SENG News, Issue 27

Abstract

[evdate 2021-09-15] HKUST Receives HK$100 Million from Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation In appreciation of the Foundation’s support, the University has named its Robotics Institute with presence in Hong Kong and future Guangzhou campus after Dr. CHENG Kar-Shun. HKUST Signs MoU with HKSTP to Spark I&T Growth Opportunities in GBA The collaboration paves the way for the establishment of the Hong Kong Science Park and Guangzhou Nansha Co-incubation Base in Nansha, Guangzhou. HKUST Partners with Facebook to Empower Next-Generation Digital Talents HKUST has joined the “Level Up Digital Talent Program” launched by Facebook as the lead partner to nurture future digital talents. Universities can be 'Living Labs' for Sustainability President Prof. Wei SHYY contributed an article to the World Economic Forum where he discusses the role of universities in creating a sustainable future. HKUST & Beijing Tiantan Hospital Researchers Discover a New Cause for Cerebral Cavernous Malformation HKUST’s Meta-Analysis Shows SARS-CoV-2 Variants Unlikely to Affect T Cell Responses HKUST Announces Appointment of Prof. Tim CHENG as Vice-President for Research and Development The appointment will start from April 1, 2022. Prof. MOW Wai-Ho Appointed Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies) He began his new role on September 1, 2021. Prof. ZHAO Jidong Honored with Changjiang Chair Professorship and Natural Science Award Prof. ZHANG Limin and Prof. LIU Ming Won 2020 Guangdong Province Science and Technology Awards Prof. Man WONG Awarded 2021 Slottow-Owaki Prize Prof. Rhea LIEM Received University Grants Committee Teaching Award as an Early Career Faculty Member Eminent Engineering Professors Honored in HKUST Faculty Recognition Ceremony Prof. YANG Qiang Named a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering High School Students Built HKUST’s Patented Hi-NW Light Disinfection Devices to Benefit the Community Students utilized Prof. YEUNG King Lun’s technology to assist the community to fight COVID-19, in addition to developing their creativity and gaining hands-on learning experience. Prof. Andrew HORNER and Prof. Terence WONG Commended in HKUST Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2020 They received the Honorary Mentions of the award for their courses on Creative Sound Design and Introduction to Biomedical Engineering respectively. The Mixed Reality Future of Teaching and Learning The pandemic has accelerated the introduction of engineering design in the virtual world and online education development at the School, opening up innovative pedagogies to enhance students’ education experience. HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition Spotlights Creative Solutions to Societal Issues One winning team created a real-time, non-invasive, and easily accessible technology to monitor athletes’ stress and muscle fatigue level to keep them from overtraining. Bioengineering PhD High Flyer Won Prestigious Butterfield Croucher Studentship Robotics Team Named Champion in HK Regional of MATE International ROV Competition for 10 Years Adversity is Opportunity Final Year Projects Received Accolades at ASM Technology Award 2021 Smart Temperature Screening Solution Won First Prize in Innovation & Entrepreneurship Contest Civil Engineering PhD Graduate Awarded for Advanced Water Treatment Research Should We Harness AI or Fear It? A renowned expert in the field of ethical use of AI, Prof. Pascale FUNG sheds light on the technology’s many benefits and risks. “Uncertainty Is What Makes Life So Interesting!” Mechanical engineering alumnus Ne Myo HAN has set off for his PhD journey at MIT this Fall, with the support of a Croucher Scholarship. Learn how he made this dream come true. If you have any difficulties viewing this email, please click here. SENG eNewsletter (Issue 27, Sept 2021) DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIP RESEARCH APPOINTMENT FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEACHING & LEARNING ENTREPRENEURSHIP STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS WOMEN IN ENGINEERING ALUMNI CONNECTIONS To comment: sengpr@ust.hk To unsubscribe: click here Copyright © 2021 School of Engineering, HKUST All Rights Reserved. • i!f;@~~ :fl: !J flll'W II Jl!It THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE ~ AND TECHNOLOGY DI¥!~ SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING HKUST Engineering --, a ~ Achieves Outstanding Results Research Assessment Exercise 2020 UnlocklngGrcatncu ,.,,.,., ... ,_.,,.~T•n••••~ .. ,.<,,,,~ ...... , ;,,.,p,,J).\ I e ?Cu!fy ecogn1t1on eremony !i ~ "1 a jl: r, -ll II JI THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE ~ AND TECHNOLOGY I:< t , ;;V t. C :::c•~ SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING ..... ' ~ '" f~,:=n:r: -~

25/06/2021 Thumbnail Title Recognition for Research Excellence HKUST Engineering Achieves Outstanding Results in Research Assessment Exercise 2020 Content Banner The School of Engineering has attained remarkable results in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020. The School of Engineering has attained remarkable results in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020. [Download Photo] Body HKUST School of Engineering (SENG) has achieved outstanding results with world-leading performance in multiple disciplines, in recognition of its strong commitment to pursuing research excellence, in the recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2020 by the University Grants Committee (UGC). Nearly 160 eligible academic staff of SENG were involved in this assessment with their submissions.

SENG ranks first amongst all universities in Hong Kong in three out of five Units of Assessment (UoA) involving engineering disciplines, in terms of the proportions of “4* World Leading” research activities. The strength of the School in Chemical & Biological Engineering (CBE), Civil & Environmental Engineering (CIVL), and Electronic & Computer Engineering (ECE) is evident in the assessment results of these top-ranked UoAs, namely “Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Other Technologies & Marine Engineering”, “Civil Engineering & Building Technology” and “Electrical & Electronic Engineering”.

Of the four broader Panels relevant to engineering disciplines, the School is the best performer among all local universities, with the highest percentage of “4* World Leading” research work in two of them – “Built Environment” and “Electrical & Electronic Engineering”, reaffirming SENG’s performance in the areas of CIVL and ECE.

Meanwhile, 100% of SENG research impact cases are assessed as top-rated, having either “4* Outstanding” or “3* Considerable” impact in terms of their reach and significance, reflecting its efforts in transferring research to innovative solutions, and bringing substantial benefits to society. Research impact is one of the new elements introduced by the UGC in the recent assessment exercise, in addition to research outputs, with a view to encourage research of broader social relevance with high economic and social benefits.

SENG submitted a total of 12 impact cases for assessment, showcasing the School’s local, regional and global research impact in respective disciplines. Some examples include a smart antimicrobial coating for surface disinfection and air filtration, which is commercialized in an industrial partnership and used in diverse premises in the city, such as hospitals, schools, elderly homes and households; a novel sewage treatment technology SANI Process which has been locally adopted by the Drainage Services Department, and transferred to other coastal cities; an indoor localization technology deployed in leading malls in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou; as well as green technologies for mitigating urban landslide risks; innovative algorithm and motion control systems of industrial robot; intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) sensing and analysis technologies in healthcare applications; and advanced materials and systems for smart green buildings.

Dean of Engineering Prof. Tim CHENG thanked faculty members for their dedication in innovations and knowledge transfer. “The results of the RAE reinforce our vision in bringing positive and far-reaching impacts to society, driven by our world-class faculty and research excellence. Looking ahead, the School will continue to serve as an indispensable supporter and facilitator of interdisciplinary research aiming to make endless discoveries,” he said.

The RAE is part of the UGC’s commitment to assess the performance of UGC-funded universities in research, by using international benchmarks to delineate their areas of relative strength. The latest 2020 assessment covers research outputs completed during October 2013 to September 2019.

Related links:

Results of the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 by the University Grants Committee HKUST press release (May 24, 2021): HKUST Achieves Outstanding Results in Research Assessment Exercise 2020

17/06/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Dr. Adrian CHENG Officiates at the Naming Ceremony of the HKUST “Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute” HKUST Receives HK$100 Million from Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation Content Banner (From left) Prof. Albert Ip, HKUST Council member cum Independent Non-executive Director of New World Development Company Ltd.; Prof. Wei Shyy, HKUST President; Mr. Andrew Liao Cheung-Sing, HKUST Council Chairman; Dr. Adrian Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of New World Development Company Ltd., Executive Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. as well as Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of CTF Education Group, and Mrs. Jennifer Yu Cheng, Deputy Vice Chairwoman and Group President of CTF (From left) Prof. Albert Ip, HKUST Council member cum Independent Non-executive Director of New World Development Company Ltd.; Prof. Wei Shyy, HKUST President; Mr. Andrew Liao Cheung-Sing, HKUST Council Chairman; Dr. Adrian Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of New World Development Company Ltd., Executive Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. as well as Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of CTF Education Group, and Mrs. Jennifer Yu Cheng, Deputy Vice Chairwoman and Group President of CTF Education Group, unveiled the commemorative plaque of the “Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute”. [Download Photo] Body The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) received a HK$100 million donation from the Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation Limited (the Foundation) for promotion of the University’s academic and research development. In a ceremony officiated by Dr. Adrian CHENG, the eldest son of the Foundation’s Honorary Chairman Dr. CHENG Kar-Shun, HKUST named the University’s Robotics Institute “Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute”.

The generous gift from the Foundation seeks to enhance the University’s research capabilities in areas such as robotics and autonomous systems, deepen student learning in innovation and design thinking competency, as well as advance entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer.

HKUST Council Chairman Mr. Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation’s long-term support of the University’s academic and research work. “Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute is a key research facility at HKUST that is perfect to mark the University’s longstanding partnership with the Foundation. The donation is another resounding vote of confidence in what we do, and is crucial for the University to pool its strengths and develop new solutions to the grand challenges of our time.”

Dr. Adrian Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of New World Development Company Ltd., Executive Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. as well as Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of CTF Education Group, said, “My father is a noted philanthropist. So was my late grandfather, Dr. Cheng Yu-Tung. I am delighted to follow their footsteps in caring about our community and giving back to society. Today, at the Cheng Yu Tung Building, we celebrate the naming of the Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute. It gives me great pleasure to show support for the excellent work of the HKUST in this way. It is also an expression of my great respect and deep love for my father. I hope that through the sharing of resources with HKUST and society at large, we may help create more opportunities for the younger generations, who are the future of our society. I also hope that we may thereby contribute to a solid foundation for the great development of Hong Kong in the years and decades to come.”

Prof. Wei SHYY said, “HKUST is deeply grateful to the Foundation’s trust in our academic and research work, which is internationally respected and recently reaffirmed in the Research Assessment Exercise of University Grants Committee. With the Foundation’s generous gift, we will keep up the good work, break new grounds and nurture the right talent to assist the economic and social development of Hong Kong and beyond.”

On top of supporting activities organized by HKUST’s various institutes, the donation will also be used as start-up funds for new faculty – in particular those from the School of Science and School of Engineering, to set up laboratories, recruit research assistants and purchase equipment. In appreciation of the Foundation’s support, the University has named its Robotics Institute with presence in Hong Kong and future Guangzhou campus after Dr. Cheng Kar-Shun.

In a recent ceremony, Dr. Adrian Cheng and his wife Mrs. Jennifer YU CHENG, Deputy Vice Chairwoman and Group President of CTF Education Group; HKUST Council Chairman Mr. Andrew Liao; President Prof. Wei Shyy; and Prof. Albert IP, HKUST Council member cum Independent Non-executive Director of New World Development Company Ltd., unveiled the commemorative plaque of the “Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute”.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (hkust.edu.hk) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. We were the world’s best young university in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2020, and our graduates were ranked 26th worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global University Employability Survey 2020.

About Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation (“CTFCF”) is a private family foundation founded by Dr. Cheng Yu-Tung and his family members in 2012. CTFCF is committed to supporting charitable causes through partnering and grant-making to non-profit making organizations, to provide opportunities and resources to the underprivileged, to empower individuals and to promote sustainable community development.

CTFCF funds projects in five focus areas, including education and training, mental wellness, community services, health care and innovative ageing. In recent years, CTFCF has been collaborating with NGOs, academic institutions and other family charitable foundations to provide immediate, timely assistance to the people in need.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

26/08/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Creating a Thriving Cross-border Eco-system HKUST Signs MoU with HKSTP to Spark I&T Growth Opportunities in GBA Content Banner The MoU signing between HKUST Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Prof. WANG Yang (front right) and HKSTP CEO Mr. Albert WONG (front left) is witnessed by guest of honors (back row second left) Mrs. Carrie LAM Cheng Yuet-Ngor, Chief Executive of HKSAR, Prof. Lionel NI, President (Designate) of the new HKUST Guangzhou campus (back row first right), and others. The MoU signing between HKUST Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Prof. WANG Yang (front right) and HKSTP CEO Mr. Albert WONG (front left) is witnessed by guest of honors (back row second left) Mrs. Carrie LAM Cheng Yuet-Ngor, Chief Executive of HKSAR, Prof. Lionel NI, President (Designate) of the new HKUST Guangzhou campus (back row first right), and others. [Download Photo] Body The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance innovation and technology (I&T) growth opportunities and next-generation talent development across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The collaboration paves the way for the establishment of the Hong Kong Science Park and Guangzhou Nansha Co-incubation Base (Co-incubation Base) in Nansha, Guangzhou. This directly connects the HKUST and HKSTP ecosystems across the region to grow the R&D and technology talent pools between Hong Kong and the GBA. High-potential startups, entrepreneurs and young talent from Hong Kong can “land” in Nansha and immediately connect to the local innovation ecosystem, while mainland ventures and talent can do the same when connecting to Hong Kong.

The co-incubation program with HKSTP aims to unlock innovation potential by creating a thriving, competitive I&T ecosystem spanning Hong Kong and the GBA. HKSTP is embarking on a broad sweeping co-incubation strategy for early-stage startups that leverages the strengths of a combined network of industry, academia and government partners.

Prof. Lionel NI, President (Designate) of the new HKUST Guangzhou campus in Nansha, said: “The HKSTP-HKUST collaboration will facilitate exchange and joint efforts of the R&D talent and technopreneurs across the GBA, together we will enhance the ecosystem for entrepreneurs in HK to utilize the opportunities of the GBA as well as entrepreneurs in the mainland who wish to expand beyond the domestic market.”

Mr. Albert WONG, CEO at HKSTP said: “This landmark agreement with HKUST is a significant step in our co-incubation strategy to form deep partnerships to unlock growth and ground-breaking innovation, while developing technology leaders of tomorrow across the GBA. Securing the collaboration and commitment from leading academia such as HKUST to ensure startups benefit from the combined capabilities, reach and network strength of Hong Kong’s world-class GBA-wide I&T ecosystem.”

The partnership aims to create a cross-border laboratory platform with a focus on accelerating microelectronics development that could be applied to areas such as: the digital economy, semi-conductors, 5G, AI, high-end intelligent equipment, smart logistics, biomedical and environmentally-friendly materials.

The Co-Incubation Base will provide early-stage startups from Hong Kong and overseas with R&D development and expansion opportunities in the Mainland. While high-potential I&T ventures from the Mainland can carry out R&D in Hong Kong and expand their international footprint along the "Belt and Road" countries.

Experts at HKUST will share their extensive research experience with tech ventures at the Co-incubation Base and equip them through a series of technical training and knowledge transfer programs. HKSTP’s GBA InnoAcademy and GBA InnoExpress development programs ensure tech ventures at the Co-incubation Base receive comprehensive support with deep training and broad industry exchange. HKSTP will also support the emerging startups in exploring further opportunities at the planned Microelectronics Centre in Yuen Long, to be completed in 2023. Theses initiative will dramatically ease the path for young people to acquire work experience in R&D and engineering projects across the GBA region.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (www.hkust.edu.hk) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. We were ranked 3rd in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2021, and our graduates were ranked 26th worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global University Employability Survey 2020.

About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Comprising Science Park, InnoCentre and Industrial Estates, Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) is a statutory body dedicated to building a vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem to connect stakeholders, nurture technology talents, facilitate collaboration, and catalyse innovations to deliver social and economic benefits to Hong Kong and the region.

Established in May 2001, HKSTP has been driving the development of Hong Kong into a regional hub for innovation and growth in several focused clusters including Electronics, Information & Communications Technology, Green Technology, Biomedical Technology, Materials and Precision Engineering. We enable science and technology companies to nurture ideas, innovate and grow, supported by our R&D facilities, infrastructure, and market-led laboratories and technical centres with professional support services. We also offer value added services and comprehensive incubation programmes for technology start-ups to accelerate their growth.

Technology businesses benefit from our specialised services and infrastructure at Science Park for applied research and product development; enterprises can find creative design support at InnoCentre; while skill-intensive businesses are served by our three industrial estates at Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

NEWS TAGS News Tags Partnership Startup Innovation Greater Bay Area SHARE

Prof. Lionel NI, President (Designate) of the new HKUST Guangzhou campus delivers his speech at the ceremony.

28/09/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Thriving in Digital Era HKUST Partners with Facebook to Empower Next Generation of Digital Talents Content Banner Prof. King Chow, Acting Dean of Students at HKUST (right), and Mr. George Chen, Director of Public Policy for Greater China, Mongolia, and Central Asia at Facebook, kick-start the “Level Up Digital Talent Program” at the launching ceremony. Prof. King Chow, Acting Dean of Students at HKUST (right), and Mr. George Chen, Director of Public Policy for Greater China, Mongolia, and Central Asia at Facebook, kick-start the “Level Up Digital Talent Program” at the launching ceremony. [Download Photo] Body The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is joining the “Level Up Digital Talent Program” launched by Facebook today as the lead partner to nurture future digital talents. Utilizing Facebook’s Blueprint digital marketing materials, HKUST has helped develop a curriculum to equip not just its own students, but those from other partnering universities with digital marketing skills that would help the younger generation thrive in the new digital era.

As a pioneer in entrepreneurship education, HKUST has seen an increasing need in bridging the skill gap among the younger generation in harnessing social media as a digital marketing tool. So in this new semester, the University has launched ENTR1001 – a credit-bearing entrepreneurship course offered by the HKUST’s Division of Integrative Systems and Design for students at HKUST as well as those from Lingnan University, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design. Students from the three universities will work in teams to put marketing theories into practice, much like the future of work.

To further extend the reach and impact, HKUST’s Entrepreneurship Education Team and Facebook also co-developed a set of digital marketing modules and workshops for university students from HKUST, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Live training sessions will be provided by Facebook Blueprint trainers and HKUST teaching staff, where students can develop their Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger skills, and equip themselves for the digital marketing field.

Students who successfully complete the ENTR 1001 course or the workshop will receive free vouchers from Facebook, which they can use for taking Facebook’s examinations. Those who pass will gain certifications that would allow them to join the Facebook Certification Career Network, where they will be able to share profiles and credentials directly with major employers like BBDO, dentsu, GroupM, Havas Media, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, Reprise Digital, Vayner Media, Facebook and others.

Other interested parties are also welcomed to attend the workshop but they would have to take the examination at their own costs.

“The future our students face is dynamic and filled with wicked challenges that need to be addressed by transdisciplinary and innovative solutions,” said Prof. King CHOW, Acting Dean of Students at HKUST. “At HKUST, we believe everyone should be entrepreneurial – curious about the world, driven, collaborative and risk-embracing. These are key qualities of future talents. We are delighted to join hands with Facebook to nurture future digital talents by offering different learning opportunities for students from HKUST and other local and global universities.”

Meanwhile, Facebook will also launch a “Digital Marketing Master Class for NGOs” with The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Institute to equip NGO practitioners with the necessary skills, knowledge and resources to cope with the rising challenges and changing dynamics of the social environment. Students who complete the workshops and obtain the Facebook certificates may have the opportunities to work together with selected NGOs on their digital marketing campaigns.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

15/07/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Accelerating Discovery and Innovation Universities can be 'Living Labs' for Sustainability Content Banner President Prof. Wei Shyy contributed an article to the World Economic Forum where he discusses the role of universities in creating a sustainable future. President Prof. Wei Shyy contributed an article to the World Economic Forum where he discusses the role of universities in creating a sustainable future. [Download Photo] Body President Prof. Wei SHYY contributed an article to the World Economic Forum where he discusses the role of universities in creating a sustainable future. Below is the full article.

Cross-disciplinary research in universities functioning as 'living labs' can produce more effective sustainability solutions. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has launched around 30 sustainability-related projects. It also aims to be a multistakeholder hub with local, national and global impact. The massive social and economic disruptions caused by the recent pandemic should serve as a wake-up call to anyone who finds a false sense of security in stability and predictability. The pandemic highlighted that in the 21st century, change happens at unprecedented speed, is often unpredictable, and can be fundamentally transformative. This new normal is placing increasing pressure on higher education institutions to accelerate discovery and innovation in the interests of society, especially in the global mission of building a sustainable future.

Like many of our fellow universities around the world, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) embraces sustainability as an integral part of our strategic development plan. This starts with the recognition that the principles embedded in sustainability thinking – creating the conditions for people to thrive, focusing on long-term value instead of short-term gains, and living within our planetary boundaries while appreciating the varied stages of development of different regions – are the fundamental touchstones that allow us to measure progress in terms of positive global impact. These principles influence hard sciences, engineering, business and policy development, as seen in our leadership of an international team identifying how China can adjust its overall energy mix strategy in order to reach a carbon peak around 2030, a target for the Paris Agreement.

Most universities now recognize that training students to be prepared for 21st-century challenges means transitioning away from traditional content-based instruction, and embracing active experiential learning where students gain skills to help them solve the kinds of challenges they will encounter during their careers. A sustainability roadmap is essential: Skills like life-cycle analyses, systems thinking and scenario-planning are cross-disciplinary competencies rooted in sustainability thinking.

In 2019, the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) launched a Campus as a Living Lab collaborative to share ideas and case studies as a way to facilitate hands-on sustainability training and skill-building. In the same vein, HKUST launched the Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab initiative in 2018. The concept is simple: We need smart technologies to address sustainability problems, and we need to develop and encourage the right mindset to set the guardrails to create them.

This approach has resulted in the launch of 30 or so university-funded projects, including the installation of indoor air-quality sensors to improve well-being, AI-driven tracking systems for inventorying tree and bird species, self-cleaning multipurpose nano-coatings to improve photovoltaic panel efficiencies, autonomous greywater treatment processes that streamline water recycling, and a digital twin of all campus buildings for a digitized platform for streamlined operations. The goals of such projects are two-fold: to move innovation out of research labs to the campus as a testing ground, and to assess the scalability of these ideas from campus to our city and beyond. For students, the projects provide a clear demonstration how to combine innovation with a sustainability mindset.

COVID spotlighted our great challenges in view of disparate states of different regions regarding wealth, development, access and technology. We take this to mean that our educational efforts cannot support only HK and the Greater Bay Area, but also other less developed regions in the world. This is an important mission of the university; to transform research into real solutions, and to educate future solution-providers. Universities can act as strong convening forces that connect business, industry, government and entrepreneurs to address challenges collaboratively.

We do this by working with local authorities on formulating science-based policies for reducing roadside and ship emissions to improve Hong Kong’s air quality, providing evidence for developing strategies, and being a trusted resource for policy-makers developing our citywide target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Our contributions to government regulations on pollution controls for ocean-going vessels led to wider influence on similar regional regulations for China’s coastal ports, benefitting 20 million people. These collaborations have the potential to improve lives irrespective of wealth and economic status, and showcase what is possible when using sustainability principles as a lodestar.

As institutions where reflection on society takes place, it is the responsibility of universities to empower our students with a deeper awareness of how they can help shape this rapidly changing landscape. Instead of being passive observers, universities can stimulate students to become “activist consumers”, recognizing the power of their consumption patterns to drive markets towards more positive social and environmental outcomes. In collaboration with the seven other publicly funded universities in Hong Kong, we are facilitating an ambitious new initiative called the Sustainable Consumer Program, aiming to engage over 100,000 students to adopt responsible consumption patterns in food, energy, water and other consumables. Similarly, joint programmes developed in partnership with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) and Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) aim to nurture responsible global citizens with an aspiration to safeguard and advance the welfare of all. From food upcycling to urban beekeeping, we encourage our members as change-makers and enablers.

This recent pandemic has made it clear how global health hazards impact everyone and can literally bring our global community to a standstill. No country, no society and no one is exempted from these impacts. Similarly, the grand challenges of climate change also force us to focus on the availability of and access to resources, wealth distributions, and equity between regions and societies. Universities are at their best when they engage stakeholders across the spectrum for collaboration and partnership, empower and enable future leaders, and foster novel ideas, innovations and practices. Sustainability is more than a priority for universities; it is a responsibility, a commitment and a key to the betterment of mankind.

Watch the video about the largest solar power system in Hong Kong launched by HKUST.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

08/06/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Laying Foundation for Non-Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Development HKUST-Beijing Tiantan Hospital Researchers Discover a New Cause for the Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Content Banner Prof. Wang Jiguang (front, seated) and his research team. Prof. Wang Jiguang (front, seated) and his research team. [Download Photo] Body Researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Beijing Tiantan Hospital have recently uncovered a new gene mutation responsible for the non-familial patients of cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) – a brain vascular disorder which inflicted about 10 to 30 million people in the world.

While the mutation of three genes: namely CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3, were known to be a cause of CCM – they mostly targeted patients who have family history in this disorder – which only account for about 20% of the total inflicted population. The cause for the remaining 80% non-familial cases, however, was not known.

Now, using next-generation sequencing and computational approach, a research team led by Prof. WANG Jiguang, Assistant Professor from HKUST’s Division of Life Science and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, in collaboration with Prof. CAO Yong from the Beijing Tiantan Hospital, analyzed the genomic data of 113 CCM patients and identified another mutation called “MAP3K3 c.1323C>G”, which is found to be responsible for almost all the tested cases who developed popcorn-like lesions in their brain arteries – the most common one among the four types of CCM lesions1 (type II CCM).

At present, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a commonly used non-intrusive means that doctors can base upon for diagnosis and treatment. However, the MRI images can only tell the size and type of the lesions, but not the gene responsible for the problem – which can only be ascertained by surgery and laboratory tests. Now, the HKUST research team designed a computational method that could help assess the probability of connection between the lesion shown in the MRI image to the genetic mutation MAP3K3 c.1323C>G. So CCM patients with this gene mutation may be able to receive more targeted treatment without having to undergo surgery – which could bear serious risks including cerebral hemorrhage or new focal neurological deficits.

Prof. Wang from HKUST said, “Our research opens a new direction to the genetic landscape of CCM and uncovers clues to the correlation between MAP3K3 c.1323C>G gene mutation and type II CCM. The design of the computational method, or decision-tree model, takes us a step closer to non-invasive diagnosis of CCM cause, and we hope the discovery could help pave the way for candidate drug target and therapy development, bringing benefits to patients in the near future.”

The findings were recently published in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

1Type II CCM was said to be the most common among the four types of CCM: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6924279/

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (hkust.edu.hk) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. We were the world’s best young university in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2020, and our graduates were ranked 26th worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global University Employability Survey 2020.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

NEWS TAGS News Tags Chemical and Biological Engineering Life Science Innovation Biomedical Engineering Research SHARE

The popcorn-like lesions (as indicated by the arrows) in the brain arteries of type II CCM patients. The research team developed a computational method that could assess the probability of connection between the lesion shown in the MRI image to the genetic mutation MAP3K3 c.1323C>G.

26/05/2021 Thumbnail Title Contributing to Global Research Community HKUST’s Meta-analysis Shows SARS-CoV-2 Variants Unlikely to Affect T Cell Responses Content Banner The team has developed a web-based platform by compiling SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitope data from immunological studies of recovered patients in hope to guide studies related to COVID-19 vaccines and diagnostics. The team has developed a web-based platform by compiling SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitope data from immunological studies of recovered patients in hope to guide studies related to COVID-19 vaccines and diagnostics. [Download Photo] Body In a new study, scientists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have revealed that most T cell epitopes known to be targeted upon natural infection are seemingly unaffected by current SARS-CoV-2 variants.

In their latest research, the team compiled and analysed data from 18 immunological studies of T cell responses involving over 850 recovered COVID-19 patients from across four continents who are well-distributed in age, gender, disease severity and blood collection time. They demonstrated that T cells in these patients targeted fragments (epitopes) of almost all of the virus’ proteins, including the spike protein that is a main target of many existing vaccines. As an important finding, based on analysis of over 850,000 SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequences from around the world, most of these epitopes appeared to be unaffected by the current variants of concern.

“We focused specifically on recovered COVID-19 patients as their immune responses are representative of effective responses against the virus,” said Prof. Ahmed Abdul QUADEER, Research Assistant Professor from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, who is the first author of the research.

“We believe this is good news, particularly for vaccines. In contrast to antibody responses which have been shown to be affected by variants, our analysis would suggest T cell responses may be relatively robust, assuming that vaccine responses mimic those of natural infection,” said Prof. Matthew MCKAY from the Departments of Electronic & Computer Engineering and Chemical & Biological Engineering, who co-led the research.

While revealing more than 700 T cell epitopes, the team’s analysis identified 20 specific epitopes – which they refer to as immunoprevalent – that induced T cell responses in multiple independent cohorts and in a large fraction of tested patients. Of these, five appeared highly immunoprevalent, registering T cell responses in at least four separate immunological studies.

“The identified immunoprevalent epitopes appear to represent parts of the virus that are commonly targeted by T cells in recovered COVID-19 patients,” added Prof. McKay. “It is possible, but subject to further experimental investigation, that targeting these epitopes may play a role in contributing to favourable disease outcomes.”

The compiled data has been integrated into a web platform, which the team plans to keep updated as more immunological studies of SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes are reported.

“The platform is an online resource for the global research community and complements ongoing research on understanding T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2. It serves to guide studies related to COVID-19 vaccines and diagnostics,” added Prof. Quadeer.

Their findings have just been published in the scientific journal Cell Reports Medicine.

(This news was originally published on EurekAlert on May 26, 2021.)

17/09/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title University Leadership HKUST Announces Appointment of Prof. Tim CHENG as Vice-President for Research and Development Content Banner Prof. Tim CHENG Prof. Tim CHENG [Download Photo] Body The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced today the appointment of Prof. Tim CHENG Kwang-Ting as the new Vice-President for Research and Development (VPRD), starting April 1, 2022.

Prof. Cheng, currently Dean of Engineering and a Chair Professor at both the Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering and the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, is a leading scholar in the fields of electronic design automation (EDA) and computer vision. During his academic career, he took up multiple key leadership roles and has been very active in offering professional advice and services to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), of which he is a Fellow. His works are of high impact with due recognition from the field, including 12 best paper awards and one Distinguished Paper Citation in major conferences and journals.

Prof. Cheng has made significant contributions to the educational and research programs of the School of Engineering in the past five years, and he has a clear vision in advancing research and knowledge transfer. Most recently, he led the founding of an AI Chip Center with Stanford University and other leading institutions. With an initial funding of HK$443.9 million from the Hong Kong government’s InnoHK Clusters initiative, Prof. Cheng will lead the advancement of IC design to help realize ubiquitous AI applications in society.

Mr. Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing, Chairman of HKUST Council, extended his warm congratulations. “As an accomplished researcher with a prolific and impressive research track record, Prof. Cheng is keen in making aggressive engagement and collaboration with industry and society, exploring ways to further develop the University’s R&D profile, and strengthen the R&D structure and strategies to not only better integrate HKUST with HKUST(GZ) for synergetic development, but also better position HKUST R&D for greater societal impact.”

Prof. Wei SHYY, President of HKUST, also congratulated Prof. Cheng on his new position. “Tim is a sincere and personable leader with a transparent and open style of management. He can bring people together to work on research frontier and issues relevant to grand challenges. With his direct knowledge of the HKUST atmosphere and good connection to both the academic community and key stakeholders of the University, Tim is well positioned in his new capacity to make immediate contributions to the University.”

Mr. Liao and Prof. Shyy have also taken the opportunity to thank Prof. Nancy IP, who will continue to lead multiple endeavors at HKUST, for her dedicated leadership, comprehensive efforts and substantial contributions to the University in the past years.

Before joining HKUST, Prof. Cheng had served AT&T Bell Laboratories and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he took up many leadership roles including Distinguished Professor and the Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research, in which he helped oversee the research development, infrastructure, and compliance of UCSB’s research enterprise with over US$200 million extramural research funding. He has published more than 500 technical papers, co-authored five books, held 12 US patents, and transferred several of his inventions into successful commercial products.

Prof. Cheng’s appointment is the result of a rigorous global search. To facilitate a smooth transition for him, Prof. Ip’s appointment as VPRD will be extended up to March 31, 2022.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

31/08/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title School Leadership Prof. MOW Wai-Ho Appointed Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies) Content Banner Prof. Mow Wai-Ho Prof. Mow Wai-Ho [Download Photo] Body The School of Engineering (SENG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. MOW Wai-Ho, Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE), to succeed Prof. Philip MOK as the new Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies), with effect from September 1, 2021. Prof. Mow will work along with Prof. Albert CHUNG, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and another Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies), to oversee undergraduate matters in the School.

Prof. Mow obtained his BSc (Electronics) in 1989, MPhil and PhD (Information Engineering) in 1991 and 1993 respectively, all from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. From 1997 to 1999, he was an assistant professor at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He was also a recipient of the Croucher Research Fellowship (HK), Humboldt Research Fellowship (Germany), and Telecommunications Advancement Research Fellowship (Japan), among others, which supported him to be a visiting scholar at the University of Waterloo (1995), Munich University of Technology (1996), and Kyoto University (2000) respectively. He joined HKUST in 2000.

Over the years, he has provided dedicated service to the Department, the School and the University in various capacities. He has served as ECE Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Chair (2019-21), Computer Engineering Program Director (2012-14) and Associate Director (2010-12), Engineering Undergraduate Studies Committee member (2012-14), SENG Accreditation Preparation Committee member (2013), etc.

Prof. Mow’s research interests lie in the areas of wireless communications, coding and information theory. He pioneered the lattice approach to signal detection problems (such as sphere decoding and complex lattice reduction-aided detection) and unified all known constructions of perfect roots-of-unity (or CAZAC) sequences that are widely used as preambles and radar signals. Since 2002, he has been the principal investigator of over 20 funded research projects. He has published one book, and co-authored over 30 US and Chinese patents as well as over 200 technical publications, among which he is the sole author of over 40.

His joint work received a number of awards, including 2016 & 2013 Asia-Pacific Conference on Communications (APCC) Best Paper Awards, 2014 HK-Taiwan IoT Academia Best Research Award, 2014 Hong Kong U-21 IoT Gold Award for IoT Revolutional Concept, and 2013 ACM International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking (MobiCom) Best Mobile App Award. A novel picture-embedding barcode, PiCode, developed by his research team was highlighted as one of Hong Kong’s four local innovations in the 2015 International IT Fest, organized by Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Hong Kong.

Prof. Mow has been active in providing professional services to the international academic community. Over the years, he has served on the organizing committees of numerous conferences, such as the General Chair of 2018 International Conference on Sequences and Their Applications, and the Finance Chair of the 2015 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory. He has also served as an editorial board member of several journals including IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications (2014-20) and Advances in Mathematics of Communications (2019-21).

The School would like to pay tribute and thank Prof. Philip Mok for his dedicated service and contributions as the Associate Dean of Engineering in the past three years. Under his leadership, the School has achieved important milestones in its undergraduate education, in particular the development of online teaching and learning under the pandemic situation.

23/06/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title An Expert on Computational Geomechanics Prof. ZHAO Jidong Honored with Changjiang Chair Professorship and Natural Science Award Content Banner Prof. Zhao Jidong has recently received two accolades from the Ministry of Education for the dedication and exceptional achievements in his career. Prof. Zhao Jidong has recently received two accolades from the Ministry of Education for the dedication and exceptional achievements in his career. [Download Photo] Body Prof. ZHAO Jidong, Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been named a Chair Professor of the Changjiang Scholars Program for 2021-2024 by the Ministry of Education (MOE) of the People’s Republic of China. Established in 1998, the program is an important higher education development program in China and its award is one of the highest academic accolades given to individuals in the higher education sector by MOE.

He has also received a prestigious Natural Science Award (First Class) in MOE’s 2021 Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (Science and Technology) for the project titled “Characteristics and Mathematical Description of Strength for Soils Subjected to Thermal-hydro-sedimental Environmental Loads” (熱─水─沉積環境下土的強度特性和數學描述), with his former PhD student GAO Zhiwei (class of 2012) and collaborators from Beihang University. These awards recognize his stellar career with distinguished research contributions and achievements.

Prof. Zhao received both his bachelor and PhD degrees from Tsinghua University. He was a lecturer at the University of Newcastle, Australia before he joined HKUST in 2008. His research focuses on theoretical and computational geomechanics, and multiscale and multiphysics modeling of granular media.

He plays an active role in the academic community. He is an editor/co-editor/associate editor of numerous top-tier academic journals, including Computers and Geotechnics (Elsevier), Granular Matter (Springer), and Journal of Engineering Mechanics (American Society of Civil Engineers). He also serves on the editorial boards for the International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics (Wiley), Acta Geotechnica (Springer), and Science Progress (SAGE).

Prof. Zhao is a grant assessor for a number of grant-giving bodies, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Australian Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, European Research Council, Poland’s National Science Center, Chile’s National Science and Technology Commission, and Research Grants Council of Hong Kong. Previously serving as Secretary for the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE)’s TC103 Numerical Methods in Geomechanics, he is now a core committee member of ISSMGE’s TC105 Micromechanics, as well as the Engineering Mechanics Institute’s Granular Materials Committee.

Throughout his career, Prof. Zhao has won numerous awards, which include the Excellent PhD Thesis award from Tsinghua University (2002), University of Newcastle (Australia) Research Fellowship Award (2007), Scott Sloan Best Paper Award (2018), Granular Matter’s Top 5 Cited Articles award (2018).

08/06/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Creating Impact on Geotechnics & Robotics Prof. ZHANG Limin and Prof. LIU Ming Recognized with 2020 Guangdong Province Science and Technology Awards Content Banner Prof. Zhang Limin (left) and Prof. Liu Ming (right) received a First Class Award in Natural Science and a Second Class Award in Technology Invention respectively. Prof. Zhang Limin (left) and Prof. Liu Ming (right) received a First Class Award in Natural Science and a Second Class Award in Technology Invention respectively. [Download Photo] Body Two School of Engineering faculty members were honored in the 2020 Guangdong Province Science and Technology Awards (2020年度廣東省科學技術獎).

Prof. ZHANG Limin, Head and Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and his former PhD students received a First Class Award in Natural Science for their project on “Mechanisms of Landslides Due to the Formation of Soil Cracks and Preferential Flows” (邊坡內生裂隙形成與優勢流孕災滑坡機制). The former students are now on the faculty of different universities on the Mainland. They are LI Jinhui (2009), at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, LI Xu (2009), at Beijing Jiaotong University, PENG Ming (2012), at Tongji University, and LI Xueyou (2016), at Sun Yat-sen University.

Prof. LIU Ming, Associate Professor of Electronic & Computer Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering, and his collaborators received a Second Class Award in Technology Invention for their project titled “Research and Application of Low-cost Robot Localization and Navigation Technology” (機器人低成本定位導航技術研發及應用). The award recognized their contribution to the innovation and application of key technology for pandemic prevention and control. Other team members are from Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.

Related link:

News of People’s Government of Guangdong Province (廣東省人民政府關於頒發2020年度廣東省科學技術獎的通報) (Mar 19, 2021) Award list HKUST WeChat news (Jun 9, 2021): 表揚創新成果 劉明教授獲上海、廣東科技發明獎

15/09/2021 Thumbnail Title A Dedicated Educator in Display Electronics Prof. Man WONG Awarded 2021 Slottow-Owaki Prize Content Banner Prof. Man Wong was honored with the 2021 Slottow-Owaki Prize for his outstanding contributions to the education of graduate and undergraduate students in display electronics. Prof. Man Wong was honored with the 2021 Slottow-Owaki Prize for his outstanding contributions to the education of graduate and undergraduate students in display electronics. [Download Photo] Body Prof. Man WONG, Electronic and Computer Engineering, was awarded the 2021 Slottow-Owaki Prize by the Society for Information Display. He was recognized for his continuing dedication to the education of graduate and undergraduate students in display electronics, many of whom went on to successful careers in academia, engineering, and entrepreneurship.

He is the third recipient of this prize at HKUST since departmental fellows Prof. Kwok Hoi-Sing and Prof. Vladimir Chigrinov received their awards in 2013 and 2018 respectively.

Prof. Wong obtained his BS and MS degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and PhD at Stanford University – all in electrical engineering. Prior to joining HKUST in 1992, he was with the Semiconductor Process and Design Center of Texas Instruments, where he worked on the modeling and development of integrated-circuit metallization systems and dry/vapor surface-conditioning processes.

His research interests cover micro-fabrication technology, device structure, and material; physics and technology of thin-film transistors; organic light-emitting diode display technology; modeling and implementation of integrated micro-systems; and thin-film solar cell device and process technology.

He is highly regarded in the display industry for his prolific work in the field of thin-film transistors, with around 350 out of his more than 500 journal and conference publications related to the technology. He holds 67 granted patents, with others pending.

Currently, Prof. Wong serves as the Director of the University’s Center for Display Research and Associate Director of the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Displays and Optoelectronics Technologies. Other than being a member of the Society for Information Display (SID), he is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and some honor societies (rank organizations that recognize excellence among peers), including Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, and Sigma Xi.

Established in 1962, the SID is a professional organization focused on the electronic display and visual information technology industries. It provides a unique platform for industry collaboration, communication and training in all related technologies while showcasing the industry’s best new products.

Related link:

Citation of Prof. Man Wong by the Society for Information Display – 2021 SID Honors & Awards

29/09/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Treating Students as Partners Prof. Rhea LIEM Wins UGC Teaching Award 2021 Content Banner Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC) Mr. Carlson Tong (right) presents the 2021 UGC Teaching Award for Early Career Faculty Members to Prof. Rhea Liem. Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC) Mr. Carlson Tong (right) presents the 2021 UGC Teaching Award for Early Career Faculty Members to Prof. Rhea Liem. [Download Photo] Body Prof. Rhea Patricia LIEM, Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), received the University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award 2021 under the category of Early Career Faculty Members today, in recognition of her dedication and outstanding teaching performance.

HKUST President Prof. Wei SHYY congratulated Prof. Liem on winning the award. “Rhea is a very talented, creative and dedicated scholar. Her passionate style of teaching and extensive interaction with students have made her not only popular but also highly respected. HKUST is very proud to have young and passionate faculty like Rhea, who teaches, mentors and supports our students. We warmly congratulate her for her accomplishments.”

Prof. Liem said at the award ceremony that she was extremely humbled for UGC’s recognition. “I teach aerospace engineering at HKUST, a subject that many consider as complex and difficult. However, I can help my students enjoy the learning. I pay a lot of attention to effective presentation to help convey the course contents to students. My teaching styles emphasize rationality and reasoning, which I believe are the key essences of university education. Meanwhile, students always have a say in my class and I make them part of the process, to establish a sense of belonging and help them become more active and enthusiastic learners.”

“Looking ahead, this award will allow me to develop a new experiential learning course called the Student Innovations for Engineering and Science Teaching Aids (SIESTA), where students will design and develop science demonstration kits or hands-on STEM learning toys for primary and secondary school students, including the underprivileged children in Hong Kong and developing countries,” she added.

While the aviation industry met its biggest challenge in decades due to the pandemic, Prof. Liem said there are still plenty of opportunities and encourages her students to look beyond traditional aviation jobs like pilots, maintenance or aircraft engineers into “auxiliary” sectors such as artificial intelligence and internet of things for aviation applications, cargo inspection and management technology, leasing, financing, aviation laws or supply chain. “Many airports and airlines are using this “downtime” to bring improvements on operational efficiency and passenger experience, which would not have been possible when air traffic is extremely busy. I myself am working with industry and government to develop new methods and algorithms to improve the overall air traffic efficiency by optimizing the route coordination of arriving aircraft, so the prospects are not that gloomy,” she said.

Prof. Liem was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, until she finished high school at Santa Ursula Catholic Girl School. The Ursuline school motto (Serviam or “I will serve”) and teaching philosophy have been truly influential in developing her teaching pedagogies and values. She studied mechanical and production engineering in Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, and obtained both her master's degrees in computation for design and optimization, and aeronautics/astronautics in Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After that, she earned a PhD degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Toronto. She joined HKUST in 2015, where she teaches two courses “Introduction to Aerospace Engineering” and “Aircraft Design”, both founded by her.

Prof. Liem was one of the first hires in the aerospace engineering program. Apart from developing the new courses from scratch, she has also supervised students under the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), and one of her students won the undergraduate research award in 2020. She believes the learning process should start from the students themselves, so she allows students to choose their own topics for term paper, as part of their self-learning experience. Her contributions on teaching have earned her HKUST’s Engineering Teaching Excellence Appreciation Award for 2017-18.

Prof. Liem is also dedicated to promoting STEM education and aerospace engineering knowledge to younger learners. She was appointed as an advisor for the Hong Kong Aerospace Leaders Association, where she offers advice on curriculum development and overall program planning for workshops and classes – including those for teachers and “adult leaders” that were co-organized between the association and different secondary schools. She is also an advisor for the Learning STEM with Aviation textbook for secondary schools in the city.

Related link: Prof. Rhea Liem’s award citation and teaching philosophy video

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (www.hkust.edu.hk) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. We were ranked 3rd in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2021, and our graduates were ranked 26th worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global University Employability Survey 2020.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

NEWS TAGS News Tags Recognition Award Women in Engineering Teaching and Learning Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Aeronautics Aircraft and Aeronautical Engineering SHARE

HKUST President Prof. Wei Shyy (eighth left), UGC representatives and other HKUST members, including past winners of the award Prof. Tim Woo (second right) and Prof. Jason Chan (fifth right), congratulate Prof. Rhea Liem (ninth left) on winning. Prof. Rhea Liem (front middle) and her students in front of HKUST’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Prof. Rhea Liem (second right) and the Electric Vehicle team from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

13/07/2021 Thumbnail Title Recognition from Home Eminent Engineering Professors Recognized in HKUST Faculty Recognition Ceremony Content Banner The Third HKUST Faculty Recognition Ceremony acknowledged the outstanding achievements of 36 faculty members, including 23 from the School of Engineering or who have a joint position in the School. The Third HKUST Faculty Recognition Ceremony acknowledged the outstanding achievements of 36 faculty members, including 23 from the School of Engineering or who have a joint position in the School. [Download Photo] Body The Third HKUST Faculty Recognition Ceremony was held on July 13, 2021 to acknowledge and applaud the outstanding research and teaching achievements of the University’s faculty members in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years. Among the 36 honorees, 23 of them are from the School of Engineering (SENG) or have a joint position in the School. All of them were recipients of prestigious awards and honors in the past two years, demonstrating their unremitting efforts and excellence in teaching, research and service.

Hailing from the School’s six departments and one division, the SENG professors’ achievements include contributing to the fight against COVID-19, receiving large-scale research grants, election to fellowships and service in professional organizations, major research awards in the fields, as well as teaching awards.

In his opening remarks, President Prof. Wei SHYY said, “HKUST, like many other institutions elsewhere, is defined fundamentally by the quality of its people. One important indicator of such quality is exhibited today by our faculty’s originality, accomplishment, service and dedication. Unlike in the last two times where research achievements were emphasized, this year we have broadened the category to include colleagues who made significant contributions to public health and online education. We are very proud of our colleagues and we wish to recognize their contribution in research, education, and service in equal terms.”

Vice-President for Research and Development Prof. Nancy IP said, “HKUST’s reputation in education and research is built on the dedicated efforts of our faculty. Their tremendous contribution leads HKUST to reach greater heights of success. Today we recognize those who have achieved the highest level of prestige in their respective fields through their remarkable achievements in research, outstanding contribution as teachers and mentors, as well as commitment to leadership and service. Not only are we recognizing established faculty, but also young faculty – they are already making significant impact in their fields.”

The honorees from SENG are (in alphabetical order of last names):

Prof. Gary CHAN

Computer Science and Engineering

Outstanding contribution to the fight against COVID-19

Prof. CHEN Guanghao

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Recipient of a large-scale grant from RGC Theme-based Research Scheme 9th Round (2019/20) Recipient of the Bronze Medal of the 2018 International Water Association Project Innovation Awards in the category of breakthroughs in research and development Recipient of the Gold Award of the 2018 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards

​​​​​Prof. CHEN Kai

Computer Science and Engineering

Recipient of a large-scale grant from RGC Theme-based Research Scheme 10th Round (2020/21)

Prof. Tim CHENG Kwang-Ting

Electronic & Computer Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering

Recipient of a large-scale grant from InnoHK Clusters Program to establish the AI Chip Center for Emerging Smart Systems Recipient of the Pan Wen Yuan Foundation Award for Outstanding Research in 2020

Prof. Roger CHENG Shu-Kwan

Electronic and Computer Engineering

Outstanding contribution to the development of online education

Prof. HUI Pan

Computer Science and Engineering

Elected International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020 Elected Member of Academia Europaea (the Academy of Europe) in 2019

Prof. KWOK Hoi-Sing

Electronic and Computer Engineering

Recipient of the 2019 Jan Rajchman Prize by the Society for Information Display

Prof. Kei May LAU

Electronic and Computer Engineering

Recipient of the 2020 Nick Holonyak Jr. Award presented by the Optical Society

Prof. Ricky LEE Shi-Wei

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Sustained Technical Contribution Award by IEEE Electronics Packaging Society

Prof. Anthony LEUNG Kwan

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Awarded the 2019 Excellent Young Scientists Fund by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Recipient of the Bright Spark Award presented by the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in 2019

Prof. LI Zexiang

Colin Lam Ko Yin Professor of Engineering

Electronic and Computer Engineering

Recipient of a large-scale grant from InnoHK Clusters Program to establish the Hong Kong Center for Construction Robotics

Prof. LIU Ming

Electronic & Computer Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering

Outstanding contribution to the fight against COVID-19

Prof. Charles NG Wang-Wai

Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Recipient of a large-scale grant from RGC Areas of Excellence Scheme 8th Round (2018/19) Elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2020

Prof. Richard SO Hau-Yue

Industrial Engineering & Decision Analytics and Chemical & Biological Engineering

Outstanding contribution to the fight against COVID-19

Prof. SONG Shenghui

Integrative Systems & Design and Electronic & Computer Engineering

Recipient of the 2018 Michael G. Gale Medal for Distinguished Teaching

Prof. YANG Hai

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Recipient of 2020 Frank M. Masters Transportation Engineering Award presented by American Society of Civil Engineers

Prof. YEUNG King-Lun

Chemical & Biological Engineering and Environment & Sustainability

Outstanding contribution to the fight against COVID-19

Prof. ZHAO Tianshou

Cheong Ying Chan Professor of Engineering and Environment

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Awarded the 2018 Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize for Scientific and Technological Advancement Awarded the 2018 Best Paper Award presented by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Appointed as editor-in-chief of International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer Identified as 2018 Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics Elected Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019

The honorees who have a joint position in SENG are (in alphabetical order of last names):

Prof. CHEN Ying-Ju

Information Systems, Business Statistics & Operations Management and Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics

Appointed as senior editor of Production and Operations Management in 2018

Prof. HUANG Xuhui

Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering

Recipient of the 16th China Youth Science and Technology Award

Prof. TANG Benzhong

Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Professor of Science

Chemistry and Chemical & Biological Engineering

Selected as CCTV Innovation and Technology Person of the Year 2018 by the Chinese Central Television (CCTV) Identified as 2018 and 2019 Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics Awarded the 2018 CASNN Lifetime Award by the Chinese American Society of Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology(CASNN) Elected 2020 Class of Fellow (Chemical Sciences) of World Academy of Sciences

Prof. TANG Ching-Wan

IAS Bank of East Asia Professor

Chemistry, Electronic & Computer Engineering, and Physics

Recipient of the 2019 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology presented by The Inamori Foundation Recipient of the 2018 C&C Prize presented by NEC C&C Foundation Recipient of Progress Award for 2019 presented by the Photographic Society of America ​​​​​​​ Prof. WANG Jiguang

Life Science and Chemical & Biological Engineering

Recognized as contributor to one of China’s Top 10 Advances in Life Sciences in 2018 by the Chinese Union of Life Science Societies Awarded the 2019 Excellent Young Scientists Fund by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Selected as Asian Universities Alliance Scholar for the year 2020-2021

Four short talks by the honoree professors were given during the ceremony. These included Prof. Wang Jiguang who spoke on the application of data science to precision medicine and Prof. Yeung King-Lun who spoke on the sustainable ways to a healthy environment.

14/07/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Leading Artificial Intelligence Research Prof. YANG Qiang Named a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering Content Banner Prof. Yang Qiang was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering for his significant contributions in the engineering practice of large-scale artificial-intelligence and data-mining solutions. Prof. Yang Qiang was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering for his significant contributions in the engineering practice of large-scale artificial-intelligence and data-mining solutions. [Download Photo] Body Prof. YANG Qiang, Chair Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, was recently elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) at its Annual General Meeting hosted online on June 14, 2021. The induction ceremony, which will honor both the 2020 and 2021 elected Fellows, will be held in October this year virtually.

Prof. Yang is an international leader in the engineering practice of large-scale artificial-intelligence and data-mining solutions. He leads in the area of transfer learning and federated learning to tackle small data, data silos, user privacy, and data security problems in practice. He has developed open-source and industrial-strength systems for inclusive finance, health, and e-commerce applications for millions of users and businesses worldwide. His work has brought deep impact and advanced the state of the knowledge in the respective fields.

Prof. Yang pursued his PhD studies in Computer Science from the University of Maryland. Formerly the Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, he was the Founding Director of HKUST Big Data Institute and WeChat-HKUST Joint Laboratory on Artificial Intelligence Technology. He is a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), International Association for Pattern Recognition (IAPR), and Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence (CAAI).

Established in 1987, CAE is an independent, self-governing, and non-profit organization to serve Canada in matters of engineering concern. Fellows of the CAE are nominated and elected by their peers, in view of their distinguished achievements and career-long service to the engineering profession. They provide engineering leadership in the fields of education, infrastructure, innovation, energy, transportation, and many more.

Related link:

The Canadian Academy of Engineering’s press release (June 14, 2021): Fifty-two new Fellows elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering

16/08/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Giving Back to Society High School Students Built HKUST’s Patented Hi-NW Light Disinfection Devices to Benefit the Community Content Banner Led by Prof. Yeung King Lun (back row, 5th left), the STEAM education project has produced disinfection devices with joint efforts from Lee Hysan Foundation, Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School, and Lok Sin Tong Yu Kan Hing Secondary School. Led by Prof. Yeung King Lun (back row, 5th left), the STEAM education project has produced disinfection devices with joint efforts from Lee Hysan Foundation, Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School, and Lok Sin Tong Yu Kan Hing Secondary School. [Download Photo] Body A HKUST Engineering STEAM education initiative utilizing the patented Hi-NW light-based disinfection technology developed by Prof. YEUNG King Lun has contributed in assisting the community to fight COVID-19, in addition to nurturing curiosity and creativity in our future engineering talents by providing them with hands-on learning experience.

Sponsored by Lee Hysan Foundation, the project started in May 2020 and concluded with a ceremony at HKUST on August 5, 2021. Under the guidance of HKUST’s professors and students, 15 students from Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School and Lok Sin Tong Yu Kan Hing Secondary School successfully fabricated 15 light disinfection devices that will be deployed in elderly homes and community centers.

The devices utilize the novel high-intensity, narrow wavelength (Hi-NW) light-based disinfection technology developed by Prof. YEUNG King Lun of the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering and Division of Environment & Sustainability, and have been proven to rapidly disinfect various surfaces and objects including bed, carpet, table, and floor. Compared with UV light, the Hi-NW technology is 60% more effective in terms of speed, safety, and cleanliness and uses only a tenth of energy, making it a sustainable technology.

Over the past 15 months, while coping with the difficult situation created by the pandemic, students of the two schools attended online and in-person workshops delivered by HKUST professors and students to learn about 3D modeling, coding, aseptic techniques, safety precautions, and to build and fabricate the devices. They also visited the beneficiary NGOs to collect staff’s feedback on how to improve the device in its actual use.

Their hard work has culminated in 15 disinfection devices (10 handheld ones and five autonomous ones) – all of which have recently passed the quality and safety tests at HKUST. The device is simple to use, safe, and effective. It is operated by rechargeable batteries, and can run continuously for six hours (for handheld) and an hour (for autonomous) after a single recharge.

The project would not be possible without the ardent support of Lee Hysan Foundation, which shares the same mission with HKUST to give back to the community and nurture the young generation. Mr. Clifford CHOW, Vice President of Lee Hysan Foundation, said in the ceremony, “It is exhilarating to see the students’ final products, which will bring great help to frontline workers of NGOs. On behalf of the Foundation, I would like to thank everyone who is involved in this meaningful project. Despite the additional challenges of COVID-19 restrictions, everyone has shown great flexibility and put in a lot of effort to make this project a resounding success. To the high school students, I hope the experience in this project will inspire you to develop your future in the field of engineering and technology.”

Prof. Yeung, who leads the project, said, “I am grateful to Lee Hysan Foundation for making this happen. For the students, I congratulate you for achieving this finally, as it has not been an easy year adapting to the pandemic situation. I hope that you will pass the baton to the younger students in your school – not just about the technology and skills you have learned, but also the essence of contributing to the community.” Prof. Yeung is also the inventor of the MAP-1 smart antimicrobial coating that has seen large-scale adoption as a frontline tool against COVID-19. It has been used in diverse premises in the city since early 2020, including the disinfection of over 1,000 caged home units and sub-divided flats under the sponsorship of Lee Hysan Foundation in April last year.

At the ceremony, student representatives of the two participating schools expressed their gratitude to the Foundation and HKUST. Through the project, they had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in new areas outside their school curriculum, for example 3D printing and welding, and to have a taste of a new mode of learning at university. They believe the device will serve as a convenient tool to help the underprivileged in reducing their workload and pressure on cleaning amid the pandemic. They also thought such experience would pave the way for their greater exposure to the field of engineering.

NEWS TAGS News Tags Community Engagement Community STEM Education Experiential Learning Chemical and Biological Engineering Sustainability Sustainable Development SHARE

The handheld and autonomous disinfection devices will be delivered for use in elderly homes and community NGOs to ease the workload of frontline workers. Prof. Yeung King Lun (left) presented two devices to Mr. Clifford Chow as an appreciation of Lee Hysan Foundation’s keen support. Bioengineering PhD student Javier Lopez Navas, who is the key student technical advisor to coach the participants in the project, demonstrated to guests at the ceremony how the devices operate. Prof. Joseph Kwan (2nd right) handed over the devices, which passed the quality and safety tests at HKUST, to Principal Dr. Ho Yuk-Fan (center), Vice Principal Mr. Wong Wai-Keung (1st left), and a student representative (2nd left) of Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School. With quality and safety tests passed at HKUST, the devices were handed over from Prof. Ben Chan (back row, 2nd left) to Mr. Man Ho-Wai (back row, 3rd left), Vice Principal of Lok Sin Tong Yu Kan Hing Secondary School, and teachers and students.

09/08/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Influencers in Education Two SENG Professors Commended in HKUST Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2020 Content Banner Prof. Andrew Horner (left) and Prof. Terence Wong received the Honorary Mentions for their dedication towards teaching and design of common core courses. Prof. Andrew Horner (left) and Prof. Terence Wong received the Honorary Mentions for their dedication towards teaching and design of common core courses. [Download Photo] Body Two faculty members of the School of Engineering, Prof. Andrew HORNER of Computer Science and Engineering and Prof. Terence WONG of Chemical and Biological Engineering, received the Honorary Mentions of the HKUST Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2020. Their achievements were celebrated at the online award presentation ceremony today (August 9, 2021).

Prof. Andrew Horner’s COMP 1943 Creative Sound Design is an innovative, project-based experiential course that encourages students to take on the role of a film composer or sound designer to produce music videos and trailers for computer games and movies, linking the digital realm with the emotional power of music to spur learners to think critically and imaginatively.

Despite its musical focus, Prof. Horner opens the course for all with the help of his specially designed course app that provides access to high-level composition and arrangement techniques, giving those newbies and experienced musicians alike a novel opportunity to explore the artistic realm.

To boost self-learning, he skillfully adopts reflection and peer evaluation in the course. “One of the coolest discoveries in the class was having students to make a Director’s Commentary video of what they did and how they did it,” he said. “It is a great way to get the students to reflect on what they learned in a completely natural and unselfconscious way that is fun for everyone to learn from.” Students appreciated the capabilities to think, express, and present creatively that they gained, for both their professional and personal development.

Through the skillful design of BIEN 1010 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, Prof. Terence Wong manages to not only convey a comprehensive view of bio-imaging, drug delivery, vaccines, immunity, cancer, and more, in a non-intimidating fashion, but also fire up enthusiasm, resulting in many top-caliber participants taking bioengineering as their major.

To cater for students from diverse backgrounds, he builds up from basic chemistry and biology to more specific bioengineering topics, and brings his subject alive through examples related to daily life, anecdotes, and practical pros and cons of biomedical procedures, such as MRI and PET scans.

“Teaching is exhilarating. It is a two-way learning and interactive process, which requires teachers’ and students’ involvement. My teaching philosophy is that if I try to do my best in preparing the course materials, am passionate about teaching, and care about and listen to students’ opinions/feedback, students can feel these efforts. They are going to work harder, pay more attention to the class, and participate in in-class activities actively. I believe self-motivation is always the best propeller for learning!” Prof. Wong successfully inspires all who join his course, not only high-flyers, to see the relevance of what they are learning and to enjoy the process of asking questions, undertaking self-driven research, and proposing solutions.

Established in 2012 as the Common Core Course Excellence Award, the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award aims to recognize outstanding common core course instructors who have made substantial contributions to the design and teaching of exemplary common core courses, and to promote these courses to students in the University community.

NEWS TAGS News Tags Teaching and Learning Common Core Undergraduate Experiential Learning Computer Science and Engineering Chemical and Biological Engineering SHARE

Prof. Andrew Horner has brought originality and ingenuity to the common core course and developed lasting out-of-the-box thinking in his students. Placing students and their learning as the focus of his teaching approach, Prof. Terence Wong is open and ready to adapt new pedagogies and technologies, a great asset during the sudden switch to online learning due to COVID-19.

27/08/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Tomorrow’s Education Today The Mixed Reality Future of Teaching and Learning Content Banner Prof. Ben Chan Yui-Bun, Director of the Center for Engineering Education Innovation, immersed in HKUST’s specially designed mixed reality classroom, which offers many novel ways to teach and learn online and on-site and is a first for Hong Kong. Prof. Ben Chan Yui-Bun, Director of the Center for Engineering Education Innovation, immersed in HKUST’s specially designed mixed reality classroom, which offers many novel ways to teach and learn online and on-site and is a first for Hong Kong. [Download Photo] Body The pandemic has accelerated the introduction of engineering design in the virtual world and online education development at the School of Engineering, opening up innovative pedagogies to enhance students’ education experience

Learning how to do an experiment via a virtual laboratory. A collaborative project carried out alongside students in another part of the world yet as if they were in the same room. Advancing 3D virtual design and modeling skills early.

COVID-19 restrictions have brought a host of challenges to university teaching and learning, especially for in-person classes and lab training. However, for Prof. Ben CHAN Yui-Bun, the crisis has also brought 18 months of unexpected opportunities and wider scope to advance the School of Engineering’s pedagogies and boost students’ learning experience and enthusiasm for a career as an engineer.

Prof. Chan is Director of the School’s Center for Engineering Education Innovation (E2I), a unit devoted to exploring frontier education to ensure that engineering faculty and students at HKUST are provided with the latest understanding and resources on learning based on leading engineering education research.

He is particularly excited about the Center’s establishment of Hong Kong’s first mixed reality teaching and learning classroom for incorporating virtual reality-based components and immersive online learning, among other options. The adoption of software promoting collaborative online learning and virtual 3D modeling respectively in selected courses has also spurred student interactivity and design skills.

Mixed reality The HKUST-designed classroom contains online teaching equipment and an indoor positioning system that allows instructors and students to engage in mixed reality teaching and learning in multiple ways. Some 60-80 students can attend on-site in a regular classroom setting or around 50 if groupwork is required. It can also accommodate remote learners and a combination of face-to-face and online attendees. Highlights of the classroom to date include:

i) A virtual reality recording set-up, including an in-house devised motion capture system, whereby the instructor can record an experiment for students to carry out in a “virtual laboratory”. Students, wearing goggles and using a controller, can touch and use the equipment they encounter in the virtual lab (comprising specially built 3D models of each real-world object needed), then conduct the experiment following the instructor’s lead. Both instructor and students are represented by avatars in the virtual environment. In addition to providing an alternative if physical lab access becomes limited, as during the pandemic, other benefits include repeat experimentation opportunities prior to actual lab work, no use of actual materials, and less equipment safety concerns. A pilot has been created for a geotechnical engineering tri-axial test lab module.

ii) A large-scale curved screen, which together with the indoor positioning system provides 3D stereoscopic display. By tracking the instructor’s head position and orientation, the system creates the illusion the instructor is immersed in the video on screen. This eliminates the feeling that online learners are simply watching a video of the class that face-to-face students are being taught, instead delivering an authentic feeling of interaction in real-time between teacher and students in class and those attending remotely, according to Prof. Chan. The one-course-two-classrooms approach has been tested multiple times with universities in the Mainland, South Korea, and Japan.

Online interactivity The E2I team adopted the Miro online collaborative whiteboard software platform for use in the School’s common core course, Engineering Solutions to Grand Challenges of the 21st Century, which relies heavily on student participation during class. Miro enables students to work together through their mouse icons. In a class of 40 students, there will be 40 mouse icons using the same Miro board, enabling the teacher to monitor what each student is doing and how they are contributing to groupwork. Students can work in teams discussing their assigned task in Zoom breakout rooms, while at the same time pasting relevant materials and sticker notes on the whiteboard. They can also be “allowed” to see how other teams are tackling their particular tasks, creating a highly interactive class experience. In 2021, due to COVID-19, the course, led by Prof. Chan, was taught online, with lecture notes, pre-class exercises, and class activities reconfigured to fit the Miro platform. The result was “way out of our expectation”, Prof. Chan said, with some activities proving more engaging in Miro than in-person.

3D modeling Blender, a 3D design and modeling software, was used, together with Unity, an interactive real-time content creation platform, in the Cornerstone Engineering Design Project, an experiential course for first-year students. Prior to COVID-19, the course involved designing and building a real engineering artifact. Over 2020-21, when learning from home was necessary, students were taught instead how to design and build virtual 3D models. The realism and unlimited design capability provided by the combined technologies gave the School’s students a new way to express their creativity and provided a head start in the fast-developing area of virtual 3D modeling. Miro was also employed for the creativity training component of the Cornerstone course, enhancing teamwork.

Better teaching, better learning Prof. Chan is keen to stress that enlisting these hi-tech tools is not a matter of convenience in difficult circumstances, but driven by the objective of enhanced teaching quality and more impactful learning experience for students.

“We are working very hard trying to craft a different experience, which is even better than if it was face-to-face,” he said. To ensure this is the case, the Center engages in a thorough trial process prior to implementation in a course, involving regular meetings with its members to discuss new options, followed by lectures or workshops to test out potential software and to see whether students are happy with the technology. “This is the process we have gone through again and again and again.”

E2I was established in 2010 and since then the Center has tested out hundreds of different software and educational tools, he explained. Educators and students have had a better experience with a few, which are the ones E2I introduces. Center members are usually the pioneers in putting such a teaching innovation into practice, given the learning curve that adopting a new technology involves. This then allows the E2I instructors to provide training to other educators who subsequently become involved.

While Prof. Chan does not see the virtual lab totally replacing reality-based experimentation and testing at the moment, he notes that technology is moving fast. Two or three years ago, wearing a virtual reality headset for two hours would be an issue, given the weight of the goggles and connecting wires. “Even though you are watching the virtual world, you still feel that this is fake because of the equipment you are wearing. Now virtual reality goggles don’t have wires, they are very light, and you could wear them all day without any problem.”

Technical matters, such as variable internet connections depending on users’ location and equipment, malfunctioning hardware, along with familiarizing instructors with each new technology, still create certain limitations. However, Prof. Chan is confident that solutions will be found and that the possibilities that online and virtual reality-based teaching open up will see the development of a new generation of educational opportunities.

With a return to face-to-face classes, what next? What Prof. Chan is hopeful will happen at this point is an extension of the types of pedagogies used in courses, with an online learning platform or virtual reality experience incorporated into one or two components of the course, alongside face-to-face teaching to enhance the learning experience.

One beneficial legacy of COVID-19 restrictions is that both students and faculty have become more open and comfortable with the idea of learning in a setting other than a traditional classroom. Rather than a lecture or PowerPoint followed by after-class discussion by students, “everyone actually has some kind of expectation that there should be something more interesting,” he pointed out. “Education can provide a better experience for students when we have multiple settings in the same course.”

With the School, along with the rest of HKUST, set to resume regular face-to-face teaching in the Fall 2021 semester, he is keen to ensure that this momentum remains. “We are extremely active because we know we could easily go back to the old ways. If we change the way we perceive education, we have to do it now, when minds are open to new pedagogies and technologies.”

Trend-spotting and trend-setting To Prof. Chan, one of the key tenets of being an educator, especially in the engineering field, is spotting when a new development is likely to become a central skill in the future, and ensuring students can be taught it so they are prepared in their future lives.

For example, 3D printing, which would enable students to bring their 3D virtual designs into the real world, was prohibitively expensive until recently. Now the cost of such printers has reduced to a level where it has become potentially feasible.

“I always have in mind that we should keep up with the pace of technology,” he said. “If, for example, you see that in the future 3D modeling and 3D printing are among the skills that students will need, we have to teach them now. Even if it is difficult, we have to start ahead of time. That’s why we have university education.”

NEWS TAGS News Tags Engineering Education Innovation Teaching and Learning Education Innovation SHARE

Students equipped with goggles and a controller can touch and use equipment they find in HKUST’s virtual lab to conduct an experiment. Stepping inside the virtual lab where both instructor and student are represented by avatars. Combining 3D design and modeling software and a real-time content creation platform has enabled first-year students on the Cornerstone Engineering Design Project course to gain early experience of the fast-emerging field of virtual 3D modeling. Combining 3D design and modeling software and a real-time content creation platform has enabled first-year students on the Cornerstone Engineering Design Project course to gain early experience of the fast-emerging field of virtual 3D modeling.

05/08/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Promoting Social Entrepreneurship HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition 2021 Spotlights Creative Solutions to Solve Societal Issues Content Banner A group photo of Mr. Donny Siu, Acting Director of Entrepreneurship Center (fifth left), Mr. Andrew Young (fourth left), Associate Director (Innovation) of the Sino Group, and the winners. A group photo of Mr. Donny Siu, Acting Director of Entrepreneurship Center (fifth left), Mr. Andrew Young (fourth left), Associate Director (Innovation) of the Sino Group, and the winners. [Download Photo] Body Addressing societal issues has become a topic of common interest for the HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition this year, with two of the three winning teams proposing solutions hoping to help save the planet.

With Hong Kong striving to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, two winning student groups came up with plans to help reduce the city’s waste by upcycling bread scraps and making cutlery that can be savored together with the food. Meanwhile, another team created a real-time, non-invasive, and easily accessible technology to monitor athletes’ stress and muscle fatigue level to keep them from possible injuries induced by overtraining. All three winning teams have been working with their industrial partners on commercializing the products.

Despite the pandemic, the contest has attracted 185 participating teams this year - the largest number since its inception in Hong Kong in 2011, which has expanded to seven other regions covering Macau, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Zhongshan and the Yangtze River Delta for its latest edition. Winners from all the regions including that of Hong Kong will compete in a Grand Final round later.

Mr. Donny SIU, Acting Director of HKUST’s Entrepreneurship Center, said, “In recent years, we see more submitted proposals not only focusing on technology and a profit-making business model, but also on creating values for the society. The HKUST Entrepreneurship Center has been actively promoting "social entrepreneurship" to facilitate students’ entrepreneurship development. We encourage students to integrate commercialization with social innovation, offering advice as to how social innovation projects can attain long-term business sustainability. Judging from the entries and results of this year’s Competition, I can see that this social entrepreneurship model is being recognized and supported among young entrepreneurs, professional judges and the venture capitalists. We will continue to work with partners to promote socially beneficial entrepreneurial development.”

Mr. Andrew YOUNG, Associate Director (Innovation) of the Sino Group who sponsored this competition, said, “At Sino, we believe that innovation and technology are key to our future. We are delighted to partner with HKUST on this meaningful and inspirating initiative for the fourth consecutive year to prepare talented entrepreneurs for their journeys of innovation. Amid the pandemic, companies of all sizes and from all industries have seen the importance of innovation and technology in driving digitization, efficiency, and new solutions. I am grateful for the innovative entries from all participating teams and keen to see how the ideas of the three winning teams can contribute to a more sustainable and aspiring future. On behalf of Sino Group, I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to the winning teams on their brilliant ideas and success. We look forward to collaborating with more young, innovative minds and together, continue to build a better future.”

“The Able Company”, champion of the competition this year, started their waste bread recycling business in 2019 when they realized that nearly 1,700 tonnes of unsold bread are discarded by bakeries alone every day. The team came up with a proposal that turns leftover bread and unsold pizza crust into bottles of fruity and flavorful pale ale, which are now available in five stores under the Jardine Restaurant Group and Maxim’s with ongoing expansion plans. The company is an incubatee of HKSTP’s STEP Program (The Science and Technology Entrepreneur Program). They have also won the Platinum Award, Student Gold Award, and Elevator Pitch Award in this Competition.

“Planeteers”, winner of the Gold Award (first runner-up), came up with a different approach to realize their same vision of cutting waste. In the light of the surging amount of plastic cutlery being dumped at the landfill as people order more takeaways during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team created a set of edible whole-grain spoons, forks, and chopsticks which can also be consumed upon the end of the meal. The vegan and biodegradable cutlery is hopeful to replace 9 tonnes of non-environmentally friendly disposable cutlery, and, in the process, reduce carbon emissions equivalent to planting 11,000 trees by 2023.

Meanwhile, Silver award winner “PointFit Tech”, an incubatee of HKSTP Incu-Tech Program, has developed a system to monitor human muscle fatigue. Its core technology involves an ultra-thin antibacterial nano-membrane that could deduce an athlete’s stress level and warn him/her of overtraining through a connected mobile app. The technology is now under trial with several prominent sports teams and institutes in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (hkust.edu.hk) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. We were the world’s best young university in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2020, and our graduates were ranked 26th worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global University Employability Survey 2020.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

NEWS TAGS News Tags Youth Entrepreneurship Innovation SHARE

The Able Company team and their beer products. The edible cutlery created by Planeteers is made from whole-grain flours and therefore 100% vegan-friendly. The sweat sensor developed by PointFit monitors and warns athletes of muscle fatigue.

https://webarchive.hkust.edu.hk/workspace/4141/seng.hkust.edu.hk/news/20210505/bioengineering-phd-high-flyer-won-prestigious-butterfield-croucher-studentship-and-croucher-research-studentship.html

02/07/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title A Decade of Victory HKUST Robotics Team Named Champion in Hong Kong Regional of MATE International ROV Competition for 10 Years Content Banner The HKUST ROV Team won their 10th championship in the Hong Kong Regional of the MATE International ROV Competition that they joined since 2011. They would like to express their greatest appreciation to IET Hong Kong, MATE, and judges for hosting the competition in a difficult time and those who supported them in manufacturing and testing their ROV. The HKUST ROV Team won their 10th championship in the Hong Kong Regional of the MATE International ROV Competition that they joined since 2011. They would like to express their greatest appreciation to IET Hong Kong, MATE, and judges for hosting the competition in a difficult time and those who supported them in manufacturing and testing their ROV. [Download Photo] Body The HKUST Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Team has been named champion in the 16th Hong Kong Regional of the MATE International ROV Competition. The ROV Team, a sub-team of the HKUST Robotics Team, will represent Hong Kong in the MATE International ROV Competition 2021 this summer.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the team will compete and interact with other regional winning teams across the US and around the world in the international competition online for the first time. Named 2021 MATE ROV Competition VR World, the international contest will make use of virtual reality to facilitate social engagement, peer networking, and shared experience that students value most about the competition.

The Hong Kong regional competition this year was held online for the first time via Zoom, and involved a team presentation. Organized by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Hong Kong on June 12, it attracted excellent local teams from both secondary schools (in Ranger Class) and universities (in Explorer Class).

The HKUST team participated in the ROV regional competition since 2011 and was crowned the champion for 10 straight years. The competition was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The 2021 team consists of 17 undergraduates from various disciplines and five different parts of the world. Nearly all of them are from Year 1 and Year 2. In the competition, teams had to build underwater robots to tackle simulated real-world tasks, such as live image recognition of changes in coral colonies due to climate change, and retrieval of floating plastic debris in the ocean. They also had to prepare materials to promote their ROV, including a team presentation, marketing display, technical report, and safety documentation. Performance was evaluated by judges from both engineering and business perspectives.

IET is the UK’s largest professional engineering institution, and the IET Hong Kong is the second largest overseas branch. The Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center (located in California, US) and the Marine Technology Society’s ROV Committee have been organizing the MATE International ROV Competition since 2002, to inspire and challenge students to learn and creatively apply STEM to solve real-world problems and strengthen their critical thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Student List

This news was prepared with the help of ROV sub-team member Nicholas CHRISTANTO (Year 2, BEng in Computer Science and BBA in General Business Management)

26/07/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Never Give Up Adversity is Opportunity Content Banner Kevin is a dedicated volunteer at community centers. Kevin is a dedicated volunteer at community centers. [Download Photo] Body Life’s hardships come much early for HKUST’s third-year Data Science and Technology (DSCT) student Kevin LEUNG, who, despite coming from an underprivileged background, has not sold himself short. Recognized by numerous scholarships at HKUST, Kevin stands out from his fellows not only with his excellent grades, entrepreneurship spirit, and a caring heart for others, but, above all, a zest to turn adversity into opportunity.

A dashing runner Raised in a single-parent family, he has had a lot to shoulder since his youth. “I have helped with household chores since primary grade one, in addition to taking care of my ill father’s daily life,” says Kevin, whose father is diagnosed with kidney failure and is unable to work due to his health condition.

The father and son lead a frugal life. They can’t even afford air-conditioning. Kevin had to take up part-time jobs ranging from server to shop assistant to make up for family expenses, amidst hectic preparation for public examination.

“I am now thankful for the difficult times, which have trained me to be more persevering,” recalls Kevin. “Coming from such a background, I realized that I needed to hit the books much harder than others. Giving up has never been an option for me.”

After many nights staying up late for studying, his determination paid off. Scoring 5* in four subjects for his Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination results, he was admitted to HKUST to study risk management and business intelligence in 2017.

A high achiever But Kevin wanted more than just securing a place in the university. “I have had an enthusiasm for coding and programming, learning coding through YouTube videos and other open-source and writing apps since the age of 13.”

Opportunity knocked as HKUST launched Hong Kong’s first tech-based data science undergraduate program in 2018, and, after much deliberation, Kevin seized it. He succeeded in becoming the first cohort of DSCT students, and went on to declare two additional majors in computer science and mathematics.

Kevin is surely ready for the thriving field of data science. “My three majors complement each other well. To understand the development trends of big data, it is essential to grasp fundamental mathematical theories on top of having programming knowledge.”

Studying for a triple major is no easy task, but Kevin has managed to maintain his cumulative GPA above 3.8. Besides burying himself in studies, he has actively engaged in volunteering work such as collecting surplus bread, paying home visits to the elderly, and tutoring underprivileged students. “I have received much help from the bighearted, so I have to give back to society whenever I can.”

For his excellent performance, commitment to social services, and other achievements, he has been awarded more than 15 scholarships by Scholarships and Financial Aid Office (SFAO) over the years, totaling around HK$600,000.

With a wide range of academic and non-academic scholarship options available, SFAO supports students with financial needs or demonstrated achievements or talent to pursue their dream.

Like many other benefiters, Kevin has his full tuition fees covered and can therefore concentrate on studies and exploring his interests.

Kevin spends most of his time outside the classroom making an impact with his love of programming. He taught students programming basics at a primary school in the Kwun Tong district of Hong Kong to promote early STEM education; he has been conducting research on indoor position technology under the tutelage of school professors; he has brought ideas to fruition, winning a Cyberport Creative Micro Fund with his own budgeting app “Sparrow”, which is set to launch later this year.

A changemaker Now, moving into his final year of study at HKUST, he is eyeing for something bigger and beyond. Receiving a HK$300,000 scholarship from a local bank, he is planning to go on exchange next spring to study abroad at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

This opportunity might in turn support the growth of Kevin’s another initiative “YouVoice”, a collective he co-founded with his classmates to provide technological solutions to children with speech development delay.

The idea has stemmed from Kevin’s time spent with his younger relative, whose speech development has been hampered due to having Down’s syndrome. “She would speak in confusing word order, and someone always needs to be around to correct her. If this can be done by technology, such as a chatbot, wouldn’t that be great?”

Kevin is hoping to encourage speech development of these children with an app. “Many children around the globe are in need and technology can help,” Kevin affirms. Having combed through academic papers and done consultation with teachers, SEN students, and speech therapists, he thinks studying at MIT will be a great chance for a further probe.

“I am thrilled to learn more from the natural language processing experts there," Kevin says.

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. Having just turned 22, this young mind had a taste of adversity, but fueled by passion, he has found the possibility of creating a better future for himself and the people around.

(This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

07/07/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Changing the World for the Better Final Year Projects Received Accolades at ASM Technology Award 2021 Content Banner Two nominated teams from HKUST Engineering presented their project concepts and details, and were recognized for their excellence in technology and innovation. Two nominated teams from HKUST Engineering presented their project concepts and details, and were recognized for their excellence in technology and innovation. [Download Photo] Body Two Final Year Projects nominated by HKUST School of Engineering received recognitions at the ASM Technology Award 2021. The project presentation and award ceremony were held on June 30, 2021.

A team of four students from BSc in Data Science and Technology won the Silver Award with their project entitled “WiFi Sensing and Bus Queue Analysis for a Smart Campus”. Supervised by Prof. Gary CHAN of Computer Science and Engineering, the team is comprised of CHENG Hiu-Yan, HO Ting-Fung, LEUNG Sze-Chun, and YU Chun-Hoi. Earlier, their project was also named a winner of the Best Final Year Projects and Best Final Year Project Videos of the 2020-21 academic year by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

The project is designed to address the time-consuming and frustrating bus queueing issue at the North and South Gates in HKUST. Using big data mining and analytics techniques, the project estimates the level of crowdedness and queuing time of passengers at both gates, by sensing the signals emitted from users’ devices connected to WiFi in a privacy-preserving and real-time manner. Data collected are then processed to filter noisy or unwanted signals, and classified into different bus lanes according to the signal strength. Ultimately, passengers can view the crowdedness indicator, estimated queuing time, queue lengths, and other statistical data through a website accessible from both PC and mobile devices.

Another team, consisted of five students from BEng in Mechanical Engineering and led by Prof. SUN Qingping, presented their work on “A Novel Cam-Driven Compressive Elastocaloric Refrigeration Device” and received a Project Nomination Award. Team members include AU Chun-Yin, Iris HUI Wing-Yan, LUI Ngai-Long, PEA Ching-Hang, and SIU Yiu-Yan.

Now in its sixth year, the ASM Technology Award is an initiative of the ASM Pacific Technology Limited to promote technological innovation in Hong Kong. It honors the best and brightest engineering students – those who are changing the world for the better – for their accomplishments in technology.

This year, a total of 10 Final Year Projects related to engineering and technology have been nominated by five local universities, namely CityU, CUHK, PolyU, HKUST, and HKU.

07/06/2021 Thumbnail Title AI Vision Innovation Camera-Based Health Monitoring Solution Won Grand Prize & First Prize in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition Content Banner Nick Chin Jing-Wei (left) and Kyle Wong Kwan-Long (right) demonstrated their camera-based health and wellness monitoring solution at the 7th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. Nick Chin Jing-Wei (left) and Kyle Wong Kwan-Long (right) demonstrated their camera-based health and wellness monitoring solution at the 7th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. [Download Photo] Body The Smart Fever Screening System developed by Prof. Richard SO’s team for timely deployment in Hong Kong during the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020 has continued to advance and earn recognitions. The team recently won the Grand Prize in the entrepreneurship track and First Prize in the start-up category of the 7th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (第七屆香港大學生創新及創業大賽) for their enhanced project titled camera-based health and wellness monitoring solution.

Led by Prof. So, Professor of Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics (IEDA) and Associate Dean of Engineering (Research & Graduate Studies), the team comprises Bioengineering PhD student Kyle WONG Kwan-Long, IEDA PhD student Nick CHIN Jing-Wei, and IEDA MPhil student CHAN Tsz-Tai. In response to the pandemic, the team developed a smart temperature screening solution that utilizes artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data analytics to enable efficient and large-scale screening with the ability to seamlessly adapt to different environments.

The three students co-founded their start-up PanopticAI in September 2020 to extend their camera-based solution to detect additional physiological signals, for example, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood oxygenation saturation. By combining remote plethysmography (measuring changes in volume in different areas of one’s body) techniques with deep learning algorithms, the vital signs of a person can be extracted by analyzing subtle light changes on the skin that are invisible to the naked eye. Accurate measurement of core vital signs can enable further diagnostic capabilities such as fever, stress, cardiac and respiratory risks.

A total of 10 HKUST teams involving students from various disciplines received awards in the competition. (View the full list of HKUST winning teams in the news of the Entrepreneurship Center on June 4, 2021.)

Organized by the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association (香港新一代文化協會) and Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), the competition attracted 201 entries from 608 participants in 19 different institutions. The selected winning teams will represent Hong Kong in the widely recognized national innovation and entrepreneurship competitions for tertiary students, namely the China College Students’ “Internet Plus” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and the “Challenge Cup” National College Students’ Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Contest.

Related link:

HKUST press release (Mar 24, 2020): HKUST Researchers Develop a Smart Fever Screening System Offering a More Efficient Solution to Safeguard Public Health HKTDC story (Oct 29, 2021): 初創研AI監測健康數據 冀三年內拓展全球商機

29/04/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Recognizing PhD Research Excellence Civil Engineering PhD Graduate Awarded for Advanced Water Treatment Research Content Banner At the award ceremony, Dr. Yin Ran shared his rewarding experience in the engineering research journey at HKUST with other postgraduate research students. At the award ceremony, Dr. Yin Ran shared his rewarding experience in the engineering research journey at HKUST with other postgraduate research students. [Download Photo] Body Dr. YIN Ran, a 2020 PhD graduate from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been named the winner of the School of Engineering (SENG) PhD Research Excellence Award 2020-21.

Dr. Yin’s PhD research focuses on the fundamentals of the wavelength-pH-photodecay-radical nexus, which are significant to the applications of UV-LED photolysis of chlorine, chloramines, and chlorine dioxide for advanced water treatment. His work has specifically addressed the missing piece in scientific knowledge which is crucial in the real-world design and operation of multiple UV-LED-based water treatment processes. The idea and the pursuit are original, innovative, and both fundamentally and practically significant.

His excellent academic strengths and research capability have been well demonstrated by his exceptional track record. He has published 22 papers in leading journals, e.g. Environmental Science & Technology and Water Research in the field of environmental engineering, including being the first author of 12 papers and the corresponding author of two papers. He has an h-index of 14 and over 620 citations in Google Scholar. He is also the co-inventor of two granted patents. He has been selected to serve as the Strategic Growth Coordinator in the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) Young Professionals Committee since July 2019.

At the award ceremony, Dr. Yin shared his rewarding experience in the engineering research journey at HKUST with current postgraduate research students. He expressed gratitude for the valuable training and exchange opportunities, as well as technical and funding support from the University during his PhD studies. More importantly, he learned a great deal from his PhD advisor Prof. SHANG Chii, who taught him how to catch a fish instead of giving him a fish, which would benefit him for a lifetime.

“Do what you are truly passionate about, plan ahead and follow your plan, take every challenge as a learning process, cherish and learn from your lab mates, find a happy balance, and exercise physically and mentally.” Sharing his tips on PhD studies, Dr. Yin firmly believes that every effort pays off.

Dr. Yin was awarded the prestigious Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (RGC) Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2020, and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at HKUST. Joining the University in 2014 as an MPhil student in the same department, he earned his MPhil degree in 2016 and subsequently started his PhD studies.

Established in 2011, the SENG PhD Research Excellence Award scheme recognizes the outstanding achievements by our PhD students and recent graduates who have made influential contributions to their discipline during PhD studies at HKUST. This year, certificates were also presented to the shortlisted finalists Mr. Syed Faraz AHMED, current student of Electronic and Computer Engineering, and 2020 graduates Dr. KE Jintao, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Dr. YAO Yao, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.

Related Link:

SENG news (Jun 3, 2021): Engineering PhD Graduate Quenches Curiosity for Truth through Research

27/04/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Between Human and Technology Should We Harness AI or Fear It? Content Banner Prof. Pascale Fung sheds some light on the technology’s many benefits and risks. Prof. Pascale Fung sheds some light on the technology’s many benefits and risks. [Download Photo] Body Ever since computer science pioneer, Alan Turing, first asked “can machines think?” back in the 1940s, humanity’s concerns about machines being capable of acquiring the knowledge they needed to evolve have never faded. With potential applications for artificial intelligence (AI) now growing at a near exponential rate, how are we humans coping with the technology’s uncertainties? A renowned expert in the field of ethical use of AI, Prof. Pascale FUNG, here sheds some light on the technology’s many benefits and risks. Her biggest concern is people’s ignorance about AI means we may be doing a disservice to both ourselves and AI.

AI creates rather than eliminates jobs The explosion of AI’s acceptance is making it incredibly easy for industries to become both automated and scalable. While the future may look bewildering to those who lose their jobs – cleaners replaced by sanitizing robots, cashiers superseded by machines etc, Prof. Fung sees such redundancies as a cost of progress.

“Like the industrial revolution before it, the digital age is also creating many new jobs. Take application developers as an example. Before the smart phone there was no such job title, now millions worldwide are developing apps,” says Prof. Fung.

“We need to remember that AI is a tool which can improve our quality of life. We need to work with AI, not against it.”

“As with the various conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 vaccines, misinformation and rumors about new technologies such as AI are gaining traction via social media. People wildly speculate on things that don’t exist,” adds Prof. Fung. “Even some of my own family members initially believed the conspiracy theories. People opposed to vaccination are risking other people’s lives.”

“We need to understand that a machine itself does not have consciousness,” Prof. Fung goes on. “It’s sad that people today aren’t willing to listen and learn. If they did so they would quickly work out most of these rumors make no logical sense.”

Prof. Fung says early STEM education is a must for those wishing to leverage the kind of logical and critical thinking skills needed to debunk misinformation in today’s ever more hi-tech world.

The danger of fast tracking invention-application cycle In dismissing the possibility of AI’s somehow rendering human input obsolete, Prof. Fung argues that the biggest danger lies in insufficient developmental checks and balances.

An AI veteran of 30 years’ standing, Prof. Fung claims that people’s past inadequate awareness of AI meant that researchers like herself had only really began thinking about the technology’s ethical application in recent years.

“The normal 10-year lag between invention and application was expected to allow researchers to assess AI’s likely implications. However, the life cycle has been greatly shortened nowadays and there is insufficient time for regulations.”

Prof. Fung quotes large language model, GPT-2 systems, as an excellent example of the kind of risks that can occur as a result. “When humans are not in control of this kind of language model, the machine can generate sexist and racist comments and answer questions incorrectly. If it is used to answer medical questions, with the human-like, expert-like responses, this will be a real danger.”

Prof. Fung says such systems’ mistakes are sure to become even more catastrophic should the misinformation provided be amplified on a scalable basis.

As AI becomes more and more autonomous, Prof. Fung cautions that we must never surrender control of the technology’s production and monitoring.

“More enhanced mechanisms and safety measures are essential to control AI systems’ production and possible risk. Nowadays people do a PhD just on this new research topic: how to mitigate potential risks in different AI systems, hence, job opportunities!”

Regulatory differences: East vs West Moving onto the thorny issue of individual market legal and regulatory requirements, Prof. Fung has spotted a fascinating dichotomy between perceptions on AI in the East and West.

“Western science fiction books and films frequently depict AI as a dystopian force while Asian-originated characters like Doraemon tend to be far more positively portrayed, likeable and cute,” Prof. Fung says.

“Adherents of Eastern cultures such as Buddhism and Shinto believe the universe is harmonious and humans are no superior to other animals or objects. We emphasize more on the unimportance of humans compared to mother nature.”

“Born of the Western Christian belief that humans ‘manage the earth’, religion also plays a part. For example, in my favorite sci-fi movie Blade Runner, the man-made human replicants are engaged in an existential struggle to kill their creator. The religious undertones are very clear here: AI is trying to play God and dominate humans.”

Due to differences in peoples’ acceptance of technologies such as AI, both Europe and the US have legislated stricter, more firmly worded regulatory frameworks which stipulate the limits to what AI cannot do. Here in Asia, the emphasis is more on shared responsibilities, open collaboration and self-governance.

Transforming healthcare with AI Looking forward, Prof. Fung anticipates that AI’s wide deployment will pave the way for the rise of precision medicine by leveraging machine learning to identify possible cures for diseases.

“As such machines will be able to examine DNA sequences and leverage their findings to tailor better treatments for cancer patients, precision medicine is an area that really does need to be more fully explored. This will require a lot of data for learning machines to crunch,” says Prof. Fung.

Prof. Fung adds that before effective machine learning can go ahead, stringent monitoring measures must be put in place and more patients will need to consent to the harvesting of their data. While facilitating such developments and applications will require a great deal of work, Prof. Fung remains positive that AI will reshape patient care and benefit both doctors and patients but only if -

“we must keep humans in the loop.”

Watch the interview with Prof. Pascale Fung here.

Related link:

SENG News (Mar 8, 2021): Prof. Pascale FUNG: Woman Engineer Defies All Odds (This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

13/08/2021 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Going for PhD Dream in MIT “Uncertainty Is What Makes Life So Interesting!” Content Banner Both leaving their hometown Indonesia and pursuing studies at HKUST, alumnus Ne Myo Han (right) shares with Cindy Tanaka (Year 3, BEng in Chemical and Environmental Engineering) his journey at HKUST and the excitement of achieving his PhD dream. Both leaving their hometown Indonesia and pursuing studies at HKUST, alumnus Ne Myo Han (right) shares with Cindy Tanaka (Year 3, BEng in Chemical and Environmental Engineering) his journey at HKUST and the excitement of achieving his PhD dream. [Download Photo] Body In 2012, alumnus Ne Myo HAN left his hometown Indonesia and came to HKUST, where he obtained his BEng and MPhil in Mechanical Engineering in 2015 and 2017 respectively. While studying at HKUST, he was an all-rounder who actively participated in various extra-curricular and academic activities. Under Prof. Jang Kyo KIM’s guidance, he studied graphene aerogels and co-authored six articles in peer-reviewed journals, accumulating over 300 citations so far. After completing his degrees at HKUST, Han worked as a materials engineer in a leading semiconductor company for four years.

Having gained research experience in graphene 3D structures and work experience in the industry, he recently received a prestigious Croucher Scholarship to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – a lifelong dream of his. Before he leaves for the US this summer, I was glad to be able to have a conversation with him on his journey in HKUST, career in the industry, dream of attending PhD studies, and more.

1. Starting off with the beginning of your journey at HKUST, how were you attracted to mechanical engineering, specifically in materials?

When I was planning for university, I initially wanted to study either mathematics or physics. Yet I ended up taking interest in mechanical engineering, which is a good integration between the two. When it comes to engineering, what fascinates me is how humanity keeps trying to achieve something that has never been achieved before – though problems arise in the process, we try to fix them, learn from them, and aspire to do better.

In the end, what really piqued my interest is materials, a field closely tied to everything else. During my time in HKUST Robotics Team, we wanted our robot to be rigid enough, so we made it so big that it ended up weighing 40 kilograms! This is because when you want to make something stiffer, you either increase its thickness or use materials with better properties. That was how I got inspired to discover stiffer and stronger materials, and conducted research on carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer in a summer research program at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2014.

Upon returning to HKUST from Japan, I stumbled upon Prof. Kim’s research on graphene aerogels, a three-dimensional material, which was exactly what I was looking for, since it could address the weak out-of-plane properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer. I then decided to take part in his Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) project, and later pursued my MPhil degree under his supervision as well.

2. Looking back on when you were a student, how would you describe your journey in HKUST Engineering? What were some memorable experiences?

The first word about HKUST that comes into mind is “opportunities”. I recall being overwhelmed by so many emails every day about all the happenings around, whether it is from my Department (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), the School of Engineering, or at university level, bringing us up to date with the abundant opportunities here. I joined the Robotics Team and the Engineering Student Ambassador (ESA) Program in my first year, and later became part of the Hall Education Team as well.

We, students, are full of potentials. But we need a spark to ignite the flame, and this is how HKUST helps – apart from academic studies, we are encouraged to have a holistic experience at the university, such as mentorship programs, competitions, research opportunities, exchange programs, summer internships, and many more.

One of the highlights of my HKUST journey was being an ESA, through which I learned a lot about teamwork, empathy, and how to connect with people better. I also gained more exposure to develop and polish my soft skills. There was even once a time where they organized a dining etiquette workshop for ESAs! In a way, being an ESA really gives you the freedom of thought and encourages you to know what you want, because you are the leader there. What will you do, given all these opportunities? Being able to put these forward and inspire other people gives me a sense of accomplishment, and I am grateful to be able to grow in this supportive family.

3. Could you tell us more about what you have gone through to achieve your dream of studying a PhD in MIT?

It was my high school dream to study for a PhD, so I am surely excited about this! In the past few years, I have been comfortable working in the industry, but then I began looking for another challenge. That was the time when, with the help of one of my course instructors at HKUST, Prof. Stephen LEE, I revisited my dream of pursuing a PhD degree in the States.

In fact, I only became closer with Prof. Lee during my final year in MPhil. He has been a great mentor and friend who encourages and supports me through my difficult times, including the time when my first PhD applications in the US were all rejected, right after completing my MPhil degree. In the end, he was the one who pushed and motivated me to step out of my comfort zone, and reapply for PhD studies after working here in Hong Kong for four years.

The actual process of choosing which universities and research groups to apply to could be very daunting at the start, but also very rewarding for someone serious about research. This time around, having built my portfolio with relevant publications and experience in the industry, I was more confident in my application. All these paid off in the end, and I got admitted to MIT!

4. Getting ready for your new journey in MIT, what is the spirit from HKUST you would like to carry on?

Having been exposed to the innovative environment in HKUST, I learned that when you have an idea or a goal, you have ways to find the right resources and the right people to help you realize your dream. It is about how you set your mind on your goal and how much work you put into it. I will definitely take this can-do spirit of HKUST to my future journey in MIT.

5. Could you recommend to us your favorite movie?

Inception is my favorite movie, but another movie that may have more relevance to my situation is Good Will Hunting. It is about humble beginnings, and I can relate to that because coming from Indonesia, we had to overcome hurdles after hurdles to study at HKUST. I remember having to study much harder than other students to attain the required grades for admission. Upon arriving in Hong Kong, there were still lots of adjustments we had to go through in the new environment. Despite the up and downs, I am proud of myself for making the decision to come to this place and doing well here, and I hope I can keep this up in my journey at MIT.

6. If you could meet your younger self, what would you like to tell him?

I would tell myself to stop worrying. I used to worry a lot as my younger self, especially my grades, when I started university. I thought: if I have too many things on my plate, will I be able to keep up with academics? Even when communicating with others, I could recite and rehearse what I plan to say over and over in my head, that I end up forgetting to say it.

In almost all scenarios, just keep worrying and doing nothing is the worst course of action one can take, as it consumes both your time and energy. One thing that Prof. Stephen Lee told me was, “if worrying can solve the problem, then go ahead and worry as much as you can.”

And so, I have learned not to worry too much – as it just creates another problem on top of the one you already have – and start doing something to solve my problem. This is applicable to not only studies and work, but also handling relationships with people. Since coming to the realization, my university life has been about seizing the opportunities offered by HKUST.

7. What advice would you give to your juniors who are stepping into their future?

It is all right if you still don’t know what you want to do, but do make an effort to explore your options. There are so many opportunities at HKUST: internships, UROP or summer research, student teams, or even building your own start-up. From there, go with what works the best for you, but keep in mind that it’s not permanent – choosing one does not mean you are tied to it for your entire career.

If you aspire to pursue further studies, I will tell you that there is no fail-safe formula for it. You will never know what is going to happen with your applications for graduate studies, but do your best and present your package – build your portfolio and include some research experience and publications to back it up. One more important thing is to maintain a good relationship with your teachers and supervisors.

There is no formula for success – everyone has a unique path to unfold on their own. It is great to be inspired by someone else, but I wouldn’t want anybody to follow in someone else’s footsteps all the way. Sometimes you see other people’s achievements, but you might not see the struggles underneath. So, don’t just follow a fixed path – having a little bit of uncertainty in life is what makes it so interesting!

By Engineering Student Ambassador Cindy Aiko Filbert Tanaka

Related link:

MAE news (July 19, 2021): MAE alumni Ne Myo Han and Eunyoung Kim admitted to PhD programs at MIT and Stanford