Genesis - HKUST Newsletter = 同創 - 科大通訊, Issue 4, 08

Abstract

HKUST NEWSLETTER-GENESIS Issue 4 08 Our Students- Tears and Triumphs Our Backstage Heroes President Outstanding Service Award Student & Staff to Sit on Council as Members Celebrating Diversity In the Eyes of Swire International Young Fellows

HKUST Shines Bright in Olympic Torch Relay 10 Questions for New Council Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung Contents Front and Center HKUST Mourns Sichuan Earthquake Victims Roy To - a Short But Meaningful Life In Remembrance of His Distinguished Service to the Needy Celebrating Diversity In the Eyes of Swire International Young Fellows Cantonese Opera - an Exotic Offering for Overseas Students Unmanned Mini-helicopter Helps in Sichuan Earthquake Recovery Work Fiery Dragon Blazes to Victory in Robocon Contest Bright Student Awarded Fulbright Scholarship A Taste of the Arctic Engineering Ingenuity Overflows from President Cup Backstage with a Music Artist the Complex Art of Teaching How to Stage a Musical Face to Face 10 Questions for New Council Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung In the UST Family Men are for Science and Women are for Arts Debunking the Gender Myths about Engineering Local Environment in June, Environment in Tune National HKUST Shines Bright in Olympic Torch Relay Pursuing an Interest Across Boundaries Prof Zweig and His China Syndrome Global Fine Music from London When Technology Means Business Raising the Barry Small Award for Great Maths Talents HKUST Biology Research - Published in Science HKUST Shines Again in General Research Fund Competition On Our Green, Green Campus President Outstanding Service Award Our Backstage Heroes Student and Staff to Sit on Council as Members Thank You John, Welcome Marvin and Michael Appointments, Fellowships and Honors HKUST Confers Honorary Fellowships Gorgeous Garage Sale: for Fun and Charity Beauty Is More Than Water Deep The Hands That Help Chiu Chow Merchants Boost Research on Chinese Herbal Medicine

HKUST Mourns Sichuan Earthquake Victims Front & Center

The May 12 earthquake in Sichuan left more than 80,000 people dead and many more homeless. The earthquake was one of the most serious in the history of China, and assistance came from all quarters, domestic and overseas, in support of the rescue and reconstruction efforts. The earthquake shook the hearts of the HKUST community. On the day of national mourning at 2:28 pm on 19 May - exactly one week after the earthquake struck HKUST staff and students gathered at the Atrium to observe a 3-minute silence in memory of the victims. Donations from the campus community kept pouring in, and on 20 May, a cheque of $720,000 was presented to the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The amount was later topped up to over $1 million with subsequent donations. Front & Center 2 Roy To - a Short But Meaningful Life In Remembrance of His Distinguished Service to the Needy earth comes to us all - only we don know when we will be called. When Roy To died, he was barely 26. By most standards, he died tragically young. When a life is snuffed out before it reaches its prime, there is a lingering sense of loss. Yet curiously, at a memorial service for Roy, there was an air of lightness, even an air of celebration - to celebrate a life lived to the fullness of love and care for others. Those who came to eulogize him did so in thoughtful calmness. Here and there someone voice broke. But there was a pervasive dignified acceptance that what had happened to Roy happened for a reason known to God. The memorial service took the form of a verbal and musical tribute. Someone at the piano played a melancholy tune, the Echoes of the Heart but otherwise there was a surprising absence of sadness. Roy seems to have entered peoples heart and dwells there in peace. This spiritual peace may be buoyed by Roys Christian faith. Religion shows its centrality in life when death calls. Even for agnostics, a philosophical justification for a seemingly senseless tragedy is possible. That afternoon, in a sedate church, people found solace in the belief that the true meaning of life is not in its longevity, but in its intensity. Roy had lived the last few years of his life with a restless energy and intensity. He travelled extensively to thirdworld countries to taste poverty at its rawest and to alleviate it in his personal way. He summited Africas highest peak when his fellow climbers had fallen short. Setting his goal in life with great clarity, Roy wanted to contribute to the world, and shun a life of selfish indulgence. He dreamed of building a modest fortune of $1.5 million before the age of 28, not for his own enjoyment, but for cushioning the suffering of those far less fortunate. Roy wasnt always the serious-minded person that he later evolved into. In fact, his early life was rather unremarkable. He came from a family of very modest means. Like most teenagers, he was a video-game-playing, fun-loving type. And like some other students, he failed his HKCEE once. But unlike many youngsters, failure stiffened his resolve to play catch-up. Failure made him grow up fast. By the time he reached HKUST, he began to show signs of leadership, getting elected as Chairman of the Civil Engineering Society. He also found his faith, and with it his mission in life - to be of service to the poor of the world. He helped raise funds to dig wells for villagers in Africa, making a difference that is tangible and sweet. He was overawed by the physical beauty of Africa, against a background of sheer human neglect and ugliness. He wanted to be close to nature and to God. On his last journey to Inner Mongolia to visit the children of the poor, he found both. In his journeys of the heart, he was able to weave charity with adventure. In the end, he died in a car crash on a straight road in remote Inner Mongolia, doing what he loved most. The accident might have truncated his life, but Roy did not die in vain. He is a seed from which greater goodness grows. His employer, the Prudential Assurance Company in Hong Kong and his co-workers there are setting up the To Memorial Fund with one million dollars as the target seed money to realize his dream of aiding the poor. They are united with Roy in his belief that Heaven dwells in the hearts of those who love The memorial service ended on a sunny note, with Prof Roland Chin, our Deputy to the President, awarding Roy posthumously with a Medal for Distinguished Community Service. Henceforth, he will be memorialized annually by the University To Community Service Award Roy memorial service was held at a Christian church Roys sister receives from Prof Roland Chin the Medal for Distinguished Community Service to commemorate Roy outstanding community service record Front & Center Celebrating Diversity In the Eyes of Swire International Young Fellows Cultural Shock Taken positively, cultural shock can be stimulating and exciting. Two Fellows from Malaysia, Foo and Liew were pleasantly surprised when they saw the amount of freedom we enjoy on the campus and in Hong Kong. On her first arrival on HKUST campus, Foo was surprised at seeing an unguarded waterfront. here is no warning sign or wired fence to guard against people going in or out. In an environment like this in Malaysia we will see warning signs all over and the seafront lined with guards who are armed with guns, observed Foo. While people here have access to a high degree of freedom, they are highly disciplined. They do not go around making trouble. Liew agreed, n the campus, we can go around and do whatever we like. Students living in the hostels can go out and return at any time. In Malaysia we have curfews that require students to return to their quarters before 10 pm. Our Asian Fellows appreciated the freedom so much that Yongky rated it as one of the three things he enjoyed most on the campus. Yet apart from the pleasant surprises, the Fellows found that they had to cope with the disparities between each others cultures and values. Both had a lot to learn and unlearn. For example, the examination-driven culture in Hong Kong was a great burden to the students, and often discouraged intercultural communication. They found that local students are very focused on academic studies and grades. When compared with their counterparts in the West, Hong Kong students apparently put too much emphasis on memorization at the expense of analytical and critical thinking. times we felt that we are torn between the need to reach out for intercultural friendship and experience on the one hand, and the demands of our school programs on the other. When our local counterparts work from 10 at night to 6 in the morning we are tempted to follow suit if we cannot beat the system, we might as well join it, commented Foo.

International education has already become the catch word of the day. While international education covers many different dimensions, one of its major attributes is the internationalization of the student population to promote intercultural communication. The first batch of Swire International Young Fellows, also the first batch of international students on HKUST campus, is graduating this year. Genesis-HKUST Newsletter talked to the graduates on how they viewed their international identity and faced the challenges of celebrating diversity and differences on the campus. Chen Xiuye, China (Chen) BSc, Biochemistry A top science student from Beijing who obtained the highest score in the 2005 Joint Entrance Examination Pao Yau Foo, Malaysia (Foo) BBA, Quantitative Finance Pao has studied in Singapore before she came to Hong Kong. Gesche Wai-yi Haas, Germany (Gesche) BBA, Global Business Born of German-Chinese origin, Gershe has attended schools in Germany, Malaysia, Singapore and the Mainland, and can speak fluent Putonghua. 4 Different Approaches to Promoting Intercultural Communication If we treat the efforts to promote intercultural interaction as a continuum, then the Fellows stand at different points of this continuum. In trying to integrate with his local peers, Jeffrey, who came from a beer-loving culture, mingled with his local peers in his German way - he invited them to pubs to enjoy a beer or two. Liew went the extra mile to learn and embrace his peers culture. He has not only managed to pick up most of Hong Kong common culture-specific skills, including playing mahjong and singing karaoke, he actually finds them enjoyable,A karaoke evening or an occasional outing to the Ocean Park are some of the cool ways to relax oneself. Despite his efforts in making friends, he showed reservation about the mindset of his local peers. has never occurred to my local friends that they can go abroad and experience life. Not many of them have thought of exchanges. When I raised this they would say no no no, I grew up here and am used to the ways of living here, and I do not want to leave. his was a shock to me. In Malaysia, everyone thinks about going abroad. On promoting cultural exchanges, Chen and Yongky preferred to let Nature take its course but made sure they won miss the chances as they came along. Chen has got a couple of American roommates, including one American Korean and another American Vietnamese. he long midnight sharing we had together allowed us to better understand each other - our cultures and ways of thinking. I learned how nice it is to be open-minded, remarked Chen. Jeffrey Iqbal, Germany (Jeffrey) BBA, Management of Organizations Jeffrey has a science background and has worked in the labs at UCLA and University of Frankfurt. Seng Fatt Liew, Malaysia (Liew) BEng, Electronic Engineering One of the very best students from Malaysia and a multiple award winner. Yongky Utama, Indonesia (Yongky) BSc, Physics The youngest of the Young Fellows and a gifted student, he joined HKUST at the age of 16. 5 6 Yongky remarkable academic ability and his somewhat casual and couldn care- less disposition are magnets drawing around him a few classmates who showed him around Hong Kong for recreation and fun. Due to this mingling he has been picking up Cantonese with less hassles, I have no problems understanding my Cantonese instructors and can communicate with my classmates in Cantonese, Yongky said proudly. To further promote intercultural exchange, the Fellows decided to institutionalize their efforts by joining hands with other international students and founded NAUTY, a society for promoting intercultural exchanges and interaction on the campus. With local, international and mainland students sitting on NAUTY Committee, they were in a better position to facilitate international understanding. An activity NAUTY launched was Culture Fiesta, a program organized in conjunction with the University International and Mainland Students and Program Office. Now in its second year, last year activity took the audience around the world through cultural booths serving food and drinks from over 15 countries, as well as performances that show the diversity of nations. Moving On Understandably their 3-year stay on HKUST campus was a mixture of joy, pains and frustration. Yet all Fellows survived their challenges and emerged a stronger and more independent person. With a better sense of direction, they are ready to embrace tougher challenges and walk in bigger strides in future. Foo will go to Singapore to join the banking sector. Gesche will join a hedge fund company in New York this summer. Jeffrey will pursue his master degree program in International Politics with Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Liew will embark on his doctorate program at Yale. In his 3-year stay on the campus Yongky tried to satisfy his insatiable hunger for knowledge by taking electives or courses whenever possible. As of now he has already achieved 181 credits, which he believes breaks HKUST record. He will stay on the campus and pursue a Master of Philosophy program in Physics. Chen, who started off as a preparatory class student, will embark on her final year studies this year. A Growing International Campus Local universities intake of international students will increase from the existing 10% to 20%, an indication of our determination to pick up internationalization at an even faster pace. In the wake of an increasingly international campus, what is the Fellows advice to the other students They hope that more and more local students will open up themselves. he international student population will be growing in the near future. If we don treasure their presence and learn from each others differences, it will be an enormous waste of resources said Foo. Gesche, who has lived and studied in many countries, supports this view, only have one life, and we should try to enrich it by showing more interest and curiosity in other people cultures. As a keen political observer, Jeffrey approached the issue from a more macro perspective, Maybe we can do something about our curriculum planning. Our students are too concerned about examinations and grades. If a student takes Maths as his major, he will possibly take a related course, say, Statistics, to help him get better grades in examinations. we push students to take classes different from their majors - say a class in psychology and another in politics, it is going to broaden their horizon. With a changed mindset, they might find renewed interests in people different from them. Jeffrey commented. This view was echoed by Foo. we expect our students to go international, our curriculum has to reflect that need as well. The prospective Yale student Liew agreed that his peers are too concerned about their school grades. He is looking forward to a system which can help the University better monitor students academic performance while reducing the reliance on grades and examination results.

Front & Center

7 Cantonese Opera - an Exotic Offering for Overseas Students One of the many attractions of being an exchange student on HKUST campus is the abundance of cultural richness waiting to be explored and enjoyed. In April, a Business School exchange student from Barcelona, Miriam Lopez Cebrian, took on a new challenge with four other exchange students by enrolling in a 12-hour course on Cantonese Opera that concluded with a stage performance on HKUST Cultural Night. They performed a scene from Cantonese opera eating the Princess in English. During the lessons they learned singing, dancing and other elements of operatic artistry dancing was okay, but singing was a real challenge Miriam said. To experience for themselves the essence of this traditional Chinese art form, they bought tickets for a Cantonese opera performance at the Kwai Tsing Theatre. Apart from these five exchange students, one local student and one HKUST staff member also took the course and were involved in the production. The Cultural Night was jointly organized by the Student Affairs Office and the AIESEC Reception Team, and financially enabled by the HSBC Diversity Grant.

Miriam Lopez Cebrian (3rd from left) with her expatriate and local peers on stage.

Unmanned Mini-helicopter Helps in Sichuan Earthquake Recovery Work An unmanned model helicopter developed by an HKUST MPhil student Wang Tao conducted an aerial scanning of the landscape and facilities affected by the recent Sichuan earthquake to help the authorities assess the damage and plan recovery. Mr Wang is currently Prof Li Zexiang student in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering. The helicopter, installed with a video camera, is linked to the Global Positioning System (GPS) and can fly on its own on a preset course. It differs from a remote controlled model helicopter in that a remote-controlled one has to be controlled at all times while air-borne, and has to stay within the line of sight of the ground control. On the other hand, the unmanned automated helicopter can fly on its own beyond the line of sight of the controller, and its flight range is limited only by the amount of fuel it carries. The helicopter was deployed in Sichuan on 15 May, only three days after the earthquake hit the province, and in the following nine days, it took aerial photos of 12 affected counties, cities and towns. he aerial scanning provides immense help to rescue and recovery operations. It helps the working teams to assess the damage, set priorities, and chart the course of action, said Mr Wang. These unmanned automated vehicles are versatile and can have scientific, commercial and even military applications. My target is to develop more of these vehicles and make them affordable to more users,??he added. Front & Center

Fiery Dragon Blazes to Victory in Robocon Contest It was all systems go for School of Engineering (SENG) students on Sunday, 22 June 2008 when two SENG teams scooped three awards, including the championship, at the Robocon 2008 Hong Kong contest held at the Hong Kong Science Park. Ten teams from five local universities participated in the battle of innovative automatons, organized by Radio Television Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Computer Society and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. Now in its 7th year, this annual competition requires university student teams to design their own robot. Each team machine must then race against the others to complete a number of tasks, providing hands-on experience of engineering and information technology applications. Victory this year was especially sweet for winning team Fiery Dragon, which a year ago was the second runner-up and gained the Engineering Award in the same contest. Along with the overall championship title, it also received the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Best Team Spirit Award. create our robots with multifunctions, said Fiery Dragon team member Tony Cheung. tried to include Tennis racket in our robots so that it can pick up the objects steadily and gain points for winning the contest. We came up with this idea when we played tennis together SENG Hermes team was this year second runnerup. Its team member Shi Jiahui said it was a valuable experience to participate in the event. only can we put what we have learnt into practice, but we can also exchange our ideas with students from different disciplines. Students from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering Program and Department of Mechanical Engineering formed the two SENG teams. They received valuable support from HKUSTs Design and Manufacturing Services Facility, Prof Li Zexiang of Electronic and Computer Engineering and Prof Cai Lilong of Mechanical Engineering. Fiery Dragon will represent Hong Kong in the 7th ABU Asia-Pacific Robocon Contest to be held in Pune, India, in late August. 11 Bright Student Awarded Fulbright Scholarship A PhD candidate in Computer Science and Engineering at HKUST has been awarded the much coveted Fulbright Scholarship for advanced research and university lecturing in the US. Mr Li Mo will be among some 800 scholars selected around the world to pursue academic activities at prestigious US universities, and he plans to spend six months at Stanford University to work on improving wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Brought up in Chengdu in Sichuan Province, Mr Li received his bachelor degree from Tsinghua University in Beijing before coming over to HKUST to pursue his postgraduate studies. His dissertation is on advancing the quality of WSNs, having developed WSN applications to detect potential collapses in coal mines. Mr Li is no ivory tower theorist, but an academic that doesnt mind getting his hands dirty. In 2005 he went to Shenhua Coal Mine, the largest coal mine in China, and developed a structure monitoring WSN system to detect signs of collapse in the coal mine tunnel. He further explored WSN applications in coal mines, taking into consideration possible events like gas leakage and water seepage. This work has recently been documented and recommended by the Hong Kong Computer Society to compete for the Asia Pacific ICT Awards held in Singapore this year. 12 Front & Center

A Taste of the Arctic Mr Jiang Chunmeng (Physics, Year 2) was handpicked from among several thousand applicants to become a member of Chinas first ever arctic expedition made up of university students. In March this year, the expedition set off for the Svalbard Archipelago in the Arctic on a 2-week scientific expedition. The Svalbard Archipelago is home to one of the northernmost settlements in the world. The expedition, jointly organized by the Chinese and Norwegian governments to mark the International Polar Year (2007-08), was the biggest event of its kind, with an aim to popularizing science and promoting student exchange. The expedition is made up of 32 persons - 10 university students, 11 journalists and 11 expedition staff members. Their trip covered mainland Norway and its offshore Svalbard Archipelago. The Arctic is one of the places most seriously affected by global warming at least twice as much as other places. Avalanches, a rare occurrence in the Svalbard Archipelago in the past, are becoming more and more frequent. In fact, the bays which used to be frozen in winter are no longer so in recent years, thus destroying a lot of the arctic ecology. Take the polar bears as an example - due to the melting of the polar ice cap, their hunting ground has become more and more limited. To protect themselves against the possible attack by the polar bears, members of the expedition took a half-day shooting training course at the University Centre in Svalbard, when they were staying at Long-year byen in the Svalbard Archipelago. Recalled Jiang, hooting the polar bears is the very last resort. We all understand that when we sight a polar bear in the wild, the best thing to do is to avoid any contact with him. This is both to protect ourselves, and also to protect these animals. In the last analysis, the polar bears threaten only the safety of individuals, but we human beings are damaging the habitat of both ourselves and the animals and plants. Longyearbyen is the capital city of the Svalbard Archipelago. With a population of merely 2,500, this modern little town is nevertheless complete with supermarkets, bars, restaurants and hotels. Although it is rare for polar bears to invade the town, the people in Longyearbyen still take their safety very seriously. the wilderness outside the town, the polar bears reign the Archipelago. The Svalbard Archipelago has the world largest population of polar bears. In the interest of safety, the inhabitants there developed traditions quite different from other cities and towns. For instance, people are forbidden to lock the door of their house, thus giving an escape route to anyone chased by a polar bear. And in the activities outside the town, people are required to carry guns. As a result, the sale of guns is very simple and common in this town, observed Jiang. Another place that impressed Jiang and his teammates most was Ny-Alesund. Its seriousness in garbage sorting and environmental protection puts many other advanced countries to shame. They categorize their wastes into five types: organic substances, plastic package bags, paper, hard cartons, aluminum cans and others. Apart from these, Jiang also had another unforgettable experience. When the expedition was in Tromso, they bumped into an HKUST alumni Wang Shou, and spent two happy days together. Mr Wang graduated from HKUST two years ago, and is now studying fisheries management at Tromso University. 13 Jiang Chunmeng (2nd row, 2nd from left) and his team members at the Arctic 14 The gold award winning team and their 'Humanoid Robot' Engineering Ingenuity Overflows from Presidents Cup Engineering students scooped most of the awards in this year HKUST President Cup, held annually to encourage and recognize outstanding achievements in research and innovation. The Presidents Cup and the Gold Award went to students of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE), while Chemical Engineering (CENG) (currently Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) students netted the Silver Award and an Honorable Mention. The other Honorable Mention went to a group of Biochemistry students. A Fully On-chip Charge Pump with Reversion Loss Reduction developed by ECE students Kwan Kwok To and Leung San Yiu, found favor with the judging panel and won the top honor. Close on their heels was a umanoid Robot developed by fellow ECE students Xu Yi, Tsui Tsz Kwan and Wong Tim Tat, picking up the Gold Award. CENG students Hung Wing Chak, Sin Hin Man, Tam Chun Yip and Wah Kai Yee tasted silver with their project entitled Nanobottle-immobilized Biomolecules for Sensor Application while their fellow students from the same department gained Honorable Mention with their project named apture and Release of Protein by Reversible DNA-induced Sol-gel Transition System Three Biochemistry students prevented an all-engineering winners list. Wong Sze Man, Yan Chun Wai and Chan Hon Wai, with their harmacological Studies on Tonifying Herbs achieved the other Honorable Mention. National Glory The prize winning projects may be recommended for participation in the Challenge Cup, a national academic competition held every two years. Henry Ma Man Lung, the winner of the President Cup in 2006 and currently an MPhil student reading Chemistry in HKUST, took part in this national competition in 2007 and won a First Class Award. The Challenge Cup 2007 was held at Nankai University in Tianjin. A total of 940 entries from over 350 tertiary institutions from the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau took part in the finals. Among them, 25 won Special Awards, 84 First Class Awards, 226 Second Class Awards and 605 Third Class Awards.

15 Backstage with a Music Artist the Complex Art of Teaching How to Stage a Musical Front & Center Eternity Make-up and The Letters are two musicals produced and performed by a team of 65 students who had been through Dr Oliver Los single-semester Humanities course Music, Drama and Theater Its designer, Dr Lo used a hands-off approach in the production process but always ensured that there was an extra dash of passion. The result was a double delight V to the producers and the viewers. Genesis-HKUST Newsletter went backstage to talk Dr Lo into showing us his bag of tricks.

The secret, Dr Lo pointed out, was that he was determined to leave no fingerprints on the production. He strategically stepped aside to let his students literally run the show. Otherwise, no learning would take place. He made sure that his students had ownership of each and every part of the production - from developing storylines, selecting and appointing directors, casting, choosing songs and creating lyrics, to running rehearsals and staging the show. Creativity Unleashed But this approach presupposes the mastery of basics by the students - from singing, acting, stage movement to combat. Once the students grasped the basic skills, they displayed them with flair. Dr Lo drummed into their heads that the essence of drama lies in conflict leavened by a healthy dose of comic relief. The rest is just respecting the fundamental format of a musical - solo, ensemble, dance, fight and a finale. When teams were formed, the two directors, elected by their classmates, were given some limited authority to assign roles. Their authority was limited because roles were assigned on the basis of a list provided by Dr Lo after three days of auditioning. Was Dr Lo pleased with the casting decisions Yes and no. No - because there were times when really gifted singers were left out. Yes - because by and large Dr Lo had confidence in his directors judgments, even as they were learning. Eternity Make-up and The Letters are two musicals produced and performed by a team of 65 students who had been through Dr Oliver Los single-semester Humanities course Music, Drama and Theater. Its designer, Dr Lo used a hands-off approach in the production process but always ensured that there was an extra dash of passion. The result was a double delight to the producers and the viewers. Genesis-HKUST Newsletter went backstage to talk Dr Lo into showing us his bag of tricks. The cast and the production crew of Eternity Make-up 16 Dr Oliver Lo (left) performing at Fledermaus in his University days.

Dr Lo (1st row, 5th from right) with his students of Music, Drama and Theatre 2006 In the performing profession, dependability is king. A talented performer can drag the entire production down if he refuses to study the scripts, practices little at home and never shows up for rehearsals. My students know their peers much better than I do, he said. Push, Press and Pull The real grind began when it came to rehearsals. With much yelling, screaming and sometimes threats, the rehearsals were a semi-nightmare for both Dr Lo and his students. I told them their productions might be shelved if they are not up to scratch, Dr Lo said. Actually this throwing of temper tantrums was tactically deployed to get things done. It is only on the rare occasions when students had a sudden loss of direction, let things flop and behave like dreamers that I go crazy. Relationship Remains Intact But the occasional flare of temper did little to harm Dr Los relationship with his students. The trust and rapport built up in the first part of the course were the cushion against such strains. His relationship with his production team survived intact. Not only that, he harvested his happiness when he saw the desired changes in his students. On 16 May when the performance took place, the Exposition Hall was packed to the rafters. His annual show becomes a reunion party for his students new and old who return to support their peers and their former art coach. Once out of school, musicals have nothing more to do with good grades. Instead, they remain a life-long passion that continues as the enjoyment of an art form woven from one countrys music, language and culture. It is this magical transformation in his students that keeps Dr Lo going, year after year, production after production. 17 Front & Center 18 Face to Face

10 Questions for New Council Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung What is your chairmanship style? Hands on to lead and direct it to new heights, or hands off to give maximum freedom for HKUST to flourish in its own way (Anonymous staff) This is not an either-or scenario. There are matters such as the search for the next President and fund raising in which I will actively participate. On academic matters I will be hands off and leave them to our capable faculty and staff members. The guiding principle for me is what is in the best interest of the University. What do you think is the most important factor to make HKUST a world class university? (Anonymous professor) Three factors: excellence, excellence and excellence. An excellent education for our students, excellence in research and innovation; and excellence in contribution to our society. We've done well over the past 17 years. But universities all over the world are catching up fast. We must not be complacent and must push forward for excellence. What ideal attributes do you have in mind in selecting the future HKUST President? (Anonymous professor) I would like to listen to the views of the HKUST community including students, faculty and staff. Many have already expressed their views to me that the President should be a world class academic, an inspiring leader, an able administrator or an outstanding fund raiser. I will further solicit views from you in the coming months to help the Search Committee to recruit the best President for HKUST. The real value of HKUST scholarship is dwindling rapidly due to inflation and depreciation of the HK dollar. National University of Singapore is offering twice as much to attract local PhD students. What will you do? (PG student Cao Shigu) The choice of university for postgraduate research depends not only on financial gain, but on other more important factors such as quality of the professors, research supervision and research facilities. Concerning postgraduate stipends, it boils down to funding. All of our scholarship funds come from private donations. The Court and Council meeting held in June 2008 - the first that I chaired since taking over as Council Chair - had a good discussion on fund raising. As Council Chair, fund raising is one of my top priorities. The University needs to be more creative in fundraising. Why are we not looking more at corporate entities? Are we creating a post of VP for fund raising? (Anonymous professor) Fund raising is clearly key to a university's success. The Council has approved the recommendation from a management consultancy report to create a new post of Associate Vice-President for Institutional Advancement. The search is underway. We need to conduct fund raising in a systematic manner, targeting mega donors as well as broadening our donor base, including alumni, private and corporate donors. 19 HKUST's Strategic Plan envisioned a School of Innovation and Management. When will this happen? How will it operate? Will it be modeled on any similar school? (MBA candidate David Dore) Our plan is to create a new School for interdisciplinary programs that each would span many disciplines. As knowledge becomes increasingly complex, interdisciplinary approach is the way to go. Examples include Financial Engineering which involves business, mathematics and engineering; Bioengineering which involves life sciences and engineering; and Environmental Studies. These interdisciplinary programs will be launched in the next two years. The new School being planned will organize these programs. As these programs become established and a working model emerges, we will proceed to establish a new School. Are there any plans to turn HKUST into a university that includes: (a) faculty tenure, rather than the right to fire faculty members at four months notice; (b) a Senate that 100% represents faculty members; and (c) clearly codified rights that guarantee faculty members the right to participate in university matters, including faculty members' joint decision on tenure of a colleague? (Prof Carsten Holz, Social Science. Question abbreviated by the Editor.) Faculty members are the experts in their discipline and should actively participate in university matters including administration and planning. This is carried out by HKUST's culture of faculty governance through faculty committees and by the Senate. The Senate is the supreme body for governing teaching and research, and is led by academics although membership is not 100% academics. The University Council that I chair does not get involved in academic decisions. The Council has to take account of other stakeholders - taxpayers who ultimately fund the University, students, parents, and the public. Who is the Ombudsman or what is the mechanism for faculty members to seek redress against violation of university rules by university management? (Anonymous professor) The University has a set of Staff Grievance Procedures to deal with complaints and grievances. The highest authority for an appeal of grievance is with myself as the Chairman of the University Council. Dr Marvin Cheung at a Council Meeting

20 Face to Face

If you walk around the campus, youll find the overwhelming majority of faculties and students are ethnic Chinese. Diversity on campus is an empty talk. How would you deal with this? (Anonymous professor) Our colleagues who are ethnic Chinese do have very diverse cultural backgrounds. But I do agree with you that we need to further improve our ethnic and cultural diversity on campus. The increase in quota for non-local students to 20% will help to improve the diversity of our undergraduate student body, which is essential for their education. We also need to work on the same for our postgraduate student body. A powerful and inspiring university motto can create a sense of belonging to the university as well as guide the young people to pursue a meaningful life. Should HKUST develop a motto? (Anonymous student) The question was discussed by the University Administration and the Council last year. Most universities created a motto when they were first established. Since we had not and we are going into our second phase development, we feel that we could defer this idea to a later date. Some faculty members who were forced to join the 10-year housing scheme have stayed in university quarters instead of using the allowance to buy a property. Now that the 10-year entitlement period will expire soon, will the University help them in view of the high rent in the private sector? (Anonymous professor) The issue had been discussed thoroughly by the University Administration and the Council. The 10-year time limit as set by the Government is legally binding on the recipients and applies across the board to all publicly funded bodies in Hong Kong. Within this constraint we are fully prepared to assist as appropriate. When you leave the Chairman position in future, how would you like to be remembered by the HKUST community? (MBA candidate David Zhang) I would like to be remembered that I have the golden opportunity to work with friends and colleagues of HKUST to elevate her to the next level of greatness, and to make substantial contribution to the community. What is your favourite hobby? (Anonymous professor) Golf, swimming, fine wines, movies, and serving the community. 21 22 In the UST Family When Fanny Fan Ying Shan, HKUSTs fresh graduate in Chemical Engineering (currently Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) took her summer internship at CLP Powers Black Point Power Station, its Control Room Building - traditionally manned by male engineers and technicians - was without any female lavatory, a reminder of a bygone world dominated by men. This situation is fast changing - but still not fast enough to keep pace with societys changing sexual ecology. Despite an increase in female students choosing to study engineering at universities, the number of female engineering students still falls short of educators expectations. At HKUST, the proportion of female and male engineering students was 2 to 8 in 2003-04. This was improved marginally to 2.5 to 7.5 in 2007-08, but still a far cry from the average female/male ratio of the university student population. A survey conducted by USs National Science Foundation found that out of 10 female earned doctorate graduates in Science and Engineering from 1997 to 2004, only one specialized in engineering. The situation has not changed substantially in the 7-year period. Prof Lau Kei May, Chair Professor in Electronic and Computer Engineering, herself a proud pioneering female engineer, attributed this to the fact that most academically smart girls who are good at mathematics and sciences also excel in arts subjects and languages, so they have lots of choices as to what they want to study in

Men are for Science and Women are for Arts? Debunking the Gender Myths about Engineering college and what they want to do as a career. The deep-rooted misconception that engineering is boring might also frighten girls away. When my niece was going to college, I asked her if she had considered engineering. She said, Id rather study things that are more creative. I said What do you mean? Engineering is the most creative field! As I can see from the annual Oscar Award Presentation Ceremony, a fashion showcase of whats hot and trendy in town, all the evening gowns are pretty much the same year after year. On the other hand, our electronic gadgets (such as mobile phones and MP3) design engineers keep enticing their customers through launching innovative looks, features, and functions. Its much easier for anyone to identify a 5-year old cell phone than an Oscar gown worn 5 years ago! she said. We might also tend to associate engineering with outdoor work, messy factory floors, dusty production plants, lumps of concrete, and heaps of foul language from the bygone days. In electronic and computer engineering, design and manufacturing are two different job components. Local companies have now relocated a major part of the manufacturing job to the Mainland, leaving us to focus on product design. If interested engineering students have doubts about their future working environment, they should visit the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin, the Silicon Valley of Hong Kong and see for themselves the thoroughly modern working environment there, Prof Lau added. In recent years, engineering as a discipline has undergone many changes. At HKUST, engineering as a subject has turned much more interdisciplinary, integrating business, management and communications. Programs including Engineering Management and Academic and Professional Development have been launched with an aim to grooming and nurturing a new breed of engineers who are not only technically proficient but socially and managerially adept. The notion that engineering is a purely professional discipline and that engineering students can only become engineers is no longer valid. According to Prof Lau, engineering education aims to sharpen the minds of intelligent students to solve the problems the world is facing - for instance, energy issues, environmental problems, and health care (bioengineering) concerns for the aging population. Career options open to engineering students are almost endless, the analytical and practical problem-solving skills allow them to choose from opportunities in business, banking, research and consulting. As for Fanny, she seems more than pleased with her subject decision made three years ago when she joined HKUST. The opportunities and exposure made available to her as an engineering student at HKUST apparently outweigh the disadvantages and some annoying inconveniences - including the lack of a gender-specific washroom during her short stay in a power company! In the UST Family Men are for Science and Women are for Arts ? Debunking the Gender Myths about Engineering 23 Chair Professor in Electronic and Computer Engineering Lau Kei May regards engineering as a fun-filled and creativity-driven discipline

This picture of HKUST Engineering graduates indicates the proportion of male and female Engineering students at the University, which is about 8 to 2 24 Environment in June, Environment in Tune Local Stall selling environmental bags made with recycled materials. Picture shows Principal of St Pauls Co-educational College Dr Anissa Chan (1st row, 4th from left) and HKUSTs Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs Dr David Mole (1st row, 3th from right)

the month of June embraced the HKUST community, environmental issues emerged as a major theme of campus life. Our ears were tuned in to environmental forums, and our thoughts dwelled on how to achieve environmental sustainability for the next generation. Two separate weeklong activities set the environmental scene. One was HKUSTs Environment Week from 2 to 6 June, and the other was the International Environmental Conference organized by St Pauls Co-educational College on HKUST campus. Environment Week The Environment Week focused on the theme of Sustainability - a Leadership Role for Higher Education, and encompassed an exhibition, an environmental tour, and a series of distinguished talks. The exhibition featured a variety of sustainable practices and pioneering environmental technologies, such as energy saving, organic farming, and indoor air quality. An environmental tour was conducted for participants to witness HKUSTs environmental facilities, such as the organic farm, the food waste composter, hazardous material management equipment, and recyclable material collection systems. A Toyota hybrid vehicle was also on display on the HKUST campus for the first time, attracting much attention. A forum and a series of distinguished talks were held to facilitate face-to-face interaction between the HKUST community and Mainland and overseas environmental experts. Secretary for the Environment Mr Edward Yau, Civic Exchange CEO Ms Christine Loh and HKUST President Paul Chu officiated at the opening ceremony on 5 June, World Environment Day. Guest speakers featured in the distinguished talks were all renowned environmental scholars and experts from the Mainland and overseas. Prof Jiahua Pan, Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Urban & Environmental Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, shared his views on the relationship between economic development and environmental protection. He said that China has earned its reputation as the factory of the world after years of liberation and reform, and rapid economic growth has resulted in rapid energy consumption and emissions. To him, the best way to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection was to put part of the economic growth into promoting environmental protection, upgrading environmental hygiene and strengthening community health. 25 Another Mainland expert, Prof Canfa Wang, Superintendent for the Institute for Environmental and Resource Law of the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), noted that environmental laws on the Mainland had developed very quickly in the past. China now enjoys a relatively comprehensive legal system to regulate environmental activities, he said, adding that the biggest problems right now was how to fully enforce these laws and regulations, and how to strengthen the protection for the victims in pollution cases. Named by the Time Magazine as a Hero for the Planet for his outstanding efforts in environmental protection, Prof Wang set up the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims in CUPL. Up to 2007, Prof Wang had logged hundreds of pollution cases and rendered legal assistance to thousands of pollution victims. Also speaking at the talks were Prof Philip Jones of Cardiff University; Prof Andrew Weaver of the University of Victoria; Ms Leith Sharp of Harvard University; Mr David Newport of the University of Colorado, and Prof Gerald Patchell of HKUST. Students from Across the World Confer on the Environment To sustain the momentum of environmental discussion, HKUST joined hands with St Pauls Co-educational College to hold a weeklong environmental conference entitled Todays Challenges for Tomorrows Leaders from 29 June to 5 July. More than 120 secondary students from different corners of the world gathered at HKUST for learning, discussion and cultural exchange. The activities included keynote lectures, plenary sessions, ecological visits and workshops. The celebrities invited to contribute to the Conference included Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment; Ms Christine Loh, CEO of Civic Exchange; Ms Audrey Eu, Chairperson of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs; and Mr Eric Bohm, CEO of WWF Hong Kong. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr David Mole, HKUSTs Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs, said that environmental protection was now a key item on the global agenda. This has great impact on the survival of our next generations, and it is therefore fitting that our younger generation from different countries should put their hearts and minds together to take on pressing environmental issues, he said. Dr Anissa Chan, Principal of St Pauls Co-educational College, expressed wholehearted gratitude to HKUST for joining the College as a co-organiser of the Conference. This Conference is a good platform for young leaders from Australia, Mainland China, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom to interact and work together on environmental issues facing their own cities and their home countries, said Dr Chan. Participating in the conference were students from Presbyterian Ladies College in Australia; Ningbo Huizhen Academy and Shanghai High School in Mainland China; the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Toa Payoh), Hwa Chong Institution and Nanyang Girls High School in Singapore; Stella Matutina Girls High School in Taiwan; the Perse School in the United Kingdom; and the Chinese International School, King George V School, South Island School and St Pauls Co-educational College in Hong Kong. Participants were placed in cross-cultural groups to interact and work together to deal with some of the most pressing environmental issues such as air pollution, water pollution, ecological conservation and waste management. Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment A Toyota hybrid vehicle on display for the first time on the campus

26 Renowned environmental experts exchanged their insights on sustaining environment with Secretary for the Environment Mr Edward Yau (4th from left) and President Paul Chu(4th from right)

27 Local

Students touring HKUST campus

28 HKUST Shines Bright in Olympic Torch Relay National

HKUST members showed their support with national flags to torchbearers along one section of Nathan Road.

Courtesy of Government Information Services

HKUST will go down in Olympic history with our President Paul Chu and an exceptional student Chan Yik Hei bestowed the honor of bearing the Olympic torch on two legs of the relay route. It was 2 May - the day the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch was relayed for the first time on Chinese soil after its Journey of Harmony across five continents. Hong Kong, as the first Chinese city to host the three-month relay stringing all the provinces and autonomous regions in China, captured global attention, with seas of exhilarated spectators clad in red and waving the Chinese national flags along the trail. President Chu was one of only two university presidents in Hong Kong enjoying the privilege of this enviable role. When standing by outside Sha Tin Racecourse for the Olympic Torch to arrive, he was warmly greeted by supporters, some of whom even requested to take photos with him. Among these supporters were several overseas students who came all the way to be part of this proud moment. When President Chus torch was lit, there was a round of thunderous applause from the admiring crowd. Chan Yik Hei (Year 1, Electronic Engineering) carried the torch in another part of Sha Tin - along Siu Lek Yuen Road. He admitted that this was one of the proudest occasions in his life, and even hours after the event, his heart was still pounding with excitement. Meanwhile, to show support for other torchbearers, members of the HKUST community organized a cheering team for one section of Nathan Road. Student Chen Kin Foon (PhD in Biochemistry), Chairman of the Mainland Student and Scholar Society, said that it was the first time the Society held such a large scale activity. He was particularly impressed by the enthusiasm of HKUST people as the designated quota of 500 was fully taken shortly after the appeal for participation was made. I have to express my deep gratitude to the University, in particular the School of Science to which I belong, for their solid assistance to make this activity such a great success, Chen said.

29 Nothing speaks more eloquently about Professor Zweigs background than his office decorations. The office is definitely that of a Chinese culture lover. A circa 70s poster of the Peoples Republic of China here and a Chinese antique there. But it also reflects the owners attachment to western culture, as the air was nicely filled with western classical melodies. Brought up and educated in Canada, Prof Zweig received his doctorate in Political Science from The University of Michigan. His interest in China can be traced to the early days when he went to Beijing as an exchange student in 1974-76 and then as a visiting scholar at Nanjing University in the early 80s and 90s. Prof Zweig can read and write Chinese, and his command of Putonghua will put many local Chinese to shame. Currently a Chair Professor in the Division of Social Science and the Director of HKUSTs Center on Chinas Transnational Relations (CCTR), Prof Zweig knows China better than many of us. But questions about his Chinese background hardly raised his eyebrows. It was only when we ventured into his research interests and the CCTR - both dear to his heart - that his eyes began to sparkle. Seaweed or Sea Turtles Prof Zweigs latest research interest is about Mainlanders with an overseas education. In May this year he presented a paper, entitled Sea Turtles or Seaweed - The Employment of Overseas Returnees in China at a symposium in Paris jointly organized by the French Ministry of Labour and the International Labour Office. Based on a research project co-sponsored by CCTR and Guangzhou's Southern China Overseas Human Resource Center the paper assessed employment trends of Mainland returnees and whether their market value has substantially dropped as claimed by social observers. In Chinese, returnees from overseas with advanced education are often called hai gui which means returnees from overseas. But a homonym sounds exactly like sea turtles. Due to the problems they now face in finding jobs, returnees have become hai dai or returnees waiting for employment. But hai dai also sounds like seaweed in Chinese, and reflects the difficulties returnees now face in their job search. In other words, sea turtles are becoming seaweed, said Prof Zweig. Pursuing an Interest Across Boundaries Prof Zweig and His China Syndrome 30 National

This drop in the marketability of returnees was partially due to the drop in academic credentials of the returnees. As returnees were once the hottest commodity in the country, many Chinese students pursue one-year masters programs at mediocre overseas universities, hoping a short stay overseas would coat them with gold (du jin) and significantly elevate their value as jobseekers. As some overseas governments rarely allow overseas students to stay in UK for work after graduation, many returnees have no work experience, in sharp contrast to the situation several decades ago when only the most brilliant Mainlanders were sent to the West for studies at top-notch universities. Armed with substantial living and working experience with international companies overseas, they were very much sought after by Chinas budding economy in the 80s and 90s. The Best Kept Secret in Town Prof Zweigs second love is the Center on Chinas Transnational Relations which he founded in November 2004 with a $2 million grant from Dr Ronnie Chan. Through public lectures, conferences and policy workshops, Prof Zweig makes the Center a meeting point for scholars and interested members of the public to discuss Chinas increasing interaction with the world. Blessed with a stellar Consultative Committee comprising such big names as C C Tung, Daniel Fung, Roger King, Vincent Lo and Christine Loh, one of the Centers core activities is its bimonthly research workshop held in the beautiful boardroom of OOCL in Wan Chai. Its latest research workshop in May was about China and the Olympics. The timeliness of the theme is beyond dispute. In the wake of Chinas controversial handling of the turmoil of Tibet and Chinas determination to turn the Beijing Olympics into a celebration of a Chinese renaissance (as commented by Professor Ni, one of the speakers at the workshop), our attention is on how China manages the worlds expectation. The workshop drew more than 50 participants who wished to satisfy their intellectual curiosity. Many of the participants were business and community leaders whose names regularly fill the headlines of Hong Kongs newspapers. Despite the success of the Centers activities, in particular its bimonthly workshop, Prof Zweig is adamant about keeping this research workshop low-profile and free from news media disruptions. We normally have very heated discussions towards the end of the workshops. The presence of the media or fear that the content of the discussion will go public might hinder this free and uninhibited exchange of ideas, said Prof Zweig. Looking into the Future In the foreseeable future, Prof Zweig will continue to be torn between his two loves, research and his Center, both of which allow him to promote understanding of a nation that is playing an increasingly important role in the international arena. 31 Global 32 Fine Music from London S Violinist Nicola Benedetti September 3 2008 is a date for your diary. HKUST and the University of London (UoL - http://www.lon.ac.uk/ ) are collaborating in an exciting and very unique event. Some 65 students drawn from the 19 Universities and 10 Institutes of Advanced Study which make up the UoL and who are talented enough to be members of the University of London Symphony Orchestra (ULSOwww. ulso.co.uk) are coming to Hong Kong to perform. This is no ordinary student orchestra but probably the finest youth music group in Britain. The competition to join ULSO is so great that each member has to audition every year for a place (including those students from the Royal Academy of Music). The orchestra will be here from 28 August to 5 September 2008 and HKUST will be arranging a few events for you to meet these students. It's an opportunity to interact and find out what student life is like in some of London's best known institutions as well as to educate our visitors on the wonders of the Far East, especially HKUST. The tour will culminate in two concerts- on 2 September (Tuesday) in Sha Tin Town Hall and 3 September (Wednesday) in City Hall Concert Hall which HKUST will present as a fund raising event. As an endorsement of the talent of the orchestra, superstar violinist Nicola Benedetti will join the tour and perform along with rising star, cellist Leonard Elschenbroich. Nicola was BBC Young Musician of the Year 2004 and has recently won the Classical Brit Award 2008. John Forster will conduct the orchestra. Previously the Head of Conducting and Orchestral Studies at the Royal College of Music, his many students include Ms Yip Wing Sze (Conductor and Musical Director of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta). Sponsorship for the event is being raised by both ULSO and HKUST. All the surplus funds raised will be used for future cultural activities within the Campus. We will be promoting the tour to the Hong Kong community to show our commitment to a well balanced education at HKUST

Exchange Partnership Forged with Top Swiss University

33 HKUST has made an academic handshake with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) to launch a science and technology student exchange program. Established in 1854, ETH Zurich is Switzerland's oldest and largest federal university, and alma mater of as many as 21 Nobel Prize winners, including Albert Einstein (Physics 1921), Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen (Physics 1901), Felix Bloch (Physics 1952) and current professor Kurt Wuthrich (Chemistry 2002). Under the exchange agreement, the first batch of students will embark on exchange between the HKUST and ETH Zurich in the 2008-09 academic year. This agreement was the latest addition to the list of student exchange agreements signed with over 100 universities around the world. (From left) Prof Charles Ng, Prof Philip Chan, Ms Judith Holzheimer, Prof Yuk-Shan Wong, Prof Cheng Shiu-Yuen and Prof Jang Kyo Kim The winning team University of Manitoba receives the award from Prof Steven DeKrey, Senior Associate Dean & Director of MBA Program (1st from left) and Prof Stephen Nason, Contest Chair (1st from right) Global Spring is the season of creativity. It is when creative minds push the limits of the imaginable. Organized by the HKUST Business School, the 2008 International Business Plan Competition brought 11 graduate teams to our campus for a showdown in innovation. These young student entrepreneurs dream in technology and deliver in commerce. They came to display their products and pitch their business plans over a 10-day period. There are teams from top universities in Canada, the US, Korea, Japan, China, India, Switzerland and of course Hong Kong. The ideas presented were dazzling in originality and commercial possibility. Each team put forth concepts that give us a glimpse of the future, and sparkling ideas that are high-impact in terms of technology and commercial viability. The judging process was not exactly a picnic. In the end, University of Manitoba took home the championship trophy, with the University of Oregon hot on its heels as the first runner-up. Our home team also did well as one of the finalists. The winning team from the University of Manitoba came through with an orthopedic device for the multi-billion dollar trauma fixation market. This team has already lined up lead customers for its first two products, successfully raising $1.25 million to begin operations. Even non-winning teams were brimming with creativity and commercial daring. The team from Chinas Tsinghua University, for example, created a system that makes use of nano-fiber technology to dramatically reduce the effect of harmful radiation. These young graduate entrepreneurs are the spearheads in our brave new world of technology. Their breathtaking achievement is in harnessing technology and making it serve an unmet market need, proving that young minds are the problem-solvers, if not the masters of our technological future. When Technology Means Business 35 Raising the Bar Very Small Award for Great Maths Talents

It is not a mathematical paradox for the Department of Mathematics to hand out a very small award to some of its department's greatest young mathematical talents. The Epsilon Fund Award (epsilon, being the 5th letter in the Greek alphabet, means very small in mathematics) was established to honor top mathematics students, whether undergraduates, postgraduates or post-doctoral researchers. With donations coming from faculty members and staff in the Department of Mathematics, the Award is now in its third year since its establishment in 2006. This year, the Award was presented to 10 top mathematics talents, four from postgraduate and six from undergraduate programs. The four postgraduates were Du Zhe, Leung Kin Kwan, Qi You and Yang Liang while the six undergraduates were Du Man, Leung Man Kin, Shen Si, Xu Yingnan, Wang Yuxing and Zhu Bo. Each winner was presented with a certificate and HK$1,000. Prof Li Wei Ping, Acting Head of Mathematics and Chairman of the Epsilon Fund Awards Committee, said that the committee members had a most difficult time in the selection this year. All 12 nominations we received demonstrated excellent academic performance, with some of them even receiving multiple graduate program offers with scholarships from leading universities in the US, said Prof Li. Yang Liang, a postgraduate student on an exchange program from the Sichuan University, thanked HKUST for recognizing his efforts in his studies. He noted that what he had learnt in HKUST would become part of his wealth in the future. I must say thank you to my supervisor Prof Huang Jing Song who always gives me sound advice in my studies, and to my family members especially my wife who always stands by me during periods of frustration, said Liang. Coming from Hubei, Du Man (UG in Pure Mathematics Advanced Stream) is one of the top students in the class. Having joined an exchange program with UC Berkeley for a semester last year, she received offers for masters programs from leading universities in the US, including New York University, Cornell University, and Columbia University. Pursuing further studies in the US has been my dream since I was a little girl. Now my dream finally comes true as I have been admitted to the Mathematical Finance Program at New York University in the next academic year, she said. Very Small Award for Great Maths Talents

Some of the Epsilon Fund awardees with Acting Head of Mathematics and Chairman of the Epsilon Fund Awards Committee Prof Li Wei Ping (4th from right) Epsilon Fund 36 Raising the Bar HKUST Biology Research Published in Science

Prof David Banfield of Biology Department and his team of post-doctorate students have solved an important puzzle in cell biology that had eluded scientists for over two decades. Their study was published in the 18 July issue of Science, one of the worlds most prestigious journals of original scientific research. The team members are Dr William C S Tai, who earned his doctorate two years ago and is now conducting post-doctoral research at another local university, as well as Dr Linna Tu and Dr Lu Chen, who earned their doctorate this year. The study uncovers the mechanism that cells use to recognize a group of specialized proteins called enzymes. Cells are dynamic. Many of their internal structures are constantly moving about. This is also true of one of the cells building blocks, called proteins. Cells function in a similar way to a post office. They have the ability to identify proteins, by reading their molecular postal code, and deliver them to their correct destinations, explained Prof Banfield. For many years cell biologists have been exploring the mechanisms cells use to read the addresses carried by proteins. The main post office of the cell is called the Golgi apparatus, named after the Italian scientist and Nobel Prize winner, Camillo Golgi. The Golgi apparatus not only sorts proteins, it is also the location where important changes to proteins are made. Although the Golgi apparatus is a sorting hub, we know that it is also able to recognize proteins that contain a Golgi apparatus address and prevent the delivery of these proteins to other locations in the cell, said Prof Banfield. However, until now it was unclear precisely how cells accomplished this. Prof Banfield and his team identified a critical component of the cells machinery responsible for the retention of Golgi-resident enzymes. One of the authors, Dr Tai, identified the gene encoding the crucial component in 2001. Because cells that lack this gene appeared to be more or less normal, it was difficult to establish exactly what this gene was responsible for, said Prof Banfield. The breakthrough was made by Dr Tu, who discovered the unusual characteristics of cells lacking the gene and made the important link between the gene and Golgi apparatus function. Prof Banfield joined HKUST in 1995. This is his second publication in Science since joining the University - the last one was in 2001. The authors of the article: (From left) Prof Banfield, Dr Lu Chen and Dr Linna Tu. 37 HKUST Shines Again in General Research Fund Competition HKUST researchers have again done well in RGCs 2008-09 General Research Fund (GRF) competition. Overall, we received 163 grants worth a total of $93.3 million. In terms of success rate (this year 60%) and average funding per eligible faculty member, we led our sister institutions in Hong Kong - as we have done since the establishment of RGC in 1992. For adjudication of its grants, RGC has four Panels. Each has a distinct culture, and differing practices have evolved in accordance with the needs of the disciplines they serve. Engineering tends to have a fairly high success rate (51%) and therefore a relatively low average grant of $443,000. The two highest grants in Engineering were awarded to HKUST researchers: Prof Charles Ng, Civil and Environmental Engineering ($1.19 million ) and Prof Zhao Tianzhou, Mechanical Engineering ($1.1 million). Biology & Medicine is more competitive. This Panel has the highest average grant at $957,000 and a relatively low success rate (32%). HKU and CUHK benefit in this Panel by having medical schools. Nevertheless, we have always done well. Over the past two years, HKUST researchers have achieved the highest grants in Hong Kong: Prof Nancy Ip, Biochemistry ($2.07 million) and Prof Mingjie Zhang, Biochemistry ($1.96 million). The Physical Sciences Panel tends to award more modest grants, with the best researchers in Hong Kong each receiving $883,000 this year. This Panel awarded eight such grants across Hong Kong, and five of these came to HKUST: Prof Gan Jianping, Mathematics; Prof Guo Zhihong, Chemistry; Prof Tang Zikang, Physics; Prof Tong Penger, Physics; and Prof Wang Ning, Physics. Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies tend to be more selective than the other Panels, having a success rate of only 27% and a fairly high average grant of $571,000. HKUST researchers received funding for 27 projects to advance their scholarship in fields as diverse as antidumping, consumer choice, democratic reform, intellectual capital, migration, social mobility and taxation.

The grant will tremendously boost Prof Zhang Mingjies research work Our Green, Green Campus 38 Our Backstage Heroes Presidents Outstanding Service Award How do you recognize the extraordinary in the ordinary? That was the question facing the seven panelists who oversaw the selection process of the university's inaugural President's Outstanding Service Award. In less than 17 years, HKUST has become known as a tertiary institution with excellence in its blood and the future in its bones. Less well known is its army of silent supporters - worker bees who toil so that their colony becomes the true home of the excellent. The Selection Committee headed by Prof Wong Yuk-shan, Vice-president of Business and Administration was drawn from a broad representation of this academic community, with a participating member from the Council, Human Resources Office, Academic and Operational departments, the Staff Association, and even the Students Union. No committee took its job more seriously than this gang of seven. And no selection process was more seriously thorough. True to its DNA, HKUSTs culture of excellence has filtered down to its committees. The committee received a total of some 34 nominations. Ten were shortlisted for a personal interview. Each nominee, accompanied by his or her nominator, was grilled for nearly half an hour by the full committee. It was an encounter of a different kind - being somewhere between a job interview and an oral thesis defense. This tight winnowing process yielded three final winners: Anna Wong, a clerical worker at OUDPA who has seldom had a proper lunch during her 14 years spotting errors and catering to its media and editorial needs; Michael Cheng, Senior Purchasing Manager of our Purchasing Office, a man who not only buys what we need, but sets up what we please, from the Million Walk to the Dragon Boat Competition; and then there is Albert Lam, the Chief Technician in the Facilities Management Office, who keeps the campus equipment and facilities humming and who turns our wasteful habits into passionate care for the environment and compassionate concern for the underprivileged. Finally, the big day arrived. It was the awardees' moment of glory. The award presentation ceremony took place in the Tin Ka Ping Hall, which has seldom seen such a collegial and overflowing presence. It was the first time this busy young university has time to stop and say thank you to those who help it shine. It did so with a ceremony worthy of its most solemn academic proceedings, with citations, a presidential handshake, press interviews and so much more. The day ended in a perfect evening - a chatty dinner with senior members of the administration and academic and operational department heads in full attendance. One by one, the three winners spoke bilingually from their heart, of their love for their work and for the university. This selection exercise had consumed the campus for weeks. It was judged an unqualified success. But there was one last crowning act to come. By a unanimous decision, the awardees chose to donate their cash prize of $10,000 each to the Sichuan relief efforts. Virtue is not just its own reward. The inner moral satisfaction has become the outward expression of love for those who need it most. HKUST President Prof Paul Chu presented the first HKUST Presidents Outstanding Service Award to three awardees. They are Ms Anna Wong (second from left), Mr Michael Cheng (third from left) and Mr Albert Lam 39 All Student and Staff to Sit on Council as Members HKUST full-time students and full-time staff members will soon have the opportunity to elect from amongst themselves a member to sit on the University Council, which is the supreme governing body of the University. Under amendments to the HKUST Ordinance which will take effect in September 2009, the size of the HKUST Council will be reduced from 34 to 27 members for more effective governance. This is achieved by taking away 10 existing seats and adding three new ones: one for a staff member, one for a student, and one for the Provost which is a new post created under the new legislation. As for alumni, under the existing HKUST Ordinance, the Chairman of the Convocation is also member of the University Council. HKUST is now in the process of consulting our alumni to set up the Convocation. The new position of Provost is created in accordance with a recommendation of a management consultant engaged by the University to review the Universitys senior management structures in preparation for the implementation of a 4-year undergraduate education and for the future strategic developments of the University. The Provost is responsible for oversight of all academic and educational affairs, including academic personnel. In early 2008, the University widely consulted various stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, and alumni on the proposed amendments. HKUST representatives subsequently attended a meeting with the Legislative Council Panel on Education to brief members on the amendments and listened to LegCo Memberss views. The HKUST team, led by Council Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung and President Paul Chu, included representatives from the Students Union, Staff Association, and Alumni Association. Commenting on the smooth and speedy passage of the amendment bill in LegCo, Council Chairman Dr Cheung expressed deep gratitude to LegCo Member the Hon Abraham Shek, who is also a member of the University Council, for his great help in steering the Bill through various legislative stages. On the advice of the LegCo Education Panel, the University has drawn up regulations in accordance with the wishes of the staff and students on the conduct of the elections of the Staff and Student Council Member respectively. The elections are expected to take place in 2009.

40 Our Green , Green Campus Thank you John, Welcome Marvin and Michael After serving HKUST faithfully, diligently and resourcefully for six years as Council Chairman, Dr John Chan passed the baton to his successor, Dr Marvin Cheung. Dr Chan received a mandatory standing ovation - there being no seats in the reception hall - but not before he broke into song for his fans one last time.

41 Appointments, Fellowships and Honors 2008 Honors List In the 2008 Honors List released on 1 July, eight University members, including our new Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung and Honorary Court Member the Honorable Andrew Li Kwok-nang, have been conferred honors by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR. Another five have been appointed Justice of the Peace. Congratulations Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM) The Honorable Li Kwok-nang, Andrew Honorary Court Member Gold Bauhinia Star (GBS) Dr the Honorable Cheung Kin-tung, Marvin Council Chairman Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) Dr Chow Chun-kay, Stephen Court Member Dr Fung Kwok-lun, William Honorary Court Member Ms Lo Kai-yin Honorary Court Member Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) Dr Chan Sing-chuk, Charles Court Member Mr Lui Tim-leung, Tim Honorary Court Member Medal of Honor (MH) Professor Ip Yuk-yu, Nancy Head, Department of Biochemistry Appointments of Justice of the Peace Dr Fung Yuk-bun, Patrick Council Member Mr Kwok Siu-ming Court Member Mr Sun Tak-kei, David Treasurer of the University Council Member Professor Chin Tai-hong, Roland Vice-President for Academic Affairs (Deputy to the President) Mr Lam Kin-lai Associate Director, Facilities Management OfficeI Prof Xiren Cao the First Local Scholar Named IFAC Fellow HKUSTs Chair Professor in Electronic and Computer Engineering Xiren Cao has been named a fellow of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC), making him the first-ever Hong Kong scholar to become an IFAC Fellow since the Federations inception in 1957.

Prof Roland Chin Reappointed RGC Chairman Prof Roland Chin Tai-hong has been reappointed Chairman of the Research Grants Council (RGC), for a period of 3 years up to 2011. Prof Chin has been RGCs Chairman since 2005. The RGC advises the SAR Government, through the University Grants Committee, on the needs of the institutions of higher education in Hong Kong in the field of academic research, to assess research grants applications and to monitor the implementation of such grants. Our Green , Green Campus

42 Beauty Is More than Water Deep This year, HKUST honors four distinguished members of the community, who are in some sense as different as chalk from cheese, from an education-supporting ginseng dealer, to a former civil servant turned local historian, and a visionary IT entrepreneur to a multi-tasking president of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.

(From left) HKUST Council Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung, Dr Samson Tam Wai-Ho, Ir Dr Lo Wai-Kwok, HKUST Pro-Chancellor Dr Sir Sze-Yuen Chung, Mr Hui Hok-Chee, Dr James William Hayes, and HKUST President Paul Chu Second runner-ups entry HKUST Confers Honorary Fellowships Diving enthusiasts at HKUST have demonstrated their love of deep beauty by taking part in the first ever HKUST Underwater Photo Contest. Fifteen divers went into the sea but only nine contestants submitted photo entries. Why? Because the remaining six saw many marine creatures trapped by abandoned fishing nets, and instead of taking photos they instead spent the time underwater to save these marine lives. As each participant is allowed to submit three entries, a total of 27 photos were received for judging. The divers came from various backgrounds. They include faculty members and their family members, students, and alumni. The three judges are underwater photography veteran Stephen Wong, as the Chief Judge, an HKUST Photography Society representative, and Professor Paul Harrison, Director of the Atmospheric, Marine and Coastal Environment Program. They had a hard time picking the best from the good. After a round of debate and deliberation, here are the winners and their masterpieces: Gorgeous Garage Sale: for Fun and Charity (Left) the winning entry; (Right) the first runner-up

Champion: Miss Choy Wing Yee First Runner-up: Prof Ajay Joneja Second Runner-up: Mr Chan Min Kam Perseverance and passion have turned a one-lady car boot sale more than 10 years ago into a much celebrated half-yearly event on the campus that benefits both the environment and the people alike. It all began in 1995 when Jean Hudson, wife of Facilities Management Office Director Mike Hudson, organized a car boot sale to dispose of their childrens toys and clothes that they no longer needed. And the Grand Garage Sale at HKUST was born. This charitable event is usually held twice a year in May/June and November/ December, gaining popularity with the vendors - who may be staff and their families, students, outside vendors and the general public. The number of booths has been climbing steadily to more than 170. At the last Garage Sale, the Staff Association took the opportunity to offer new and pre-loved goods for sale and the University Parents Cooperative provided food and drinks. Part of the proceeds went to the Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund.

43 44 HKUST is becoming not just culturally, but also ethnically diverse. Soon, there will be a distinct Chiu Chow element on campus. The university has embraced the friendship and accepted the generous gesture of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow Merchants Association in funding studies of alternative medicine. As is well known, residents of Chiu Chow origin number in excess of a million in the territory. They are legendary traders and big-hearted philanthropists and a powerful force to be reckoned with in our economy. Quite apart from their money-making prowess, Chiu Chow merchants are strong believers in education as a channel of upward social mobility. An elite group of these believers have personally picked HKUST to form an academic partnership in recruiting, training and educating researchers in the study of Chinese herbal medicine. This prestigious body is donating ten scholarships, each worth $450,000, to educate postgraduates in traditional Chinese medical research. Preference will be given to applicants of Chiu Chow origin from the Mainland. To this end, a recruitment drive was spearheaded by the Association in conjunction with faculty members of the Biology Department. This effort was given a big boost by the local government officials in the targeted catchment areas. Universities in Shantou and Guangzhou also chipped in energetically. The response, predictably, has been robust. With Chiu Chow students soon heading to the HKUST campus, could the famous Chiu Chow cuisine be far behind ?

The Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce has pledged HK$4.5 million to HKUST to set up postgraduate scholarship to nurture young Chiu Chow talents Chiu Chow Merchants Boost Research on Chinese Herbal Medicine

Genesis-HKUST Newsletter is published by the Office of University Development and Public Affairs and distributed to members and friends of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The Genesis-HKUST Newsletter is published quarterly ( Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) to report on news of recent events and latest development of the University. We welcome reproduction of any parts/articles or photographs in this publication. Please acknowledge the source if any material is reproduced. Tel: 2358 6103; Email: mccheung@ust.hk Editorial Advisory Board Ms May F F Hung School of Business and Management Dr Joseph Kwan Office of the Vice-President for Administration and Business Prof Jang Kyo Kim School of Engineering Ms Adelaine Lim HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School Dr David Mole Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs Prof Kenny K K Ng School of Humanities and Social Science Mr Thomas W K Ng Publishing Technology Center Ms Elaine Y L Tam School of Science Dr Claudia Xu Office of the Vice-President for Research and Development Mrs Pandora M H Yuen Student Affairs Office Editorial Team Chief Editor C K Yeung English Editor Philip Yeung Chinese Editor Ross Lai Editorial Coordinator May Cheung Writers May Cheung, Donna Wong Circulation Manager Anna Wong 2358 6103 mccheung@ust.hk PTC-G12746

Dr the Hon Marvin K.T. Cheung, SBS, JP and Dr Michael H.H.Mak, JP have taken up the leadership of the Council as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively, since 1 April 2008.

Meanwhile, our former Council Chairman, Dr John C.C.Chan, GBS, JP, was appointed Chairman of the University Court with effect from 1 September 2008. We also welcome new members to the Court – Dr Rosanna Wong Yick-Ming (w.e.f. 2 January 2008), DBE, JP, Mr Humphrey Leung Kwong-Wai (w.e.f. 1 April 2008), Mr Martin Lee Ka-Shing (w.e.f. 1 May 2008), and Mr John Harrison (w.e.f. 1 August 2008).

HKUST Newsletter - Genesis 同創 - 科大通訊 科大學生 - 凱歌與淚光

清水灣之夏 悼念四川地震死難者 懷念陶思誦──心善則到處天堂 展示差異、和而不同──國際生暢談科大三年 英語演粵劇交換生粉墨登場 自動導航小型直升機 協助四川地震救援工作 火之龍奪機械人大賽冠軍 研究生獲頒富布萊特獎學金 春萌極地 科大學生到北極考察 校長杯滿載工程智慧 有聲有色 創造奇蹟──盧思彥博士把音樂種子在科大散播

與張建東一席話 張建東主席答師生十問

香港──我們的家 科大六月一片綠

祖國──我們的根 科大激情傳聖火 崔大偉教授暢談他的中國情意結

世界──我們的夢 倫敦妙韻繞香江 科大與蘇黎世聯邦工業大學合作培育科技精英 化科技為商機

又上一層樓 「微小」的鼓勵嘉許數學精英 科大生物系研究報告獲──《科學》雜誌選登 爭取優配研究金 科大學者最稱心

大家庭內談「大家」 木蘭從「工」？──有關女生唸工程學的謬誤

校園一二事 「傑出服務獎」褒揚科大幕後英雄 學生及職員晉身校董會 歌聲中送「陳」迎「張」 委任、榮銜及院士銜 科大頒授榮譽大學院士榮銜 半年一度的校園盛事──校園賣物會 美麗溫情的海底世界

全賴有您──損獻科大 潮州商會策動中草藥研究熱潮

簡訊 大學校董會及顧問委員會新成員

今年5月12日，一場災難性地震蹂躪四川，奪去了8萬多條性命，使無數居民無家可歸。地震造成廣泛基建破壞，而糧食、用品供應以及醫療資源都非常缺乏。這場地震是中國有史以來最嚴重的地震之一，而國內與海外各單位都紛紛提供援助，支援救災及重建工作。

地震在科大造成很大迴響。在地震發生的一星期後，即5月19日下午2時28分，科大教職員及學生齊集大堂，默哀3分鐘向死難者致哀。同時，科大亦收集了校內人士的捐款。5月20日，我們將72萬元支票送到中聯辦。其後，大學繼續收到各界捐款，使其捐款總額超逾100萬元

人生自古誰無死？只是我們往往未能預見這天的來臨。陶思誦去世時還不到26歲；對大部分人來說，他是英年早逝，令人傷感。 但奇怪的是，在陶思誦的追思會上，氣氛輕鬆，甚至有慶祝的感覺。前來歌頌他的事跡的人看來很平靜；雖然偶爾有人嗚咽失聲，但整體上各人都接受了思誦的離去是上帝的旨意。在追思會上，歌曲與致詞交替進行。鋼琴手奏出幽怨的「心靈的迴響」，但除此之外則別無愁緒。思誦似乎已進入了各人的內心深處，並靜靜的待在那裡。

這精神上的安寧可能是來自思誦的基督教信仰。當死亡來臨時，宗教就成為生命的核心。甚至對懷疑論者來說，一宗表面上無法理解的悲劇也可以用哲學來解釋。那個下午，在那平和的教堂上，大家都似乎同意生命的真正意義不在其長短，而在其發放的光彩。

思誦在他生命的最後幾年活出了無限精彩。他到過不少第三世界國家，感受赤貧，並嘗試以個人的行動改善這種狀況。他與多位友人嘗試攀登非洲最高峰，結果只有他完成壯舉。

思誦的人生目標很清晰─他要貢獻世界，並避免耽於逸樂。他希望在28歲之前有150萬元財產。這筆財產不是用作個人享受，而是用來減輕不幸人士的苦痛。

其實，思誦以前並非這樣胸懷大志。他早年的生活可謂平淡無奇。他來自小康之家；就像大部分年青人一樣，他喜歡「打機」、玩樂。他甚至曾在中學會考不及格。但失敗反而激發起他的鬥志，令他急起直追，迅速成長。到進入科大時，他已開始顯露領袖才華，並獲選為土木工程學會主席。他也找到他的信仰和理想，就是為世界上貧困的人士服務。他協助籌款為非洲的村民掘井，改善他們的生活。他在看到非洲慘況的同時，並欣賞到那裡的美麗景色。他希望與大自然和上帝更為接近。在他往內蒙古探望貧困兒童時，他兩者都找到了。在他的心靈旅程中，他總是寓探險於慈善。最後，他在內蒙古一條直路的交通意外中為他所追求的貢獻了一生。

為紀念思誦對社會服務的傑出貢獻，科大首席副校長錢大康特別追頒一個傑出服務獎予思誦，並由其妹代領

這次意外雖然奪去了思誦的性命，但他的畢生努力並沒有浪費。他的善心已經開花結果。他的公司─英國保誠保險有限公司─與他的同事成立了陶思誦紀念基金，目標是籌得100萬元，作為核心款項，以實現思誦的扶貧理想。他們都認同思誦的信念：心善則到處天堂。

追思會在一片樂觀的氣氛中圓滿結束。我們的首席副校長錢大康教授向陶思誦追頒一個傑出服務金牌，同時又成立了「陶思誦社會服務獎」，每年獎勵在社會服務中有傑出表現的科大學生。

「國際教育」已經成為我們的口頭禪。雖然國際教育涵蓋極廣，但它的主要特色是把學生人口國際化，以促進不同種族﹑文化的溝通。

科大第一屆「太古國際青年精英培訓計劃」獎學金的得主，亦為科大首屆國際學生，於今年暑假畢業。

《同創─科大通訊》特別走訪他們，瞭解他們在科大三年的感受。

文化衝擊 文化，要有差異，才能豐富。

來自馬來西亞的Foo及Liew，見到香港人及科大同學享受到的「高度自由」後，不禁暗暗叫好！

Foo入住科大後，除了驚歎科大景致迷人外，更發現科大海旁竟然無人看守，令她感到驚訝。「在馬來西亞，同類海傍旁定必貼滿告示牌，還有荷槍實彈的警衛在旁看守，」Foo說。「香港人雖然享有高度自由，但極有紀律，不會到處攪破壞製造麻煩。」

Liew贊成Foo的說法，「在這裡，沒有人會理會你做什麼。即使住在宿舍，學生可以自出自入。馬來西亞的情況可不一樣，由於宵禁，人們要在晚上十時前回家。」

「自由誠可貴」──在座的另一位亞洲學生，來自印尼的Yongky，也對這裡的自由度豎起大拇指，並把「高度自治」譽為在科大學習的三大優點之一。

除了以上令人「驚喜」的文化衝擊外，在座同學就認為本地與外地學生間仍有不少文化差距。以學習為例，本地學生往往把學業及成績看得很重，也太注重記憶背誦而忽略了分析、思考及批判，與西方的學習文化可謂大相逕庭。

香港以考試為重心的教育文化，令他們感到有點兒吃不消，也間接妨礙了他們與其他同學的交流與溝通。

「有時我們實在感到無所適從─一方面我們希望伸出友誼之手，與本地學生交流，但另一方面我們又要應付繁重的功課。有時我們看到本地學生廢寢忘餐地苦讀，我們就禁不住想向這個制度say yes──還是跟大隊算了。」Foo說。

對國際化的不同體會 這班得到太古獎學金到科大就讀的國際學生，對科大校園的國際化，各有不同的體會和貢獻。

來自啤酒之鄉德國的Jeffrey就愛以啤酒會友─有空時他會邀請三五本地友好，一同到酒吧，一杯在手，品評天下。

極之隨和的Liew，就以「入鄉隨俗」的心情，盡情投入本地文化。他不但學曉了打麻雀，唱K，而且認為這些港式玩意，有趣好玩，「間中與同學唱唱K，又或者到海洋公園玩半天，真是消閒的好主意！」Liew打趣說。

話雖如此，他對部分同學怯於外闖以擴闊眼界的心態，實在有所保留。

「我的本地朋友大多不願到外地生活。他們甚至未想過到海外交流。每次我們聊到這個話題時他們就會說不用了不用了，我已太習慣這裡的生活，根本不想離開。這對我來說實在不可思議。在馬來西亞，人人都會想辦法往外跑。」Liew說道。

至於Chen及Yongky，他們就選擇以隨遇而安的心態面對交流─他們不會很積極的到處交朋結友，不過機會來到，仍會好好把握。Chen曾經與兩名外地學生(一名美籍韓國人及另一名美籍越南人)有同房之誼。她們多次在房中聊天到夜深，令她們更了解彼此的文化及想法。「我體會到，原來開放自己，是多麼令人愉快的一回事！」Chen說。

至於Yongky，他那卓越的學業能力，及他那帶七分隨意，三分不羈的性格，使他「十分」自在，亦為他引來一批忠實本地「粉絲」，平日帶他「呢度去、度去」，讓他玩得不亦樂乎。與本地生混得熟了，他的廣東話也突飛猛進。Yongky帶點自豪的說，「我現在的廣東話棒多了。我可以用廣東話與同學溝通，也能聽得懂大部分操廣東話的導師的說話。」

不過這批精英理解到，個別的溝通與交流，效果畢竟有限，他們於是聯手與其他國際學生創立NAUTY，以便在科大校園更好地推廣國際文化。

NAUTY的執委很具代表性，由本地﹑內地及國際學生組成。而執委籌劃的其中一項活動，就是和國際與中國內地學生及學術事務處合辦的文化節。今年的文化節以「遨遊世界」為主題，安排了各國美食攤位以及文化綜藝表演節目。

邁步向前 混合了笑聲﹑淚水﹑歡笑與愁緒的科大三年，轉眼就過去了。在這三年內，他們克服了不少困難﹑挑戰，變得更獨立﹑堅強，亦更了解自己的未來路向。

Foo將到新加坡任職銀行界。Gesche將遠赴紐約，到一間對沖基金公司工作。Jeffrey將會負笈美國，到美國華盛頓特區喬治城大學唸國際政治學。Liew則會到美國耶魯大學攻讀博士學位。Yongky在科大三年內，盡情學習，吸收知識，從不放過他認為有趣的科目。Yongky相信，他在這三年間累積到的181個學分，可能已經打破科大紀錄。他會在畢業後留在科大攻讀哲學碩士(物理)學位課程。至於Chen，她加入科大時唸的是預備班，今年正式踏入大學的最後一年。

加速國際化 國際學生的數目，將會由現時的10%增加到20%，顯示本地大學將會加速國際化，在這樣的形勢底下，這班精英對其他學生有什麼「忠告」?

他們希望更多本地學生可以開放自己，與外地學生溝通，「校園內將會有愈來愈多國際學生，如果我們不好好珍惜這個機會與他們交流，這將會是極大的資源浪費。」Foo說。

曾經在多個國家生活與學習的Gesche，對Foo的意見深表贊同，「我們只能活一次，希望同學找機會了解和體會不同的種族和文化，以豐富自己的生活。」

對時事及政治有獨特觀察的Jeffrey，就嘗試以更宏觀的角度考慮問題，「我建議由課程設計入手，我們的同學實在太著重考試和成績了，如果有同學選擇了數學為主修科，他大多會副修統計學或其他相關科目。這對他的學習雖然有利，但會局限他的視野。」

「假如學校要求學生副修一些與主修科截然不同的科目，如心理、政治等等，學生的眼界就會擴闊。學生開了眼界，可能就會對身邊的事物產生興趣。」

Foo說得好，「假如科大要迎接國際化，我們的課程也必須作出相應改變。」

今年9月就會加入耶魯大學的Liew，希望我們可以把制度改善，讓學校毋須過分倚仗考試而仍能有效地評估及監察同學的學業表現。

Chen Xiuye, 中國 (Chen) 理學院(生物化學系) 來自北京的尖子。於2005年內地普通高等學校聯合招生考試獲全國最佳成績。

Pao Yau Foo, 馬來西亞 (Foo) 工商管理學院 (計量財務) 來港前曾在新加坡唸書。

Gesche Wai-yi Haas, 德國 (Gesche) 工商管理學院 (環球商業管理) 為中德混血兒，曾在德國﹑馬來西亞﹑新加坡及內地唸書，說得一口流利的普通話。

Jeffrey Iqbal, 德國 (Jeffrey) 工商管理學院(組織管理學) 曾經以傑出的理科成績，在德國法蘭克福大學及美國加州大學洛杉磯分校的實驗室工作。

Seng Fatt Liew, 馬來西亞 (Liew) 工學院(電子工程) 來自馬來西亞的尖子，獲獎無數。.

Yongky Utama, 印尼 (Yongky) 理學院(物理系) 「太古國際青年精英培訓計劃」獎學金的最年輕得主，16歲入讀科大。

來自西班牙的 Miriam Lopez Cebrian (左三) 與其他外地及本地學生粉墨登場

作為科大交換生的其中一項吸引之處是─這裡有多姿多彩的文化活動，正等待他們的參與、發掘！

今年4月，來自西班牙巴塞隆拿的商學院交換生Miriam Lopez Cebrian與其他四名交換生作出一項大膽嘗試。他們參加了一個為期12小時的英語粵劇班，然後粉墨登場，在科大的文化晚會上演粵劇「醉打金枝」折子戲的英文版。

Miriam等同學在粵劇班除了學習唱造外，還學簡單的身段和武打。Miriam說「學粵劇要我做簡單的身段和動作還可以，至於要開腔唱嘛──可真要了我的命！」

為了體會粵劇的神髓，這班認真的學生還特地購票到葵青劇院欣賞專業水準的粵劇演出。

參與演出這個英語話劇的除了五名外籍交換生外，還有一名本地同學及一名科大同事。文化晚會由科大學生事務處及AIESEC接待組聯合主辦，並得到匯豐銀行慈善基金贊助。

科大電子及計算機工程學系碩士研究生汪滔，在李澤湘教授的指導下開發了一部自動導航模型直升機，在四川大地震後拍攝災後影像，協助當地政府評估災區地面、河道及設施在地震後受到的破壞，並為重建工作提供參考。

這部模型直升機設有一部攝影錄像機，連接了全球定位系統，可按預定飛行路線飛行。它與一般遙控直升機的分別在於遙控直升機必須由人全時間控制，而飛行路線必須在操控者視線範圍內。相反地，自動導航模型直升機在飛行時不須由人操控，飛行路線亦不受操控者的視線所限，燃料是唯一因素決定它的飛行距離。

這部模型直升機於5月15日，即四川大地震發生後三日，已抵達四川執行任務。在隨後九日內，它在12個縣、市和鎮拍攝了很多空中照片。

「這部模型直升機可拍攝即時的影像，為日後重建工作提供極有參考價值的依據。它協助拯救隊伍評估災後損毀情況，及訂出救災重建行動的優先次序。」

「這種運輸工具可謂多才多藝，可以用於科學、商業甚至軍事用途。我的目標是開發更多這類工具，並控制成本，使普羅用家都有能力負擔。」他說。

全港大專生機械人大賽2008於6月22日（星期日）假座香港科技園舉行，香港科技大學工學院的兩支隊伍共取得三個獎項，更勇奪冠軍殊榮。

這項創意機械人大賽由香港電台、香港電腦學會及香港工程師學會主辦，吸引了來自本地五間大學共十支隊伍參與。比賽舉辦至今已有七年歷史。比賽要求參賽隊伍自行設計本身的機械人，各隊的機械人再互相較量，學生則從中得到不少實踐經驗。

奪標隊伍火之龍隊為去年大賽的季軍，並奪得工程設計獎，所以今年的勝利令隊員份外興奮。除了奪得總冠軍的殊榮外，火之龍隊更獲得香港科技園最佳團隊精神獎。

「我們設計出多功能的機械人。」火之龍隊的成員張景山說。「我們嘗試把一塊『網球拍』加到機械人身上，使機械人可以穩定地撿起物件，這個創新意念為我們奪得不少分數。我們是在一起打網球時突然想到這個構思。」

工學院的凌波微步隊為大賽季軍。其成員石嘉慧表示參加比賽是一次難得的體驗。「我們不僅可以學以致用，更可以與不同學系的同學互相交流。」

工學院的兩支隊伍由計算機科學及工程學系、電子及計算機工程學系、計算機工程學位課程及機械工程學系的學生組成。此外，香港科技大學的設計與製造服務所、電子及計算機工程學系的李澤湘教授及機械工程學系的蔡李隆教授亦對參加者提供了寶貴支援。

火之龍隊將代表香港於八月下旬出戰在印度浦那舉行的第七屆亞太廣播聯盟機械人大賽。

香港科技大學計算機科學及工程學系的博士生李默獲頒發美國富布萊特獎學金，到史丹福大學進行六個月的教研工作，進行無線傳感器網絡的研究。李默先生為全球八百多名獲得此項殊榮的其中一名學者。得獎人可於美國的著名大學參與教研工作。

李先生於四川省成都市長大，於北京清華大學畢業後加入科大唸研究院課程。他的研究重點在於提升無線傳感器網絡的質素，並曾開發無線傳感器網絡煤礦監控系統。

李先生並非一名只會閉門造車的學者，他曾於2005年前往中國最大的煤礦─神華煤礦，並發展出可協助探測煤礦結構甚至氣體洩漏及滲水的無線傳感器網絡煤礦監控系統，為了煤礦的安全，作出了貢獻。他的研究工作最近獲得香港電腦學會推薦參加競逐今年在新加坡舉行的亞太資訊及通信科技大獎。

香港科技大學物理系二年級生蔣春萌在數千名候選大學生中脫穎而出，成為中國首支大學生北極考察隊的成員，今年三月遠赴北極斯瓦爾巴德群島，進行了為期半個月的科學考察。挪威的斯瓦爾巴德群島是地球上有人居住最北的地方之一。這項活動由中國及挪威兩國政府合辦，是響應今年作為國際極地年，兩地政府所安排的最大一項極地科學普及與交流活動。

考察團一行32人，包括10名大學生，11名記者及11名工作人員。他們考察的地方包括奧斯陸（Oslo），特魯姆所(Tromso)，朗伊爾城（Longyearbyen）及新奧爾松（Ny-Alesund）。在我們想像中的北極，滴水成冰，寸草不生，人們的生活，艱苦樸素。其實，在全球氣候暖化下，北極受損度較其他地方嚴重兩倍。在斯瓦爾巴德群島，雪崩以前並不常見，但現在卻變得愈來愈頻密，原本在冬季冰封的海灣，近年已不再結冰，令北極的生態受到嚴重破壞。以北極熊為例，由於冰塊迅速溶解，日漸變薄的冰層，令熊隻舉步維艱，難以覓食。

為了保護自己免受北極熊的侵襲，蔣春萌等一行數十人在斯瓦爾巴德群島西部的朗伊爾停留時，曾經到斯瓦爾巴德大學中心 接受了半天的射擊訓練。

「那是一個非常刺激的經歷，但我們都明白，在野外遇到北極熊，要盡量避免接觸，這既是保護自己，也是保護這些白色猛獸。畢竟，北極熊危害的只是個別人的安全，但人類正在危害著的，卻是整個族群的生存。」蔣春萌說。

朗伊爾是斯瓦爾巴德的首府，人口僅有2,500人，是一個現代化的小鎮，超市、酒吧、食館及旅館應有盡有。雖然北極熊入侵小鎮的次數極少，但是，根據蔣春萌的描述，「在城市以外的荒野中，北極熊是斯瓦爾巴德真正的主宰。斯瓦爾巴德群島是全球北極熊數量最多的地區，為了安全，鎮上有許多與其他城市不同的傳統。例如，任何房屋都不能鎖門，這樣一旦有人被北極熊侵襲，他都有機會逃生。此外，若要離開城市到郊外活動，人們必須帶上信號彈和真槍。因此槍支的買賣，在這個城市是簡單平常事。」

至於新奧爾松，其對環境保護的認真嚴謹，足以令不少先進國家汗顏，亦令蔣春萌留下了深刻印象。他們把垃圾分為有機物、塑料包裝袋、紙張、硬質紙殼、鋁罐和其他，共五類。

此外，蔣春萌一行人到特魯姆所考察時，竟然遇到科大校友王授。王授兩年前畢業，現在特魯姆所大學學習漁業管理。他們在那裏共渡了兩天美好的時光，令他對特魯姆所這座由冰雪覆蓋的小城，印象猶新。

在今年的科大校長杯競賽中，工學院包辦了大部分獎項。一年一度的校長杯旨在嘉許在研究和創新方面成就傑出的學生。

校長杯和金獎由電子及計算機系學生奪得，而銀獎及優異獎則落在化學工程(現已改名為化學工程及生物分子工程)學系學生手中。理學院生物化學系學生獲得另一個優異獎。

電子及計算機工程學生關國滔及梁燊堯以他們設計的「降低反向電流單晶片CMOS電荷汞」贏得校長杯最高榮譽。他們的同系同學許軼、徐子均及黃添達亦以「人形雙足感應控制機械人」勇摘金獎。

化學工程系學生孔詠澤、蕭顯文、譚振葉及華啟爾以 Nanobottle-immobilized Biomolecules for Sensor Application 奪得銀獎，而他們的同系同學盧大春、吳燦華、王子豪和姚磊則以 Capture and Release of Protein by Reversible DNA-induced Sol-gel Transition System 獲得優異獎。

三位生物化學系學生－黃思敏、殷宗蔚和陳翰威──獲得優異獎，成功阻止工學院囊括所有獎項。他們的作品為「滋補草藥的藥理」。

國家級榮譽 校長杯的優勝作品可能會被推薦參加每兩年舉辦一次的國家級學術比賽「全國挑戰杯」。

2006年校長杯得主馬文龍參加了2007年的全國挑戰杯，並勇奪一等獎。馬同學現正在科大修讀哲學碩士(化學)。

2007年的全國挑戰杯於天津市南開大學舉行。來自中國內地、台灣、香港及澳門350多家高等學府的940份作品獲得決賽資格；最後頒出了25個特別獎、84個一等獎、226個二等獎及605個三等獎。

早前在科大校內上演的兩個音樂劇 'Eternity Make-up' 及 'The Letters' 由65名科大學生製作及演出，並由他們的音樂劇老師，科大人文學部的盧思彥博士監製。他們都是盧博士教授的學分課程 ──「音樂、戲劇及舞台」的學生。

盧博士在監製這兩個音樂劇的時候，給予學生極多發揮的空間，但又不讓學生感到他是撒手不理。這種獨特的「監製」方式，讓學生可以盡情實驗之餘，卻又保證了作品的質素。結果是──觀眾得以欣賞到兩個清新可喜的音樂劇，而同學又經歷了一次難忘的學習體驗。

一開始盧博士就決定放手讓學生「大攪」，成為整部音樂劇的主人翁。無論是故事大綱、挑選導演、演員、選歌填詞、綵排以至最後的演出，他都要學生主導和參與。

他相信如果他「一把抓」，這裡碰一碰，那裡拈一拈，讓整個製作充滿了他「干預」的印記，那麼，這個製作就不再是學生的製作，而是盧博士的傑作，最終學生甚麼也學不到。

盧博士除了讓學生掌握音樂劇的基本功──唱歌﹑演技、走位及動作外，更要學生理解製作音樂劇的基本原則及要求，才讓他們開始籌備演出。譬如，一個完整的音樂劇故事大綱，必須包含矛盾、衝突及喜劇元素，才算合格；而他們在籌備演出前所準備的熱身劇目，就必須是一個完整音樂劇的雛型，具備了獨唱、合唱、舞蹈、打鬥及結局。

同學埋班後，由同學推舉出來的導演，便可以從一張由盧博士擬定的名單，挑選合適的演員。「盧博士的名單」，是根據盧博士本人親自為同學進行了三天試音，千挑萬選後訂下來的。所以說，同學享有的自由，並不是「絕對」的自由，而是有限度的自主。

那麼，盧博士對導演的選角眼光，是否滿意？答案是：滿意和不滿意。不滿意是──有時盧博士認定有歌唱天份的同學，不獲編派角色﹔而滿意是──盧博士對導演的決定和眼光，極具信心。

「在演藝這一行，演員的工作態度至為重要。一個不肯熟讀劇本、綵排失場又疏於練習的演員往往會拖垮整個製作。而我相信，我的學生導演比我更熟識他們的同學。」

不過，音樂劇的練習及綵排，才是盧博士及工作人員噩夢的開始。在綵排期間同學被盧博士責罵、叱喝、甚至「恐嚇」並不罕見。盧博士說:「我對學生說：如果製作不夠水準，就不可以排期上演。」

不過，盧博士承認間中他會「扮」發脾氣，迫他們把事情做好。「我光火是因為同學顯得渾沌胡塗，又缺乏方向。」

製作期間出現的風風雨雨，並無損盧博士與同學的感情，罵過喝過後，盧博士與同學「老友鬼鬼」如故。在課程早期他們所建立的牢固感情，就好像「安全活塞」，把上述意外的破壞性減到最低。

5月16日音樂劇上演當日，整個展覽廳密密麻麻的擠滿了差不多200位觀眾。演出變成了盧博士新舊學生的聯歡派對。一眾新知舊雨不惜遠道而來捧場，無非是要為老師及師弟師妹打氣，及表達他們對音樂劇的熱忱。

對那些早已畢業，但受過盧博士音樂洗禮的學生，音樂劇不再是取得好成績的手段，而是畢生對這種與文化、音樂、語言息息相關的藝術形式的不懈追求。

盧博士認為，這就是他在科大教音樂的最大收穫。

學生這種可喜的轉變，令他樂此不疲，決定把音樂劇當「福音」一樣，在科大傳揚開去。

你的主席風格如何？凡事親力親為，親手帶領科大再闖新高，還是放手讓科大自由發展？ (匿名員工) 兩者並非不可共存的。我會積極參與遴選下任校長及籌款事宜。在學術事務上我會讓教職員全權處理。說到底，我的大前提是以大學利益為依歸。

• 你有何良策令科大成為世界級學府？(匿名教授) 三個因素：卓越、卓越、卓越。為學生提供卓越的教育、卓越的研究和創新，以及對社會作出卓越貢獻。過去17年我們已經取得卓越成績，但世界上其他大學也在不斷進步。因此我們不可自滿，必須努力不懈，繼續邁向卓越。

• 你認為將來的科大校長應該具備什麼特質？(匿名教授) 在這方面，我希望更多聆聽科大人，包括學生、教師和員工的意見。很多人對我說校長應該是個世界級的學者、高瞻遠矚的領袖、能幹的行政人員或出色的籌款家等。在未來的幾個月中，我會聽取你們更多意見，以協助招聘委員會為科大聘請一位最適當的校長。

• 由於通漲加劇和港元疲弱，科大獎學金的實質價值正迅速下降。新加坡國立大學正在以雙倍獎額吸引博士生就讀。你有何良策？ (研究生曹石鼓) 研究生在選擇大學時不單考慮財政得益，也考慮一些更重要的因素，例如教授的質素、研究指導以及研究設施等。研究生資助的多寡視乎我們獲得的資助。我們的獎學金全部來自私人捐獻。在大學顧問委員會和校董會於2008年6月的會議(這是我作為校董會主席所主持的首個會議)中，我們就籌款事宜進行了深入討論。作為校董會主席，籌款是我要優先處理的其中一項事情。

• 科大需要在籌款方面發揮更多創意。為什麼我們不去接觸更多企業團體？我們是否會開設一個專責籌款的副校長職位？(匿名教授) 很明顯，籌款對任何大學的成功至關重要。校董會今已接納一份顧問報告，開設一個協理副校長(大學發展)的新職位。我們已開始物色人選。我們需要有系統地進行籌款，一方面吸引肯作巨額捐贈的慈善家，另一方面則擴大我們的捐贈者名冊，包括畢業生以及私人公司捐贈者。

• 科大的策略性計劃提出要成立創新及管理學院。這計劃何時實施？學院如何運作？它會否以任何類似學院作為藍本？(工商管理碩士研究生 David Dore) 我們的計劃是開設一所新的學院，提供跨學科課程。由於知識變得越來越複雜，跨學科研究是未來趨勢。舉例說，金融工程學涉及商學、數學和工程學；生物工程學涉及生命科學及工程學；環境研究亦涉及多門學科。這些跨學科課程將於兩年內推出。計劃中的學院將會負責籌備推出這些課程。當這些課程開始成形而它們的運作模式漸趨明朗，我們就會成立這家新學院。

• 我們是否有計劃在科大推行以下的改變： a) 訂立學院任期，取代現時容許大學以四個月通知期解僱學院成員； b) 成立一個百分百代表學院成員的教務委員會；及 c) 清楚釐定學院成員的權利，保障學院成員有權參與大學事務，包括共同決定一位同事的任期？(社會科學部的穆嘉教授) 我們暫不討論個別政策的細節，但我必須指出學院成員是他們領域中的專家，應該積極參與大學事務，包括行政和策劃。這是科大的學院管治文化，透過學院委員會及教務委員會推行。教務委員會是管理教學和研究的最高決策機關，並由學者領導(雖然成員並非百分百學者)，由我擔任主席的大學董事會並不參與學術決策。校董會須考慮其他有關人士的意願和利益，包括納稅人、學生、家長和市民大眾。

• 誰是科大的冤情大使？如果教研人員認為大學管理層違反了大學規則，可以使用什麼申訴機制？(匿名教授) 科大有一套員工申訴程序，以處理投訴和冤情。我作為校董會主席，擁有處理冤情上訴的最高權力。

• 如果你在校園到處走走，就會發覺大部分的教師和學生都是華裔人士。校園多元化只屬空談。你會如何處理這問題？(匿名教授) 我們的華裔同事來自不同的文化背景。但我亦同意我們需要進一步改善我們校園內的文化多元性。我們計劃將非本地學生的比例增至20%，以增加本科生人口的多元性，這對他們的教育很重要。我們也必須要將這工作伸延至研究生群體。

• 一個激勵人心的大學校訓可以增加人們對大學的歸屬感，並引導年輕人追求生命意義。科大不應也有自己的校訓嗎？(匿名學生) 去年的董事會和大學管理層也討論過這問題。大部分大學在成立時都曾制訂校訓，而我們快將進入第二期發展，因此我們覺得這問題可以遲一點處理。

• 很多參加了科大「10年房屋資助計劃」的科大同事放棄了用資助自置居所，而選擇入住科大宿舍。現在計劃的年期將要屆滿，而外面私人住宅的租金卻不斷攀升，大學有沒有良法協助這班同事？(匿名教授) 大學管理層及校董會經巳就這個問題進行深入討論。這個10年期限有法律約束力，且適用於全港所有政府及公共機構僱員。不過，大學會在有需要時為同事提供協助。

• 當你將來離開主席的崗位時，你希望留給科大人一個怎樣的印象？ (工商管理碩士生 David Zhang) 我希望科大人記得我有個黃金機會與科大的同事和朋友共事，帶領科大更上層樓，並對社會貢獻良多。

• 你有什麼嗜好？ (匿名教授) 高爾夫球、游泳、美酒、電影以及社會服務。

踏入六月，環保之風吹遍科大，環保議題成為科大校園生活一重要課題。我們舉辦了一連串環保論壇，以思索如何為下一代締造環境的可持續發展。

兩個為期一周的活動為科大環保六月展開序幕。首個綠色活動是6月2日至6日的科大環保周，另一個是科大與聖保羅男女中學在科大校園合辦的國際環保會議。

科大環保周 科大環保周的主題環繞「高等教育在環境持續發展所扮演的領導角色」。環保周的活動包羅萬有，包括展覽、環保設施參觀及一系列傑出講座。

展覽展出有關節約能源、有機種植、室內空氣質素等環保新概念及技術的攤檔及展板。

參觀活動讓師生一睹科大的環保設施，如有機種植場、廚餘分解器、有害物料處理及回收箱等。科大更首次在校園展出一部豐田生產的混合燃料環保汽車，吸引很多師生駐足觀看。

為使師生對環保課題有更深入認識，主辦大會舉辦一連串環保傑出講座及研討會，讓師生與來自內地及國外的環保專家有面談機會。6月5日世界環境日當日，環境局局長邱騰華、思匯政策研究所行政總監陸恭蕙及科大校長朱經武教授出席了環保周開幕儀式，並與在場嘉賓及師生分享了愛護環境的訊息。

環保傑出講座的講者均為內地及海外的著名環保學者及專家。中國社會科學院城市發展與環境研究中心副主任潘家華教授分享了他對經濟發展與環境保護的看法。他認為中國自開放以來，經濟急速增長，更贏得「世界工廠」的稱譽，但隨之而來是引發過度消耗能源及污染排放等問題。潘教授認為經濟發展與環境保護兩者應平衡發展，最好的辦法是把經濟的部分增長應用在推動環保、環境衛生和增強人民健康方面。

最好的辦法是把經濟的部分增長應用在推動環保、環境衛生和改善人民健康。

另一位內地講者─中國政法大學環境資源法研究所所長王燦發教授表示，內地的環保法例過去急速發展，並建立了一個較為全面的法制系統去管理環保活動，現在內地面對最大的問題是如何確保這些法例有效推行，及讓更多污染受害者得到保障。王教授在中國政法大學創辦了「污染受害者法律幫助中心」，向全國的污染受害者提供免費法律諮詢。直至2007年，王教授已無償受理幾百個環境污染索賠案件，為成千上萬的環境污染受害者提供了幫助。他對環保作出的貢獻令他於2007年獲美國《時代》雜誌選為「全球環境英雄」。

此外，多位海外學者包括英國卡地夫大學 （Cardiff University）Philip Jones 教授、加拿大維多利亞大學 （University of Victoria）Andrew Weaver 教授、美國哈佛大學 Leith Sharp 女士、美國科羅拉多大學 David Newport 先生以及科大百察樂教授分別就不同環保課題作出深入剖析。

中學生代表討論環保議題 為培育年青一代的環保觸覺，科大與聖保羅男女中學由6月29日至7月5日合辦一個名為「明日的領袖，今日的挑戰」的國際環保會議。這次活動為期一周，吸引了120多名來自世界各地的中學生雲集科大校園，共同探討不同環保議題。此外，會議還包括一系列活動如講座、研討會、生態參觀及工作坊等。

是次會議的主禮嘉賓可謂冠蓋雲集，包括環境局局長邱騰華、思匯政策研究所行政總監陸恭蕙、立法會環境事務委員會主席余若薇，以及世界自然（香港）基金會行政總裁龐毅理 （Eric Bohm)。

科大協理副校長（學術）毛大偉博士在開幕禮上表示：「環境保護已成為現今舉世關注的議題。由於它關乎我們子孫的存活，因此我們應該鼓勵不同國家的年青人群策群力，共同研究解決方法。」

聖保羅男女中學校長陳黃麗娟博士感謝科大的支持，成為今次會議的協辦單位。她認為這次會議匯集了來自澳洲、中國大陸、新加坡、台灣和英國等各地友校的學生領袖，讓他們就所屬國家 / 地區所面對的環境問題作出分享及交流，意義重大。

應邀出席國際環保會議的學生分別來自世界各地著名中學，包括澳洲的 Presbyterian Ladies' College ；中國的寧波惠貞書院和上海中學；新加坡的聖嬰女子中學、華僑中學和南洋女子中學校；台灣的天主教曉明女子高級中學；英國的 The Perse School ；香港的漢基國際學校、英皇佐治五世學校、南島中學和主辦學校聖保羅男女中學。

參與學生分成不同的文化交流小組，就當前面對的主要環保議題，如空氣污染、水污染、生態保育和廢物處理作深入討論和商討合作建議。

科大校長朱經武教授和學生陳易希獲選為2008北京奧運聖火傳遞香港區火炬手，一同為科大在奧運歷史中寫下光榮的一頁。

2008北京奧運聖火完成跨越五大洲的「和諧之旅」後，首次重回中國國土，於5月2日在港展開火炬接力傳遞。中國境內火炬傳遞將歷時三個月，伸延至內地各省及自治區。香港作為中國傳遞路線的第一站，吸引全球目光，沿途有大批市民身穿紅衣，形成一片紅海，振奮地高舉國旗為火炬手打氣。

全港只有兩位大學校長獲選為今屆奧運火炬手，朱校長是其中一位。當他在沙田馬場外圍等候火炬來臨時，受到在旁的支持者不斷打氣，不少市民爭相與他拍照留念，有留學生更專程前來與他分享喜悅。當朱校長的火炬燃點後，隨即引來群眾熱烈拍掌。

陳易希（電子工程，一年級）所跑的路段在沙田小瀝源路，眼見沿途有不少市民為他打氣，搖旗吶喊，他笑言這是人生重要時刻，心情十分興奮和緊張，久久未能平靜下來。

為表示對火炬手的支持，科大師生更組團到尖沙咀彌敦道一帶為火炬手打氣。負責籌辦今次活動的內地學生學者聯誼會（聯誼會）主席，現時就讀生物化學系四年級的博士研究生陳建歡表示，這次是聯誼會首次舉辦這麼大型的活動，科大師生的熱情參與令他留下深刻印象。「活動舉辦前，收到不少師生查詢及表示支持，500個名額全部爆滿。在此要衷心感謝科大，尤其我所屬的理學院大力幫忙，使這項活動得以順利完成。」 照片由政府新聞處提供

若要認識社會科學部講座教授崔大偉的背景，只消到他的辦公室走走，已可略窺一二。

辦公室內充滿了中國色彩的擺設──這邊是一張中國內地七十年代的海報，那邊是件中國古玩。很明顯，房主人鍾情於中國文化。不過，房中同時響起的西方古典音樂，也在提醒我們房主人對西方文化的熱愛。

在加拿大成長及受教育的崔大偉教授，於美國密芝根大學取得政治學博士學位。他在1974至76年曾經到北京當交換生，又在80及90年代初期到南京大學當訪問學人。崔大偉能夠書寫及閱讀中文，而他那一口極為流利的普通話，足以令不少只能說「半吊子」普通話的香港人汗顏。

崔大偉教授除了是社會科學部講座教授，亦是科大中國跨國關係研究中心主任，是名副其實的中國通。不過，他對記者有關他那「中國」背景的提問，反應不過爾爾。只有我們把話題轉到他的研究興趣及經他一手創立的中心，他的眼睛才綻放出應有的神采，變得滔滔不絕，活躍起來。

「海歸(龜)」還是「海帶(待)」? 崔教授的最新研究興趣是海外歸來的中國留學生。今年5月，他就把自己的論文《「海歸」抑或「海帶」──中國海外留學生的就業路向》 在法國巴黎一國際研討會上發表。研討會由法國勞工部及國際勞工組織主辦。研究計劃由科大中國跨國關係研究中心及廣州南中國海外人力資源中心合作，旨在評估中國海外留學生的就業情況。論文所探討的，是海歸派在近年的市場價值，是否正如社會分析家所說的一樣，江河日下？

「在中國，海外留學生被稱為『海歸』派，意指『海外歸來的留學生』，『海歸』與『海龜』同音。由於『海歸』派近年在人力市場不再像以往般吃香，甚至有每況愈下之勢，他們已由珍貴的『海龜』，變成乏人問津的『海帶』(『海待』)。『海帶』與『海待』同音，正好說明他們不再炙手可熱，成為待業的一群。」崔教授說

「海龜」變成「海帶」，與近年中國海外留學生日漸遜色的教育背景，不無關係。

近年來國內不少年青人基於「海歸派」效應，紛紛到海外唸為期一至兩年的碩士課程，希望課程能為他們產生「鍍金」效用，令他們回國後身價大增。不過，不少外國政府近年已經不再容許海外留學生，在畢業後留在當地工作。所以，很多回國就業的中國留學生，根本缺乏工作經驗，與以前的情況極不一樣。往日只有最頂尖的學生才可以放洋留學，他們在畢業後多獲當地國際大企業聘用，累積了不少可貴的工作經驗。中國在80及90年代，改革開放的步伐不斷加快，正需要這批具備國際視野及海外工作經驗的人才。「海歸派」回到國內，正好配合中國的需要，為中國的現代化作出貢獻，是名副其實的「海龜」。

中國跨國關係研究中心 崔教授的另一心頭所繫，就是他在2005年11月30日成立的中國跨國關係研究中心。中心得到陳啟宗博士200萬元的捐助而成立，崔教授希望透過會議、講座及研究會，把研究中心發展為一個匯集點，讓各方有興趣的人士一同探討中國問題。

該中心的顧問委員會成員，全是當時得令的城中俊彥，包括董建成、馮華健、羅康瑞及陸恭蕙等，而中心的重點活動，就是每兩個月舉行一次的研討會。研討會在灣仔東方海外那美侖美奐的會議廳舉行。

中心於5月舉行的研討會，與中國舉辦北京奧運為主題。中國早前飽受西藏問題困擾，而其處理西藏動亂的手法，亦招來各方爭議；在另一方面，北京正在動員一切力量，力求辦好奧運，以便向世人展示「一個復興大國的力量」(研討會其中一名講者的說話)。凡此種種，都令世人對在8月開幕的北京奧運會，翹首以待。是次研討會吸引了50多名參加者，其中不少是政經界的名人，他們的名字經常出現於報章頭條。雖然中心舉辦的各項活動，特別是這項研討會，非常成功，但崔教授堅持把研討會低調進行，拒絕傳媒採訪。

「在研討會的末段為討論時間，我們把這個時段開放給在場人士討論，參加者通常唇槍舌劍，反應熱烈。假如有採訪中的傳媒人士在場，參加者為了避免自己的言論見報，刻意保持沉默，那豈不是違背了活動的原意麼？」崔教授說。

展望將來 在可見的將來，崔教授將會把他的精力、時間繼續投放於中國研究及發展跨國關係研究中心的會務上。兩者都是他的愛好，兩者並行而不悖，目的是讓世人更深入認識中國的面貌和動態。

倫敦大學交響樂團被譽為英國最優秀的學生管弦樂團之一，亦是英國國際青年管弦樂團成員。樂團集合所有倫敦大學的音樂精英，包括倫敦英皇學院、倫敦大學學院、帝國理工學院、瑪莉皇后大學、倫敦大學經濟學院，以及英國皇家音樂學院。

小提琴手 妮歌拉．班尼迪蒂 指揮──約翰．科士特（John Forster） 英國最出色的音樂指揮之一約翰‧科士特是前任英國皇家音樂學院指揮及管弦樂學科主任，他眾多學生之中包括香港著名指揮家，現任香港小交響樂團指揮及音樂總監葉詠詩女士。

小提琴──妮歌拉．班尼迪蒂（Nicola Benedetti） 來自蘇格蘭的妮歌拉‧班尼迪蒂，曾與世界知名的管弦樂團及指揮家合作演奏，出版了三個專集，並贏盡樂評家的讚譽。

大提琴──李奧拿度．艾臣布魯克（Leonard Elschenbroich） 二十二歲的大提琴手李奧拿度‧艾臣布魯克榮獲的獎項包括2005年「最傑出新晉藝術家大獎」、2004年度「最有潛質年輕藝術家」 Eugene-Istomin 大獎及2003年 Verbier 學院頒發的「最佳大提琴家獎」。

香港科技大學呈獻倫敦大學交響樂團香港之旅 節目：布拉姆斯 - 小提琴及大提琴協奏曲

2008年9月2日（星期二） 沙田大會堂音樂廳 晚上7時30分 票價：$120、$80 （學生、長者及殘疾人士：$100、$60）

2008年9月3日（星期三） 香港大會堂音樂廳 晚上7時30分 票價：$200、$150、$100 （學生、長者及殘疾人士：$120、$80）

門票查詢及留座：2734 9009 信用卡電話購票：2111 5999 節目查詢：科大藝術中心 2358 6149

部分 Epsilon Fund 得獎者興奮地展示獲頒的證書，與 科大署理數學系主任兼今屆 Epsilon 基金獎遴選委員會主席李衛平教授（右四）合照

科大頒發「微小」的 Epsilon 基金獎予數學系精英，這看似有點矛盾，但原來另有更深一層意義。

Epsilon 是希臘第五個字母，在數學上是非常小的意思。Epsilon 基金獎成立的目的是嘉許在數學領域的探索和研究有卓越表現的學生，包括本科生、研究生和博士後研究生。基金獎由科大數學系教授及職員捐款成立，由2006年開辦至今，已踏入第三屆。

今年，科大共嘉許10位優秀數學系學生，他們為四位研究生杜哲、梁健均、漆游及楊亮以及六位本科生杜曼、梁文鍵、沈思、徐英男、王宇星及朱博．得獎者獲頒獎狀及每人1,000元港幣作獎勵。

科大署理數學系主任兼今屆 Epsilon 基金獎遴選委員會主席李衛平教授表示：「今年，遴選委員會的工作甚具挑戰性，因為12位提名學生均是成績超卓，甚具數理天份。部分得獎學生更獲美國著名大學以獎學金招攬入學。」

以四川大學交換生身分來科大就讀研究生課程的楊亮表示，感謝科大肯定他在學習上付出的努力，他認為在科大學到的知識和技能，令他一生受用不盡。「我特別要感謝我的導師黃勁松教授對我的提點，以及我的家人，特別是太太對我的支持和鼓勵。」他說。

來自湖北、在科大就讀純粹數學高級班的本科生杜曼，是班內高材生，去年曾赴加州柏克萊大學作交換生。她現已獲美國數間著名大學取錄修讀碩士課程，包括紐約大學、康奈爾大學及哥倫比亞大學。她表示：「到美國升學是我兒時的夢想，我明年將遠赴紐約大學修讀數學財務碩士課程，令我夢想成真。」

生物系副教授彭大衛及他的博士後研究生解決了細胞生物學中一個曾經困擾科學界20多年的疑團。他們的研究刊登於《科學》雜誌的7月18日一期內。《科學》雜誌是世界上報導原創性科學研究的最權威雜誌之一。

（左起) 彭大衛教授、陳路及屠琳娜博士

這三位博士後研究生分別是戴自城博士(他於兩年前獲得博士學位，現正在另一所本地大學進行博士後研究)，以及今年取得博士學位的屠琳娜博士和陳路博士。

這項研究顯示細胞如何辨認一組酉每(一種特殊蛋白質)的機制。彭教授解釋道：「細胞是動態的；它們很多內部結構都不斷移動。蛋白質(細胞的組成部分)亦如是。細胞的運作方式就像一所郵政局；它們懂得如何辨認蛋白質--辦法是解讀他們的分子郵政編號--並將他們傳送到正確的目的地。

多年來，細胞生物學家不斷探索細胞如何解讀蛋白質所持有的「地址」。細胞的「郵政總局」稱為高爾基體(以獲得諾貝爾獎的意大利科學家 Camillo Golgi 的名字命名)。高爾基體不單將蛋白質分門別類，也是蛋白質發生重大改變的地點。「高爾基體不但是個分類中樞，更懂得辨認那些包含高爾基體『地址』的蛋白質，避免將這些蛋白質傳送到細胞內其他位置。」彭教授說。科學家一直無法解釋細胞這種「特異功能」，直至彭教授及他的學生為我們解開這個疑團。

他們找到負責保持高爾基體酉每正確位置的細胞架構中一個關鍵部分，戴博士於2001年鑒定出這一關鍵部分編碼的基因。「由於缺乏這基因的細胞表面上看差不多正常，我們很難確定這基因究竟負責什麼，」彭教授說。最後，屠博士發現缺乏這基因的細胞的不尋常特性，並將這基因與高爾基體功能建立起重要的聯系。

這是彭教授於1995年加入科大以來第二次獲《科學》雜誌刊載其研究心得─首次是在2001年。

香港科技大學的研究人員在爭取研資局2008-09年度的優配研究金時再次表現出色。我們共獲得163項撥款，總額達9,330萬元。以成功率（本年度為60%）及以每位合資格教職員獲得的平均經費而言，我們為香港各大院校之首─亦延續自研資局於1992年成立以來我們的一貫出色表現。

張明傑教授得到的優配研究金，令他的研究工，如虎添翼

研資局設有四個小組負責審批撥款。各小組均擁有獨特文化，並且根據其專注學科的需要而制訂不同的實際審批條件。

工程學傾向有較高的成功率（51%），因此平均撥款金額則相對較低，只有443,000元。工程學的兩項最高撥款均由香港科技大學的研究人員奪得，他們分別為：土木及環境工程學系的吳宏偉教授（1,190,000元）及機械工程學系的趙天壽教授（1,100,000元）。

生物學及醫學的競爭則較為激烈。該小組的平均撥款金額最高，達957,000元，而成功率則相對偏低（32%）。由於香港大學及香港中文大學均設有醫學院，因此在該小組的審批上佔有優勢。然而，我們表現一向毫不遜色。在過去兩年，香港科技大學的研究人員獲得香港的最高撥款金額，他們分別為：生物化學系的葉玉如教授（2,070,000元）及生物化學系的張明傑教授（1,960,000元）

自然科學小組傾向批授金額較為適度的撥款，於本年內，香港表現最傑出的每位研究人員均獲得883,000元的撥款。該小組於香港共批出八項撥款，香港科技大學佔了其中五項，他們分別為：數學系的甘劍平教授；化學系的郭志宏教授；物理系的湯子康教授；物理系的童彭爾教授；及物理系的王寧教授。

人文學、社會科學及商科的篩選則較其他小組更為嚴格，成功率只有27%，而平均撥款金額則較高，達571,000元。香港科技大學的研究人員獲得撥款的項目共27個，受惠的學術主題廣泛，包括反傾銷、消費者選擇、民主改革、知識資本、移民、社會流動性及稅務。

科大化學工程(現已改名為化學工程及生物分子工程)學系女生樊盈珊年前到中電龍鼓灘發電廠當暑期實習生時，竟然發覺發電廠內沒有女洗手間─提醒我們工程界原來一度是男人的國度。

俱往矣！工程界有愈來愈多女性「入侵」，不過進展仍不夠快，未能配合社會的需要。唸工程的人，數學當然要響噹噹。雖然近年不少女生唸數學唸得非常出色，足以與男生看齊，但選擇在大學唸工程的女生人數，仍令教育工作者掩卷輕嘆。

在科大，唸工程的男女生比例在2003-04年為8:2，2007-08年變為7.5:2.5，與大學整體男女生的比例，仍有很大差距。

美國國家科學基金會做了一項調查，研究由1997年至2004年間攻讀並取得科學或工程學博士的女生人數。研究顯示在10位取得工程學或科學博士學位的女性當中，僅有一位攻讀工程學。在這7年當中，情況沒有很大改變。

電子及計算機工程學系講座教授劉紀美認為工程學充滿創意，有趣好玩

電子及計算機工程學系講座教授劉紀美認為，大部分精於數理的女生，在文科及語文方面也表現出色，故此她們在選科或就業方面有很多選擇。

此外，一般人認為工程師工作沉悶的想法根深蒂固，嚇怕了不少女生。

「當年我的姪女準備入大學，我問她有否考慮唸工程。她居然說:『我想找一些較有創意的學科來唸。』我不禁說:『有創意？工程學便是最具創意的學科。』」劉教授說。

「人們以為工程又悶又單調而時裝設計則又富創意又刺激有趣。不過我就完全不同意。每年的奧斯卡頒獎典禮是眾星展示最潮、最新穎時裝的機會。不過，我們左看右看，發覺他們身上的時裝每年都是大同小異─不過是由短變長，或者由長變短。反觀我們身邊的小型電子產品(如流動電話，MP3等)，無論在外形、功能及特色方面，都不斷推陳出新。我想，要辨認一個五年前推出的手提電話，比辨認一件五年前在奧斯卡頒獎禮出現過的時裝，容易得多了。」

我們也很容易把工程師的工作，與塵土飛揚的工場、戶外工作及污言穢語等聯想在一起，「在電子及計算機工程界，設計與製造這兩個工序是完全分開的。本地公司早已把製造這個工序移到內地，讓我們可以把精神集中於產品設計。如果有同學對於將來的工作環境有任何疑慮的話，請她們到沙田的香港科學園(也就是香港的矽谷)走走，親身目睹那邊現代化的工作環境。」

因時制宜，工程學這個科目，在近年亦有不少轉變。在科大，工程學的範圍變得愈來愈闊，涵蓋了不少跨學科如管理學、商業學及傳訊學的知識。科大工程學院轄下的兩個科目，「工程管理」及「學術及專業發展」的設立，就是要培育新一代的工程師，讓他們不單有深厚的專業知識，而且具備出色的管理技巧及社交能力。

很多人以為工程學是一個專業科目，唸完工程學，就必須要當工程師。其實不然。劉教授認為工程教育，其實是要訓練學生的思考和分析能力，讓他們解決當前世界面對的各項難題，如能源、環境及為日漸老化的人口解決各項健康問題(生物工程)。唸完工程學的學生具有高度的分析及解決問題能力，就業前景廣闊，畢業生除了可以從事本業外，亦可選擇加入銀行界、商界或成為顧問或研究員等。

至於樊盈珊，她對於三年前選讀工程學這個決定，感到非常滿意。科大工程學院在這三年間為她(及她的同學) 提供了不少機會，令她增長了見識，豐富各方面的知識和技能，可說是完全抵銷了其他方面的不足或不便─包括年前她在電力公司實習時，公司未有專為女性而設的洗手間！

科大校長朱經武教授在頒獎禮上與首屆「傑出服務獎」三位得獎者合照，分別是（左二）黃婉薇女士、鄭傑明先生（左三）及林秉惠先生

什麼才是平凡中的不平凡？這正是負責首屆「科大傑出服務獎」的七位遴選委員所面對的問題。「科大傑出服務獎」的設立，旨在表揚非教學員工對大學所作出的貢獻。

香港科技大學在短短不足17年間成為知名學府，一般人只會留意其優良的教研血脈，想像其輝煌的未來，卻很少人留意在學府裡大批默默無聞的幕後英雄─由於這批工蜂的默默耕耘，才能令科大人才薈聚，屢創佳績。

遴選委員會由科大副校長 (行政) 黃玉山教授率領，成員由大學內不同團體代表組成，包括校董會、人力資源處、學術及營運部門、教職員協會及學生會。這個「七人小組」以非常認真的態度進行嚴謹的遴選過程。充分反映科大校內的卓越文化。

首屆「科大傑出服務獎」共收到34個提名，委員會挑選最出色的10位候選人進行面試。每位候選人要在提名人陪同下，被所有遴選委員「盤問」約半小時。這實在是不一樣的歷練─是介乎入職面試與論文口試之間的嚴格考驗。

經過嚴峻的甄選過程後，終於選出三位得獎者，分別是大學發展與公共事務處文員黃婉薇女士、採購處高級採購經理鄭傑明先生及校園設施管理處首席技術員林秉惠先生。黃女士在14年的辛勤服務裡，為了應付媒體及編輯組的需求，經常廢寢忘餐，甚至很少享用正當的午飯；鄭先生不但為大學採購所需物料，更協助舉辦多項備受員工和學生喜愛的活動，如百萬行和龍舟比賽等；林先生除了照顧校園各種設施外，更致力鼓勵校內人士節約資源、愛護環境及關懷貧困人士。

頒獎的大日子終於來臨，這是得獎者光榮的時刻！頒獎禮在田家炳廳舉行，盛況空前。在這一天，科大停下步來，向令它發光發亮的忠心員工致敬。頒獎典禮莊嚴而隆重，事後更有傳媒報導。活動隨著輕鬆愉快的晚宴圓滿結束，所有行政、教學及營運部門的高層人員均有出席，而三位得獎者更輪流說出心底話，表達他們對於工作及大學的熱愛。

整個選拔過程共花了多個星期，終於順利完成。然而，最觸動人心的創舉竟出現在最後，就是三位得獎者一致同意將各人所得的一萬元獎金全數捐贈四川賑災，為這次選舉劃上完美的句號。美德並不只帶來一己的內心滿足，而是表現於對不幸人士的關愛。

香港科技大學校董會作為大學的最高管理架構，將開放予所有全日制學生及全職員工。他們可透過選舉晉身成為校董會成員。

根據將於2009年9月生效的香港科技大學（修訂）條例，科大校董會成員人數將由34人減至27人，藉此令管理更具效益。改組包括減少現時10個席位及另加3個新席位：一名教職員、一名學生及首席副校長，其中首席副校長是根據新規例增設的職位。至於畢業生方面，根據現行的科大條例，議會主席亦是大學校董會成員之一。大學現正就成立議會諮詢畢業生的意見。

大學於較早前曾委託管理顧問檢討大學高層管理架構，為實行四年大學教育及未來策略性發展作好準備。其後，按照管理顧問的建議新增首席副校長一職，主要負責監督所有學術及教育事宜，包括大學教學人員的人事管理。

2008年年初，大學曾就有關修訂建議廣泛諮詢不同人士，包括學生、教職員及畢業生。科大代表隨後與立法會教育事務委員會開會，介紹有關修訂，並聽取立法會議員的意見。代表成員分別來自學生會、教職員協會及校友會，由校董會主席張建東博士及朱經武校長率領。對於修訂法案能順利通過立法會多個立法程序，校董會主席張博士衷心感謝立法會議員石禮謙的幫助。石議員亦是校董會成員之一。

按照立法會教育事務委員會的建議，大學已就教職員及學生的意願，制定科大教職員及學生在選舉代表出席校董會時的選舉守則。預期選舉將於2009年舉行。

陳祖澤博士在擔任了科大校董會主席六年之後，終於退下火線，由張建東博士接棒。大學在5月22日特於大學的中菜廳為新舊主席安排了一個輕鬆、有趣、溫馨而不失莊嚴的聯歡會，讓大學同寅送別陳博士，及歡迎張博士及麥海雄醫生正式接任校董會正副主席之職。為了答謝科大「粉絲」對他的的支持，陳博士特別在會上引吭高歌，博得全場熱烈掌聲。

大紫荊勳章 李國能首席法官 顧問委員會榮譽委員

金紫荊星章 張建東議員 校董會主席

銀紫荊星章 周振基博士 顧問委員會委員

馮國綸博士 顧問委員會榮譽委員

羅啟妍女士 顧問委員會榮譽委員

銅紫荊星章 陳聖澤博士 顧問委員會委員

雷添良先生 顧問委員會榮譽委員

榮譽勳章 葉玉如教授 教務委員會委員及科大生物化學系系主任

太平紳士委任 馮鈺斌博士 校董會成員

郭少明先生 顧問委員會委員

孫德基先生 大學司庫 校董會成員

錢大康教授 首席副校長

林乾禮先生 校園設施管理處副處長

錢大康教授連任研究資助局主席

首席副校長錢大康教授最近再度獲委任研究資助局主席，任期三年，直至2011年，錢教授自2005年開始出任此要職。研究資助局為教資會屬下組織，目的是向香港特別行政區政府建議香港高等教育機構在學術研究上的需要，評核學術界的研究資助申請，及監管這些撥款的運用。

曹希仁教授獲頒IFAC院士銜

科大電子及計算機工程學系講座教授曹希仁最近獲國際自動控制聯盟 (International Federation of Automatic Control) 頒授院士銜，成為該會自1957年創辦以來唯一來自香港的院士。

榮譽大學院士頒授典禮於6月4日舉行，逾百位教職員及嘉賓出席是項典禮，濟濟一堂，非常熱鬧。

科大今年頒授「榮譽大學院士金章」予四名對社會有傑出貢獻的人士，包括對香港研究有傑出貢獻，前任新界政務署署長許舒博士；對支持教育不遺餘力的蔘茸業翹楚許學之先生；藝術與科技細胞同樣豐富，一邊身兼香港工程師學會會長之職，一邊孜孜不倦鑽研中國音樂與古玩的盧偉國博士；以及推出全港首部電子辭典「快譯通」並且熱心公益的譚偉豪博士。

十多年前，一位女士憑著堅毅和熱情舉行了一次後車廂賣物會，至今竟演變為每半年舉辦一次的科大校園盛事，令各方受惠。

一切於1995年 Jean Hudson 舉辦的後車廂賣物活動開始。 Jean 是科大校產設施管理處處長克遜 (Mike Hudson) 的太太，出售的物品包括孩子的舊玩具和衣物。自此，科大的賣物會宣告誕生！這項慈善活動每年舉辦兩次，分別於5/6月和11/12月舉行，每次都吸引了大批人士參予售賣，包括大學教職員、家屬、學生、外來商販以至普羅大眾。攤位數目也不斷增加，最高紀錄達170多個。

在月前的賣物會中，教職員協會藉機出售各種貨品，全新及二手貨品兼備；大學家長合作社則負責供應食物及飲品。賣物會的部分收益已撥捐「四川地震賑災基金」。

大為校內的潛水發燒友舉辦了一個海底攝影比賽，參加者包括教職員及家屬、學生和畢業生。下水攝影的共十五人，但最後只有九位提交作品。為什麼？原來其餘幾位在尋找攝影題材時，看到一些海洋生物被漁民棄置的魚網困住，於是在善心驅使下就放棄了獲獎機會，將有限的潛水時間花在拯救小生命上。

由於每位參賽者可以呈交三幅作品，評判團最後收到27份作品。

三位評判是香港水底攝影權威王敏嘉（主席評判）、科大學生攝影學會代表及大氣、海洋海岸環境學學科主任賀瑞燊教授。經過一輪激烈辯論後，最後選出了以下優勝者：

冠軍： 蔡穎儀 亞軍： 莊納雅博士 季軍： 陳綿錦

左起：張建東博士、麥海雄醫生、王鳴博士、梁廣偉先生、李家誠先生、John B Harrison先生

張建東博士SBS, JP及麥海雄醫生JP於2008年4月1日分別就任校董會主席及副主席，成為科大的新領導。

同時，我們的校董會前主席陳祖澤博士GBS, JP獲委任為顧問委員會主席，由2008年9月1日生效。我們亦歡迎顧問委員會以下新成員：王鳴博士DBE, JP (2008年1月2日生效)、梁廣偉先生(2008年4月1日生效)、李家誠先生(2008年5月1日生效)，及John B Harrison先生(2008年8月1日生效)。

《同創－科大通訊》由香港科技大學大學發展與公共事務處編印出版，派發予大學成員及各界友好。本刊一年出版四期（春、夏、秋及冬季），報導大學的最新動態和發展。本刊文章或照片歡迎轉載，惟請註明出處。

電話：2358 6103 電郵：mccheung@ust.hk

編輯顧問委員會 孔芬芳小姐 商學院 關繼祖博士 副校長(行政)辦公室 金章教教授 工學院 林美玲女士 香港科技大學霍英東研究院 毛大偉博士 副校長(學術)辦公室 吳國坤教授 人文社會科學院 譚綺琳小姐 理學院 吳宏權先生 出版技術中心 徐建博士 副校長(研究及發展)辦公室 阮溫曼紅女士 學生事務處

編輯部 總編輯 楊志剛 英文編輯 楊光宗 中文編輯 賴嘉年 編輯統籌 張美珍 撰寫 張美珍、黃慧婷 發行 黃婉薇

香港潮州商會最近與香港科技大學建立伙伴關係，以招聘、培訓及教育研究人員學習中草藥。商會更捐出每個達450,000元的獎學金共十個，讓研究生從事傳統中醫藥的研究工作。來自國內而祖籍潮州的申請人將會獲得優先考慮。

眾所週知，祖籍潮州的香港居民超過百萬之數，他們包括極具傳奇色彩的商賈鉅子及宅心仁厚的慈善家，更一向被視為本港經濟發展背後的強大動力。潮州商人除了本身的創富能力備受稱頌外，他們亦深信教育是步上社會階梯的途徑。

香港潮州商會與香港科技大學生物系的教職員已著手招募適當 的研究生人選，並得到汕頭及廣州地區政府的大力支持和當地大學的積極捐款。

隨著潮州籍學生加入香港科技大學校園，相信美味的潮州美食也會接踵而來吧！