President e-letter, 6 January 2017

Abstract

<http://president.ust.hk/eng/index.html> <http://president.ust.hk/eng/index.html> <http://president.ust.hk/eng/links.html> <http://president.ust.hk/eng/contacts.html> <http://president.ust.hk/eng/sitemap.html> <http://www.ust.hk/>

Biography <http://president.ust.hk/eng/bio.html> Speeches & Articles <http://president.ust.hk/eng/speeches_pubs.html> Column Articles <http://president.ust.hk/eng/column_articles.html> Photo & Video Gallery <http://president.ust.hk/eng/album.html> e-letter <http://president.ust.hk/eng/e-letter.html> Staff Directory <http://president.ust.hk/eng/directory.html> <javascript:chLang('eng','chi');> <javascript:chLang('eng','gbc');>

president's e-letter

Dear All,

The New Year denotes a fresh start: new people to meet, new adventures to enjoy and new memories to create. Looking back, 2016 was an eventful time �� we went through a year of 25th anniversary celebrations of our past successes while also reflecting on future strategic goals. Individual challenges were overcome and potential fulfilled. Now, following the Fall examination period and Christmas celebrations, I would like to take this opportunity to share my pride and happiness at some of the achievements of members of the HKUST community over the previous semester.

Innovation with a Heart

Toward the end of each year, I, as President, am invited by HKUST��s Court, the supreme advisory body of the University, to give an annual report on the state of the University by highlighting the achievements made as well as new developments and initiatives. At the most recent Court meeting in mid-December 2016, in addition to my annual report, I invited three groups of HKUST faculty, students and alumni to share their innovations and entrepreneurial experiences. Thanks to a suggestion by Executive Vice President and Provost Prof Wei Shyy, the teams then presented their heartening success stories to highlight what is being achieved through the University��s relentless pursuit of knowledge transfer:

* Sonikure <http://www.sonikure.com/> has invented a low-energy ultrasound device to deliver drugs to the eye, providing a non-invasive alternative to ocular injections for those suffering from posterior eye diseases; and was named as the ��K50 2015 Global Top 50 Startup�� by the Kairos Society and recognized as a Google Solve for X Moonshot Project.

* HKUSTwheels <http://www.ust.hk/about-hkust/media-relations/press-releases/hkust-wins-silver-cybathlon-worlds-first-olympics-bionic-athletes-2/> has created a cost-effective powered wheelchair with the capability to handle front-facing stair climbing and uneven surfaces, which secured a silver award at the world wheelchair Cybathlon 2016 in Zurich.

* NanoBioImaging <http://www.nanobioimaging.com/> has developed a state-of-the-art super-resolution imaging services to help scientists study the inner architecture of subcellular structure; and won second prize (entrepreneurial category) and ranked third in the final competition of the 5th China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions) in 2016.

Sonikure and NanoBioImaging, which are both spin-off companies within HKUST��s incubative environment, have gained support from the Innovation and Technology Commission��s Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities. Such achievement showcases HKUST��s willingness not only to be bold in innovation, but also illustrates our caring spirit in seeking to make a real impact on people��s lives.

Here, I would also like to give credit to our Associate Vice-President (Knowledge Transfer) Prof Enboa Wu who actually put in lots of efforts in advising these teams on how best to get prepared for the Court presentation. In the future, perhaps, I will invite other students, faculty, staff and alumni to talk about their special projects at Court meetings.

Transformative Graduates for Testing Times

Another important event of 2016 was the University��s 24th Congregation held outdoors in the HKUST Atrium in mid-November. You can enjoy watching the stirring video of the Congregation again at here <https://itsc.ust.hk/video-playback-24th-congregation>. Each year on this occasion, I feel touched to see our recent graduates and their families and friends taking part in this milestone event in their lives. The graduates (and probably many of their parents) have undertaken years of hard work to complete their university education. The ceremony offers a great opportunity for parents to witness their sons or daughters walking on stage and receiving their degree certificates.

By now, these young men and women have already begun their new journeys into the wider world, a landscape filled with opportunities, excitement, and important choices to make. As noted in my Congregation address <http://congregation.ust.hk/ceremonies-and-events/addresses.html#detail>, I believe that in today��s age of overwhelming information and ��post-truth��, the need to understand and engage with those holding different perspectives from our own is ever more essential. I am confident that our graduates, as the latest ambassadors of HKUST and the champions of our core values, have left campus not only well-equipped with a world-class education, but also the heart and mind to contribute positively to society in many ways.

Building for the Future Through Wider Connections

As many of you may already know, the whole campus will also be transforming in the next few years. As mentioned in my previous e-letter, major facility development on campus is on the move through implementation of the recently updated Campus Master Plan (CMP), a blueprint to demarcate compatible and mutually supplementary land zones on campus with 14 proposed buildings for the long-term development of the University.

In the soon-to-be released HKUST publication titled /Prometheus in the Sky/ (*瘚瑟蕊憭拇�� �Ｗ�菜�芯�蝘�憭找犖*), specially printed for the 25th Anniversary, there is a chapter called ��A Soaring Sight�� dedicated to University campus development. (The new book will be launched in early Spring, so please stay tuned.) In this chapter, I explicitly point out that my vision, in conjunction with the senior management team, is to use the CMP to create an enjoyable and sustainable environment through the support of residential, arts, cultural, sports, recreational, innovative, research, knowledge transfer and entrepreneurial facilities that are conducive to a thriving campus life and holistic education experience.

Among all the proposed buildings under the CMP, a handful have been deemed high priority for development, as approved by the Council, in view of needs, urgency and aspirations. Some have actually been dreams of mine from the time I first came on board as President. All have gained widespread support from across the University community and are now gradually turning into reality under the CMP. These new infrastructure projects will not only be a boon to our education, research and campus living, but also bring about new possibilities of collaboration and different types of activities both within and beyond the University community.

In the not-too-distant future, a Congregation held outdoors might not be the only option to run our graduation ceremony. Why? One of the facilities that the University is going to build is a Multi-Purpose Auditorium (MPA) with approximately 1,000 seats near the South Gate area. This could be used as an alternative venue for large-scale events, including the Congregation (which makes it possible for School or Departments to organize their graduation events), conferences, lectures, concerts, musicals, drama, dancing, other cultural performances, student and staff activities, and more. At the moment, as we all know, the largest venue on campus is only good for 400 people.

Another exciting initiative is an ��Innovation Building��, which is intended to form an ecosystem on campus to foster vertical integration of students, faculty, and industry, and enable them to interact, synergize and collaborate with ease.

Along the campus waterfront area, many of you may already notice that development work has begun for the Water Sports Center and Indoor Sports Center. It is indisputable that we are the only university in Hong Kong that has a waterfront as an integral part of our main campus. Quite frankly, we are probably situated next to one of the best sea areas in Hong Kong. It would be illogical for us not to make the most of such a natural advantage. The two Centers will further develop the spirit of sportsmanship among students and also enable us to interact with the community interest groups and clubs.

Finally, we are planning to build a new Global Graduate Tower (GGT). This will accommodate over 500 Research Postgraduates and cater for the continued growth of our research student population, a significant part of our collective research strength as an institution. Such accommodation is highly useful as the study and living patterns of research postgraduates are different, including laboratory commitments at odd hours. In addition, we will put in place programs to promote and facilitate cross-cultural integration among the student residents as part of their HKUST education experience.

All these buildings will provide a solid foundation for us to continue to pursue a culture of openness, the development of holistic education, cross-fertilization of ideas and knowledge transfer, and above all the drive for excellence. I have been delighted by the support the University has received from community donors for this vision. Special thanks should go to Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr Eden Woon and his team for their great efforts in exceeding the fundraising target of the 25th Anniversary Global Vision Campaign to enable many of these projects to be realized. Our Facilities Management Office will also be providing their expertise in executing and monitoring each of the above projects. Our 25th anniversary celebration is almost drawing to a close, the University will organize its last global celebration in Singapore, which will be hosted by our School of Humanities and Social Science on 14 January (i.e. next Saturday). I welcome you to join the celebration with us.

Many of you should know that the University��s Conference Lodge <http://www.conferencelodge.hk/en/index.html> (CL) has just celebrated its first anniversary. We are proud to have this modern hub which offers meeting, catering and accommodation facilities, exclusively to the HKUST conference delegates, visiting scholars and professors, postgraduate students and university guests. What��s more, UniQue, a stylish restaurant with panoramic sea views at CL, is open to the public providing a variety of international dishes and local favorites. Do bring your friends and families to visit CL and enjoy a delicious meal there. My heartfelt thanks goes to Vice-President for Administration & Business Mr Mark Hodgson and his team who have played a vital role in making an exciting and successful first year for CL.

Looking Ahead

As we broaden both our physical campus and mental horizons and look ahead, 2017 is shaping up to be a year where we will continue to work hard to achieve our educational and research goals as a University but at the same time recognize just how much we are connected �� and how much we can bring through our knowledge, skills and innovations �� to the wider society.

The start of the year is a time when all your hopes are new, your aspirations are re-energized, your resolutions are firm and your spirits are high. May I wish everyone a very productive, fulfilling and happy New Year.

Prof Tony F Chan President

6 January 2017

*Archive:*

Copyright 穢 2017 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology