defining science. The possibilities opened up by the extreme diminution in size (a nanometer is one billionth of a meter) are boundless; it is predicted that Following their singular success in fabricating the world's smallest single-walled carbon nanotubes in November 2000, a team of researchers at HKUST's Department of Physics have confirmed superconducting behavior in these nanotubes. This discovery marks yet another in a string of breakthroughs for the Department, and focuses further world attention on the scientific research now emerging from Hong Kong. This is the first time single-wal l ed carbon nanotubes have been found to show superconducting properties. The research breakthrough was reported in Science, the world's top science journal, on 29 June 2001, and the findings were framed as the most important of the issue. opening a window into a whole new world of science." While this groundbreaking research has pushed beyond many barriers thought fixed in the world of physics, the researchers are already moving ahead. Work is underway on doping the nanotubes to see if the superconducting temperature can be further increased. Applications are also being explored, including lithium batteries that could run for two weeks or more without needing recharging. Made in Hong Kong "I hope that Hong Kong people will be able to share our pride. This discovery has been made in Hong Kong by local researchers, right from its inception to its present publication. This demonstrates that Hong Kong researchers are capable of achieving major scientific breakthroughs," says Prof Ping SHENG, leader of the research team and Head of the Department of Physics at HKUST. Prof Sheng, who is also Director of the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, attributes the continued research successes to collaborative efforts by colleagues in the Physics Department. "For any research to succeed, three elements are needed: novel sample fabrication; experimentation and characterization; and theory and simulation. Without any of these elements, we would not have been able to conduct the research, nor could we understand and explain the properties of the materials." These ultra small carbon nanotubes exhibit both superconducting properties and the signature of one dimensionality -two breakthrough discoveries that add to HKUST's string of successes in this field. computers and other small electronic devices will eventually be revolutionized by nano-circuitry. But along with the possibilities come problems. Nano-sized wires in fact generate more heat than micron-sized wires currently used in computers, due to increased resistance. Thus the ability to synthesize nanowires that are superconducting is critical in applying this technology. Working in one dimension The HKUST researchers also observed an extremely important signature on the superconducting behavior-one-dimensionality. This fulfills a prediction made some 40 years ago by US physicists Mermin and Wagner, which said that material properties such as superconductivity can appear entirely different when they manifest in one dimensional systems. The discovery opens up a whole new research direction to scientists. "When electrons move in a one dimensional world, their behavior is totally different from that in three dimensions," says Prof Zikang TANG, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and a member of the research team. "It's like Leading the way in nanotechnology Superconductivity is a property of some materials, when cooled to several degrees above absolute zero (0 K or -273蚓), to conduct electricity with no resistance. However, pure carbon has never been found to be superconducting. The research team has demonstrated that the ultra tiny 4-Angstrom tubes actually become superconducting below 15 K (or -258蚓), well above that observed in other bundles of nanotubes. One significance of the result is that it shows when a basic People Focus Led by Prof Ping Sheng, the research on "Superconductivity in 4-{????}Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes" was undertaken by Dr Zikang Tang, Dr Lingyun Zhang, Dr Ning Wang, Dr Xixiang Zhang, Dr Ge Hui Wen, Dr G D Li, Dr Jiannong Wang, and Dr Che Ting Chan. The team boasts a unique combination of areas of expertise, including theoretical, nanomaterial fabrication, and electron microscope characterization. 5Research & Development Autumn 2001 New Area of Excellence for HKUST contributions made by the Department of Biochemistry and BRI in neuroscience and biotechnology, which have played a key role in promoting Hong Kong's innovative capabilities and have helped lay the foundation for the initiation of a number of cutting-edge collaborations in these important research areas. Activities under this AoE are also expected to offer Hong Kong tremendous opportunities for investment in biotechnology start-up companies, as well as to form strategic alliances with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. compete for the award. The Molecular Neuroscience AoE recognizes the significant More effective therapy for Alzheimer's disease, as well as a host of other neurological disorders, may be one step closer at HKUST with the award of a new Area of Excellence (AoE) by the University Grants Committee (UGC). "Molecular Neuroscience: Basic Research and Drug Discovery" is a multidisciplinary project led by HKUST, in collaboration with regional universities and institutions. Led by Prof Nancy IP, Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Director of HKUST's Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), the project will focus on utilizing modern scientific approaches to discover drugs for the treatment of disorders affecting the human brain. As the population of the world ages, the World Health Organization estimates that these diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide with potentially staggering economic losses. "A unique feature of this program is the combination of molecular approaches with the utilization of Chinese herbal medicine as a source of potential neuro-drug candidates," says Prof Ip. HKUST's multidisciplinary researchers and their collaborators-the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University, Baptist University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences-have the expertise and international reputation to make considerable advancement in this field. Hong Kong's close ties with the Chinese Mainland also allow it to collaborate effectively with their leading neuroscientists and gain access to a wealth of potentially neuroactive traditional Chinese medicines. The five-year research project will receive an allocation of HK$26.8 million from the UGC, which established the AoE scheme in 1998 to encourage the pursuit of excellence within Hong Kong's tertiary institutions to develop their existing areas of strength. Funded AoEs are also expected to put emphasis on the transmission of knowledge through teaching and training, and establishing regional and international collaborations with academia and industry. Given the stringent requirements for the establishment of an AoE, only a small percentage of applications successfully Gaining the Data Edge AoE researchers include: (from left)Ada W Y Fu, Prof Nancy Ip, Prof Jerry Wang, and Dr Amy K Y Fu. How often have you sat impatiently in front of your computer waiting for search results or a graphic to be displayed? If you find it frustrating, think of what it means for a global corporation that relies on processing and utilizing vast quantities, types, and sizes of data from many sites. Thanks to researchers at HKUST's Department of Computer Science, though, there is hope on the horizon. The team, comprising PhD students Thanasis LOUKOPOULOS and Panos KALNIS, Associate Professor Ishfaq AHMAD, and Assistant Professor Dimitris PAPADIAS, has developed a novel technique that can significantly reduce the response time for answering queries involving massive and complex data transfer through the Internet. Their research breakthrough, entitled "Active Caching of On-Line-Analytical- Processing Queries in WWW Proxies", won the best paper award at the 2001 International Conference on Parallel Processing (ICPP), held in Spain in September. ICPP is the oldest and most prestigious conference in the field. Business decision-making increasingly involves identifying trends from complicated data, but retrieving the results of queries is time-consuming. While effective techniques exist for standard distributed systems, none has yet worked for the Internet. The researchers' technique involves an active caching policy under which the web page construction is done close to the decision-maker posing the query and network latencies are avoided. A cache applet is sent to fetch the dynamic data from the data warehouses to create the HTML document containing the answer to the query. "Our proposed technique will help decision-makers in global organizations to have their queries answered efficiently over the Internet," says Prof Ahmad, who is Director of HKUST's Multimedia Technology Research Center (MTRC). The new technique also involves dynamic processing of queries, in contrast to the static allocation solution for standard distributed systems. Prof Ahmad credits the two PhD students with the success of the paper. The work is the latest achievement coming out of the MTRC, which focuses on the individual areas of research involved in multimedia, and ways of fitting them together. It currently works with over 50 industrial partners, and licenses its technologies to companies in Hong Kong and the US. Autumn 2001 6 Research & Development HKUST and Bayer Join Hands to Fight Malaria Eye-opening exposure The next step for HKUST researchers is to produce test samples under the Good Manufacturing Practice codes, and submit them for stringent metabolism and toxicology tests required before the drug can be registered. Working with Bayer has proved extremely beneficial in this respect. "The cooperation with Bayer brings us into contact with the actual operating model of an advanced pharmaceutical industry, " explains Prof Haynes, "and has exposed us to new and highly cost-effective industrial techniques." He noted that HKUST graduates have also been able to participate in drug development and increase their knowledge of the technical requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. Prof Haynes hopes this will be a useful reference for Hong Kong to develop its own pharmaceutical industry as it establishes itself as a center for traditional Chinese medicine. Global collaboration benefits all The collaboration between Prof Haynes and Bayer dates back to 1994 when a senior delegation from the pharmaceutical giant visited HKUST, seeking opportunities for cooperation. The company took great interest in Prof Haynes' research and invited him to lecture at their Central Research Laboratory in Germany. Bayer has since become one of HKUST's major research and development partners, and has sponsored a number of research programs at the University. By working together on the project, HKUST and Bayer were also able to attract support from the MMV, whose aim is to provide pharmaceutical companies with funds for the development of antimalarial medicines and to assist impoverished countries and regions in their fight against malaria. Pharmaceutical companies are generally reluctant to undertake such research on their own, as the expected return may not justify the huge research and development expense involved. Malaria is one of the oldest recorded diseases in the world, and still claims an estimated 3,000 lives daily, mostly in developing countries. Prof Haynes is gratified that his research will be of help to countless people in these countries, where millions die from different epidemics each year. The new antimalarial drug is planned for market in 2005. Prof Richard Haynes has developed a qinghaosu derivative with far greater efficacy than current antimalarial medicines in use. People Focus Prof Richard Haynes received his PhD from the University of Western Australia. He was Gillette International Fellow at the University of Karlsruhe, and has held positions at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London and the University of Sydney. His early research interests took him to China, where he became acquainted with research on qinghaosu, and later the problem of malaria in developing countries. Researchers on the HKUST team include Dr Hing-Wo Tsang, and graduate students Wing-Yan Ho, Kin-Wo Lee, and Ho-Ning Wong, with earlier work contributed by Dr Wai-Lun Lam, Dr Man-Ki Cheung, and Dr Ho-Wai Chan. HKUST's Department of Chemistry has joined hands with Bayer AG to develop a new medicine to combat malaria. The HKUST-Bayer project has been expanded and greatly strengthened through the participation of the Geneva-based Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a foundation set up through private and government donations for the development of new medicines for malaria. MMV has pledged full support, from process development to clinical trials to registration and marketing. The project is estimated to be in the magnitude of millions of US dollars, and not only allows the HKUST researchers to turn basic research into effective and marketable products, but also offers hope to millions of people who live in malaria-ridden areas. Greatly enhanced efficacy The antimalarial drug being developed by the HKUST researchers is a new qinghaosu derivative. Qinghaosu is a chemical compound extracted from qinghao (Artemisia annua), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Although the compound and its derivatives have been in use by clinicians for over two decades and demonstrate strong curative effects, they are generally unstable and undergo decomposition in the process of metabolism. In addition, laboratory tests at Bayer and elsewhere have shown that these compounds could penetrate through the blood-brain barrier, and may cause damage to brain cells. Thus the search for a stable and safe derivative has been of critical importance. Prof Richard HAYNES, project leader and Professor of Chemistry at HKUST, began work on the new qinghaosu derivative in 1995. By modifying the structure of qinghaosu, he produced a derivative that is easily absorbed by red blood cells, where the malarial parasite is most active, but less likely to be decomposed in the process of metabolism. In vitro tests have proved the new derivative to have far greater efficacy than current antimalarial medicines in use, with no indications of potentially harmful side effects, such as brain cell damage, that existing derivatives have shown. 7 Autumn 2001 Innovative Programs for a Knowledge-based Society The overwhelming response to the demanding course is an encouraging sign for Hong Kong's future. Prof Chan says: "This is an exciting program with an innovative curriculum that gives students what both educators and the business community think is important: a critical mind, a global outlook, and excellent communication skills." Engineering technopreneurs The High-Tech Entrepreneur Program (HTEP) offered by the School of Engineering gives engineering students practical preparation for a leading role in Hong Kong's enterprise society. The one-year experimental program, offered as an option instead of a final-year project, introduces enterprising students to business and management skills, which usually remain outside an engineering curriculum. The students gain "hands-on" experience of a start-up, working in small teams to turn an engineering innovation into a business project. "Students will be exposed to new technologies, learn how to work closely with others, and hone their management and communication skills-all of which are vital to their career development," says Prof Phil CHOONG, Adjunct Professor of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management and HTEP Program Director. The program is designed for entrepreneurially-minded final year engineering students, who form teams with faculty advisors and recruit first and second year students. Reception of this unique program is far beyond expectation, says Prof Choong. There are currently nine teams made up of 58 students. Senior students must identify a business niche idea and take the project from seed phase to product development. The idea can be developed in consultation with faculty or HKUST is set to fast forward Hong Kong's future development with the start of two challenging undergraduate programs, specially designed to produce the globally-oriented business leaders and technopreneurs needed to power the knowledge society, and boost the community's position as a world city. Global business leaders The BBA in Global Business, offered for the first time in Hong Kong by the School of Business and Management this semester, is both highly demanding-and already in high demand. The customized degree program, several years in the development, gives a select group of students a head start in the corporate world through a combination of classroom experience, international exposure, and internship opportunities at leading corporations. Language skills are emphasized from the outset with specific requirements set for applicants. Students are also encouraged to take a double major to widen their knowledge further and there is a mandatory semester abroad. "The variety of enrichment programs together with strong academic discipline will prepare students well to take up challenging positions," says Prof Kar Yan TAM, Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs in the School of Business and Management. "Major business schools overseas have similar programs, but the Global Business Program is unique in Hong Kong." In its debut year, the program has generated over 2,200 applications, from which just 28 candidates were eventually selected via the JUPAS admission system and direct entry. All were best performing students in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations. Prof K C CHAN, Acting Dean of Business and Management, says, "We have recruited very smart students with diverse cultural backgrounds. Such diversity will definitely be a plus for the program." The Global Business Program has been developed with feedback from the corporate sector regarding the leadership qualities needed to assist Hong Kong's move into a knowledge economy. Prof Tam explains: The Global Business Program attracts the best performing students in Hong Kong. Engineering students participate in a student entrepreneurship workshop in South Korea. outside business consultants, and some projects may gain industry sponsorship. This year's business theme projects include a 3D virtual map, a quality analysis system for the service industry, and new electronic games. Successful completion of a project could form the basis for a patent application or start-up company. HTEP students also attend interactive workshops, lectures, and seminars by guest speakers from business and industry, and give presentations on the progress of their project. Close to half the teams have already represented HKUST in regional student entrepreneurship workshops and conferences in Korea and Singapore, exchanging experiences with their peers in the region. Professor Kang L WANG, Dean of Engineering, points out: "Innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship are the forte of engineering. Part of the University's mission is to help develop a high-tech industry base. We have started HTEP to help our students become technology entrepreneurs." Teaching & Learning "We conceived the idea for such a program a few years back but needed to secure community interest and financial support, as programs such as exchange and internships are not directly supported by the University Grants Committee funds." 8 Autumn 2001 HKUST in Action Published by the Office of University Development and Public Affairs. For information: tel (852) 2358-6302 or fax (852) 2358-0537.

PTC-G8936 HKUST Hosts International Congress HKUST was host to the First World Congress on Mass Customization and Personalization (MCP) on 1 and 2 October. MCP provides goods and services that serve individual customers' needs with near mass production efficiency, and is rapidly gaining strong interest from academia and industry. The conference was co-organized by HKUST's Advanced Manufacturing Institute and the Technical University of Munich. It featured 74 presentations on recent developments in the

field, with focus on e-commerce and mobile commerce, and attracted over 150 participants-more than half from Europe-including senior industry executives, industrial researchers, and leading academics in the field. Academic Presidents Symposium The presidents of leading universities in East Asia and Western Europe gathered at HKUST on 5 October to discuss the pressing problems of knowledge gap and wealth polarization. The Symposium of Academic Presidents, one of the major events celebrating the University's 10th anniversary, was organized by Prof Chia-Wei WOO, President Emeritus of HKUST and Director of the Europe Institute. Dr Alice LAM, Chairman of the University Grants Committee, delivered the opening remarks. The daylong program attracted over 70 participants and was divided into sessions on East Asia, Western Europe, and China. Panel discussions focused on important topics such as the role of education in closing the knowledge gap and local versus global digital divides. HKUST President Prof Paul Ching-Wu CHU spoke on the role of science and technology research universities, and delivered the closing remarks for the Symposium. Minister of State Visits New Test Track HKUST welcomed Mr XIE Zhenhua (center), Chinese Minister of State for the Environmental Protection Administration, on 5 November to its new Rubber Soil test track and central research facilities. The track is designed for endurance testing of road structures. Mr C M LIN, General Manager of the Hong Kong Productivity Council's Environmental Management Division, officiated the inauguration ceremony, together with Prof Tony EASTHAM,

Associate Vice-President for R&D. Rubber Soil was developed collaboratively by HKUST and Earth Link Technology Ltd. It is produced by mixing cement with rubber crumbs stripped from scrap tires, and provides an environmentally sustainable solution for use in

road construction. Research is continuing to enhance Rubber Soil properties for a range of infrastructure applications. Open Days for the Community HKUST threw its doors open wide to the Hong Kong community in late September, welcoming close to 40,000 people for an exciting two days of events to celebrate the

University's 10th anniversary. The 2001 Student Outreach Day saw a record-breaking 20,000 secondary school students, their families, and teachers flock to the campus on 22 September for an

introduction to the boundless world of prospects at HKUST. Interest was high in the

45 academic seminars, lab tours, technology demonstrations, cultural and athletic events,

and campus tours organized by the Students' Union. 23 September brought the HKUST family together with more of the Hong Kong community for a lively and colorful 10th Anniversary

Carnival, to share the University's 10th birthday celebration with the community at large.

Students presented the University with a miniature version of the Redbird sundial, while

alumni composed and performed a special song entitled Fei Xiang (Soaring). Under brilliant

skies, visitors experienced exciting activity booths, dance and music performances by

students, parents and other groups, sports matches, and campus tours throughout the day.

The Carnival culminated in evening tours of the student halls showing a glimpse of student

life. Visitors received special 10th anniversary commemorative souvenirs, but took home

much more in their vivid impressions of this University. AUTUMN 2001 AUTUMN 2001 APPOINTMENTS PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS Allen MOY Prof Allen Moy received his BS from the University of Illinois, and his MS and PhD in mathematics from the University of Chicago. He held posts at the University of Chicago and Yale University, before becoming Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Washington in 1984. He joined Rutgers University in 1987, where he was the Henry Rutgers Research Fellow and Assistant Professor of Mathematics. In 1990, he became Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Michigan, and was appointed Professor of Mathematics in 1997. Prof Moy has also held visiting positions at the University of Chicago and at HKUST. Prof Moy's research areas are in Lie theory and representation theory, with special focus on p-adic groups. He has been organizer of several important conferences in the field, most recently the Midwest Workshop in Representation Theory in Michigan in 2001. He was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study, and served on the National Science Foundation's Lie Theory Panel to prioritize funding proposals. Prof Moy has been invited speaker at key conferences throughout the world, and has published over 30 papers in leading journals, including Inventiones mathematicae, Annals of Mathematics, Journal of the American Mathematical Society, and the Journal of Number Theory. PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS Yong-Bin RUAN Prof Yong-Bin Ruan comes to HKUST from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he has been Professor of Mathematics since 1999. He received his BSc and his MS in mathematics from Sichuan University, and his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Upon graduation, he joined Michigan State University as an instructor in mathematics, and became Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Utah in 1993. Two years later, he joined the University of Wisconsin, Madison as Associate Professor of Mathematics. Prof Ruan's fields of interest are in symplectic geometry, gauge theory, and mathematical physics including quantum cohomology. He recently co-organized the China International Conference on Symplectic Geometry and Topology, held at Peking University, Sichuan University, and Nankai University in June and July, 2001. The conference brought together outstanding experts in symplectic geometry from both inside and outside China for a series of lectures and seminars. Prof Ruan has published papers in top journals, including Inventiones mathematicae and the Journal of Differential Geometry. He has been invited speaker at leading conferences and seminars, including the International Congress of Mathematicians. PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS Albert Ching-To MA

Prof Albert Ching-To Ma received his BSocSc from the University of Hong Kong, his MA from the University of Manchester and his PhD from the London School of Economics. He became Assistant Professor of Economics at Boston University in 1988 and was appointed Associate Professor in 1994. He has been Professor of Economics at Boston University since 2001. Prof Ma's research areas are in industrial organization, incentive theory, and health economics. His sponsored research includes projects supported by the US National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, and Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. He received the 1997 Kenneth J Arrow Award for Best Paper in Health Economics from the International Health Economics Association, for his paper "Optimal Health Insurance and Provider Payment", published in the American Economic Review. He has been co-editor of the Journal of Economics & Management Strategy since 1996, was a committee member of the 1999 Meeting of the European Economic Association, and co-organizer of the Biennial Conferences on the Industrial Organization of Health Care in Boston from 1995 to 2001. SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT VISITING PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY David Shiao-Chun TU

Distinguished biochemist Prof David Shiao-Chun Tu joins HKUST as a Visiting Professor. He is the John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Biology and Biochemistry, and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Houston. He received his BS from Taiwan University and his MS and PhD from Cornell University, prior to becoming Research Fellow at Harvard University. Prof Tu joined the University of Houston in 1977, and has held visiting posts at Tsinghua University in Taiwan and the University of California at Santa Cruz. Prof Tu's research areas are enzymology and enzyme-related biotechnology, and he has published over 100 papers in prestigious journals and publications. His many awards and honors include: Special Research Scientist Fellow of the National Science Council, Taiwan; Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship, University of Houston; TOKTEN Award, The United Nations Development Program; Outstanding Educator-Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society, University of Houston; and the NIH National Research Service Award. Prof Tu was Associate Editor of Photochemistry and Photobiology from 1985 to 1992 and a member of the NIH Physical Biochemistry Study Section for eight years. He is a member of and has held elected or appointed posts in several leading scientific societies. i AUTUMN 2001 AUTUMN 2001 APPOINTMENTS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE Qiang YANG

1989 PhD University of Maryland (Computer Science) Research Interests Web mining and data mining; artificial intelligence; case-based reasoning, planning and machine learning. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS Jangok CHO

1990 PhD University of Rochester (Economics) 2000-2001 Professor, Sogang University Research Interests Macroeconomics; monetary economics; labor economics. VISITING ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS Chunrong AI

1990 PhD Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Economics) 1998 Associate Professor, University of Florida Research Interests Developing estimation and hypothesis testing methods for microeconomics models; conducting applied microeconomic analysis. VISITING ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Ronald LAU 1991 PhD University of Alabama (Operations Management) 1997 Associate Professor, University of South Dakota Research Interests Operations management; enterprise resource planning; SAP software applications; supply chain management; quality management. VISITING ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING Albert Kai Sun WONG

1988 PhD Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Multiwavelength Optical Networks) 2000-2001 COO, Transtech Services Group Research Interests Data and optical networking; packet switching systems; performance analysis. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Albert HA

1992 PhD Stanford University (Supply Chain Management) 1997-2001 Associate Professor, Yale University Research Interests Coordination of product and process development; stochastic models for production and inventory control; incentive in operations; supply chain management. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE Long QUAN

1989 PhD INPL-INRIA (Computer Science) 1990-2001 Senior Research Scientist, CNRS/INRIA, France Research Interests Computer vision; 3D reconstruction; imagebased modeling and rendering. VISITING ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS John WOODERS

1992 PhD Cornell University (Economics) 1999 Associate Professor, University of Arizona Research Interests Microeconomic theory; game theory; experimental economics. ii AUTUMN 2001 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE Wilfred S H NG

1997 PhD University of London(Databases and Information Systems) Research Interests Semantic data modeling; data warehousing; Web data mining; temporal databases; XML databases. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BIOCHEMISTRY Shengcai LIN

1991 PhD Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Biochemistry) 1995-2001 Senior Scientist, IMCB, Singapore Research Interests Molecular mechanism of cell growth control and development; regulation of G-protein signaling. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING Andrew Wing On POON

2001 PhD Yale University (Physics) Research Interests Micro-optics devices; fiber-optics; photonics; optical communications. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Yu-Hsing WANG

2001 PhD Georgia Institute of Technology (Geotechnical Engineering) 1996-1997 Engineer, Taiwan Area National Expressway Engineering Bureau, Taiwan Research Interests Stochastic resonance and friction; damping mechanisms in particulate media; wavebased techniques; physico-chemical soil behavior; debris flow. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE Michael BROWN

2001 PhD University of Kentucky (Computer Science) Research Interests Computer vision; image processing; computer graphics; visualization; multimedia; digital libraries. VISITING ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Ken PEFFERS

1991 PhD Purdue University (Management Information Systems) 2000 Associate Professor, Texas Tech University Research Interests Business impacts of information systems; information systems planning and strategy. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Yi-Kuen LEE

2001 PhD University of California, Los Angeles (Mechanical Engineering) 1997-2001 Research Assistant, University of California, Los Angeles Research Interests Bio-MEMS, especially biosensor chip; micro thermal injector; micro particle image velocimetry; micro chaotic mixing; DNA fluorescence microscopy. VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES Lydia AYERS

1994 DMA University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Musical Composition) Research Interests Chinese music and ethnomusicology; Chinese and western flutes; music composition and theory; computer music. iii AUTUMN 2001 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF INFORMATION AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Qing LI

2001 PhD University of British Columbia (Operations and Logistics) 2000 Instructor, University of British Columbia Research Interests Supply chain management; operations/ marketing interfaces; production and inventory control. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ACCOUNTING Clive LENNOX

1998 PhD Oxford University (Economics) 1998-2001 Reader, Bristol University Research Interests Auditing; financial distress; economic methodology. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS Ellick K F WONG

2000 PhD Chinese University of Hong Kong (Psychology) Research Interests Managerial decision-making; human judgment and decision processes; language processing; human attention. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FINANCE Yi-Lin WU

2001 PhD University of Chicago (Finance) 2000-2001 Research Assistant, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Research Interests Corporate finance. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS Jaepil CHOI

2001 PhD Rutgers University (Organizational Behavior) Research Interests Effect of cultural values on organizational justice perceptions; procedural justice; compensation system fairness ; individualism-collectivism; leadership; joint venture management. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Kai TANG

1990 PhD University of Michigan (Computer Engineering) 1991-2001 Software Specialist, Applicon Inc Research Interests Solid modeling; CAD/CAM; geometric algorithms; multi-axis surface machining algorithms; feature recognition; robotics algorithms. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FINANCE Jin ZHANG

1996 PhD California Institute of Technology (Engineering Science) 1997-2001 Assistant Professor, City University of Hong Kong Research Interests Derivatives; real options. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FINANCE Jiang LUO

2001 PhD University of California, Los Angeles (Finance) Research Interests Information in financial markets; asset pricing; corporate finance. iv AUTUMN 2001 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MARKETING Rongrong ZHOU

2001 PhD Columbia University (Marketing) Research Interests Consumer behavior and decision making; financial decision making; social influences; customer satisfaction. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCE Ngai PUN

1998 PhD School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Anthropology) Research Interests Chinese labor and global factories; gender and cultural politics; globalization and transborder studies. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MARKETING Ying ZHAO

2001 PhD University of California, Berkeley (Marketing) Research Interests Empirical modeling of competitive strategies; impact of Internet on marketing strategies; pricing; consumer choice models and consumer decision making. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HUMANITIES Xiaonong ZHU

1995 PhD Australian National University (Linguistics) 1996-2000 Research Fellow, Australian National University Research Interests Chinese linguistics; Chinese historical phonology; Chinese dialectology; experimental phonetics; phonology; Chinese logic. VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MARKETING Hao ZHAO

1997 PhD University of Rochester (Marketing) 1996 Assistant Professor, Rutgers University Research Interests Advertising policies; pricing and promotion strategies; competitive strategies; new product development; distribution channels; consumer behavior. VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MARKETING Christina LEE

1995 PhD University of Auckland (Marketing) 1994 Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland Research Interests Household decision making processes; cross-cultural research and its influence on family decision making, advertising and perception of service quality; switching behavior in service industries; social marketing. VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HUMANITIES Kit-Yee CHAN

2000 PhD Chinese University of Hong Kong (Modern Chinese Literature) Research Interests Twentieth-century Chinese fiction; Chinese literature of Hong Kong; modern Chinese poetry; modern Chinese fictions and their filmic adaptations. 杜曉春教授 馬澄濤教授 阮勇斌教授 權龍博士 胡德仕博士 楊强博士 趙章玉博士 夏耀祥博士 王啓新博士 艾春榮博士 劉紹民博士 李桂彩博士 陳潔儀博士 趙昊博士 趙鷹博士 周蓉蓉博士 朱曉農博士 潘毅博士 白懇恩博士 林聖彩博士 王幼行博士 麗歌博士 白名傑博士 吳兆鴻博士 潘永安博士 李貽昆博士 湯凱博士 李祺夫博士 羅江博士 吳儀玲博士 張近博士 黎擎博士 崔載必博士 黃健輝博士