Genesis - HKUST Newsletter, January 2012

Abstract

HKUST Newsletter - Genesis JANUARY 2012 Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY Designed by PTC SEARCH Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 INSIDE THIS ISSUE TEACHING AND RESEARCH Epileptic Seizures Decoded - HKUST Unravels Mechanism behind Brain Development HKUST Invents a Novel Sewage Treatment Technology RAISING THE BAR 2011 Newly Elected Hong Kong Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences All from HKUST Engineering Talents Win Accolade of Awards HKUST Sweeps All 2011 Young Scientist Awards Salute to Good Teachers HKUST Achieves High Rankings OUR MIRACLE CONTINUES Jubilation in 20th Anniversary Celebration HKUST Hosts Science and Technology Forum Let's Bring Technology to the Community HKUST Hosts iGEM in Asia HKUST Global Business Students Host International Conference SEARCH LOCAL LINKS Top-notch Mathematicians Converge at International Conference Honoring Leaders for Their Innovation and Social Contribution at the 19th Congregation HKUST is Well Prepared for 3-3-4 Transition HKUST Campus Development Caters for Student-centered Learning MAINLAND CONNECTIONS HKUST Strengthens Industry, Education and Research in Pearl River Delta Region HKUST Strengthens Mainland Relations GLOBAL NETWORK The President Goes to Europe Institute for Advanced Study Hosts Major Forum IN THE HKUST FAMILY HKUST President's Outstanding Service Award Heroes at Security Section Win Awards Alumni Strengthens Connections with Alma Mater Event Highlights © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY The photos show the normal neuronal migration (left) and aberrant neuronal migration after suppression of α2-chimaerin (right) with neurons in green CONTENTS Teaching and Research Epileptic Seizures Decoded - HKUST Unravels Mechanism behind Brain Development HKUST Invents a Novel Sewage Treatment Technology Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 NEXT Epileptic Seizures Decoded - HKUST Unravels Mechanism behind Brain Development HKUST unravels mechanism behind brain development. The research team (from left): Dr Lei Shi, Prof Nancy Ip, Dr Amy Fu and Mr Jacque Ip Prof Nancy Ip, Dean of Science, Chair Professor of the Division of Life Science and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience at HKUST has made with her research team a breakthrough discovery in signaling mechanisms in brain development that have far reaching implications in biomedicine. The team has recently identified a protein that is responsible for brain cell migration. 'Without this protein, the newborn brain cells cannot migrate to or reach their destination, thereby failing to connect with their target cells to form the proper circuit within the brain. Brain cell migration is important for brain development and failure of the process leads to neurological disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy,' said Prof Ip. The team has successfully identified a protein α2-chimaerin as a key regulator of neuronal migration and brain function. Using a cutting-edge technique known as in utero electroporation, the researchers demonstrate that suppressing the expression of α2-chimaerin in the embryonic cerebral cortex arrests neuronal migration, resulting in the accumulation of migrating neurons at an incorrect area of the brain. Furthermore, mice with a genetic deletion of the α2-chimaerin exhibit spontaneous epileptic seizure behavior. These exciting findings suggest that disrupting neuronal migration results in aberrant wiring of the neural circuit and subsequently epileptic seizures. Since many neuropsychiatric diseases are associated with seizures and problems in neuronal migration in the brain, the findings on α2-chimaerin by Prof Ip and her team now provide a new avenue for understanding both the disease mechanisms and the development of therapies to treat disease-related effects. These groundbreaking discoveries by Prof Ip and her research team have been published in Nature Neuroscience, a prestigious journal in neuroscience. A conversation with Prof Ip 'Perseverance is key,' said Prof Nancy Ip who has recently been decorated as Knight of l'Ordre National du Merite by the French President. The award ceremony, which took place at the residence of Mr Arnaud Barthelemy, Consul- General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, was attended by over 100 community leaders, officials, academicians, colleagues, and SEARCH students. She is one of a handful of people who have received the decoration in Hong Kong. 'Science is challenging. It takes a long time to make breakthrough discoveries and there are no shortcuts. But you have to love what you do. New discoveries and publication of our findings in prestigious journals excite me. I hope I can be a role model to demonstrate that it can be done.' Prof Ip has published over 210 scientific papers. With more than 14,300 SCI citations, she is among the top 100 highly cited researchers in neuroscience. 'An education in science benefits students. It enhances logical thinking and builds pragmatic problem-solving skills.' Prof Ip has a few words for those who aspire to pursue careers in science. 'Never give up. Always find ways to overcome difficulties.' Prof Ip received her PhD degree in Pharmacology from Harvard University. She has garnered numerous awards including the Honors for Women Innovators at the APEC Women and Economy Summit (2011), the Scientific and Technological Progress Prize of Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation (2008), the L'OREAL-UNESCO 'For Women in Science' Award (2004), making her the first honoree in life sciences from China, and the National Natural Science Award (2003), China's highest honor in the natural sciences. She was elected Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the highest academic honor bestowed on Chinese scientists, and a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. She holds 21 patents. Devoted to investigating brain development and drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, Prof Ip's research successfully provides important clues for their therapeutics. She is well known for her discoveries in the biology of neurotrophic factors, which are proteins that promote the survival, development and maintenance of neurons in the brain. Her research led to the identification of neurotrophic factors as potential pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of such diseases. She is also an international leader in elucidating the molecular signaling mechanism at synapses where nerve cells communicate, and associating synaptic dysfunction with the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Epileptic Seizures Decoded - HKUST Unravels Mechanism behind Brain Development HKUST Invents a Novel Sewage Treatment Technology Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Invents a Novel Sewage Treatment Technology 'Throughout my life, I have close connections with water,' said Prof Guanghao Chen of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The professor leads a research team which has invented an environmentally- friendly sewage treatment technology SANI® which had been recognized by the International Water Association (IWA) as one of the world's most successful water management systems. It may provide solutions to water-scarce coastal cities on Mainland China. In 1978, Prof Chen went to a university in Zhejiang which had one of China's first discipline in environmental science and engineering. In 1982, he was among the top scorers in the province of Zhejiang when he took a public examination for graduates pursuing studies abroad. This eventually brought him to Kyoto University where he did his Master's and PhD in Environmental Engineering. He worked in Japan for three years as an environmental engineering consultant, after which he went to Singapore to become an environmental research scientist in the National University of Singapore. With this portfolio, it is not surprising that he was among the first generation of environmental engineers in China. 'I like water, especially wastewater,' said Prof Chen half-jokingly. 'Sewage is the main hazard to the environment, and proper treatment is important. Contaminated water can cause deaths.' As a civil engineer, Prof Chen could have built bridges or dams, or built his career in clean water resources or hydroelectric power. But he chose sewage. He and his research team members have been working day and night in a laboratory where there is large amount of sewage water. 'I don't mind the dirt or the odour at all,' he said. Known as the 'Sulphate Reduction, Autotrophic Denitrification and Nitrification Integrated Process', SANI uses sulphate reduction bacteria, integrated with seawater toilet flushing system of Hong Kong. The novel technology boasts the following advantages: Minimizes the adverse environmental impact of sewage treatment plants Eliminates 90% of sewage sludge production Minimizes energy consumption, odour and greenhouse-gas emission Largely reduces the sewage treatment cost and space requirement by 50% 'Conventional biological wastewater treatment technology makes use of heterotrophic microbes to clean up sewage by converting organic pollutants into carbon dioxide. These microbes grow rapidly, resulting in the daily production of 2,000 tonnes of sludge in Hong Kong. Handling of sludge means high costs and the use of incinerators,' Prof Chen said. 'The SANI Process on the other hand, can reduce daily sludge production to 200 tonnes or below, hence reducing treatment costs and space requirement.' In recognition of his contributions, the IWA elected Prof Chen as a Fellow of the IWA and its first Fellow in Hong Kong. SEARCH Prof Chen's research team and partners include international participants from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. In Hong Kong, he has been working with the Drainage Services Department, the Water Supplies Department and the Airport Authority for technology application. But his vision goes beyond Hong Kong. 'SANI means good news to water-scarce coastal cities on the Mainland. We will be establishing a wastewater treatment laboratory at the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School for technology application. Agreements have been made with the Sun Yat-sen University to establish an innovative water treatment center, where we will jointly nurture talents in water treatment.' Prof Chen's relationship with water is definitely more than intricate. 'The SANI Process, when integrated with seawater toilet flushing and grey water reuse, gives the best results. Its strength lies in reducing freshwater demand and minimizing sludge production. It provides an economic and sustainable solution for water-scarce coastal cities in Mainland China.' — Prof Mogens Henze, Technical University of Denmark © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar 2011 Newly Elected Hong Kong Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences All from HKUST Engineering Talents Win Accolade of Awards HKUST Sweeps All 2011 Young Scientist Awards Salute to Good Teachers HKUST Achieves High Rankings Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT 2011 Newly Elected Hong Kong Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences All from HKUST (From left) Prof Tongyi Zhang, Prof Ping Cheng and Prof Mingjie Zhang at the ceremony The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) elected three Hong Kong scholars to become members. All of them are HKUST faculty members. Membership in CAS is the highest academic title conferred by the Chinese government for achievements in science and technology research. The election of CAS members takes place biennially, with the total number of new members kept under 60 each time. HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan states that the excellent quality of the HKUST faculty is among the key factors for its rise to a top-notch international research university in just 20 years. The three new members are: Prof Mingjie Zhang, Chair Professor of the Division of Life Sciences Prof Zhang’s research area embraces molecular mechanism governing the neuronal signal transduction and molecular basis of protein complexes regulating cell polarity establishment and maintenance; His study has heightened the understanding of several fundamental issues in biology such as synaptic signal transduction complex organization and dynamics of various signaling complex assemblies, and has paved the way towards the theoretical understanding of the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases including stroke, neurological disorders and hereditary deaf-and-blindness; This year, his exciting discovery concerning the visual systems of animals detecting light was selected as the cover article of Cell, following his breakthrough discoveries published earlier this year and in 2009 in Science and Cell respectively on how myosin VII and VI lead to hereditary deaf-and-blindness; He had won the Outstanding Overseas Young Scientist Award by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship, the SEARCH Second Prize of the State Natural Science Award , and the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Science and Technology Advancement Award; He received his BSc in Chemistry from Fudan University, PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Calgary, and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute of Canada before joining HKUST in 1995. Prof Tongyi Zhang, Chair Professor from the Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof Zhang is primarily engaged in research on hydrogen embrittlement, fracture and failure of multi-field coupling materials and micro/nanomechanics among other areas. In recent years he has proposed surface eigenstress and eigendisplacement models, leading to the nonlinear scaling law for the thickness-dependent Young's modulus under tension, compression and bending; He is a two-time recipient of the State Natural Science Awards, Second Class, and was presented with the National Award for Young Scientists by the China Association for Science and Technology. He was elected Fellow of the American Society of Materials International (ASM International) and awarded the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship; He received his PhD from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, and headed to the University of Gottingen where he worked as a research fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He did postdoctoral research at the University of Rochester and was Associate Research Scientist at Yale University. He joined HKUST's Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1993. Prof Ping Cheng, Professor Emeritus from the Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof Cheng is a world-renowned researcher in the field of heat transfer with great and far-reaching contributions; He was elected Fellow of ASME and Fellow of AIAA. He has received numerous awards including the ASME Heat Transfer Memorial Award, the AIAA Thermophysics Award, and the ASME/AIChE Max-Jakob Memorial Award, considered the highest international honor in the field of heat transfer; and the ASME Heat Transfer Classic Paper Award. He won the Shanghai Science and Technology Award, First Class, and the State Natural Science Award, Second Class; He obtained his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University, his MS degree from MIT and his PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. He was appointed the second Head of Mechanical Engineering Department at HKUST from 1995 to 2002 and became Professor Emeritus in 2003. He is currently Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of Center for Microfluidics and Thermal Control at Shanghai Jiaotong University. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY

CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar 2011 Newly Elected Hong Kong Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences All from HKUST Engineering Talents Win Accolade of Awards HKUST Sweeps All 2011 Young Scientist Awards Salute to Good Teachers HKUST Achieves High Rankings Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Engineering Talents Win Accolade of Awards (From left) Prof Oscar Au, Prof Johnny Sin, Prof Qian Zhang, Prof Vincent Lau, Prof Danny Tsang and Prof Roger Cheng HKUST's School of Engineering treasures its talents who contribute to its outstanding performance. Six Professors Elected IEEE Fellows — largest share in Asia in 2012 The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently elected 2012 Fellows. Hong Kong welcomed 14 new IEEE Fellows and six of them were from HKUST. This brings the total number of IEEE Fellows at HKUST to 25, which is equivalent to 29% of the total number of IEEE Fellows in Hong Kong. This gives HKUST the highest number of newly elevated IEEE Fellows not only among universities and institutions in Hong Kong but among the whole of Asia. The University boasts more new IEEE Fellows than Korea, Singapore, Australia and countries in Europe. The six newly elevated IEEE Fellows at HKUST are: Prof Oscar Au, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was cited for his contributions to multimedia coding and security. Prof Roger Cheng, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was elected for his contributions to multiuser communications in wireless systems. Prof Vincent Lau, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was recognized for his contributions to wireless communication systems with channel feedback. Prof Johnny Sin, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was cited for his contributions to the design and commercialization of power semiconductor devices. Prof Danny Tsang, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was elected for his contributions to the optimization of communications networks. Prof Qian Zhang, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, was honored for her contributions to the mobility and spectrum management of wireless networks and mobile communications. As the world's leading professional association for advancing technology and the leading authority on a wide variety of areas, IEEE selects every year IEEE Fellows whose number cannot exceed one-tenth of one-percent of the total voting membership among its 395,000 members in more than 160 countries. IEEE Fellowship is thus the highest grade of membership and is recognized by the technical community as a distinction reserved for selected IEEE members with extraordinary accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest. SEARCH Dean Won IEEE Harold Sobol Award The School of Engineering continues to win accolades of awards as its Dean Prof Khaled Ben Letaief from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering won the 2011 IEEE Communications Society Harold Sobol Award for Exemplary Service to Meetings and Conferences. This award is given to a society member of IEEE at the time of nomination who has demonstrated exemplary services to meetings and conferences over a sustained period of time. Evaluation of candidates is based on such factors as long term service, significant contributions, strategic planning and financial success. Professor Honored by World's Leading Authority on Computational Linguistics Prof Dekai Wu, a computational linguistics and musicology researcher in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Human Language Technology Center, was honored among the first 17 Founding Fellows of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL). He was selected as one of the world's top researchers in the artificial intelligence and cognitive science fields of natural language processing, language engineering, and human language technology. ACL is the world's largest, oldest and most prestigious international professional organization for research on making machines smart enough to learn and understand human languages, which drives the technology of leading edge companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, Facebook or IBM. Professor Elected President of IEEE CPMT Society Prof Ricky Shi-wei Lee from the Department of Mechanical Engineering has been elected President of IEEE CPMT Society for the term between Jan 2012 and Dec 2013. Prof Lee is the first one based in Asia who has been elected to this global leadership position. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar 2011 Newly Elected Hong Kong Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences All from HKUST Engineering Talents Win Accolade of Awards HKUST Sweeps All 2011 Young Scientist Awards Salute to Good Teachers HKUST Achieves High Rankings Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Sweeps All 2011 Young Scientist Awards (From left) Mr Alan Wong Siu-lun and Ms Jiefei Chen At the age of 26 and six months before graduation as a PhD student in Physics, Ms Jiefei Chen has already received an offer from a Mainland university as an Associate Professor. She said humbly, 'It's been my dream as a secondary school student to become a scientist. There had been challenges during the years, but I am very fortunate to have met my PhD supervisor at HKUST who inspired and encouraged me to pursue my dream in scientific research. A person who aspires to be a scientist needs to have the ability, passion and opportunity to do so. I am glad that I have such opportunities,' said Chen who had just won the 2011 Young Scientists Awards of the Hong Kong Institution of Science. Chen and three other PhD students from HKUST swept all the 2011 Young Scientists Awards under the three categories of Physical / Mathematical Science, Life Science and Engineering Science this year. To date, Chen had published eight papers. Her award-winning study was entitled 'Manipulate Classical and Quantum Light with Cold Atoms'. She and her research team had directly observed the optical precursor of a single photon and proved that single photons cannot travel faster than the speed of light in vacuum, thus reaffirming Einstein's much-debated theory that nothing travels faster than light-in-vacuum. Mr Alan Wong Siu-lun, a PhD graduate from the Division of Life Science, said, 'Whereas Hong Kong offers a variety of career choices, those who choose to become scientists need to spend three or four years on average on a research project. Pursuing scientific research is not easy; determination and perseverance are most important.' Alan had published six journal articles. The award-winning article titled Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of endophilin B1 is required for induced autophagy in models of Parkinson's disease, which aimed to find cures for Parkinson's disease, had been published on the prestigious journal Nature Cell Biology. Alan said, 'Scientists don't just analyze phenomenon. We need to have the missions to improve human well-being.' The Hong Kong Institution of Science had received 65 nominations. Mr Wu Lin from the Division of Life Sciences and Mr Li Dong from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering of HKUST were the two other winners. SEARCH © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY (From left), Prof Shengwang Du, Prof Nian Lin, Prof Nancy Ip and Prof Zilong Wen (From left) Prof Michelle Yik, President Chan and Prof Mike So CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar 2011 Newly Elected Hong Kong Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences All from HKUST Engineering Talents Win Accolade of Awards HKUST Sweeps All 2011 Young Scientist Awards Salute to Good Teachers HKUST Achieves High Rankings Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Salute to Good Teachers At HKUST, we count on our top-notch faculty members to achieve teaching and research excellence. We salute to our outstanding faculty members who are dedicated to quality education. Prof Michelle Yik, Acting Head and Associate Professor of the Division of Social Science, and Prof Mike So, Associate Professor of the Department of Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management have been nominated for the University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award. Prof Yik and Prof So had received the University’s Michael G Gale Medal for Distinguished Teaching in 2010 and 2009 respectively. Prof Yik has become one of the six finalists of the UGC Teaching Award further to a series of selection procedures. The School of Science presented awards to recognize outstanding performance of its faculty members: School Teaching Award – Prof Nian Lin, Department of Physics; School Research Award – Prof Shengwang Du, Department of Physics; Prof Zilong Wen, Divison of Life Science The School of Engineering launched the new research excellence awards in 2011. The recipients are: Research Excellence Award – Prof Hoi-sing Kwok, Dr William M W Mong Chair Professor of Nanotechnology of Electronic and Computer Engineering; Distinguished Research Excellence Award – Prof Guohua Chen, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; and Prof Qian Zhang, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering The Young Investigator Research Award – Prof Matthew McKay, Assistant Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering The School of Humanities and Social Science awarded the Award for Teaching Excellence. The recipient is Prof James Kung, Chair Professor from the Division of Social Science. SEARCH © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar 2011 Newly Elected Hong Kong Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences All from HKUST Engineering Talents Win Accolade of Awards HKUST Sweeps All 2011 Young Scientist Awards Salute to Good Teachers HKUST Achieves High Rankings Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Achieves High Rankings HKUST stands on par with the finest world-class universities, as revealed by its consistently high rankings. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in Engineering and Technology released in October 2011, HKUST Engineering School landed on the top spot in Greater China and was placed 28th globally. The accolade was among many that the School has received last year, following the top ranking in Hong Kong accorded by both QS World University Rankings in Engineering and Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Ranking of World Universities in Engineering / Technology and Computer Sciences in September and August respectively. 'Over the last 20 years, HKUST Engineering faculty and students have joined hands and minds making outstanding and significant contributions in Hong Kong and globally,' said Prof Khaled Ben Letaief, Dean of HKUST's Engineering School. 'We shall strive towards making even greater local and global impact with our first-rate research and education.' The Business programs continue to be recognized internationally. The Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA program remains the world's no. 1 EMBA program, according to the Financial Times 2011 EMBA global rankings. This is the third year in a row that it has achieved top status. Prof Leonard Cheng, Dean of HKUST Business School, praised the long-term partnership with Kellogg. 'This strong collaboration allows us to offer advanced executive education for global business leaders.' The School of Science is no. 2 in Hong Kong and no. 15 in Asia according to Asia's Top 200 Universities in Natural Sciences, QS Asian University Rankings 2011. There are more exhilarating tales to tell. The success story of HKUST inspires a whole chapter in the World Bank study titled 'The Road to Academic Excellence: The Making of World Class Research Universities'. The Study identified HKUST as an innovative, convincing alternative to other existing world-class institutions. With its research-focused university culture, high concentration of academic talents, significant budgets, strategic vision and leadership, the University has created a robust scholarly community. 'Talent is what separates a great university from a good one,' said Prof Chan. 'Solidarity gives us the wings to fly higher and faster.' With a shared vision and relentless drive, HKUST gained world recognition in merely 20 years. 'We do not want to simply copy what is best. We want to create what is better.' © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY SEARCH CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Jubilation in 20th Anniversary Celebration HKUST Hosts Science and Technology Forum Let's Bring Technology to the Community HKUST Hosts iGEM in Asia HKUST Global Business Students Host International Conference Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Jubilation in 20th Anniversary Celebration It was a celebration party fit for HKUST, the planned program ranged from the traditional to the technological, from the native to the international. There was the dragon dance and the ceremonial dotting of the eyes by the Council Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung and President Tony F Chan. Equally obligatory was the cake-cutting ceremony and the champagne toast with Founding President Prof Chia Wei Woo, Court Chairman Dr John Chan, the Vice Presidents, Deans and student representatives joining in. What happens when energy meets festivity at an international university? A festival of diversity: Korean Drumming, Indian Dance, Chinese Martial Arts, plus the jaw-dropping Beatboxing whose solo performer could fabricate the amazing sounds of nature and human activity with nothing more than his mouth and throat as instruments. Staff members and some of their spouses, including the President's wife Mrs Monica Chan, sang their hearts out for their audience. As a university of science and technology we should have a technological component in the celebration: a commemorative album showcasing our outstanding achievements and our future goals. Each copy comes with the Augmented Reality technology, with its specially prepared software. By downloading the software and holding the cover in front of a webcam equipped computer screen, a 3-D short film will be set in motion, bringing the President to life on screen to introduce the album content. The food lines were long and serpentine, the hugs were short and sweet, and the laughter and chatter audible above the din. It reminds one of a carnival where everybody finds something he or she fancies. Working hard and playing hard — that too is the 1-HKUST spirit. RTHK produced a special program 'Our Miracle Continues: HKUST 20th Anniversary Commemorative Special' featuring President Prof Tony F Chan, HKUST's founding fathers, staff and faculty members, alumni and students © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY SEARCH CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Jubilation in 20th Anniversary Celebration HKUST Hosts Science and Technology Forum Let's Bring Technology to the Community HKUST Hosts iGEM in Asia HKUST Global Business Students Host International Conference Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Hosts Science and Technology Forum Distinguished speakers and the University's senior management at the HKUST Science and Technology Forum HKUST hosted a major Forum on science and technology 'Innovation for the Future of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta' with leading experts from academia, industry and government from around the world to discuss about developing innovation and technology and strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. The event was co-organized by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences and the Hong Kong Institution of Science. The Forum was part of the University's efforts to spearhead Hong Kong's socioeconomic development through research and tap into opportunities for Mainland-Hong Kong collaborations in view of China's Twelve Five- Year Plan. Over 20 keynote speeches and discussion sessions were held on themes ranging from innovative education to science and technology policy recommendations. The first day of the Forum centered on the theme 'Science and Technology: Innovation for the Future of Hong Kong'. Prof Tony F Chan, HKUST President, delivered a keynote speech on the role of research-oriented universities of S&T in the knowledge economy. Prof Arden L Bement Jr, Director of Purdue University's Global Policy Research Institute and Former Director of the US National Science Foundation spoke on the role of government in S&T policy, globalization of R&D and challenges to Asia and other countries. Dr Yen-shiang Shih, Minister of Economic Affairs and Board Member of the Commerce Development Research Institute of Taiwan shared insights on Taiwan's journey to the knowledge economy. Prof Wang Zhongtuo, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Research Center for Knowledge Science and Technology in Dalian University of Technology addressed the importance of R&D in a knowledge economy and the roles of enterprise, academia and government. Alumnus Mr Sing cheong Liu, Chairman of MyTopHome (China) Holdings Ltd, spoke on innovation in traditional business. Ir Dr the Hon Raymond Chung-tai Ho, Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong SAR Government, Dr Chun-ying Leung, Former Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong The Forum also witnessed the presentation of the first ever HKUST Technology Industry Innovation Award to Mr Huateng Ma, Chairman and CEO of Tencent Holdings Limited SEARCH SAR Government, Prof France A Córdova, President of Purdue University as well as President of the National Science Board, USA, and Prof Chia wei Woo, HKUST Founding President engaged in a dialogue on S&T development strategies as well as knowledge transfer. Ir Dr the Hon Samson Wai-ho Tam and the Hon Mrs Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, LegCo Members, Dr York Liao, Co-founder and Executive Director of Varitronix International Ltd, Prof Yuk-shan Wong, Fellow of the Institution of Science and HKUST Vice-President (Administration and Business), Prof Matthew Yuen, Head of HKUST's Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mr Nicholas Brooke, Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr Nim-kwan Cheung, CEO of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, conducted panel discussions on S&T policies in Hong Kong. In his speech on 'The Role of a Research University of Science and Technology in a Knowledge Society', HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan opined that major financial centers around the world also need S&T innovation which is crucial for the development of any society in this knowledge era. The situation is much more favorable now to develop S&T and we need to fully utilize our favorable factors to effectively enhance its value-added capacity. In recent years, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan have been actively supporting the development of innovation and technology in various ways, such as increasing resource input and formulating S&T-friendly policies. As the only university of science and technology in Hong Kong, HKUST will continue to educate the next generation of innovators and promote entrepreneurships. Prof Chan also suggested that the Hong Kong Government shall take the lead to further win-win collaborations with Mainland China. S&T is of utmost importance to the future of Hong Kong. Hong Kong needs to increase R&D spending and create a high level bureau to coordinate the many different parts of the S&T innovation system. We must be ready to try, and have no fear of failure. Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies and Chair of Organizing Committee for Science and Technology Forum, pointed out that innovative technology can be broadly applied in the public sector and infrastructure projects, to improve services, increase efficiency and create significant impact and wealth. The Forum also witnessed the presentation of the first ever HKUST Technology Industry Innovation Award to Mr Huateng Ma, Chairman and CEO of Tencent Holdings Limited. He delivered a speech on 'Reflections on the Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the IT Industry in China'. The Forum held at the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School in Nansha on the second day was titled 'Guangzhou's 'Twelfth Five-Year Plan': Integration of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta'. Officiating guests at the Forum were Ms Wang Yan, Vice Chief, MOST China Science and Technology Center, Mr Li Xinghua, Director of Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Ms Gong Erzhen, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Xie Xuening, Director of Guangzhou Science and Information Technology Bureau, Mr Qu Shaobing, Director of Guangzhou Education Bureau, together with Mr Yuan Guiyang, Director of Nansha District Government of Guangzhou. Guest speakers included Ms Janet Wing-chen Wong, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology of the Hong Kong SAR Government, HKUST alumnus Mr Sing-cheong Liu, Chairman of MyTopHome (China) Holdings Ltd and Dr Jack Lau, Chairman and CEO of Perception Digital Ltd and other Mainland business leaders. They discussed about knowledge transfer and commercialization. It also featured the launch ceremony of the University's 'Smart Green Building' project and the establishment of The National Engineering Research Center for Industrial Automation (South China). © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Jubilation in 20th Anniversary Celebration HKUST Hosts Science and Technology Forum Let's Bring Technology to the Community HKUST Hosts iGEM in Asia HKUST Global Business Students Host International Conference Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Let's Bring Technology to the Community HKUST's School of Engineering hosted the 'Bring Technology to Community' exhibition at Hong Kong Science Museum, featuring innovative projects and research achievements of its faculty, students and alumni. With most of the exhibits being showcased in public for the first time, the exhibition aimed to promote popular science and demonstrate how technology improves everyday lives. Among the exhibits was a 150-billion-pixel digital photo developed by Prof Pedro Sander from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and a team of researchers. The photo set a world record and became the world's largest digital photo in September 2010. A number of award winning robot machines designed by HKUST's Robotics Team, formed by engineering students, were displayed. They included a mini smart car which can automatically identify routes, an underwater robot which was commended by adjudicators for integrating aesthetics, simplicity and functionality, and a robot which entered the Robocon contest with high performance in terms of speed, flexibility and accuracy. Also on display was a Braille Embosser, which provides an affordable and environmentally-friendly solution for the visually-challenged on printing of computer documents; a digital photo frame with cognitive therapy embedded to postpone the deterioration of patients with Alzheimer's; and the digital ink art 'Moxi', a combination of modern technology and Chinese art which was used to create special effects during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY SEARCH CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Jubilation in 20th Anniversary Celebration HKUST Hosts Science and Technology Forum Let's Bring Technology to the Community HKUST Hosts iGEM in Asia HKUST Global Business Students Host International Conference Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Hosts iGEM in Asia In October 2011, HKUST hosted the first Asia Regional Jamboree of the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), an undergraduate Synthetic Biology competition launched by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2003. Over 40 teams from universities in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India and Australia gathered at HKUST and participated in the event. At the regional jamboree, the HKUST team won the Best Presentation Award. It also became one of the 18 teams going to MIT for the final competition in November. The team, made up of first to third-year undergraduate students from the Schools of Science and Engineering, presented on 'E. trojan – Boosting the Effectiveness of Antibiotics through Quorum sensing Disruption'. The judges praised HKUST for being creative in its design of online survey to assess public opinion. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY SEARCH Dr William Fung Kwok Lun CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Jubilation in 20th Anniversary Celebration HKUST Hosts Science and Technology Forum Let's Bring Technology to the Community HKUST Hosts iGEM in Asia HKUST Global Business Students Host International Conference Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Global Business Students Host International Conference Students from the Business School's BBA in Global Business program organized for the first time the four day international Global Business Conference 2011 in the Fall, demonstrating their potentials as future leaders with global perspectives. Marking HKUST's 20th Anniversary and the 10th Anniversary of the Global Business Program, the Conference centers on the theme 'Emerging Markets' Opportunities', featuring seminars and workshops on finance, sustainability and business case studies, firm visits and cultural exchange activities. The opening ceremony featured two keynote addresses delivered by honorable guests Ms Umran Beba, President of PepsiCo Asia Pacific, and Ms Amy Fong, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of HSBC Global Banking Asia Pacific. Dr William Fung Kwok Lun, Executive Deputy Chairman of Li & Fung Limited, gave a keynote speech at the closing ceremony about how young business leaders can best equip themselves for capturing opportunities in China and the emerging markets in a new era after the financial tsunami. Attracting around 100 top undergraduate students from 30 universities located in 17 countries, the Conference was a resounding success. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY SEARCH CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Top-notch Mathematicians Converge at International Conference Honoring Leaders for Their Innovation and Social Contribution at the 19th Congregation HKUST is Well Prepared for 3- 3-4 Transition HKUST Campus Development Caters for Student-centered Learning Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Top-notch Mathematicians Converge at International Conference The International Conference on Scientific Computing was a gathering of top-notch mathematicians and scientists from all over the world; the Conference was sponsored by various academic institutions A group of top mathematicians around the world hosted the International Conference on Scientific Computing, a four-day event in Hong Kong to explore recent developments and new directions in the field. One of the aims of the conference was to promote scientific computing in Hong Kong by providing a forum for participants to exchange ideas and discuss their latest research achievements. It was also held in honor of President Tony F Chan's 60th birthday. Over 100 first-rate mathematicians and scientists converged to speak at the Conference and exchange insights. Over 30 of them came to Hong Kong for the event from universities and institutes in North America, Europe and Mainland China. Among them are President Chan's fellow academicians, friends, peers and former students at UCLA and HKUST. President Chan has supervised 38 PhD students and 25 post-doctoral fellows. Many of his former students are now professors in world renowned institutions. Scientific computing is an active research field with important applications to applied disciplines ranging from engineering, physics, imaging, computer vision to computational biology. Rather than using the two traditional approaches to science which are theories and experiments, scientific computing has been well recognized as the third approach for doing science. For instance, it uses super high-speed computing which facilitates the construction of aircrafts and lessens its reliance on experiments with air movement. Likewise, computing enables virtual surgeries which can be carried out by medical students to practice surgical skills. Formerly Assistant Director of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate at the US National Science Foundation and Director of the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM) at UCLA, President Chan has contributed to research on mathematical image processing, computer vision and computational brain mapping. He is one of the most cited mathematicians. One of the warmest moments at the event was the congratulatory Former PhD students of President Chan came to Hong Kong for the conference and presented to him his 'Academic Family Tree' Prof Lap-chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (1st from left) and The Hon Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment (1st from right) celebrated with President Chan and Mrs Monica Chan Printed on the commemorative cups are four important mathematical equations invented by President Chan: Chan SVD, and Rank-Revealing QR which he SEARCH greetings from mathematics giants. Fields medalist Prof Shing-tung Yau and the Director of IPAM at UCLA Prof Russ Caflisch greeted President Chan through the internet. The Hon Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment and Prof Lap-chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong also attended. invented in the 80s. Google search engines had taken these two equations as reference. The other two are Chan- Vese Segmentation invented in 2000 which was cited 3,500 times; and Conformal Brain Mapping jointly invented by President Chan and Prof Shing-tung Yau © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY The Hon Elsie LEUNG Oi Sie Doctor of Laws honoris causa Dr Simon IP Sik On Doctor of Laws honoris causa CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Top-notch Mathematicians Converge at International Conference Honoring Leaders for Their Innovation and Social Contribution at the 19th Congregation HKUST is Well Prepared for 3- 3-4 Transition HKUST Campus Development Caters for Student-centered Learning Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Honoring Leaders for Their Innovation and Social Contribution at the 19th Congregation The Congregation is one of the most anticipated days in the University's calendar. It is the day of pomp and circumstance, of marking the successful completion of formal studies. At the Congregation, the University also honored outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the community and to humanity. Of four people chosen to receive top honors at the 19th Congregation, two are legal experts: the Hon Elsie Leung Oi- Sze, the Hong Kong SAR's first Secretary for Justice, and Dr Simon Ip Sik-on, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Stewards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, former President of the Hong Kong Law Society and a founding Council member of HKUST. They were awarded Doctor of Laws honoris causa. Both played an important role in Hong Kong through upholding the rule of law. Dr Ip served on the Basic Law Consultative Committee, represented the Legal Functional Constituency as a Legislative Councillor and chaired the Bills Committee. Dr Elsie Leung, who was an ex-officio member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, has never ceased to seek justice for vulnerable members of society. The other two honorees are scientists. Prof Tobin J Marks, Vladimir N Ipatieff Professor of Catalytic Chemistry, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, was awarded Doctor of Science honoris causa. Prof Tobin was hailed as the 'Molecule Master' for his design of 'smart' molecules to enable new kinds of environmentally-friendly plastics. Prof Eli Yablonovitch, James & Katherine Lau Chair in Engineering, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley and Director of the NSF Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science, was awarded Doctor of Engineering honoris causa. He was one of the two applied physicists who invented the field of photonic crystals early in 1987 and developed a technique that is now globally applied to the majority of semiconductor lasers. Congregation is also the occasion for recognizing HKUST's own home-grown heroes. Prof Amine Bermak of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering was awarded the University’s highest honor for teachers — the Michael G Gale Medal for Distinguished Teaching for his excellence in inspirational education. For contributions to student service, this year’s Stephen Cheung Kam-chuen Medal went to Mr Hung Hin San, a student in Industrial SEARCH Prof Tobin J Marks Doctor of Science honoris causa Prof Eli YABLOVITCH Doctor of Engineering honoris causa Engineering and Engineering Management and Vice-President (Internal) of the Students’ Union during 2010-2011. We also recognized the unsung heroes with the President's Outstanding Service Awards. This year we achieved greater success in staging a carbon neutral congregation as our carbon dioxide emissions reduced substantially by over 10% compared to last year. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Top-notch Mathematicians Converge at International Conference Honoring Leaders for Their Innovation and Social Contribution at the 19th Congregation HKUST is Well Prepared for 3-3-4 Transition HKUST Campus Development Caters for Student-centered Learning Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST is Well Prepared for 3-3-4 Transition HKUST will be welcoming an additional 2,000 undergraduate students to the campus in Fall 2012 as we begin the 3-3-4 transition. At the end of November 2011, the President hosted a Forum to familiarize its faculty, staff and students with the initiatives to deal with this challenge. Over 300 attendees showed up to learn about the University's plans for the new four-year undergraduate curriculum, additions to campus facilities and services to take care of the double cohort. 'The transition offers us a tremendous opportunity to redesign our undergraduate education and to increase our scale and funding. All units of the University have been involved in long-term planning and development since 2005. This is a campus-wide endeavor, requiring a collaborative effort. We will need to work together, be patient and give a warm welcome to our new students, three-year and four-year alike,' said President Tony F Chan at the University-wide Forum: Preparations for the 3-3-4 Transition. Provost Prof Wei Shyy, Vice-President for Administration and Business Prof Yuk-shan Wong, Dean of Students Prof Kar-yan Tam, Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning) Dr David Mole and Senior Advisor to the President Dr Richard Armour gave presentations at the Forum, which showed the importance the University is attaching to the education reform as well as faculty, staff and student communication in relation to the reform. Attendees were informed about the new curriculum, enrollment and admissions, student advising and counselling, campus life and residential experience, as well as out-of-class activities. Matters such as class scheduling, transportation, catering, medical and dental services under the new system were also covered. The transition will be the culmination of a long period of planning for academic change, the enhancement of campus life and capital developments. HKUST is well prepared for the major reform in undergraduate education. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY SEARCH CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Top-notch Mathematicians Converge at International Conference Honoring Leaders for Their Innovation and Social Contribution at the 19th Congregation HKUST is Well Prepared for 3- 3-4 Transition HKUST Campus Development Caters for Student-centered Learning Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Campus Development Caters for Student-centered Learning The scenic HKUST campus continues to grow as it welcomes the double cohort starting from 2012. The new four-year curriculum, which offers both in-depth and a wide range of knowledge, paves the way for student-oriented education and whole-person development. The University's new buildings and facilities are student-oriented. The Library Extension, which opened in June 2011, features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, outdoor balconies facing the sea, and the Multi-function Room. It provides space for housing media, newspapers and magazines. The new study space, with a variety of furniture, is ideal for individual and group studying. The Learning Commons (LC) is a 1,800 sq m facility which provides an additional 500 seats to the Library. A user-friendly central place that brings together services, facilities and technology to support teaching, collaborative learning and media production, the LC features e-learning classrooms, tutorial spaces, group study rooms, open study area and a refreshment zone. At the LC, students will find services provided by multiple academic support units including the Library, the Publishing Technology Center and the Student Affairs Office. In order to create an integrated learning hub, the Library will actively explore service partnerships with campus units and departments. 'Occupying an entire floor and giving HKUST's Library a new, second entrance, the Learning Commons provides the option of 24-hour access when needed. Scheduled to open in Spring 2012, it will be divided into quiet areas and discussions areas, rooms to be booked for group discussions, a supporting service area for holding activities and even vending machines,' said Mr Mike Hudson, Director of the Facilities Management Office. The Learning Commons also provides ample space for multimedia learning and creativity. The University's Publishing Technology Center (PTC) will be running a new Creative Media Zone which puts together a media production studio and an AV control room, editing suites and a graphics workshop. The facilities will support digital photography, video recording for presentations and performances, interviews and post production, as well as digital printing and poster plotting. 'Customized training on design and multimedia will be arranged to support students' course work and activities. The Creative Media Zone will promote interactive and experimental learning. It also enhances student-centered learning arising from the new four year curriculum,' said Mr Thomas Ng, Director of PTC. Below the Library Extension in the extended Academic Building is the University's newly expanded catering facilities which are already up and running. Opened in Fall 2011, the new LG7 catering facilities now provide 1,000 seats and easy access to LG5, another floor with catering facilities via newly installed escalators. 'It's 100 SEARCH meters long – the length of a soccer pitch!' said Mr Hudson. Other facilities to be opened include expanded areas for the Student Union and other societies, which are in line with the University's strengthened emphases on enriched campus life, community and service learning under the four-year curriculum. Expansion of student hostels is also underway to enhance residential life. Soon-to-be commenced projects include the joint hostel at Tseung Kwan O. 'Apart from the two on-campus student hostels (Halls 8 and 9) which will be completed in Spring 2013, the University is exploring opportunities to increase hostel places on campus,' said Mr Hudson. How about transportation arrangements for the expanded student body? 'The University is building a new transportation hub for taxis and buses. Subject to approval and further arrangements, the plan provides the option of streaming for passengers at two transportation hubs to reduce bottlenecks and long lineups at the current central location,' said Mr Hudson. With an enlarging student body, The HKUST community definitely longs to see the organic growth of the campus in the years to come. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections HKUST Strengthens Industry, Education and Research in Pearl River Delta Region HKUST Strengthens Mainland Relations Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Strengthens Industry, Education and Research in Pearl River Delta Region The opening of the HKUST Shenzhen Industry, Education and Research (IER) Building and the topping out of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School Building in Nansha signify a new milestone in HKUST's development. The buildings serve as the University's education and research bases in Mainland China. HKUST is among the first eight local and Mainland universities which obtained approval from the Shenzhen Municipal Government to establish bases in the Shenzhen Virtual University, National University Park for Science and Technology. The seven-storey Building, opened in September 2011, has a construction area of 15,000 sq m and is equipped with state-of-the-art research laboratories and teaching facilities. Research institutes and corporations in the Building include the HKUST Shenzhen Mechanical Engineering Laboratory and the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience. HKUST President Tony F Chan said that Shenzhen has been playing a pioneering role since the economic reform kicked off on the Mainland. HKUST has been participating in Shenzhen's innovative efforts since the 1990s as Shenzhen launches a wide array of research and innovative initiatives. A topping-out ceremony for HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School Building was held at Nansha IT Park in November 2011. With a construction area of 31,500 sq m, the five-storey Building is home to advanced laboratories, central research facilities and lecture theaters. HKUST Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee said, 'The 12th Five-Year Plan sets out a clear position for stepping up the development of Nansha New District. We firmly believe that under the Mainland's policy, our Graduate School in Nansha will make greater progress.' The Graduate School was founded with the generous support of the Fok Ying Tung Foundation four years ago. It focuses on cultivating four major research areas encompassing Internet of Things, Advanced Manufacturing and Automation, Advanced Engineering Materials as well as Environment and Sustainable Development. It has secured more than 100 projects including the 973 and 863 programs, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects, and 'Guangdong- Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Projects'. The Foundation stated that the topping-out of the Building is a manifestation of the pioneering spirit advocated by the provincial government. It is also a key initiative of the Guangzhou Municipality and Nansha District governments to drive Guangdong-Hong Kong collaborations in innovation and technology. SEARCH © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections HKUST Strengthens Industry, Education and Research in Pearl River Delta Region HKUST Strengthens Mainland Relations Global Network In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST Strengthens Mainland Relations Prof Joseph Lee, Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies (2nd from left), Prof Tony F Chan, HKUST President (3rd from left), Mr Wan Qingliang, Party Secretary and Mayor of Guangzhou Municipality (4th from left), Prof Eden Y Woon, Vice- President for Institutional advancement (5th from left) and other guests at the ceremony HKUST continues to strengthen collaborations with Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta Region and build relationships in the Changjiang River Delta Region and other major regions on the Mainland. Riding on opportunities presented by close connections among Mainland and Hong Kong, the University has a clear positioning to strengthen its foothold and extend its reach on the Mainland. The University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Guangzhou Municipal Government to strengthen collaborations to attract and nurture talents. It has the objective of developing quality professionals with creativity and global vision to promote the advancement of Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta region. On the research front, the Guangzhou Municipal Government will support HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School to take a higher level and to promote the applications of new technologies. HKUST signed an agreement with Nanjing Talents Affairs Office. Conducted under the framework of CEPA Nanjing and Hong Kong, the collaboration will focus on training, technology and cultural exchange. Leveraging its strengths in scientific research, the University signed a memorandum with the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics to foster collaboration, identifying aims and directions for cooperation in the field of aeronautics. In the beginning of November, the Science China Press and the Chinese Science Bulletin arranged a visit of seven Fellows from the China Academy of Sciences to HKUST. HKUST hosted two seminars, during which Prof Li Wei and Prof Guo Guangcan, Chief Editors from Information Science gave presentations on breakthrough research. Mainland media continue to report about HKUST. The People's Daily had an interview with President Tony F Chan, HKUST faculty and students. The paper published a feature on the University's success achieved in merely 20 years. The Hunan TV produced a special feature on HKUST which helps Mainland students learn more about HKUST. SEARCH © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY (From left) Dr Eden Y Woon, Mr Michele Petochi from the World Economic Forum and President Tony F Chan CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network The President Goes to Europe Institute for Advanced Study Hosts Major Forum In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT The President Goes to Europe This may be the digital age, but there is no substitute for the personal touch that comes with face-to-face meetings for building ties that endure. HKUST has been a magnet attracting local and overseas scholars and students because of our rapid rise in rankings and international recognitions. But reaching out and building bridges is part of being an international university. To this end, the President, Prof Tony F Chan, together with our Vice-President for Institutional Advancement, Dr Eden Y Woon, took time out of their jam-packed schedules for a swing through Europe to visit some of the venerable seats of learning and research. From 23 October to 1 November 2011, they had no time to play tourist. They called on 10 universities and two institutions. Included in their itineraries are the following tertiary institutions: In England, Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London; in France, Ecole normale superieure (ENS), Universite Paris et Marie Curie (UPMC) and Ecole Polytechnique; in the Netherlands, Leiden University and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft); in Switzerland, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich (ETH Zürich). You cannot visit old Europe without rubbing against its history. Oxford, for one, is 900 years old. Leiden University, twinned with Oxford, has an enchanting tale all its own. In the 16th century, as a reward for heroically repelling a Spanish invasion, the king gave the town the choice of a 10-year tax moratorium or the gift of a university. Wisely, the people of Leiden chose the latter. In modern times, Leiden was better known as the 'Coldest Place on Earth' for its laboratory that developed cryogenics. HKUST, at 20, is academically speaking the new kid on the block. But you wouldn't know it from the warm reception extended to them by their European counterparts. The heads of seven out of the 10 universities all found time to sit down and talked ties with the HKUST delegation. As leaders of a research university, President Chan and Dr Woon also visited Europe's world-leading research institute CERN which, equipped with powerful data-processing facilities and employing nearly 8,000 scientists, is known to the world for the planet’s largest particle physics laboratory. They also called at the World Economic Forum, the Swiss non-profit foundation famous for its annual meeting of intellectual, business and political leaders at Davos. This visit serves another purpose. The President and Dr Woon met with postgraduate students from five of the universities who are keen on studying or working at HKUST. In between these meetings, they found time to introduce HKUST to local media representatives. In all, nine SEARCH such meetings took place, almost one a day for the 10-day visit, from the venerable BBC, Times Higher Education in the UK to Le Temps in Switzerland. Our Alumni Association, like a young octopus growing tentacles stretching to different places, now has members in responsible positions scattered throughout Europe. President Chan and Dr Woon held warm get togethers with our alumni in all four countries visited. As the old Chinese saying goes, 'There is no greater joy than meeting old friends in foreign places.' This visit lasted just 10 days, but the ties that it grows will last immeasurably far longer. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network The President Goes to Europe Institute for Advanced Study Hosts Major Forum In the HKUST Family JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Institute for Advanced Study Hosts Major Forum HKUST's Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) co-hosts the UC RUSAL President's Forum at HKUST with UC RUSAL, the world's largest aluminium producer. Jim O'Neill Provides Insight into the Future of BRICS The University invited Dr Jim O'Neill, Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) - the renowned economist who coined the prominent BRIC concept - to conduct his very first public lecture in Hong Kong. Dr O'Neill presented his views on the changing dynamics of the world and the rapid rise and importance of BRIC countries, as well as the current economic crisis. The BRIC acronym has become synonymous with the remarkable rise of Brazil, Russia, India and China and their influence on the world economy. The concept of the 'Next 11' on the other hand, is a simple description to bracket the 11 most populous countries and to see if they might have a BRIC-like impact on the world. Talking about the rise of the 'Growth Markets', a grouping which includes the four BRIC countries and the four largest N-11 countries - namely, Mexico, South Korea, Indonesia and Turkey, Dr O'Neill shared his views on how their involvement will lead to great global prosperity. Following the lecture, Dr O'Neill engaged in a constructive dialogue with HKUST President Tony F Chan and answered questions from the audience. Dr Jim O'Neill is currently the Chairman of GSAM and is responsible for overseeing the global operation of the Asset Management Division. Prior to assuming this role in September 2010, he was head of Global Economics, Commodities and Strategy Research. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1995 as a partner, co-head of Global Economics Research and Chief Currency Economist. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Dr O'Neill worked for Swiss Bank Corporation and the Bank of America. In 2010 RUSAL and HKUST established a five-year cooperative agreement. Under the sponsorship of US$1.5 million, RUSAL would support the development of HKUST's Institute for Advanced Study, establish scholarships and conduct research project on the application of innovative technologies for using aluminium in construction. The UC RUSAL President's Forum welcomes the world's renowned speakers to Hong Kong. IAS also hosted Nobel Lectures and Distinguished Lectures with top scholars, attracting enthusiastic response. IAS Nobel Lecture Prof David Gross Prof David Gross from the University of California at Santa Barbara SEARCH shared his insights on the present state of knowledge in elementary particle physics and the state of string theory. He also discussed the experimental revolutions that might occur at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) now running at CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. Prof Gross won the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of asymptotic freedom, which focuses on understanding the strong interactions that bind quarks and nuclear matter to string theory. Prof Robert Engle Prof Robert Engle from New York University delivered a lecture on 'Global Financial Stability and Long Run Risks'. At the talk, Prof Engle discussed the concept of risk management and how to utilize volatility models in making forecasts. Prof Engle was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Economics Sciences for his breakthrough research on the concept of autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH), a statistical model of volatility that captured the tendency of stock prices and other financial variables to move between high volatility and low volatility periods. The finding was first mentioned in Econometrica, 1982. The model has become an essential tool used for asset pricing and evaluation of portfolio risk. Prof Edward Prescott Prof Edward Prescott, from Arizona State University and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis believed that eliminating capital income taxes will greatly increase savings opportunities and make savings for retirement system feasible with only modest amount of government debt. In recognition of his contributions, Prof Prescott was awarded the 2004 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences. IAS Distinguished Lecture Prof Justin Yifu Lin Prof Justin Yifu Lin, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank provided a framework to analyze the causes behind the dramatic changes of China's economy throughout the centuries. As a result, China has been the most dynamic economy in the world. He believed that the current economic theory does not apply to the Chinese economy and drawn some lessons from the Chinese experiences for other developing countries. Prior to joining the Bank, Prof Lin served as the Founding Director and Professor of the China Centre for Economic Research (CCER) at Peking University. He had also been teaching at HKUST from 1995 to 2005. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family HKUST President's Outstanding Service Award Heroes at Security Section Win Awards Alumni Strengthens Connections with Alma Mater Event Highlights JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT HKUST President's Outstanding Service Award Human talent is the prime factor making HKUST a world-class research university within only 20 years. Its success is enabled by the joint efforts of its excellent faculty, its team of professional administrators and supporting staff. By setting up the President's Outstanding Service Award, HKUST aims to recognize non-teaching staff members who have demonstrated exceptional service, innovative thinking and commitment to excellence. This is the second time the Award is presented. Mr Tze-kin Cheung, Senior Technical Officer of the Materials Characterisation and Preparation Facility, Mr Michael Choi, Security Manager of the Facilities Management Office and Ms Julie Shing, Executive Assistant to the Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies are presented the President's Outstanding Service Award in recognition of their significant contributions to the University, as well as their commitment and dedication to work. Prof Yuk-shan Wong, Vice-President for Administration and Business and the Chairman of the Selection Committee for President's Outstanding Service Award, said, “The University's academic prowess depends not only upon the faculty's high-powered research and teaching, but also the all-round support and effective administration behind the scenes, such as computer networks, executive support and laboratory management. Outstanding administrative support and service is one of the University's most treasured assets.' Going through this year's nominations for the 28 exemplary staff members was no easy task. 'All nominees possess unique strengths. It was a challenging mission for the Committee to shortlist the 10 finalists and eventually the final three awardees. I truly hope that all colleagues will continue to work hard and strive for excellence in all areas in the years to come.' The awardees and finalists were invited to bring their families to the award presentation ceremony and dinner gathering on 15 November, where they shared their joy, insights and fond memories. President Prof Tony F Chan expressed deep appreciation of the University's nonteaching staff who are enthusiastic and committed to excellence. He is happy to see the establishment of the Award, which recognizes dedicated non-teaching staff and motivates them to keep on shining. With our unifying concept of 1-HKUST, the University will continue to create miracles and achieve greater heights with the concerted efforts of teaching and non-teaching staff members. Awardee – Mr Tze-kin Cheung Senior Technical Officer, the Materials Characterisation and Preparation Facility Mr Tze-kin Cheung has served the Materials Characterisation and Preparation Facility for nine years. The unit, which centers on the characterisation and analysis of various advanced materials and nanomaterials, SEARCH involves the heavy use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To help keep the down time of the TEM-related machines low and reduce repair expenditures, Mr Cheung has self-studied machines, electronic circuit design, optics, software and other relevant disciplines. To enhance quality service, he has taken the initiatives to design and locate the components, set up file servers to facilitate user access and manage their TEM results. Mr Cheung loves self-learning. 'In order to design and compose a TEM camera, I have consulted and discussed with professors and students, turned to references books and searched for information on the web. I have worked day and night to carry out the test and modify the software. These tasks have been where my interests lie. I fully enjoy it no matter how tough it is.' His passion and enthusiasm have been applauded by faculty, staff members and students, which resulted in his entering the final round of the Awards for two consecutive years and being named the winner this year. Mr Cheung takes this humbly. 'The Award is a motivating force. My family is even happier than I am. I feel content doing what I enjoy.' Awardee – Mr Michael Choi Security Manager of the Facilities Management Office Mr Michael Choi came on board in 1991 when HKUST was still in its setup stage. As a former commander of the British army in Hong Kong, he transferred his expertise into his then new job and built the highly acclaimed security section in the Facilities Management Office from scratch. He worked hard to create a safe campus environment, and was generous with his expert advice, insights and suggestions. Before major campus events, he would even pull all-nighters going over program details and supervise on-site to ensure smooth delivery. Mr Choi has helped to raise the standards and modes of operation of the security section. He was one of the important persons behind the first joint university forum of security forces, where security representatives of local universities converge to share information and experience. Under his leadership, HKUST was awarded the Best Partner Property by the Regional Crime Prevention Office of Kowloon East in 2010-2011. Over the years Mr Choi has been involved in the HKUST Staff Association and has remained active in community service. He has organized volunteer visits to the Haven of Hope Hospital in Hong Kong and villages on the Mainland. Highly valued and counted on by the HKUST community, he has always been receiving staff members and students in his office. Feeling pleased and deeply honored to be conferred with the Award, he said, 'This honor belongs to all members of the security section. I work not for the sake of recognition. Having said that, I'm happy that the University has recognized my efforts.' Awardee – Ms Julie Shing Executive Assistant to the Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies Serving the Office of Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies for close to 16 years, Ms Julie Shing is a living embodiment of HKUST's institutional memory. She testifies to the expanded scope of research activities, among which are the growing number of research institutes and centers from 10 at the beginning to more than 50 currently, and the rapid expansion of collaborative research and technology transfer initiatives. Ms Shing is able to remain calm when changes arise. For whatever work she does, she is able to provide excellent leadership in the administrative operation and to help formulate and implement plans, as well as deliver results in the most effective manner. Ms Shing's low key, never-complaining and humble attitude has set a role model for her colleagues. Her former and current supervisors give her their unanimous accord. Speaking of her work principles, Ms Shing remarked that she never gives up and she puts all her heart and efforts into her job. She said humbly, 'My performance is far from being outstanding. The success depends on my colleagues' support and collaborative efforts. I should not take all the credits.' Finalist – Miss Margaret Sui-chun Chau Executive Officer of the Office of the Dean of Engineering Miss Margaret Chau joined the HKUST community in 1994. Over the years she has taken up various administrative positions of the Engineering School, handling a wide range of duties including undergraduate and postgraduate student affairs, overseas exchange program and global outreach, which is her recent focus. Speaking of the most impressive and fulfilling experience she has ever had in HKUST, she thought of introducing the Robocon Hong Kong Contest to the student circle and motivating them to join the competition. Once of an ad hoc nature with only a lean team of participants and a car park as the practicing ground, the Contest has now become one of the most popular events among students with a well-equipped laboratory as its base, and a full-fledged team comprising more than 70 students. Miss Chau thanked the University for recognizing her effort. She was also grateful to her ever trusting and supportive colleagues who inspire her to excel in whatever roles she assumes. She will continue to help facilitate integration among students and strengthen their sense of belonging. Finalist – Ms Helen Mei-yee Lai Executive Officer of the Department of Physics Ms Helen Lai, Executive Officer of the Department of Physics, joined the Unit in 1996 and has been responsible for many kinds of administrative work in the department. She has shown great care to faculty and students and has made well-thought arrangements for budget preparation, course selection and logistics. She described the SARS epidemic as the most unforgettable episode in her career, during which she and her colleagues had to have all teaching, audio-visual and filming materials ready within a short time for conducting lessons with home-bound students. While it was tough, the fact that they overcame challenges brought great satisfaction. Over the years Ms Lai has earned the trust of the department head and other faculty members, and has enjoyed a close-knit collegial relationship. She attributes this to her insistence on 'going one step further and being reasonable and sincere'. 'I am pleased that during my 16 years of service, none of the administrative staff in our department has left,' she added. She will continue to work with faculty members, students and staff members to overcome challenges arising from the 3-3-4 education reform. Finalist – Miss May Wing-mui Lee Personal Secretary to the Provost Serving HKUST since its inception and having been the Personal Secretary to seven serving Provosts / Vice-Presidents for Academic Affairs, Miss May Lee has witnessed the University's rapid development . She noted that each of them has distinctive character and management style, but what they have in common are their emphases on quality and efficiency. 'I am very fortunate to have worked closely with each of them and gained their trust. This is extremely fulfilling,' She said. As the Office's 'commander-in-chief', Miss Lee is responsible for duties ranging from coordinating inter-school and inter-faculty meetings to regular office administration. Always patient and meticulous, she takes initiatives to solve problems and encourages her colleagues to deliver their best. She did not work for awards. 'There are many good colleagues at HKUST with contributions. I am only one of those luckier ones to have been recognized,' she said. Finalist – Dr Chi-moon Li Senior Manager of the Health, Safety and Environment Office Currently the Senior Manager of Health, Safety and Environment Office, Dr Chi-moon Li joined HKUST in 1994 and has since then assisted in devising a series of safety regulations for the University. His task is by no means easy. 'One example is the fire evacuation plan. There are many classrooms, laboratories and offices along the University's interconnecting Academic Building. Also, there are members who are not familiar with the campus environment. We need to be careful to thoroughly communicate with all units to plan and execute the apparently simple measures.' In line with the University's emphasis on sustainable development, Dr Li has studied green practice and implemented environmentally-friendly measures in various parts of the campus. He has helped to launch the food waste recycling machine and the organic farm to promote green living. A finalist of the Award for two consecutive years, Dr Li remarked, 'Of course I'm pleased – the Award means recognition and it motivates me to do better.' As the Chairman of the HKUST Staff Association, he hopes that the University can introduce greater incentives to further boost staff morale to enable the University to achieve new heights. Finalist – Mr Donny Koon-ming Siu Associate Director (Student Life) of the Student Affairs Office Mr Donny Siu joined HKUST right from the start in 1991. He has played various roles in the Student Affairs Office, ranging from on campus catering and medical care, scholarships and financial aid, hall education, recreational facilities and amenities, career consultations to strategic development. He facilitates communications among students and the University. He maintains close contacts with students who welcome and trust him as a friend. Mr Siu is pleased to have become a finalist of the Award. Talking about his future goals, he said, 'Students nowadays tend to have their own preferences. This results in greater needs to foster communication. I hope we can devote more time and resources to the bridging work in the future.' Finalist – Ms Shirley Suk-ping Tang Program Manager of the Interdisciplinary Programs Office Ms Shirley Tang joined HKUST in 1996. A computer engineering graduate of HKUST, she started off her career serving the School of Engineering and was actively engaged in undergraduate affairs and preparation for the University's first dual degree program. Following the development of interdisciplinary programs, she was transferred to the Interdisciplinary Programs Office. In those days, the idea of interdisciplinary studies had not yet taken root in local or even international scenes. The need to formulate human resources and budgetary standards for the new office added to the various difficulties she was facing. With her conviction and the help of trusting professors and colleagues, she was able to overcome the difficulties. Miss Tang is impressed by professors' enthusiasm in teaching. She said, 'HKUST professors put in a lot of efforts to devise teaching activities. For instance, they had to take multiple injections and suffer from exhaustion arising from long journeys in order to host a case study competition in Brazil. They went through all these to enrich students' learning experience.' She is excited to have become a finalist of the Award twice in her career. She hopes that the University will provide greater recognition to deserving staff members in the future. Finalist – Miss Wendy Suk-kwan Yuen Clerk of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering Miss Wendy Yuen joined the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering in 1994 to support postgraduate affairs and undergraduates' final year projects. Having worked at HKUST for nearly two decades, she has helped propose and implement the use of intranet for postgraduate research in the department. Centralization of information has helped faculty and students access and retrieve useful data. Miss Yuen appreciates the Department's insights in identifying talents according to their abilities and not only taking into account their education and ranks. This has enabled her to build on her strengths, and she feels highly encouraged to be shortlisted for this Award. For years she has been punctual, diligent and helpful. 'Our duties such as scholarship administration involve many closely connected tasks. We have to ensure that all tiny parts run smoothly such that the entire project can be implemented. Thus it is always important to keep track of things and handle them with care no matter how busy we are.' © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY Mr Ho (left) being presented Gold Award and Certificate for Best Security Professional by Assistant Commissioner of Police The Security Section celebrates double happiness. Mr Michael Choi, Manager (2nd from right), is pleased CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family HKUST President's Outstanding Service Award Heroes at Security Section Win Awards Alumni Strengthens Connections with Alma Mater Event Highlights JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Heroes at Security Section Win Awards Throughout the years, HKUST has nurtured many talented scholars and students. The University campus has become an ideal location for studies and research due to the hard work of many unsung heroes, and among them are members of the HKUST Security Section. The Security Section's efforts were recognized as it was awarded the Best Partner Award by the Regional Crime Prevention Office of Kowloon East recently. Mr Shun-sing Ho, Superintendent at the Security Section, won the Gold Award for the Best Security Professional 2010-2011 in the same region. Mr Ho was awarded because of his performance when handling an assault on campus. 'I yelled at the suspect to stop him, while protecting the injured and calling colleagues for help. I helped the suspect calm down, and soon after he was able to control his emotions. He gave up the idea of hurting the victim and was later under arrest,' said Ho who expressed gratifications to his colleagues. The trophy is now sitting in the office of the Security Section, showcasing the collaborative efforts and good deeds of its members. Since winning the award, Mr Ho had been invited by the Fight Crime Committee to present the case and the way it was handled to police constables. As a member of the Security Section, Mr Ho has abundant knowledge of counselling and crisis handling. A veteran of the St John's Ambulance Brigade for the past 40 years, he has been saving lives on ambulances and has been awarded the Community Service Award by the Brigade and the Bronze award by the Social Welfare Department. Having been awarded by HKUST's President and Staff Association, he said humbly, 'It is nothing special; it is our responsibilities to save lives and to contribute to society.' Security Manager of the Facilities Management Office Mr Michael Choi stated, 'All members of the HKUST Security Section have to receive training in fire prevention, first aid and smoke-and-fog prevention. We are well-trained to respond to emergencies such as accidents in laboratories. The Fight Crime Committee, after considering our case, selected us from among various institutions in Kowloon East and presented to us the Best Partners Award. We are particularly pleased as the award was presented by the Police.' The professionalism and dedication demonstrated by Mr Choi, Mr Ho and other members of the Section give us peace of mind to study and work on this beautiful HKUST campus with high security standards. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY SEARCH CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family HKUST President's Outstanding Service Award Heroes at Security Section Win Awards

Alumni Strengthens Connections with Alma Mater Event Highlights JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT Alumni Strengthens Connections with Alma Mater In the past 20 years, HKUST has nurtured over 43,000 graduates. Members of the alumni, whether they are in Hong Kong or abroad, always remember the homecoming experience as they join reunions and keep close contacts with their Alma Mater. From London, Paris, Amsterdam to Geneva, HKUST President Tony F Chan and Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Dr Eden Y Woon hosted gatherings with the alumni during their visit to Europe last Fall. The warm get-togethers brought precious moments to the alumni body in Europe. Back to Hong Kong, over 120 members of the alumni attended the Annual Dinner of HKUST Alumni Association with a glittering line-up of performances. The alumni demonstrated their artistic talents with an Acapella. Engineering alumnus Mr Jacky Chiu led 'little angels', who were his students at the SDM Jazz & Ballet Academie, to give a fabulous Jazz performance. Illustrator Ms Jeanie Leung, a Marketing alumna, crafted a commemorative photo frame for the celebration. 400 members the alumni and their family members embraced the festive moods towards the end of the year as they enjoyed a fun day at the Ocean Park in December. They were greeted by President Chan and Vice-President Dr Woon who introduced to them the latest developments of the University. Members of the alumni definitely enjoyed their time together. HKUST's first PhD graduate Prof Jack Lau (right) was awarded the Directors of the Year Award 2011 by the Hong Kong Institute of Directors © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY SEARCH CONTENTS Teaching and Research Raising the Bar Our Miracle Continues Local Links Mainland Connections Global Network In the HKUST Family HKUST President's Outstanding Service Award Heroes at Security Section Win Awards Alumni Strengthens Connections with Alma Mater Event Highlights JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS Event Highlights HKUST students joined the World Gallery of Hope service learning program to Cambodia. They visited orphanages and engaged in voluntary work. Students joined Sichuan – Light on Dreams to engage in voluntary teaching with children of the Yi people and visited local families. The Citi International Case Competition was jointly organized by Citi Hong Kong and HKUST’s School of Business and Management and sponsored by the Citi Foundation. 20 outstanding teams from top business schools around the world participated in the Competition. 22 HKUST undergraduate students were awarded the Li & Fung Scholarships to go on SEARCH Dr Chan Sui Kau joined 130 students at the Chan Sui Kau and Chan Lam Moon Chun Hall for thanksgiving dinner. Prof Reinhard Renneberg from the Department of Chemistry launched the Wisdom Science Corner at HKUST’s coffee shop to foster exchange of ideas. exchange in prestigious overseas universities. A representative of the Victor & William Fung Foundation Limited, which sponsors the Scholarship, gave a briefing to applicants. © HKUST NEWSLETTER - GENESIS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ABOUT GENESIS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY