IAS Newsletter, Fall 2019

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Skip to main content HomeMENU ________ - Fall 2019 Cover Story Research Excellence Special Feature IAS Scholars IAS Community Intellectual Hub More Fall 2019 > Cover Story Cracking the Code of Materials

Asbestos, a word that seems alien to the younger generation, is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was commonly used for insulation and fireproofing in buildings because of its excellent tensile strength and versatility. Asbestos was widely used in construction projects in Hong Kong, particularly during the 1970s, when residential and public housing were in great demand. Asbestos is an inexpensive building material, but society has paid a high price for its use. Since early 1980s, many places around the world, including Hong Kong, have banned the use of asbestos because inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to mesothelioma (a type of cancer) or asbestosis, which can result in death. This is when Prof. MAI Yiu-Wing came into the picture. Mai, a highly regarded materials scientist, is now a University Chair of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sydney and an IAS Senior Visiting Fellow.

\\ No material is perfect. One way to construct new materials is to ‘deconstruct’ them, to analyze how they break.”\\

Back in the 1970s to 1980s, Mai was commissioned by a world-leading Australian industrial building materials firm, James Hardie & Coy Pty. Ltd., to develop a new asbestos-free material. His pioneering work on cellulose fiber cement, which is a mixture of fibers from radiata pine, sand and cement, turned out to be Mai’s most impactful and notable research achievement, and it has had a lasting effect on the science of fiber composites.

Cellulose fiber cement is a high-performance, durable and harmless advanced material widely used for façade cladding and roofing. Its discovery also led to the development of the scientific research field of “quasi-brittle fracture mechanics,” which paved the way for Mai’s research on the fracture mechanics of a range of engineering materials such as cementitious materials and their fiber composites, stitched/z-pinned composite laminates and coarse-grained ceramics.

Fracture Mechanics Throughout the ages of human civilization—from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages to the present—a myriad of materials has been discovered, developed and deployed. Newly innovated man-made materials, such as polymers, carbon fibers and graphene, etc., have transformed our lives tremendously, and they are shaping the future.

“Yet, no material is perfect,” said Mai. As a materials scientist, Mai’s focus is not simply on the discovery of new materials. His research involves the study of the properties and characteristics of known materials to determine or improve their utility.

“In fact, one way to construct new materials is to ‘deconstruct’ them, to analyze how they break,” he said. “My research on fracture mechanics is largely about understanding the relationships between cracks or defects, stresses and toughness of a wide range of advanced materials under different operational conditions of stress, temperature and environment.”

Mai added that fracture mechanics, which is the study of the propagation of cracks in materials, is not only a tool used to improve the performance of mechanical components, but also vital in understanding fatigue under cyclic stresses, also known as fatigue failure, in vehicles such as aircrafts, ships and cars and in other infrastructures such as bridges and natural gas transmission pipelines.

“The accident of Aloha Airlines Flight 243 that happened 31 years ago is perhaps one of the most famous cases of metal fatigue contributing to cracking and accident,” Mai recalled. He used the tragedy of the “unsinkable” Titanic as another example to demonstrate the importance of fracture mechanics.

“Material failure was one of the key reasons for Titanic’s rapid sinking after the collision,” said Mai. Indeed, expeditions surveying the shipwreck later revealed that the below-freezing seawater temperature, high-speed collision with the iceberg and sulfur content of the hull steel plates caused the brittle fracture and eventually ended the maiden and final voyage of Titanic.1

Sailing Around the “Material” World Mai, who has specialized in the field of materials science for over 40 years, has traveled far and wide over the course of his research life and has encountered many pioneers in the field.

During his graduate studies, Mai was deeply inspired by Prof. Charles GURNEY, his PhD supervisor at the University of Hong Kong. Gurney was best known for his research on crack propagation, in which he focused on energetics and the laws of thermodynamics to understand crack resistance, crack stability and crack path. He had worked with the renowned English aeronautical engineer Prof. Alan Arnold GRIFFITH (who shared the honor of “father of fracture mechanics” with Prof. George R. IRWIN) at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, UK.

“Prof. Gurney was a great mind and taught me how to think originally and broadly in doing research. I was encouraged to read widely, from thermodynamics to philosophy of science, and from poetry to literature. He won the A. A. Griffith Medal and Prize by the UK Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in 1993,” Mai recalled. As the Chinese saying goes, “a famous teacher trains a fine student” (名師出高徒). Mai was awarded the same A. A. Griffith Medal and Prize in 2016 for his research results which have influenced engineering practice with global impact.

Mai’s energy-focused work on fracture mechanics was extended at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he started his postdoctoral work with Prof. Tony ATKINS on boron fiber composites and the thermal shock of cutting-tool ceramics. Atkins, who developed the world’s toughest boron-epoxy continuous-filament-reinforced composite by cleverly engineering their interfaces, had been Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Reading.

“Atkins had a dynamic personality and was always full of energy and ideas,” Mai said. “His research focused on the deformation flow and fracture of all materials. Using the Griffith-Gurney approach for elastic-plastic fracture, he extended it to the cutting of hard and soft solids. He taught me to be broad and enthusiastic in research, and to think both laterally and vertically. We co-authored Elastic and Plastic Fracture: Metals, Polymers, Ceramics, Composites, Biological Materials, a classic book published in the mid-1980s.”

\\ “As a researcher, I was taught that it is important to have a focus on social and economic benefits beyond academic concerns.”\\

Mai’s journey in the pursuit of knowledge was far from its end, and he continued his postdoctoral research on the fracture and fatigue mechanics of polymers at Imperial College London, UK. There, he worked with Prof. Gordon WILLIAMS, currently Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Investigator in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial. Williams published the book Fracture Mechanics of Polymers in 1982, and his research gradually moved towards cutting theory, a method for measuring the fracture energy of materials, which describes the toughness of soft materials like foodstuffs, plastics and polymer nanocomposites.

“Along with Prof. Williams and other researchers, we worked on the cutting behavior of polyolefins with different molecular weights, and epoxies with different degrees of crosslinks and with polystyrene microspheres,” said Mai. Their research team studied the effects of rake angle, cut depth and tool sharpness as well as chip bending on the fracture energy obtained from cutting theory, and their findings provided a basic understanding of the machining behavior of these soft materials and other polymers and their nanocomposites.

What Mai has learned from Williams is more than research. “As a researcher, I was taught that it is important to have a focus on social and economic benefits beyond academic concerns. The research of Prof. Williams on fracture in materials has led to many International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. This is living proof of the translational influence of research on industry and society that leads to new practices, test standards and protocols from the results of basic research.”

Since then, a belief in social responsibility has been instilled in the heart of Mai. Together with Prof. Brian COTTERELL, an expert in material crack kinking and crack path, Mai led the research program on fracture mechanics and composite materials at the Centre for Advanced Materials Technology based in the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Sydney. They extended the essential work of fracture (EWF) method from sheet metals to polymers and blends, showing it to be suitable as a standard method for fracture toughness evaluation. EWF is now used for the toughness measurement of thin metal sheets, newsprint and paper in many countries.

Opening Up a New Direction After conducting research on the mechanics of various materials for four decades, at the turn of the century, Mai breathed new life into his work by extending his focus from fiber composites to ceramic- and polymer-nanocomposites, which have countless applications.

When he took up a senior position at City University of Hong Kong from 2000 to 2002, Mai and colleagues worked on superhard and bioactive surface coatings with the support of the Hong Kong Industrial Technology Centre Corporation (HKITC). The layered structure on steel and tool inserts by physical vapor deposition (PVD) improves the adhesion and reduces the residual stress. Superhard coating technology has benefited the watch and clock industry in Hong Kong and the automotive industry in China. “Multi-layered Superhard Nanocomposite Coatings” is one of two patents that Mai holds.

In a recent IAS Distinguished Lecture titled “On Thermal Conductive Polymer Composites as Underfill Materials for Electronic Packaging,” Mai shared with his audience a major international joint research project of his research team supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The project reviews the state-of-the-art advances regarding the key requirements of underfill materials for microelectronic devices. Underfills are “formulated as 100% solids compositions, i.e., liquid resins and hardeners are used without solvents or volatile additives.”2 They are materials applied to improve the structural integrity and reliability of flipchip packages.​​​​​

“The surface mounting technology for integrated circuits (IC) was very popular in the 1990s,” Mai said. “Today, flipchip packaging technology is commonly used, but this technology has a major challenge which is caused by thermomechanical stresses from large mismatches of the coefficients of thermal expansion between silicon chips, solder joints and substrate during thermal cycling of electronic components.”

The performance reliability and stability of smaller yet more powerful microelectronic devices are affected by basic issues such as thermal heat dissipation, stress redistribution, signal transmission and mechanical protection. In Mai’s lecture, he pointed out that new approaches have been proposed to overcome such problems, which can affect the performance reliability and stability of these new microelectronic devices. However, these approaches still cannot be effectively applied to the complex underfill process that is an integral part of electronic packaging.

“Fine control of the combined mechanical-thermal-electrical-processing-dielectric performance criteria of site-specific underfill materials for flipchip packaging has proven very challenging. The challenges we face require further work for solutions,” Mai said.

Taking Stock Inarguably, Mai’s research on materials science has had significant impacts on engineering practice. The seminal contributions to fracture mechanics and advanced composite materials that he has made as an international leader was probably something that Mai had never dreamt of when living an ordinary life as the son of a shipyard carpenter.

Entering technical school to fulfill his father’s wishes, Mai acquired basic engineering concepts and technical skills like woodwork, metalwork, physics and geometry, which laid a solid foundation for his future studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Hong Kong.

Reflecting on his research life, Mai humbly said that it was a series of chance encounters that have shaped him. What made him the proudest is not his own achievements but those of his students who have become leaders in their fields. “I believe in Newton’s Law: what goes up must come down,” said Mai with a gentle smile. “At this stage of my career, I hope that my research can benefit our society, and that my teaching can pave the way for students to meet the changing needs of society. I always encourage my students to avail themselves of every opportunity to learn and discover things outside the realm of scientific fields.”

1.

“What Really Sank the Titanic?” Gannon, Robert, Popular Science, February 1995, 246 (2) 49-55 2.

Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology (Second Edition), 2001, 8332-8335

Prof. MAI Yiu-Wing Prof. Mai received his PhD, DSc and DSc (honoris causa) degrees from the University of Hong Kong in 1972, 1999 and 2013 respectively. In 1976, Mai joined the University of Sydney, where he obtained his DEng in 1999, and is now a University Chair and Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Throughout the years, Mai has maintained close ties to academic institutions in Hong Kong and China. From 1993 to 1995, as the Acting Head, Mai helped build up the Mechanical Engineering (currently known as Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) Department and the Advanced Engineering Materials Facilities at HKUST. Mai also held positions in many local and overseas universities including the University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Peking University, South China University of Technology, and others.

As a highly cited researcher in materials science, Mai's main research interests include (1) materials science and engineering covering processing-structure-property relations, manufacturing and development of innovative materials; (2) smart materials, eco-materials and biomimetics; (3) nanomaterials and nanoengineering; (4) fracture and fatigue mechanics of materials and structures; (5) design, characterization and mechanics of interfaces/interphases; and (6) tribology and surface engineering and science.

Mai’s devotion to scientific research has gained international prestige. He is a recipient of the Takeo Yokobori Gold Medal of the International Congress on Fracture (2013), the A. A. Griffith Medal and Prize of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (2016), the Scala Award and World Fellowship of the International Committee on Composite Materials (2015), and the AGM Michell Medal of the Engineers Australia (2016).

In 2010, Mai was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to engineering. He was also elected to the Fellowships of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 1992, the Australian Academy of Science in 2001, the UK Royal Society in 2008 and the UK Royal Academy of Engineering in 2011. In 2017, he was elected Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Skip to main content HomeMENU ________ - Fall 2019 Cover Story Research Excellence Special Feature IAS Scholars IAS Community Intellectual Hub More Fall 2019 > Research Excellence The Chase is Still On Quantum computing is probably one of the most popular technological buzzwords these days, but how many of us actually have a clue what it is? Everyone from scientists to tech giants like IBM, Google, and Microsoft is joining the race to develop quantum computing technology and pushing the field forward. After Google launched its 72-quantum bit (qubit) quantum computer last year, IBM announced that its latest 53-qubit quantum computer would soon be rolled out for research and commercial use. How do qubits—the basic unit of quantum information—outperform the conventional computing bits that we are familiar with? First, we must grasp that “qubits are the quantum computing version of bits, but rather than storing either a 1 or a 0, a qubit can store both, either, or neither at once, which dramatically increases the potential processing power of a computer.”1 Simply put, when qubits achieve a mixed state of “superposition,” they can make computing more efficient by storing and processing more data when solving complex problems in areas such as machine learning, optimization planning, logistics, fintech, biomedical, materials science, and many more.

Hunting the Mysterious Particle What are qubits made of?

Majorana fermions are quantum particles that have the potential to be qubits. These particles are named after the Italian theoretical physicist Ettore MAJORANA who in 1937 predicted the existence of particles that have their own antiparticles. The uniqueness of Majorana fermions led scientists to hypothesize that they could be used to form qubits, the building blocks of a quantum computer. Since then, scientists worldwide have been searching high and low for these mysterious particles.

In the past decade, experts in the field of condensed matter physics have taken a step closer to identifying the existence of Majorana fermions. In 2012, nanoscientist Leo KOUWENHOVEN, a Professor of Physics at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, and his research team created Majorana fermions on a chip, proving the existence of this particle.

However, skeptics argued that the same signal could be produced by other phenomena. One of the leading experts on high-temperature superconductivity who held such a view was Prof. Patrick A. LEE, William and Emma Rogers Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an IAS Senior Visiting Fellow, who argued that “other peaks in Kouwenhoven’s data point to the existence of non-Majorana states that could be mimicking the long-sought-after phenomenon. Even if Majorana fermions have surfaced, those other states could prove a problem for any possible application in quantum computing.”2

A Life-long Scientific Journey Growing up in the 1950s, Lee was captivated by popular science which sparked his lifelong interest in mathematics and physics. “I was also greatly inspired when the first two Chinese, YANG Chen-Ning and LEE Tsung-Dao were jointly awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics,” he said. This Hong Kong-born American scholar, who perhaps at the young age had never thought that he would devote himself to the research of condensed matter theory and high temperature superconductivity, received the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize in 1991 for “his innovative contribution to the theory of electronic properties of solids, especially for strongly interacting and disordered materials.”3

“Nature is a miracle, and there are lots of things to be discovered,” Lee commented. He took the discovery of the Quantum Hall Effect (QHE) in the 1980s as an example showing how new phenomena lead to new research directions and possibilities. He remarked, “in the past, people had to go to a special lab to study QHE. In recent years, people discovered that even in the absence of an external magnetic field, the experiment can be carried out. This is a great benefit.” As a theoretical physicist, Lee enjoys working with colleagues who are in the field of experimental physics and proposing new experiments. “I like my field, as theories and experiments are closely related and can be developed at the same time. It is the intellectual curiosity that steers us to search for new findings.”

Along with a team of experimentalists at MIT and at the University of California, Riverside, Lee published a paper titled “Superconductivity in the Surface State of Noble Metal Gold and its Fermi Level Tuning by EuS Dielectric” in Physical Review Letters this year.4 Back in 2012, Lee had already predicted that a topological superconductor that hosts Majorana fermions could be formed by the heterostructures of gold. Several years later, he and his team used gold to develop a new heterostructural material system composed of “layers of drastically dissimilar materials” to demonstrate the existence of Majorana fermions. Prof. Peng WEI, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Riverside, who collaborated with Lee and other scientists in this study, stated that the research was “important for future manipulation of Majorana fermions, required for better quantum computing.”5

Lee recently visited the IAS to participate in this summer’s Gordon Research Conference on “Topological and Correlated Matter: New Materials and Structures in Topological and Correlated Systems” and deliver a talk reporting the new experimental findings, with the title “Finding Majorana on an Island in a Sea of Gold”. He commented that gathering so many experts from around the world to share the latest development in the field was a wonderful experience, and that “this is my third time coming to the GRC held at the IAS. Everyone was very excited about this field, a hot topic which has been developed so rapidly. Collaborations often happen after people return to their home institutions and continue the discussion and exchange of ideas.”

Surrounding Prof. Lee at the conference were many familiar faces, and one of which was the conference co-chair—Prof. Vic LAW Kam-Tuen, Dr. Tai-chin Lo Associate Professor of Science at HKUST. Law was one of Lee’s postdoctoral students at MIT, and his own research also focuses on the creation and detection of Majorana fermions in topological superconductors. As the Founding President of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences, he is deeply indebted to Lee for being one of his life mentors.

“Patrick is one of my most respected teachers who introduced to me the field of topological superconductors. We are still collaborating closely and even my students at HKUST have the precious opportunities to learn from him,” said Law.

While the quest for quantum computers will continue, Lee is certainly passing on the scientific baton to the next generation in the chase.

References:

1.

Retrieved from https://futurism.com/forget-qubits-quantum-scientists-building-qudits 2.

Eugenie Samuel Reich (2012). A Solid Case for Majorana Fermions, Nature, 483, 132 3.

Retrieved from http://www.aps.org/units/dcmp/awards/buckley.cfm 4.

Retrieved from https://arxiv.org/abs/1902.09664 5.

Retrieved from https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2019/06/28/new-material-shows-high-potential-quantum-computing

Prof. Patrick A. LEE Prof. Lee obtained his PhD from MIT in 1970. He then taught at Yale University (1970-1972) and worked at the Theoretical Physics Department of Bell Laboratories (1972-1982). In 1982, he returned to his alma mater and joined the Department of Physics. He is currently the William & Emma Rogers Professor of Physics in MIT.

He has made key contributions to the theory of disordered electronic systems and is a pioneer in mesoscopic physics, the study of small devices at low temperatures. He introduced the concept of universal conductance fluctuations to describe such devices. More recently, his research is focused on the problem of high temperature superconductivity. The starting point of this work is that the new family of superconductors is an example of the doped Mott insulator. The parent material is an antiferromagnetic insulator that is insulating due to correlation effects. Doping introduces carriers into the insulator, leading to a rich variety of novel phenomena including superconductivity. Methods of attack include many-body field theory and numerical work.

Awarded with the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize of the American Physical Society, Lee was elected Member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 1991. In 2005, he received the Dirac Medal from the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics for “his pioneering contributions to our understanding of disordered and strongly interacting many-body systems.”

Skip to main content HomeMENU ________ - Fall 2019 Cover Story Research Excellence Special Feature IAS Scholars IAS Community Intellectual Hub More Fall 2019 > Research Excellence

Mapping Out the Consumer Experience Journey

With the evolution of new technology and digital devices, today’s consumers are no longer the conventional consumers of decades ago, who simply took what was offered to them. They are wiser and more connected social sharers who carry out their own research, interact through avenues of open digital communication, share feedback that may influence each other’s purchase decisions, and make purchases around the clock.

Prof. Angela LEE, Mechthild Esser Nemmers Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and an IAS Senior Visiting Fellow, is an experimental theorist and consumer psychologist. Her research focuses on consumer motivation and affect, cross-cultural consumer psychology, and the nonconscious influence of memory on judgment and choice. She shows how various factors constantly affect the decisions people make in the consumer experience journey and how marketers can better understand and target their consumers.

Understanding is the Key The consumer experience journey, also known as the customer journey, is the road map of a consumer’s (or customer’s) experience of interacting with a brand or service. McKinsey & Company (McKinsey), a consulting firm in the US, stated that consumers, who are increasingly well-informed, play a prominent role in a company’s marketing success. McKinsey proposed a circular consumer model characterized by “two-way dialogue” (Figure 1) and emphasized that “while touch points matter, it’s the full journey that really counts.”1 “Touch points” here refers to the ways in which a consumer interacts with a business or brand.

In the past, marketers played a dominant role in the communication process from the brand’s perspective; it is now time for brands to see things from the consumer’s perspective. “Companies should not be thinking only about how to reach consumers and what to say to them to get them to make purchases,” said Lee. “Companies should consider their consumers’ entire experience journey, from what motivates them to how they search for information, and from purchase to repeat purchase, making sure that consumers’ needs at each stage are well taken care of. The goal is to create a consistent, satisfying, and enjoyable experience for customers throughout their journey.”

However, this is easier said than done.

“This is getting harder, because consumers are getting more sophisticated and demanding, with better education and higher disposable income,” Lee explained. “They are able to connect not only with companies (brands) but also with other consumers through social media. All of these challenges make it difficult, yet increasingly important, for companies to create an enticing consumer experience journey.”

Without considering consumers’ motivation, cognition, and emotion in their experience journey, companies are likely to fail. Lee pointed out that apart from product knowledge and attitudes regarding a brand, other factors influence consumers’ purchase and brand choice decisions.

The hierarchy of needs theory proposed by the psychologist Abraham MASLOW in 1943 may offer some clues. According to this theory, human needs can be classified into three major types: basic (physiological, safety), psychological (love and belonging), and self-fulfillment (esteem and self-actualization). People take certain actions to fulfill these needs (Figure 2). Marketers frequently draw on Maslow’s hierarchy to develop their advertisements targeting consumers’ needs at different levels of the hierarchy.

“It turns out that the basic needs of food, water and shelter continue to drive people’s consumption behavior in the form of self-regulatory goals long after these basic physiological needs are satisfied,” said Lee. Regulatory focus theory, a theory of motivation and self-regulation proposed by Prof. E. Tory HIGGINS, suggests that people’s fundamental need for nurturance fosters a promotion goal, while their fundamental need for safety is conducive to a prevention goal.

These two distinct types of regulatory focus—promotion and prevention—influence people’s decisions, according to Higgins. Those with a promotional focus are goal-oriented and sensitive to positive outcomes, and they prioritize advancement and achievement, whereas those with a prevention focus tend to be vigilant, seeking safety and security, and focus on duties, obligations, and responsibilities.2

“Nurturance needs give us a promotion goal, whereas security needs give us a prevention goal,” Lee explained. “Together, these goals form the ‘self-regulatory goals’ that guide our behaviors to serve fundamental needs and, most importantly, achieve our consumption goals.” Taking the example of buying a car, Lee suggested that buyers with a salient promotion goal will focus on the car’s performance, whereas those with a salient prevention goal will pay more attention to its safety features.

Figure 1

Figure 2

An Ongoing Process With a consumption goal, are consumers ready to open their wallets? Not necessarily.

Lee explained that once a consumption goal has been recognized, what comes next is the information search stage, in which consumers search for information on different options. “At this stage, it’s useful for companies to understand what influences consumers’ search behavior and attitude formation. It is important to know that their decisions are affected by their thinking (cognition), their thoughts about thinking (metacognition), and their feelings (emotion).”

“Cognition is about processing and interpreting information about the product, which is simple and straightforward,” said Lee. In contrast, “metacognition is thinking about one’s thinking processes.” If something is easy to process, we may think that it is more truthful or likable. As consumers, we often attribute the ease of processing information to certain characteristics of the product, such as aesthetics or efficacy. Lee went on to explain that feelings and emotions influence purchase decisions by affecting the way people think, and by motivating them in different ways. “For example,” she said, “happiness prompts people to think more abstractly, whereas sadness makes people think more concretely.” As abstract thinking facilitates the processing of similarities, happy consumers are more likely to perceive a line extension as similar to the parent brand. They will also be more satisfied with their second choice should their first choice not be available. “Emotions are also motivating,” noted Lee. “Negative emotions motivate us to do things that make us feel better, and positive emotions motivate us to do things to keep feeling good.”

However, companies must not assume that nurturing and encouraging a positive attitude toward their brand will necessarily induce consumers to choose their brand, as there are other factors in the consumer decision journey that affect the purchase of goods and services. Likewise, companies should not think that the more choices, the merrier. Lee described a study conducted in a supermarket to illustrate that sometimes less is more.

“There were either 6 varieties or 24 varieties of jam on the display stands. The stand with more varieties attracted more customers to approach and check out the jam, but fewer customers bought them. While fewer customers visited the 6 varieties stand, ultimately many of them made a purchase.” This experiment showed that although an extensive selection sounds attractive, it may result in a choice overload effect, a cognitive process in which decision making becomes impossible due to the availability of too many options.

Furthermore, customers’ purchase decisions do not always reflect their true preferences. Lee explained that sometimes preferences are based on misperception. In another study, people estimated a hamburger with a side of broccoli had fewer calories than the hamburger alone. “This shows that choice is affected by what and how options are presented,” said Lee.

To marketers, consumers making a purchase may seem like a milestone. However, it is not the end of the consumer experience journey. Lee pointed out that encouraging people to buy again and become loyal customers is crucial to the brand’s success in the long run.

“Loyal customers are those who feel connected with the brand; they think that the brand represents them well, and the brand becomes part of their self-identity. Studies have shown that if consumers strongly identify with a brand, such that it is in effect a ‘part’ of them, they will defend the brand if it is under attack.”

Lee stressed that other factors, such as cultural, environmental, and individual differences and experiences, all play a part in how consumers make purchase decisions and how they engage with products and brands. Therefore, it is vital for marketers to align their marketing and communication strategies to cater to their customers’ fundamental needs, and appeal to their thinking and feeling at different stages in the consumer experience journey, creating a path on which marketers and consumers travel side by side.

References

1. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/the-consumer-decision-journey 2. Retrieved from https://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/mygsb/faculty/research/pubfiles/529/HIGGINSADVANCES_1998REG_FOC_.pdf

Prof. Angela Y. LEE Prof. Lee received her BBA in Marketing and Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawaii, an MPhil in Economics from the University of Hong Kong, and a PhD in Management from the University of Toronto. She joined the marketing faculty at the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University in 1995 and is currently the Mechthild Esser Nemmers Professor of Marketing. Her expertise is in consumer learning, emotions and goals.

With research focuses on consumer motivation and affect, cross-cultural consumer psychology, and nonconscious influences of memory on judgment and choice, Lee’s publications appear in both marketing and psychology journals and she is the co-editor of Kellogg on China (Northwestern University Press, 2004). She was the recipient of the 2006 Stanley Reiter Best Paper Award for her research on self-regulation and persuasion, and the 2002 Otto Klineberg Award for the best paper on international and intercultural relations. She currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Marketing Research. She is a past president of the Association for Consumer Research and serves on the board of the American Marketing Association.

In 2009 and 2015, Lee was elected to be a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology and a Fellow of American Psychological Society respectively. She was also named as Marketing Science Institute’s (MSI) Young Scholar in 2001.

Skip to main content HomeMENU ________ - Fall 2019 Cover Story Research Excellence Special Feature IAS Scholars IAS Community Intellectual Hub More Fall 2019 > Special Feature Frontiers for Fundamental Physics The Big Bang Theory has a special meaning for Prof. George SMOOT, IAS TT & WF Chao Foundation Professor and Chair Professor of Physics at HKUST. However, this is not just because he has appeared as a guest star twice in the popular TV comedy of that name. Rather, Smoot, along with John C. MATHER of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, was awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics “for their discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation,” which cemented the Big Bang Theory. The Big Bang explains how the universe began as a very hot dense state some 13.7 billion years ago, then cataclysmically expanded into the existing, observable universe today.

After being anointed a Nobel Laureate, heaps of invitations for talks and events flocked in from around the world. Yet becoming famous overnight has not dimmed Smoot’s passion for basic research and fundamental physics. “Fundamental physics addresses some key questions of nature: What are we made of? What are the fundamental forces and matter in nature? What is the origin of our universe? These questions, which range from subatomic to cosmological scales, are intimately connected. Although the key problems in fundamental physics are few, they are some of the most challenging in science,” said Smoot, who has been working on a project to analyze data from the residue of the Big Bang to understand the early universe and its conditions.

The Center for Fundamental Physics (CFP), under the directorship of Smoot, was established at HKUST as a platform for researchers in the field of particle theory and cosmology to collaborate and explore four specific areas of fundamental physics, namely string theory, particle physics, cosmology, and quantum optics for astrophysics and cosmology. Other core members who form the pillars of CFP include Prof. Andrew G. COHEN, Director of the IAS, Lam Woo Foundation Professor and Chair Professor of Physics; Prof. Henry TYE, IAS Professor and Chair Professor of Physics; Prof. LIU Tao, Associate Professor of Physics; and Prof. WANG Yi, Assistant Professor of Physics. Alongside the HKUST faculty, there is a team of over 20 fellows and graduate students whose research spans a wide range of frontier topics in fundamental physics.

Reaching Out

As a strong believer in popularizing science, Smoot thinks that scientists should look beyond themselves and realize that they have the social responsibility for promoting science and engaging with the public.

In the past six months, Smoot has travelled to several continents to share his specialized knowledge and research expertise at various conferences, including the Starmus Festival held in Zurich, Switzerland, which attracted over 3,000 worldwide researchers this year, and the SciencEkaitza event in Pamplona, Spain. Smoot was also one of the 39 Nobel Laureates who took part in the 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting held in Germany this July. Joining forces with John C. Mather, he gave a talk titled “From the Big Bang to Intelligent Life” and participated in a panel discussion of the topic “The Dark Side of the Universe.”

“Being able to exchange ideas and interact with the next generation of leading scientists, like those who attended the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, is always a meaningful experience,” Smoot said. “I think scientists like me have a duty to promote science education, to share and let the community know what is happening. We hope that our research at HKUST could help further enhance Hong Kong’s capabilities and visibility in the research area of fundamental physics.”

In 2017, Smoot took up the directorship of the Center for Fundamental Physics (CFP), which was established at HKUST as a platform for researchers in the field of particle theory and cosmology to collaborate and explore four specific areas of fundamental physics, namely string theory, particle physics, cosmology, and quantum optics for astrophysics and cosmology. Other core members who form the pillars of CFP include Prof. Andrew G. COHEN, Director of the IAS, Lam Woo Foundation Professor and Chair Professor of Physics; Prof. Henry TYE, IAS Professor and Chair Professor of Physics; Prof. LIU Tao, Associate Professor of Physics; and Prof. WANG Yi, Assistant Professor of Physics. Alongside the HKUST faculty, there is a team of over 20 fellows and graduate students whose research spans a wide range of frontier topics in fundamental physics.

Starmus Festival

SciencEkaitza

The 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Quantum Optics for Astrophysics and Cosmology Laboratory

Nearly all astronomical observation is based upon the interpretation of subtleties in the light detected from sources in outer space. Therefore, it is no surprise that the CFP has recently added the field of quantum optics for astrophysics and cosmology to its range of interests. Quantum optics, the study of how photons interact with atoms and molecules, is tipped to become another channel of invaluable information about the universe.

Earlier this year, the Quantum Optics for Astrophysics and Cosmology Laboratory under the CFP was officially opened at HKUST.

One project at the laboratory is the development of a pioneering fast detector camera using a new approach to quantum optics incorporating the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). This quantum optical technology, which was once used only in particle physics, can record previously undetectable signals from billions of light years away. The camera is aimed to help solve unanswered questions in astrophysics and cosmology, such as how light originates and varies around black holes, in the hope of deciphering the information emitted from distant sources.

(From left to right) Prof. Henry TYE, the then Acting Director of IAS, Prof. WANG Yang, Dean of Science, Prof. George SMOOT, Prof. Penger TONG, Head and Chair Professor of Physics, and Prof. WANG Yi, Assistant Professor of Physics of HKUST witness the opening of the Quantum Optics for Astrophysics and Cosmology Laboratory.

Mr. Albert LAU Wai-Kit , who obtained his BSc degree in Physics and Computer Science from HKUST last year, is one of the PhD students in the research group at the CFP currently working on the development of this fast detector camera under Smoot’s supervision. He has been working closely with researchers from Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, the University of California, Berkeley in the US, and the University of Paris in France to develop a silicon-based single-photon sensor array for detection of possible ultra-fast astronomical and cosmological signals, with a focus on ultra-fast astronomical events, including the optical counter-parts of fast radio bursts. This summer, Lau presented his research at the Energetic Cosmos Laboratory (ECL) Conference “Exploring the Energetic Universe 2019” organized by Nazarbayev University together with Smoot, who is the Founder and Director of the ECL.

“The camera that we are now building will have an impact not only in the areas of cosmology and astrophysics, but also on materials research and quantum communication,” Smoot explained. He went on to express his hope that “the new detectors and techniques will enable us to conduct large-scale surveys and analyses, helping us record the locations and properties of millions of galaxies to learn more about the history of the universe, distribution of matter, and formation of galaxies.”

Mr. Albert LAU Wai-Kit (front row middle) and other research postgraduate students of the CFP celebrate the laboratory opening.

Skip to main content HomeMENU ________ - Fall 2019 Cover Story Research Excellence Special Feature IAS Scholars IAS Community Intellectual Hub More IAS Community IAS Scholars Receive Research Grants According to the HKSAR Census and Statistics Department, Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) increased by 8% in 2017 compared to 2016. Nevertheless, the total research funding only accounted for 0.73% of Hong Kong’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), whereas nearby regions and other developed countries’ ratio of GERD to GDP is up to 4%. While the HKSAR government pledged to increase research funding through new measures and initiatives, seeking grants continues to be challenging for many researchers.

In the recent General Research Fund (GRF) grant application exercise, several IAS Senior Visiting Fellows and Junior Fellows who collaborated with HKUST professors and scholars, successfully received funding support. These funds will contribute to innovative research projects in diverse fields, including physics, life science, engineering, and sustainability, and will advance the impact of HKUST in Hong Kong.

Structure of Higgs Boson Interactions with Elementary Particles Principal Investigator: Prof. Kirill PROKOFIEV, IAS Junior Fellow and Research Assistant Professor of Physics, HKUST

Co-Investigator: Prof. LUK Kam-Biu, University of California, Berkeley; IAS Senior Visiting Fellow

The Role of Two-pore Channel Type 2-mediated Ca2+ Release from Acidic Stores during Slow Muscle Cell Development in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Principal Investigator: Prof. Andrew MILLER, Professor of Life Science, HKUST

Co-Investigator: Prof. Antony GALIONE, University of Oxford; former IAS Senior Visiting Fellow (2011-2018)

Computational Framework to Identify Vaccine Targets against the Hepatitis C E2 Protein Principal Investigator: Prof. Matthew MCKAY, Professor of Electronic & Computer Engineering, HKUST

Co-Investigators: Prof. John BARTON, University of California, Riverside

Prof. Arup CHAKRABORTY, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; IAS Senior Visiting Fellow

Loss of Nuclear Estrogen-related Receptor-α (ERRα) Activity Impairs Metabolic Plasticity and Mitochondrial OXPHOS in Neurons: Implications of Sex Differences Observed in Alzheimer’s Disease Principal Investigator: Prof. Kim CHOW Hei-Man, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; former IAS Junior Fellow (2015 – 2019)

Co-Investigator: Prof. Karl HERRUP, Chair Professor of Life Science, HKUST

Nutrient Transport and Dynamics over the Northern Slope of the South China Sea Principal Investigator: Prof. LU Zhongming, Research Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST; former IAS Junior Fellow (2017 – 2019)

Co-Investigator: Prof. GAN Jianping, Chair Professor of Mathematics and of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST

Physics-based Large-deformation Analysis of Coseismic Landslides: A Multiscale MPM-SEM Method with Case Studies Principal Investigator: Prof. WANG Gang, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, HKUST

Co-Investigator: Prof. HUANG Duruo, Tsinghua University; former IAS Junior Fellow (2017 – 2019)

Impact Mechanisms of Debris Flows on Erodible Bed against Multiple Flexible Barriers: Large-scale Physical Modelling Principal Investigator: Prof. Clarence Edward CHOI, The University of Hong Kong; former IAS Junior Fellow (2015 – 2019)

Co-Investigators: Mr. Kenneth HO Kin-Sang, Civil Engineering and Development Department, HKSAR Government

Prof. Sang-Seom JEONG, Yonsei University

Skip to main content HomeMENU ________ - Fall 2019 Cover Story Research Excellence Special Feature IAS Scholars IAS Community Intellectual Hub More Intellectual Hub Gordon Research Conferences 2019

The conference of “Topological and Correlated Matter” was attended by 200 participants.

This summer was another banner season for the annual Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) held at the IAS. Around 1,000 local and international scholars gathered to engage in intense discussions and presentations of their recent discoveries. Two new topics were introduced to this year’s GRC: “Heterogeneous Materials” and “Urbanization, Water and Food Security”. Multidisciplinary research on heterogeneous materials has been growing rapidly. A large number of natural and synthetic heterogeneous materials are now widely used in both structural and functional components of various devices. This GRC helped to disseminate research results in this field to the academic community, which will benefit diverse researchers and scientists. The second new topic, “Urbanization, Water and Food Security,” focused on one of the world’s most pressing issues. The GRC provided a transdisciplinary forum for environmental and agricultural biologists, chemists, engineers, health scientists and researchers from other disciplines to advance understanding of and discuss management strategies to promote integrative approaches to water and food security associated with urbanization.

Some of the topics, such as “Topological and Correlated Matter” received overwhelming responses. Prof. DAI Xi, Chair Professor of Physics and IAS Senior Fellow, was one of the Vice-Chairs of this conference. He explained why this GRC drew such a crowd.

“Most of the ‘unknown part’ of condensed matter physics is related to either ‘topological’ or ‘correlated’ matter. Although in recent years there have been many conferences in related fields, I think the GRC is still the most ‘elite’ one, attracting top scientists and pioneers to share their latest findings and insights with the participants. The GRC provided an ideal platform for local faculty, postdocs and researchers to exchange ideas and explore collaborative research opportunities with leading scientists across the world. Taking my research group as an example, we have decided to work with a research team from Princeton University that attended the GRC this year on the microscopic theory of orbital ferromagnetism in twisted graphene systems.”

Dai added, “The chairs of this GRC, Prof. Vic LAW Kam-Tuen, Dr. Tai-chin Lo Associate Professor of Science from HKUST, and Prof. Ali YAZDANI from Princeton University, did an excellent job in selecting the best speakers and putting together a flawless program. Many conferees expressed that they were impressed by the high quality of the meeting.”

The GRC is famous for fostering new ideas and the free exchange of fledgling theories and unpublished research. It is rated as a premier scientific forum by many, including Prof. ZENG Qinglu, Associate Professor of Ocean Science and of Life Science at HKUST, who also chaired this year’s GRC on Marine Molecular Ecology.

“Our conference provided a platform for many marine biologists from leading universities to address issues and develop strategies in conservation, climate change, microbiology, biogeography and evolution. HKUST’s Department of Ocean Science recently launched Hong Kong’s first undergraduate degree program in ocean science and technology, and the GRC certainly enhanced the visibility of the University’s marine faculty members and their important role in ocean science research and education.”

Zeng said that this GRC was characterized by its breadth of topics, covering the entire spectrum of organisms in marine ecosystems, including bacteria, viruses, algae, fish and mammals. Scientists who work on different organisms had the opportunity to have engaging conversations. “This is the fourth meeting since its initiation in 2013, and participants have already voted to organize it again in 2021 because the rapid development in technology relevant to marine molecular ecology provides new opportunities for understanding life in the sea,” Zeng commented.

Traditionally, Gordon Research Seminars (GRSs) are held in conjunction with the GRC to create an intimate and supportive environment for young scientists and postdoctoral students to present their ideas and to interact with people in their academic social network. This year was no exception, while it also marked the first year to initiate a GRS for the topic “Genome Architecture in Cell Fate and Disease”.

Another highlight of the GRC is the Power Hour, an optional informal gathering incorporated in the program since 2016. Prof. Angela WU, Assistant Professor of Life Science and of Chemical and Biological Engineering, attended one of the sessions in mid-July. “The Power Hour provides a safe environment where conferees can discuss issues pertinent to challenges faced by women in the STEM communities. Participants are encouraged by the sharing, and the exchange helps them realize that they are not alone in their challenges,” she noted. “It also allows people to share their experience and seek advice on how to handle difficult situations. At a higher level, differences between institutional practices can be compared, so the best practices can be adopted.”

Skip to main content HomeMENU ________ - Fall 2019 Cover Story Research Excellence Special Feature IAS Scholars IAS Community Intellectual Hub More IAS Scholars IAS Tin Ka Ping Fellowships Let’s turn back the clock to March 11, 2008. This date marks a special occasion—the establishment of the Tin Ka Ping Education Fund by the Tin Ka Ping Foundation in support of research development at the IAS. Prof. Paul CHU, former HKUST President and Founding Director of the IAS, received a $3 million cheque from the late Dr. TIN Ka-Ping, Chairman of the Tin Ka Ping Foundation. “This donation will help attract more young talent from Mainland China to the IAS to explore new horizons of knowledge,” Chu said.

Eleven years have passed. Thanks to government matching and additional donations from the Foundation in recent years, the Fund now amounts to $11.6 million. Over the years, six young and potential mainland scholars, called IAS Tin Ka Ping Fellows, have benefited from the Fund and have been given the opportunity to learn from the best―assisting professors in their research and teaching work at the IAS.

Mr. TIN Hing-Sin (third-left) and Mr. TIN Wing-Sin (third-right) of Tin Ka Ping Foundation present a cheque to President Wei SHYY (second left), Prof. Lionel NI, Provost (first left), Prof. Andrew G. COHEN, IAS Director (second right), and Prof. King CHOW, Director of Interdisciplinary Programs Office and Acting Dean of Students (first right). “There are many unforgettable moments from my life at HKUST,” said Prof. WEI Zhiyi, the very first IAS Tin Ka Ping Fellow (2011-13), who obtained his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Science and Technology of China. He recalled his time at HKUST, during which his kids were also born, as the best four years of his life. “I learned how to become a good husband, a good father and a good scientist,” Wei said.

This was a truly life-changing period for Wei. As a Research Assistant Professor, he worked alongside Prof. ZHANG Mingjie, Kerry Holdings Professor of Science and IAS Senior Fellow, to carry out research on an animal visual detection systems at HKUST’s Biology Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Center. In 2011, the research group achieved a significant breakthrough in understanding how animal photoreceptors can detect light signals across very broad intensity ranges and at very high speeds. The discovery, which was published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell, contributed to research on human visual disorders, such as retinitis pigmentosa and night blindness.

Prof. Wei Zhiyi (first right) and his research team at SUSTC. The taste of success inspired Wei to follow his dream. “To me, exploring the science of living things is more interesting and important than anything else. Many things have shaped my thoughts and driven me to become a better scientist,” Wei said.

Currently, as Associate Professor at Southern University of Science and Technology of China (SUSTC), Wei focuses on decoding the mystery of life, paying particular attention to protein-mediated interaction and molecular machinery assembly in biological processes, especially in neuronal development and related diseases. “Recently, we determined the crystal structures of human CRTH2 with antagonists, revealing a semi-occluded amphipathic pocket with a novel conformation and structural features for the binding of different CRTH2 antagonists,” Wei said. This finding provided key structural information for developing target drugs against inflammatory diseases and was published in the international journal Molecular Cell last year.

Like many rising young professors, Wei also has a teaching role. In addition to teaching two undergraduate courses, Wei serves as a life tutor at Zhicheng College, one of the six colleges at SUSTC. His love of tutoring even won him the Excellent College Tutor Award last year. “I have been an advisor for 29 undergraduate students. They come to me for suggestions on course selection and future academic developments. We have developed life-long friendships,” Wei said gratefully. It seems that Wei has not only learned to be a good scientist, but also picked up a few tips on how to be a good educator.

In contrast with Wei, Dr. ZHOU Dongying is the new kid on the block.

As the newest IAS Tin Ka Ping Fellow, Zhou was appointed in 2018. He joined the IAS under the support of the Hong Kong Scholars Program—a joint endeavor of the Society of Hong Kong Scholars and the China National Postdoctoral Council under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

“Before coming to HKUST, I visited the Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films at City University of Hong Kong twice as an exchange student during my Master’s from 2010 to 2012. There, I learned about the prestigious Hong Kong Scholars Program and was lucky enough to be chosen to conduct research with Prof. Ching W. TANG, IAS Bank of East Asia Professor. He is a big name in our field! I first heard of him during my undergraduate studies,” Zhou said admiringly.

Dr. ZHOU Dongying Opportunities do not come to all who work and hope for them. For Zhou, working with Tang is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “He has lots of ideas that always inspire you. This opportunity has changed the way I do research. In China, and probably in Hong Kong too, PhD students are required to publish tons, I mean, tons of papers to graduate. Prof. Tang, however, always encourages us to study something valuable, apart from writing papers,” Zhou said.

Zhou added that young researchers like him should seize every academic opportunity in their early careers. During his PhD, his supervisor Prof. Hany AZIZ, a full professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo and an expert in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), asked him to do an exchange in his department for a year.

“I am really interested in physical phenomena. It is always fascinating to see physical processes take place. I studied organic materials in my undergraduate studies but then my focus shifted to physics mechanisms and device engineering in OLEDs and perovskite solar cells. The year I spent at the University of Waterloo opened my eyes to the latest research in the interdisciplinary area of organic electronics and optoelectronics. The freedom to conduct research and to explore different things without any burdens was really the best experience I have ever had,” Zhou said.

After receiving his PhD in Physics from the Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials at Soochow University, China, in 2014, Zhou worked at the School of Energy as an Assistant Professor. Currently, his research focuses on the development of tandem configuration and TADF materials toward large-area OLEDs with high efficiency and long stability. “OLEDs were invented in 1987 and have already been commercialized, with many products available on the market. People may think that not much more can be done with OLEDs, but I think otherwise. I am now conducting research to determine why blue light, which ejects high energy, has such a short lifespan.”

Zhou will return to Soochow University this December to resume his role. Zhou and two past IAS Tin Ka Ping Fellows, Dr. DONG Shoucheng and Dr. ZHANG Ting, were delighted to meet the representatives of the Tin Ka Ping Foundation Board in person at a donation ceremony held in July to express their gratitude to the Foundation for supporting young mainland scholars like them.

“My time spent at HKUST has been very fruitful. What I have learned here will be brought back to my alma mater, where I will continue conducting research and teaching,” said Zhou, whose heart is filled with thankfulness, is now ready for his next journey in life.

Mr. David DAY, Chief Executive of the Foundation (first left), invited Dr. Zhang Ting and Dr. Dong Shoucheng (middle and right) to give talks to students from Jilin Tianjiabing Senior High School (吉林市田家炳高級中學) earlier this year

Skip to main content HomeMENU ________ - Fall 2019 Cover Story Research Excellence Special Feature IAS Scholars IAS Community Intellectual Hub More IAS Corner What Can the IAS Do for You?

\\ We provide a platform for prominent scholars to inspire new thinking and share the latest fruits of their research with HKUST and the wider community through IAS Distinguished Lectures and Joint School Lectures / Seminars.

\\ We host IAS Visitor Programs to attract internationally renowned scholars to the IAS for extended visits and collaboration with HKUST faculty to drive scientific discovery and advance academic excellence.

\\ We propel the development of research activities and initiatives at HKUST and seek solutions to the most challenging problems in high-impact areas in the form of IAS Programs, International Conferences, Symposia or Workshops.

You may contact Prof. Andrew G. COHEN, Director of the IAS, to discuss further.

E: ias@ust.hk | T: (852) 2358 5968

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© Copyright 2019 HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study All Rights Reserved W: ias.ust.hk T: (852) 2358 5912 E: ias@ust.hk Designed by PTC

© Copyright 2019 HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study All Rights Reserved W: ias.ust.hk T: (852) 2358 5912 E: ias@ust.hk Designed by PTC

© Copyright 2019 HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study All Rights Reserved W: ias.ust.hk T: (852) 2358 5912 E: ias@ust.hk Designed by PTC

© Copyright 2019 HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study All Rights Reserved W: ias.ust.hk T: (852) 2358 5912 E: ias@ust.hk Designed by PTC

© Copyright 2019 HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study All Rights Reserved W: ias.ust.hk T: (852) 2358 5912 E: ias@ust.hk Designed by PTC

© Copyright 2019 HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study All Rights Reserved W: ias.ust.hk T: (852) 2358 5912 E: ias@ust.hk Designed by PTC

© Copyright 2019 HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study All Rights Reserved W: ias.ust.hk T: (852) 2358 5912 E: ias@ust.hk Designed by PTC