SENG News, Issue 29

Abstract

[evdate 2022-06-15] Prof. Bertram SHI Appointed Acting Dean of Engineering Prof. Bertram Shi from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering took up his new role on April 1, 2022. HKUST President Prof. Wei SHYY Honored by French Government Prof. Kei May LAU Selected as One of the Most Successful Women 2022 by Magazine JESSICA Prof. Pascale FUNG Elected Fellow of Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Prof. YU Hongyu and Prof. Larry LI Elected as Fellows of Royal Aeronautical Society Prof. Anthony LEUNG Received Outstanding Young Geotechnical Engineer Award HKUST Develops New Multifunctional Hydrogel for Odor and Microbial Control in Hong Kong’s Drainage and Flushing Systems The gel is proven effective in treating odor at numerous drainage locations and in killing flush water bacteria and viruses, including the highly transmissible Omicron variant. HKUST Researchers Develop Long-Term In Vivo Imaging Technique to Better Understand and Treat Spinal Cord Injury The new approach paves the way for a better understanding of the pathology and potential treatment of spinal cord injury. HKUST Develops New Smart Antimicrobial Coating with Long-Term Protection Against Omicron The coating is effective in killing a wide range of bacteria, and spores, as well as inactivating 99.9% of the highlyinfectious Omicron variant. Associate Dean Prof. WANG Yu-Hsing Protects Mother Nature with Engineering Expertise Blockchain and NFTs Explained Getting Career Ready Through Cross- Disciplinary Studies and International Exposure Using Tech to Make a Difference Prof. Ying CHAU Sees Lifting Students to Full Potential as Her Calling in Life Devoted to societal impact and mentoring, Prof. Chau conducts revolutionary research in drug delivery for eye diseases, and adopts a human-centered approach to nurturing students. Wisdom from Women Faculty in STEM HKUST has been cultivating an inclusive learning and research environment since its establishment. Read this story to see how SENG female professors are empowered to reach their full potential in the male-dominated STEM field. Winning AI Solution Helps Remotely Monitor Patients’ Vital Signs Victory at HKUST President’s Cup 2022 Unicorns Spotlight Hi-Tech Entrepreneurship The entrepreneurship success of SENG members was recognized in the “Unicorns HK 2021” shortlist, with six out of 18 start-ups founded or co-founded by the School’s faculty or alumni. Setting STEM Knowledge to Work in Soccer Robot Workshops The Academy for Bright Future Young Engineers held well-received soccer robot workshops for secondary school students. Atmospheric Scientist Alumna Advances Sustainability Through Leading-Edge Air Quality Research Chemical and Environmental Engineering alumna Prof. Sally Ng leads air quality research and nurtures the next generation of aerosol explorers. Aerospace Engineering Fresh Graduate Co- Hosted Out-of-this-World Event Fresh graduate Marco Clark served as an emcee for the real-time video dialogue between three taikonauts in China’s Tiangong space station and Hong Kong youngsters. If you have any difficulties viewing this email, please click here. SENG eNewsletter (Issue 29, June 2022) APPOINTMENT FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS RESEARCH TEACHING & LEARNING WOMEN IN ENGINEERING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ALUMNI CONNECTIONS To comment: sengpr@ust.hk To unsubscribe: click here Copyright © 2022 School of Engineering, HKUST All Rights Reserved. • ~~Mtx1'-1' UTIJII THE HONG KONG , UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ~ Iii!~ ~ SCHOOLOF ~ ENGINEERING tt;lt:Jil *' THE HONG KONG ~IVERSITY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY~ • a • w• ·• w • ti ~ fH~ :'11:: ¥' ii ~.JTEJII THE HONG KONG ~ ~ UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ...... . ..... ,... mm - ···••• :·······································: ~ Ili!l!Jc ~ SCHOOLOF t:,_.) ENGINEERING .· i!l

Home News & Media Announcement Published Date 20/05/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title First Female President HKUST Appoints Prof. Nancy IP as Fifth President Content Banner HKUST Council Chairman Mr. Andrew Liao with Prof. Nancy Ip (left), the first woman President of HKUST. HKUST Council Chairman Mr. Andrew Liao with Prof. Nancy Ip (left), the first woman President of HKUST. [Download Photo] Body Today, the Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) unanimously approved the appointment of Prof. Nancy IP as the next president of the University with effect from October 19, 2022, succeeding Prof. Wei SHYY who will step down from the position. Prof. Ip is the first woman to be appointed to this position since the founding of HKUST in 1991.

A world-renowned molecular neuroscientist, Prof. Ip has grown with HKUST. Joining the University in 1993, she progressed steadily through the ranks, first to Head of Department of Biochemistry in 2000, then Dean of Science in 2011, and more recently in 2016, Vice-President for Research and Development (VPRD), a position she held until last month. During her tenure as VPRD, Prof. Ip set new research directions, streamlined and enhanced the efficiency of the University’s research facilities, oversaw strategic development of research projects, and increased external research collaborations and funding opportunities. In 2018, she took the initiative – alongside other Hong Kong-based fellows of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering – to request the Central Government to relax the flow of Mainland funding and resources into Hong Kong for research purposes, catalyzing many local research projects and bringing in new opportunities.

Prof. Ip, Morningside Professor of Life Science at HKUST, has also made outstanding contributions to science development, globally and locally, and significantly advanced the neuroscience field through her pioneering research. Not only has she made prominent breakthroughs in the development of diagnostic and prognostic tools for Alzheimer’s disease but has also steered research policy on a global level. She is currently a member of the Leadership Group of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, a coalition focused on driving global scientific, business, policy and financial coordination in Alzheimer’s preparedness. She also serves on different councils of the World Economic Forum to drive positive outcomes in the areas of brain science and precision medicine. Furthermore, she manages national and international research projects related to neuroscience and serves as the director of the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience as well as the director of the Hong Kong Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Prof. Ip is globally recognized for her notable achievements and contributions. She is Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, International Member of the US National Academy of Sciences, Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences, Member of The Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, and Council Chair of The Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians. Her other honors and awards include the National Natural Science Award in 2002 and 2011, the L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Award in 2004 - making her the first honoree in life sciences from China, and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite from the French government in 2011.

Prof. Ip’s appointment as president is the result of a rigorous global search process. Spanning many months, this process was overseen by a search committee with the support of an independent search firm, which took into account the desired attributes of a new president as expressed by the University’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni in an online survey. These include the ability to lead the University to the next level of excellence, identify new opportunities amid a challenging and competitive environment, conduct effective advocacy for the advancement of higher education, as well as enhance innovation and knowledge transfer locally, regionally, and internationally. The committee conducted several rounds of interviews to shortlist a global pool of eminently qualified candidates and made their recommendation to the Council after careful reviews and thorough deliberations.

Announcing the appointment, HKUST Council Chairman Mr. Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing said that the University was thrilled to appoint its first woman president. “Nancy is a one-of-a-kind combination of an accomplished scientist, a seasoned university administrator, and an HKUST-grown leader. With her immense executive experience, her extensive networks, as well as her national and global standing, I am sure she will enhance the diversity of our university and bring about different ideas to broaden perspectives and inspire innovation,” he said. “With the opening of HKUST(Guangzhou) just around the corner, I am confident that Nancy will be able to take advantage of every opportunity presented under the “Unified HKUST-Complementary Campuses” umbrella to bring the University to greater heights of achievement.”

President-designate Prof. Ip said she was greatly honored to be selected for the post. “I have had the most amazing journey at HKUST alongside talented and passionate colleagues and students. I have witnessed the growth of HKUST into a world-leading center of excellence in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer in just three decades. I am humbled by the trust placed in me, and will work tirelessly to build upon our foundation of excellence as we embark on HKUST 2.0, the next chapter of our university’s development. Once our new campus in Guangzhou opens in September, we will have expanded capabilities and resources, wider expertise, and stronger support for both exploratory and mission-encouraged research, all of which will be available to our members on both campuses. Moreover, with the launch of our new and innovative academic framework across the two campuses, we will continue our mission to provide quality education to shape the next generation of leaders.”

Also welcoming the appointment, President Prof. Wei Shyy said, “I congratulate Nancy on her appointment. I have known and worked with her since I joined HKUST in 2010. I wish her all the best in the coming years and trust that our community will continue to render their support to Nancy as well as the University.”

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Prof. Ip received her secondary school education at St. Mary’s Canossian College before earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry with distinction from Simmons College in Boston, US. She completed her PhD in pharmacology at Harvard University in 1983, after which she worked as a senior staff scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in New York, US, before returning to Hong Kong in 1993.

Over her scholarly career, Prof. Ip has made numerous important contributions towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying brain development and synaptic plasticity, and their dysregulation in neurological disorders, which are paving the way for the development of effective diagnostics and therapeutics for related diseases. Prof. Ip has also served at different public organizations, including the Advisory Committee on Innovation and Technology to the HKSAR Government, the University Grants Council, the Research Grants Council, and the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks. She is also a Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress. (Please find Prof. Ip’s CV here.)

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

Home News & Media Announcement Published Date 01/04/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title School Leadership Prof. Bertram SHI Appointed Acting Dean of Engineering Content Banner Prof. Bertram Shi, Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering, becomes the Acting Dean of Engineering with effect from April 1, 2022. Prof. Bertram Shi, Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering, becomes the Acting Dean of Engineering with effect from April 1, 2022. [Download Photo] Body Prof. Bertram SHI, Professor and former Head of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE), has been appointed as Acting Dean of Engineering with effect from April 1, 2022. Prof. Shi succeeds Prof. Tim CHENG, who takes up his new role as the Vice-President for Research and Development on the same date.

Prof. Shi received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1994 and joined HKUST as Assistant Professor in the same year. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2001 and then to full Professor in 2008.

Having joined the University in its early years, Prof. Shi has extensive administrative experience serving the ECE Department and the School of Engineering. He was the Head (2015-2021) and Associate Head (2010-2014) of ECE and Founding Director of the MSc Program in Electronic Engineering (2004). He has served on various executive committees, notably chairing the Curriculum Committee (2008-2010) during the ramp up to the launch of the 3+3+4 curriculum. His administrative capability has been demonstrated by his outstanding leadership in successfully driving several endeavors at the Department and School levels.

Prof. Shi is an established scholar areas of neuromorphic engineering, computational neuroscience, and human-machine & human-robot interfaces, with a particular focus on the modeling and automated analysis of facial expressions and eye movements. His research group has developed top-ranked systems for emotion recognition and received top paper prizes at international conferences. He was elected Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2001, becoming one of the youngest elected fellows as a testament to his international stature.

He has been active in providing professional services to the IEEE and to the academic community at large. He was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (CASS), chaired the IEEE CASS Technical Committee on Cellular Neural Networks and Array Computing and served on the editorial boards of multiple professional journals.

Home News & Media Announcement Published Date 06/05/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Highest Distinction Bestowed by French Republic HKUST President Prof. Wei SHYY Honored by French Government Content Banner HKUST President Prof. Wei Shyy was bestowed with the distinction of Officer in the National Order of the Legion of Honour by Mr. Alexandre Giorgini, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau on behalf of the President of the French Republic. HKUST President Prof. Wei Shyy was bestowed with the distinction of Officer in the National Order of the Legion of Honour by Mr. Alexandre Giorgini, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau on behalf of the President of the French Republic. [Download Photo] Body Prof. Wei SHYY, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), was bestowed with the distinction of Officer in the National Order of the Legion of Honour by Mr. Alexandre GIORGINI, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, at a ceremony held at the HKUST campus today. This award was conferred on behalf of the President of the French Republic in recognition of Prof. Shyy’s visionary leadership in the field of education and prominent scientific contributions to the advancement of aerospace engineering, as well as his role in fostering academic cooperation between France and Hong Kong.

The Legion of Honour is the highest distinction bestowed by the French Republic. Since its creation in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, it has been awarded in the name of the Head of State to reward the most deserving citizens in all fields of activity. The National Order of the Legion of Honour is divided into five degrees: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer), and Grand Croix (Grand Cross).

In his capacities as President of HKUST and Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Prof. Shyy played a central role in establishing exchange programs and collaboration between HKUST and leading French higher education and research institutions. Deeply convinced that sustainability is one of today’s major challenges, he encouraged the strengthening of cooperation with France on a wide range of issues spanning sustainable finance, green technologies, and ocean preservation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mr. Alexandre Giorgini said, “The Légion d’Honneur was bestowed upon Prof. Shyy because of his “Enlightenment”. One of France’s leading philosophers, Denis DIDEROT said that there were three ways to be enlightened: nature observation, reflection, and experimentation. And Prof. Shyy has explored all of them with success. He has taken inspiration from nature – and especially from dragonfly’s flight – to work on aerodynamics, and have a strong ability to move beyond his specialty to reflect and embrace larger views on the world. He pioneered sustainability challenges in Hong Kong and HKUST accommodates the largest solar panels installation in the territory. I am proud to see that France is a key partner in this field and I am looking forward to signing soon a memorandum of understanding to launch the France-HKUST Sustainability Hub.”

HKUST President Prof. Wei Shyy said he is honoured to have received such a prestigious award, “Over the years, HKUST has forged a close partnership with the French consulate and numerous French institutions. Back in 2017, we jointly established the France-HKUST Innovation Hub, fostering research collaboration and exchange between our academics and the French partners. Thanks to many partners’ enthusiastic efforts, I am very pleased to see our relations continually strengthened with renewed agreement to address sustainability, innovations, as well as promotion of art events and joint academic pursuit. Today, I am accepting this recognition really on behalf of my HKUST colleagues.”

Throughout his tenure at HKUST, Prof. Shyy enhanced his humanistic vision of education through numerous initiatives promoting excellence and multi-disciplinarity. In line with his spirit of dialogue between cultures and mutual understanding, Prof. Shyy also offered his full support to the relocation of the French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC) to the HKUST’s School of Humanities and Social Science. China Perspectives, the academic journal issued quarterly by CEFC, is internationally recognized and reflected in the Social Sciences Citation Index in 2019.

Prior to joining HKUST as Provost in August 2010, Prof. Shyy was Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson Collegiate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is the author or a co-author of six books and numerous research articles dealing with aerial and space flight vehicles, thermal sciences, and biomechanical topics. He is General Editor of the Cambridge Aerospace Book Series published by the Cambridge University Press, and Co-Editor-in Chief of Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering published by Wiley-Blackwell.

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

Home News & Media Recognition Published Date 20/05/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Honoring Outstanding Leadership Prof. Kei May LAU Selected as One of the Most Successful Women 2022 by Magazine 旭茉 JESSICA Content Banner Prof. Kei May Lau was recognized for her achievements and outstanding contributions to society in the JESSICA Most Successful Women Award 2022. Prof. Kei May Lau was recognized for her achievements and outstanding contributions to society in the JESSICA Most Successful Women Award 2022. [Download Photo] Body Prof. Kei May LAU, Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was selected as one of the Most Successful Women 2022 by magazine 旭茉 JESSICA for her contributions to society and industry.

旭茉 JESSICA is a monthly glossy magazine launched in 2000 in Hong Kong, aiming to serve the needs of the city’s executive women in the new millennium. Its annual Most Successful Women Award honors women who have contributed to their respective industries, sectors, and the society of Hong Kong and Greater China. Each nominated woman was evaluated by the jury, and finally stood out as an awardee. The award recognizes Prof. Lau’s outstanding leadership, position, and presence, all of which have played an influential and significant role in our society.

Prof. Lau received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD degree in electrical engineering from Rice University. She joined HKUST in 2000 and established the Photonics Technology Center for R&D effort in III-V and wide band-gap semiconductor materials and devices. Prof. Lau is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Optica, and the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES). She is also a recipient of the IET J. J. Thomson Medal for Electronics (2020), Optica Nick Holonyak Jr. Award (2020), IEEE Photonics Society Aron Kressel Award (2017), US National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Award for Women Scientists and Engineers (1991), and Hong Kong Croucher Senior Research Fellowship (2008).

Related link:

JESSICA Most Successful Women Award 2022

Home News & Media Recognition Published Date 25/02/2022 Thumbnail Title Driving Conversational AI & Ethical AI Prof. Pascale FUNG Elected a 2022 Fellow of Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Content Banner Prof. Pascale Fung was recognized for significant contributions to the field of conversational AI and to the development of ethical AI principles and algorithms. Prof. Pascale Fung was recognized for significant contributions to the field of conversational AI and to the development of ethical AI principles and algorithms. [Download Photo] Body Prof. Pascale FUNG, Electronic and Computer Engineering, has been elected a 2022 Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) “for significant contributions to the field of conversational AI and to the development of ethical AI principles and algorithms”. She was one of only 10 Fellows elected.

The AAAI fellows program recognizes individuals who have made significant, sustained contributions to the field of artificial intelligence. Fellows’ accomplishments range from pioneering advances in the theory of AI, to unusual accomplishments in AI technology and AI applications.

Prof. Fung’s research interest lies in building intelligent systems that can understand and empathize with humans. To achieve this goal, her specific areas of research are using statistical modeling and deep learning for natural language processing, spoken language systems, emotion and sentiment recognition, and other areas of AI.

She is the Director of HKUST Center for AI Research (CAiRE) and co-founded the Human Language Technology Center. She is a Fellow of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and International Speech Communication Association (ISCA).

Prof. Fung has been active in providing professional services to the international community. She is an expert on the Global Future Council, a think tank for the World Economic Forum, and she represents HKUST on Partnership on AI to Benefit People and Society. She is on the Board of Governors of the IEEE Signal Processing Society and is a member of the IEEE Working Group to develop an IEEE standard – Recommended Practice for Organizational Governance of Artificial Intelligence. She is a past president and a board member of the ACL Special Interest Group on Linguistic Data and Corpus-Based Approaches to Natural Language Processing. Her research team has won several best and outstanding paper awards at ACL annual meeting, as well as ACL and Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) workshops.

Home News & Media Recognition Published Date 25/05/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Outstanding Contributions in Aeronautics Prof. YU Hongyu & Prof. Larry LI Elected as Fellows of Royal Aeronautical Society Content Banner Prof. Larry Li (left) and Prof. Yu Hongyu (right) have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the world’s only professional body dedicated to the aerospace community. Prof. Larry Li (left) and Prof. Yu Hongyu (right) have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the world’s only professional body dedicated to the aerospace community. [Download Photo] Body Two Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering associate professors have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society, in recognition of their contributions to education, research, and service in aerospace engineering.

The highest grade of membership, the Fellow grade is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions, attained a position of high responsibility or had a long career of high quality in the profession of aeronautics.

Prof. YU Hongyu’s research interest is providing engineering solutions for scientific studies and real-life demands. He focuses on smart structures, sensors and sensing platforms, and miniature instrumentation with applications for aerial vehicles, robotics, and consumer electronics. Before joining HKUST in 2018, Prof. Yu was a tenured faculty member at Arizona State University, US, where he was the principal investigator for several projects from NASA, National Science Foundation, and Intel.

Prof. Larry LI’s research focuses on fluid mechanics, thermoacoustics, and nonlinear dynamics, with applications ranging from aircraft propulsion to power generation. He has investigated a variety of thermofluid phenomena, including global instabilities in open shear flows, non-Newtonian atomization in crossflows, and forced/mutual synchronization of thermoacoustic modes. His industrial experience includes working with Rolls-Royce, LB Foster, and Coanda Research & Development. Prof. Li joined HKUST in 2014, following his time at the University of Cambridge where he received his PhD and later became a research associate.

Established in 1866, the Royal Aeronautical Society has been at the forefront of developments in aerospace, seeking to promote the highest professional standards and provide a central forum for sharing knowledge. The Society now has over 22,500 members and has become an international, multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.

Home News & Media Recognition Published Date 25/05/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Working with Nature for Sustainable Designs Prof. Anthony LEUNG Received ISSMGE Outstanding Young Geotechnical Engineer Award Content Banner Prof. Anthony Leung focuses on the applications of nature-based solutions to geotechnical engineering problems such as slope stabilization. Prof. Anthony Leung focuses on the applications of nature-based solutions to geotechnical engineering problems such as slope stabilization. [Download Photo] Body Prof. Anthony LEUNG, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been awarded the Outstanding Young Geotechnical Engineer Award by the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), which is the largest international learned society in geotechnical engineering. This award is given out every four years, and Prof. Leung is one of the three awardees from around the world this year. The award ceremony was held at the 20th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 2022 (ICSMGE 2022), which was delivered in hybrid mode in Sydney, Australia on May 1-5, 2022.

The award aims to recognize young members (under the age of 36) who have made outstanding contributions to the practice or research in geotechnical engineering through research or industrial projects. Candidates are evaluated on their contributions to geotechnical project development and construction, research contributions in the geotechnical community, involvement in national and international geotechnical societies, and publications and education in the geotechnical discipline.

Prof. Leung’s research expertise is in unsaturated soil-plant interaction with emphasis on geotechnical engineering applications such as slope stabilization. A prolific researcher and author, he has published more than 70 SCI journal articles in the subject of soil-vegetation interaction, and has co-authored the textbook Plant–Soil Slope Interaction (Taylor & Francis, 2019). In addition, Prof. Leung is currently the editor-in-chief of ISSMGE Bulletin and secretary of both ISSMGE’s Technical Committee on Unsaturated Soils (TC106) and Technical Committee on Tropical Residual Soils (TC107). He is also serving on the editorial boards of multiple international academic journals, including Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Landslides, International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, as well as Environmental Geotechnics.

“I’m very honored,” says Prof. Leung, “to receive this prestigious international award! I’m very glad, of course, because of winning, but more so and more importantly because it means that my ‘farming’ research in geotechnical engineering has been recognized. The past several years has been an absolutely amazing journey; I’ve very much been enjoying ‘unearthing’ [pun intended] the hidden half of plants – i.e. their roots, including how they interact with different soils, and how we can, and should, learn more about nature and work with nature to achieve better, more sustainable engineering designs. ISSMGE has provided me an excellent platform to share my research with fellow scholars and peers through different international activities. I must thank them for giving me opportunities to contribute and serve in different capacities.”

Previously, Prof. Leung also received the 2018 International Award for Innovation in Unsaturated Soil Mechanics and 2019 Bright Spark Lecture Award from ISSMGE. He was named an Excellent Young Scientist (優青 (港澳)) by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in 2019, which was the first year that NSFC opened the highly competitive award scheme to scholars from Hong Kong and Macau, and was the only scholar in the civil engineering discipline among the 25 inaugural awardees. Most recently, his co-authored paper was awarded the Geotechnical Research Medal 2022 by ICE Publishing of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), UK.

Home News & Media Research & Innovation Published Date 20/05/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Bringing an End to Drainage Odor HKUST Develops New Multifunctional Hydrogel for Odor and Microbial Control in Hong Kong’s Drainage and Flushing Systems Content Banner (From left) Prof. Joseph Kwan, Adjunct Professor of HKUST Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) and Chairman of Board of Directors of Haven of Hope Christian Service (HOHCS); Prof. Yeung King-Lun, Professor at HKUST’s Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering and ENVR; Dr. David Chung, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology; and Mr. Hamilton Hung, Chief Marketing Officer of Chiaphua Industries Limited, holding different formulas of MOC hydrogel and AMGel (light blue bottle). (From left) Prof. Joseph Kwan, Adjunct Professor of HKUST Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) and Chairman of Board of Directors of Haven of Hope Christian Service (HOHCS); Prof. Yeung King-Lun, Professor at HKUST’s Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering and ENVR; Dr. David Chung, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology; and Mr. Hamilton Hung, Chief Marketing Officer of Chiaphua Industries Limited, holding different formulas of MOC hydrogel and AMGel (light blue bottle). [Download Photo] Body Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have new technology to treat odors and germs in drainage and flush water. The MalOdor-Control (MOC) hydrogel is proven effective in treating odor problems at drainage locations, including manholes, nullah, intercepts, water channels, and rivers in Hong Kong. It worked by killing odor-causing microbes and preventing emissions of odorous gases. Meanwhile, the new hydrogel formula AntiMicrobial hydroGel (AMGel) disinfects flush water of bacteria and viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain as well.

Funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), the HKUST team has been working in collaboration with the Drainage Services Department (DSD) since 2016 on applying the technology at different drainage sites. The MOC hydrogel can effectively suppress 99% of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), 80-90% of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) produced by microbes, and 80-90% of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) – all common sources of malodor, at drainage facilities including promenades alongside Victoria Harbor, where malodor is a concern to the local community.

Developed by a research team led by Prof. YEUNG King-Lun from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Division of Environment and Sustainability at HKUST, the multifunctional hydrogel can be tailored to treat different odor problems and microbial contaminations in harsh environment in an efficient and safe manner.

Dr. David CHUNG, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, said, “The achievements of HKUST in scientific research win acclaim and recognition. We are glad to see I&T inventions developed by local universities being adopted by local communities and help improve people's livelihood. The Innovation and Technology Commission launched the “Public Sector Trial Scheme” in 2011 to subsidize R&D outcomes for trial use in public sector organizations and government departments. The Scheme can also match suitable technology products or solutions with public sector organizations or government departments, and promote a wider use of I&T and create a win-win situation. The government will continue to play the role of promotor and facilitator, assisting R&D institutions to commercialize scientific research results through different policies and funding schemes.”

Prof. Yeung said the MOC hydrogel provides an inexpensive but effective solution to odor problems. It is also safe, eco-friendly, sustainable and could complement and enhance traditional practices. “Apart from killing the odor-causing microorganisms and inhibiting their ability to generate odorous gases, MOC hydrogel can reduce corrosion to the pipes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in drainage as shown by studies.” Prof. Yeung said, “Moreover, the hydrogel will decompose into sand upon release of disinfectants so it will not cause any harm to the environment.”

The MOC hydrogel has won a silver medal at the 2022 Special Edition of the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.

Prof. Yeung added that the technology has an enormous potential and can be utilized not only in drainage and flushing systems, but also other odorous places such as waste treatment and handling facilities, landfills, or wet markets.

The latest hydrogel formula – AMGel is now being trialed in the building flush water tanks for 2,880 flats at three public housing blocks in collaboration with the Housing Authority, as well as an elderly home of the Haven of Hope Christian Service under the Public Sector Trial Scheme of ITC. With the support from HKUST’s industrial partner Chiaphua Industries Limited (CIL), the AMGel is also set to be applied to the flush water systems in primary/ secondary schools as well as subdivided flats in Sham Shui Po.

The new formula is proven effective in killing 95% of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and over 99% of viral particles including MS2 and T3 bacteriophage – standard virus surrogates for viral inactivation screening. Moreover, a UK P3 laboratory has proven that AMGel can kill 99% of the Omicron, the COVID-19 strain that recently caused the fifth wave of COVID-19 outbreak.

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

Home News & Media Research & Innovation Published Date 12/04/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Advances in Optical Engineering HKUST Researchers Develop Long-Term In Vivo Imaging Technique to Better Understand and Treat Spinal Cord Injury Content Banner Study co-leads Prof. Qu Jianan (first right), Professor at Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE), and Prof. Liu Kai (first left), Associate Professor at Division of Life Science; as well as the first author of the study Wu Wanjie (second right), PhD student of ECE. Study co-leads Prof. Qu Jianan (first right), Professor at Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE), and Prof. Liu Kai (first left), Associate Professor at Division of Life Science; as well as the first author of the study Wu Wanjie (second right), PhD student of ECE. [Download Photo] Body Aresearch team led by scientists from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed an innovative technology for in vivo imaging of the important biological processes involved in the injury and repair of spinal cords, paving the way for a better understanding of the pathology and potential treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI).

A tight bundle of neural cells (neurons and glia) and nerve pathways (axons), the spinal cord serves as a primary information highway between the brain and the peripheral nerves in the rest of our body. Damage to the spinal cord is a devastating and largely irreversible neurological trauma, and can result in lifelong disability and paralysis with no available cure.

While imaging plays an important role in understanding spinal cord functions and its response to pathological insults and therapeutic procedures, there is currently no effective method to capture the injured spinal cord at the level of cellular processes without activating the immune response.

Conventional imaging techniques require the patients to have their spinal cord tissue removed to increase image resolution, or run the risk of triggering immune responses in spinal cord tissue, which may affect the disease process being investigated.

Now, a research team led by Prof. QU Jianan, Professor of Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, and Prof. LIU Kai, Associate Professor of Division of Life Science, has demonstrated a new approach to achieve long-term, repetitive, stable, high-resolution, and inflammation-free in vivo spinal cord imaging in mouse models.

In their proposed protocol, ligamentum flavum (LF) – the ligaments connecting adjacent vertebrae in our spine – is retained to protect the underlying spinal cord tissue and reduce the risk of imaging window activating inflammation. But retaining the LF layer also means sacrificing the imaging quality, because the layer introduces optical scattering and results in decreased penetration depth of spinal cord imaging.

To solve this problem, the team applied iodixanol, an FDA-approved non-toxic compound, as an optical clearing medium for the imaging window and greatly enhanced its transparency as well as image contrast and resolution. Compared with the prior methods, the iodixanol-based optical clearing technique allows the researchers to remove less tissue above the spinal cord without compromising imaging quality, thus significantly extending the number of imaging sessions to up to 15 sessions over 167 days.

Using this optically cleared intervertebral window, the team studied neuron-glia dynamics and observed strengthened contact of microglia with the nodes of Ranvier during axonal degeneration, opening a promising way to study the interaction between immune cells and nodes of Ranvier under normal and injury conditions. The results were recently published in Nature Communications.

“Considering the difficulties associated with long-term and repetitive spinal cord imaging, this innovation will be an important and widely used tool for the study of spinal cord injury,” said Prof. Qu, who is an expert of optical engineering and science with extensive experience in in vivo linear and nonlinear optical spectroscopy and imaging of biological tissues from a variety of animal models.

“By avoiding surgery-induced inflammation, we can track microglia from resting to activation stages and understand its functional interaction with degenerating and regenerating axons in the spinal cord,” added Prof. Liu, whose research interests include the cellular and molecular mechanisms of axonal regeneration in the adult mammalian central nervous system. “In vivo imaging in living animal models will reveal new biological insights leading to efficient therapeutic strategies for SCI treatment.”

(This news was originally published on EurekAlert on Apr 12, 2022.)

Home News & Media Research & Innovation Published Date 07/04/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Fighting COVID-19 HKUST Develops New Smart Antimicrobial Coating with Long-Term Protection Against Omicron Content Banner (From left) Prof. Yeung King-Lun, Director of HKUST-CIL Joint Laboratory of Innovative Environmental Health Technologies (HKUST-CIL Lab); Mr. Hamilton Hung, Chief Marketing Officer of Chiaphua Industries Limited; Prof. Joseph Kwan and Prof. Han Wei, Associate Directors of HKUST-CIL Lab; and a research team member have improved the formula of the antimicrobial coating MAP-1, launched at the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, pushing the coating’s durability from three months to five years. (From left) Prof. Yeung King-Lun, Director of HKUST-CIL Joint Laboratory of Innovative Environmental Health Technologies (HKUST-CIL Lab); Mr. Hamilton Hung, Chief Marketing Officer of Chiaphua Industries Limited; Prof. Joseph Kwan and Prof. Han Wei, Associate Directors of HKUST-CIL Lab; and a research team member have improved the formula of the antimicrobial coating MAP-1, launched at the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, pushing the coating’s durability from three months to five years. [Download Photo] Body Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a new multi-level antimicrobial polymer coating effective in killing a wide range of bacteria, hard-to-kill spores, as well as inactivating1 99.9% of highly-infectious viruses – including the Omicron variant which has caused a tsunami of COVID-19 cases around the globe in recent months.

Having been tested in field trials and laboratories both at HKUST and independently in France and the UK for its efficacy and durability, this new MAP-∞ is proven to last at least five years on a variety of materials and surfaces, based on accelerated aging tests conducted in compliance with relevant standards for disinfection, disinfectant, medical devices, and cards published by the Mainland Chinese and Australian authorities, American Society for Testing and Materials, and the International Organization for Standardization. Materials coated with MAP-∞ is similarly effective against SARS-CoV-2 and its Omicron strain2.

Invented by a team led by Prof. YEUNG King-Lun, Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Division of Environment and Sustainability at HKUST, MAP-∞ is an upgraded version of MAP-1, one of the first lasting antimicrobial coatings co-developed and commercialized with the Chiaphua Industries Limited (CIL) against the coronavirus at the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The original coating, initially effective for up to three months and eventually six months after each application, was quickly adopted by a wide range of facilities including hospitals, clinics, care homes, schools, public transport, shopping malls, restaurants, public venues in Hong Kong and abroad. It was also applied to the sportswear and gear of the Hong Kong Olympic athletes during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Dr. David CHUNG, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, said in a media briefing session of the coating, “All along, we have been promoting the cooperation among the government, industry, academia, and research institutes. The new smart antimicrobial coating developed by the HKUST best illustrates the synergy created by the collaboration of universities and private sectors and helps accelerate commercialization of R&D achievements. My heartfelt thanks to the HKUST and the Chiaphua Industries Limited in their support and contributions to the I&T development in Hong Kong. I would also like to encourage everyone to work together and inject more new impetus to the Hong Kong I&T industry.”

Prof. Yeung said, “We developed a new formula for this long-lasting coating, as we realized that whether we like it or not, the world would have to find a more sustainable way to deal with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Just like disinfection of tap water, antimicrobial function will certainly become a ubiquitous feature of future consumer products. The invention of MAP-∞ is meant to help meet this new demand and to better protect the general public.”

The coating works by contact-killing and prevents surface contamination with its anti-adhesion and self-cleaning properties. Similar to MAP-1, the new version is also proven non-toxic to the animals and environment according to the Technical Standard for Disinfection issued by the National Health Commission in Mainland China. It is available as high gloss permanent surface finish, high optical-transparent finish, and ultra-durable protective coating for a wide range of applications.

CIL, which established a joint laboratory with HKUST on environmental health technologies in 2018, is now in discussion with different industrial partners on applying MAP-∞ on public buses, elevators, elderly care homes, optical lenses, credit cards, and passenger aircraft. The coating can also be applied to frequently-touched objects such as doorknobs, smart phone screens, remote controllers, handbags, or building materials such as artificial marble and wallpaper, without changing their texture and appearance. Since the establishment of the joint lab, the Innovation and Technology Commission has offered staunch support to the lab’s research and application, awarding funding totaling close to HK$4 million.

1 Inactivating a virus literally means killing it, but it’s more proper to use the word ‘inactivate’ as virus is not considered alive. Viruses only replicate and propagate when they find a host. 2 SARS-CoV-2 hCoV19/USA/MD-HP20874/2021 B.1.1.529 (P1 in V/T/A – Omicron) (This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

Home News & Media Faculty & Student Story Published Date 18/03/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Nature-Loving Geotechnical Engineer New Associate Dean Prof. WANG Yu-Hsing Protects Mother Nature with Engineering Expertise Content Banner Prof. Wang Yu-Hsing considers students’ happiness to be his greatest achievement. Prof. Wang Yu-Hsing considers students’ happiness to be his greatest achievement. [Download Photo] Body “When I grew up, I thought I would become a professional animal watcher in Africa,” said Prof. WANG Yu-Hsing, the new Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies) at HKUST. Having discovered 63 kinds of birds and numerous tree species and even come across a barking deer on the university campus, Prof. Wang is dedicated to civil engineering research projects that protect trees, birds, slopes, and air quality to eventually ensure sustainable development of the smart city via artificial intelligence (AI).

In love with nature since a young age, the young Wang with strong academic performance chose civil engineering which both fulfilled his family’s expectations and his own interest in nature. “Geotechnical engineering in civil engineering deals with soil, rocks, earthquakes, landslides, and the natural environment. It is not only about the man-made, concrete environment; it is about Mother Nature.”

Upon graduation from bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the National Taiwan University, Prof. Wang pursued PhD studies at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in the US. His PhD research on energy loss during wave propagation in soil involved experiments in a laboratory environment free of noise and vibration. For one whole semester, he had to conduct experiments in the lab during the most tranquil moments from 12 midnight to 6 every morning, then brush his teeth in the dorm room, and finally attend classes at 8am. His hard and superb work paid off as he gained Georgia Tech’s George F. Sowers Award for PhD students.

The experience in the US changed him substantially. “I was most excited as my PhD supervisor Prof. Carlos SANTAMARINA did things in non-traditional ways. Inspired by great improvements in medical research since the use of CT (computerized tomography) scan, my supervisor started scanning geomaterials such as soil and rocks. Such geophysical testing, widely popular now, was a novel approach back then in 1997. Besides, we worked on micromechanics and sensing technologies, all of which were non-traditional at the time.”

Two months before completion of PhD studies, Prof. Wang had job interviews with HKUST and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) respectively. “I had heard wonderful things about HKUST for a long time but I did not perform well during the interview, which was most frustrating. On the day after the interview however, I came across a choir singing gospel music God Will Make a Way in the University’s concourse. The beautiful music gave me peace, and I knew HKUST was the place to be.”

Recently being awarded the Long Service Award and looking back on the two decades at the University, there were ups and downs but every time he had the strength to bear with the pain and overcome difficulties.

Following his PhD supervisor’s path to tackle new fields every few years, Prof. Wang had worked on a number of research areas at HKUST to solve real-world issues. In favor of the student-oriented pedagogical approach, he recruited students to fabricate sensors together for monitoring landslides, drawing students from various engineering departments as well as those actively engaged in the robot contest Robocon. That was the beginning of the HKUST Data-Enabled Scalable Research Lab, a makerspace specialized in the applications of geotechnical internet of things, deep learning, and big data analytics on sustainable city development, of which Prof. Wang is the Director.

“Civil engineers put sensors on mountain tops and other harsh, outdoor environments, which means that our sensors have to be tailor-made to withstand all sorts of natural conditions. After student recruitment, the first-generation sensors we created were, of course, useless!” said Prof. Wang half-jokingly. As the team continued to explore further, students became more mature and started to take the lead. Winning a few rounds of the government’s Innovation and Technology Fund, the team gradually incorporated deep learning, machine learning, and other AI tools, along with enhanced server and hardware capability.

Giving presentations to close to 20 government departments and proactively learning about their issues, the team ended up helping the Drainage Services Department, Geotechnical Engineering Office, and the Hong Kong Observatory, among others, to solve a wide range of problems.

One of them involved the Drainage Services Department which was moving the Shatin Sewage Treatment Works into caverns. As the relocation might affect ecosystem of little and great egrets along Shing Mun River, Tolo Habour, and the Penfold Park, Prof. Wang and his team conducted research to help environmental impact assessment for the government department. They designed and put sensors and cameras to capture images of egrets, as well as used AI to identify them. Studying egrets’ breeding behavior and their hatching periods, the team explored how to accommodate the birds’ life cycle in the construction schedule.

To help the Tree Management Office manage trees in the city, the team designed tree sensors and used AI to carry out data analytics. The system can tell if trees are tilted, thereby keeping a close watch on the health conditions of trees. They also installed the sensors on trees at the HKUST campus, as part of the Internet of Tree Things project under HKUST’s Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab (SSC) initiative.

Conducting research with no boundaries “There should be no boundaries in research; I do not limit myself when applying technology to solve problems,” he said. His research thus spans an array of disciplines.

Using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and 3D point cloud devices, his team helped to monitor air quality and prevent pollution by measuring vehicle emission. He also worked on AI-BIM (building information modeling), designing a mobile mapping system with 360-degree camera, LiDAR, and peripheral electronic components all embedded in a backpack. Users could carry it to scan buildings, find out where the cracks were by AI, and provide updates to BIM. An improved version using robots to carry the mobile mapping system is in progress with support from the Innovation and Technology Fund, thus integrating AI, robots, and human efforts.

“Many AI companies dream about replacing human beings totally, but I think AI technologies are not there yet.” With increased number of variables, AI’s trained predictions become less accurate and its performance deteriorates. “When AI makes mistakes, who is going to take the responsibility? This is a question of ethics. We still need human knowledge. Instead of having AI replace us, we should use AI as our tool.”

Documenting scarce species on campus The nature-loving engineer has been enjoying HKUST’s campus tremendously. One day during daily morning walk, he came across a Hoopoe, the national bird of Israel that rarely appeared in Hong Kong. He thereby decided to once again assume the role of an “animal watcher”, bringing the camera with him every day, discovering and thus far documenting 63 kinds of birds on campus. On a quiet day, he even came across a barking deer on campus – yes, it was a deer with the formal name Northern Red Muntjac that barked like a dog. He put sensors to monitor tree health on campus. To share his pictures with other enthusiasts, he now hosts the Instagram page @hkustbirds (which belongs to another SSC project called “You Will See a Hoopoe”) and the Facebook page Amazing HKUST campus plants.

Many professors would find their biggest pride in students who landed on jobs in well-known universities or laboratories. Prof. Wang, on the other hand, said, “Of course I would be happy when that happens. However, my greatest achievement would be to see my students and graduates being happy and enjoying their lives.” Referring to the recent apocalyptic Netflix blockbuster Don’t Look Up, he said, “Ultimately what people do in the end is to have dinner with family members together and pray to God.” His motto is from the Bible: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Currently the Residence Master of all postgraduate halls and the Jockey Club Hall, as well as a two-time awardee of the School of Engineering Teaching Excellence Appreciation Award, Prof. Wang is often described as being nice, enthusiastic, and passionate. As the new Associate Dean who works along with Prof. MOW Wai-Ho to oversee undergraduate engineering studies, he believes his two most important missions are to recruit high-quality students among locals and non-locals alike, and to facilitate full accreditation of new undergraduate programs in Sustainable Energy Engineering, Bioengineering, and Decision Analytics.

Despite keen competition from other universities, Prof. Wang believes that HKUST’s international ranking, exchange opportunities, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Undergraduate Student-initiated Experiential Learning (USEL) Program, student-oriented makerspace, mentorship, and counseling services will continue to attract good students. Particularly appealing is the new “Engineering with an Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence” initiative, for which engineering students undertake studies in AI-related subjects on top of their majors in a structured way.

“HKUST has an international environment; the academic freedom here ensures that students can choose to work according to their aspirations.” One example is the Individualized Interdisciplinary Major (IIM) offered by the Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO). As the only program of its kind in Greater China, the signature program thrives on interdisciplinary major tailor-made to students’ intellectual interests.

Whereas students in Hong Kong often focus on future career paths, Prof. Wang finds it more important to help students think one step further and acquire the skills of learning, as popular fields today might not be in hot demand a few years later. His advice to young people aspiring to be engineers: “Do not limit your potential. Be brave and try out all possibilities.”

Related link:

SENG news (Dec 31, 2021): Prof. WANG Yu-Hsing Appointed Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies)

Home News & Media Teaching & Learning Published Date 24/02/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Faculty Insights Blockchain and NFTs Explained Content Banner An illustration of a blockchain An illustration of a blockchain [Download Photo] Body Still don’t understand exactly what blockchain technology is? Check out our quick-start guide to make sense of blockchain and explore its practical applications like HKUST blockcerts and NFTs.

Introduction The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is the first university in Hong Kong to issue official documents in a secure electronic format which are verifiable. Blockcerts program utilizes the blockchain technology that registers and verifies the issued electronic documents. By registering on the blockcerts server, the documents are cryptographically signed, tamper-proof, and shareable. Besides blockcerts, you may have heard about Bitcoin on the news and social media, but the blockchain technology that powers Bitcoin is mysterious to the general public. What is a blockchain and what are its practical applications? What are the benefits of the blockchain-based applications?

What is a blockchain? A blockchain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system. As a database, a blockchain stores information electronically in digital format. Blockchains are best known for their crucial role in maintaining secure and decentralized transaction records for cryptocurrency systems, such as Bitcoin. The cutting-edge innovation of blockchains guarantees the fidelity and security of data records and generates trust without the need for a trusted third party. Those who run blockchain programs, known as the miners, are responsible for maintaining the security of a blockchain with consensus protocols such as proof of work (more computations lead to more rewards). Such decentralization makes the key to blockchain security because no single one can control the system or modify the data recorded on the blockchain (unless under the 51% attack, which is unlikely or nearly impossible for popular blockchains), that is the reason why blockchains are widely regarded as secure.

Benefits of blockchain-based applications Due to the immutability of a blockchain, we can store data on a public blockchain such as Bitcoin, and the stored data is likely to be publicly available forever. This is fundamentally different from storing data on a cloud server offered by a company because data loss can happen due to many potential reasons: the company changes its data storage policy or even shuts down the cloud service. Therefore, people trust that their data or transactions can be stored eternally on a public blockchain. With the trust from the general public, many blockchain applications have come into reality today, such as the decentralized finance (DeFi) and decentralized computing platforms (i.e. Ethereum). Here, we introduce two practical blockchain applications: Blockcerts and Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs).

Application of blockchains With the immutability property of a blockchain, a direct practical application is document/certificate verification by posting (the hash of) documents on the blockchain by an authority such as a university or an institute. HKUST is a pioneer in utilizing the blockchain-based Blockcerts to issue official documents in a secure and verifiable electronic format, where the functional system at HKUST was developed by its students and staff. In short, Blockcerts is a platform for issuing, viewing, and verifying blockchain-based documents (currently based on Bitcoin). With such a blockchain technology, students can receive digital documents and certificates that can be easily verified on a blockchain because the hash of these documents is recorded in a block on the Bitcoin blockchain by HKUST. A third party including potential employers can directly and instantly verify the authenticity of these documents on the blockchain without the need to contact HKUST to further verify the documents, which is often time-consuming. This also prevents the fabrication of fake digital certificates because these fake certificates will not be verified on the blockchain.

Another interesting application of blockchains is the non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which attract numerous users and investors. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum which can be traded or exchanged for one another, each NFT has a unique digital identifier that makes it impossible for NFTs to be exchanged for or equal to one another, meaning they are not mutually interchangeable, hence not fungible. A non-fungible token can represent the ownership of a digital or physical asset (i.e. digital art or a painting) on a blockchain. A key property of NFTs is that they can be easily traded and sold on a blockchain (mostly on Ethereum now). A representative example is the CryptoKitties where users can buy, own, and sell virtual cats. Singaporean Chinese musician Hanjin Tan, has released NFT new song “Nobody Gets Me” in April 2021. He was the first amongst China’s music scene. In Hong Kong, there is a galley at K11 MUSEA that aiming to provide a safe, fair, and dynamic space for all interested in the rising NFT (non-fungible token) market, whereas NFT museum opens at Hysan Place in Causeway Bay amid the art trend. Mandycat, a famous Hong Kong illustrator, also creates and sells her artworks in the NFT world.

There are also marketplaces such as OpenSea for users to buy and sell NFTs. These platforms are similar to eBay; users can place bids for a certain NFT, and the highest bidders will win the bid. Currently, there are some hypes about NFTs as the prices of an NFT can be as high as millions of US dollars. The marketplace of NFTs creates a new way for artists to sell their artworks easily through the blockchain.

Example of NFTs applications On the other hand, we should be cautious about the information of NFTs. The past year saw an international boom in NFTs, but criminal activity has also increased in this sector. It is possible to have “fake” NFT transactions, conducted by the same person or group as both the buyer and seller, to push the price of an NFT. Also, there are scams on the NFTs marketplaces: for instance, a fake Banksy (famous street artist) NFT was sold for more than US$300,000 but Banksy confirmed that he had never created any NFT. It may not be easy to verify whether an NFT is authentic. Price-wise, there is no standard market price for NFTs, so the price of an NFT could plummet in a short period of time.

In summary, we have witnessed booming prices of cryptocurrencies and thousands of applications on blockchains nowadays. Blockchains are changing our daily lives in ways that we might not even notice. It is always a good idea to know the latest trends in technology such as blockchain and understand the technology behind.

By Prof. CHEN Qifeng, Assistant Professor of Computer Science & Engineering and Electronic & Computer Engineering

(This article was originally published on STEM@HKUST here.)

Home News & Media Alumni Connection Published Date 21/02/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Why HKUST? Getting Career Ready Through Cross-Disciplinary Studies and International Exposure Content Banner (From left) Student Phisitchai Chavanachinda (Pierre) and fresh graduate Wadeelada Thitisomboon (Nink). (From left) Student Phisitchai Chavanachinda (Pierre) and fresh graduate Wadeelada Thitisomboon (Nink). [Download Photo] Body With applications from outside Hong Kong up 5% over 2020-21, the pandemic has not dented HKUST’s attractiveness as a further education destination for far-sighted international students. Returning for its second year, our informative Why HKUST? series focuses on overseas students from Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey, Malaysia, and so on. Detailing each student’s reasons for choosing us, their stories will equip younger readers with valuable insights into making the most of university life. Part one comes the learning journeys of our Thai students.

After graduating from his Thai secondary school, Phisitchai CHAVANACHINDA (Pierre) didn’t take long to select HKUST over the six other invitations he had received from universities in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Canada.

“Although most Thais know Hong Kong as a vacation destination, many are unaware of the city’s reputation for quality education,” Pierre says. “My friends were all surprised to discover there were so many high-ranking universities here. They were even more impressed when they learned that HKUST’s courses were on par with those of top US universities such as the University of California, Berkeley and New York University for roughly half of their tuition fees.”

“Engineering is my dream career but business skills are also important” Engineering has long been Pierre’s passion. While Thailand produces many excellent graduates in the field, the common consensus is they lack sufficient commercial know-how.

“While engineering remains my dream career, I appreciate that business skills and marketing expertise are also very important. This is especially true when pitching ideas to potential clients and investors. When I heard that HKUST offered a program that combined the two, I knew this was the course for me,” says Pierre, now a third-year student in HKUST’s Dual Degree Program in Technology & Management.

“Such student-friendly flexibility is rare in tertiary education. At one admission briefing at a Thai university, I was asked to choose a major almost immediately. Like most students, I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do after graduation. As a result, I was really attracted by how HKUST encouraged students to use their first year to explore various majors before committing to the one that most interested them.”

Pierre says HKUST’s cross-disciplinary program does far more than simply satisfy his need for a wider perspective in aerospace technology and business management. He was also impressed by the stimulatingly broad range of extra-curricular activities that encouraged students to explore solutions for the most pressing problems now facing our world. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), for example, challenged the then first-year student to enhance an aircraft’s fuel efficiency by remodeling it under the guidance of a senior faculty member.

“I never imagined I’d be able to contribute to a major research project while still a freshman. The experience was very fruitful and gave me a much better understanding of how to formulate truly effective research methodologies. I also came away with a much stronger grasp of aviation industry fundamentals. Rather than beginning and ending in the classroom, learning at HKUST is born of one’s personal passion and hands-on research experience.”

With competition for jobs in the 21st century growing increasingly intense, early professional exposure is another measurable edge HKUST offers students applying for post-uni career posts. Pierre says that the blending of learning and industry insights has given him a much more adult perspective into the world of commerce.

“HKUST’s Business School regularly brings in big companies to work with students on real-life issue-focused projects and also provides plenty of internship opportunities. Ultimately, even the internship application process is an excellent learning experience as it sharpens one’s confidence and communication skills. Best of all, with dozens of clubs and societies where you can meet like-minded friends, life here extends beyond academic work and career planning. I’ve never been busier!”

“I discovered the extrovert qualities of me and am still exploring new sides to my personality” After three years of exciting university life, Pierre says he has grown far better at leveraging his strengths and picked up several useful new career planning approaches. Although still passionate about engineering, he is now also contemplating other opportunities.

“My time at HKUST has unleashed the sociable side of me. I’m still discovering new sides to my personality and eagerly anticipate exploring possibilities in areas like consultancy, management or banking,” Pierre adds.

Similar to many Thai Chinese, Pierre’s family has business connections in Mainland China. He says studying in Hong Kong offers additional upsides for those wishing to tap into opportunities offered by the rise of Greater Bay Area.

“The international exposure I gained here landed me a job at an established British household appliances company” Wadeelada THITISOMBOON (Nink) earned her place studying Chemical and Biological Engineering at HKUST through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme. Upon graduation in 2021, the international exposure she gained at HKUST helped her land a plum job with a British household appliances company as a Characterization Engineer.

“The fact that I was able to participate in so many global events and seminars during my four years here meant I got to meet many inspiring people – several of them Nobel laureates!” says Nink. “One reason the employer hired me is because of my expertise with a rheometer – an advanced piece of equipment I learned how to use at HKUST.”

Learning, growing and preparing for one’s future are what university education is all about. Students at HKUST can choose from many internship opportunities with major companies in Hong Kong, Mainland China and abroad – especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) or related business fields. The Hong Kong government’s STEM Internship Scheme also offers incentives to employers hiring STEM students, and HKUST students secured the highest number of job offers in 2020-21.

Prof. Ekkachai SAENYASIRI, Associate Professor of Business Education at the Department of Finance, says: “As one of the world’s most important business hubs, Hong Kong offers a wealth of internship opportunities with top enterprises. Many students here complete several internships with multinational firms before graduation. All of which makes the territory an outstanding career launch pad for students looking to expand their career choices globally.”

To learn more about HKUST’s programs and how you can best leverage our resources while unlocking your full potential, please watch the admission talk video.

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

Home News & Media Alumni Connection Published Date 07/04/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Why HKUST? Using Tech to Make a Difference Content Banner (From left) PhD student Melody Chung Jin-Teng and alumnus Chong Bor-Hung. (From left) PhD student Melody Chung Jin-Teng and alumnus Chong Bor-Hung. [Download Photo] Body Auniversity education is sure to help pave the way for your future success by taking your interests to ever-higher levels. In the third part of this year’s Why HKUST? series, two Malaysians detail how their HKUST courses have enabled them to transform their academic interests into meaningful professional achievements.

CHONG Bor-Hung (Class of 2015, Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management) first became interested in entrepreneurship while still at high school. Though he had never previously studied commerce, he elected to write a business plan for his grade-10 personal project.

“I asked a business teacher to mentor me on my project which involved pitching the opening of a suit store in a nearby shopping mall,” says Bor-Hung. His teacher was subsequently amazed by the in-depth and articulate nature of his research and strategic thinking.

“HKUST is a young university that highlights curiosity-driven learning, and its interdisciplinary approach to study is just my cup of tea” “I’ve always loved looking at technological solutions to real-life problems. When I considered where to pursue my undergraduate degree, I learned that HKUST was a young university which highlighted curiosity-driven learning. Its interdisciplinary approach to study also sounded like it was just my cup of tea,” he says.

During his studies, Bor-Hung benefited from not only comprehensive training across key technological and business managerial disciplines, but also invaluable industry and international exposure.

“I had the opportunity to fly to Taiwan to present a business proposal to the senior management of a Taiwan-based notebook computer manufacturer. In my second year, I participated in a marketing internship with an American technology conglomerate in its Shanghai office,” he says. “Such experiences ended up giving me a real edge in the job market.”

Bor-Hung embarked on his personal career journey in his final year after one of his course lecturers referred him for a part-time job writing business plans for a solar energy start-up. “While I also received several interesting job offers from multinational corporations, this particular company’s CEO was a fellow HKUST alumnus who encouraged me to focus on a career in start-ups,” he says.

Still only 28, Bor-Hung has already advanced to become the company’s Managing Director for Malaysia and Regional Head of Business Development. The latter job involves expanding his employer’s renewable energy business across markets such as Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia itself. He also helped the business to successfully pitch for new contracts from international corporates. Other early career landmarks include helping his homeland to deliver on its commitment to achieving its 2050 carbon neutrality target by completing its largest-ever commercial solar power purchase agreement.

“HKUST taught me that science is also about transforming knowledge into applications that benefit society, that requires both design thinking skills and market insights” Melody CHUNG Jin-Teng is another young Malaysian at HKUST who, like Bor-Hung, is eagerly eyeing R&D opportunities. Now in the final year of her PhD in Bioengineering, Melody is currently busy commercializing her hydrogel research into a more effective drug delivery platform.

“My time at HKUST has taught me that science is not just about discoveries, but also about transforming knowledge into applications that benefit society. This requires both design thinking skills and market insights,” says Melody. She and her team are also taking full advantage of the different workshops, investor matching events and entrepreneurship competitions via which the University enables young visionaries to evolve their creative ideas into marketable realities.

Since arriving at HKUST in 2013 as an undergraduate majoring in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Melody’s wealth of practical experience has helped enrich and energize her youthful vision at every stage. Membership of our Student Innovation for Global Health Technology (SIGHT) program, for example, gave her the scope she needed to help pioneer an affordable and effective mobile drug dispensary box. The finished product is now enabling Cambodian doctors and nurses to better care for their disadvantaged fellow citizens.

A six-month research exchange experience at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne in Switzerland, and her participation in HKUST’s signature Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) added further strings to Melody’s bow. Her subsequent carrying out of serious research under the guidance of senior faculty members has also been vital for her career development.

Both Bor-Hung and Melody agree that HKUST is the perfect launch pad for youngsters wishing to soar.

“Putting yourself at the heart of the Greater Bay Area will give you unlimited possibilities to consolidate your future in Hong Kong, Asia and beyond” “HKUST is more than just a place where one can learn and create knowledge. Given the R&D capabilities and technological infrastructure that Hong Kong offers as a truly international city, studying here will equip you with both excellent skills and a platform from which to build a professional network,” says Bor-Hung. “Putting yourself at the heart of the Greater Bay Area, one of the world’s fastest growing innovation and technological hubs, so early in your career will also give you unlimited possibilities to consolidate your future in Hong Kong, Asia and beyond.”

To learn more about how HKUST’s programs and resources will enable you to unlock your full potential, please watch our admission talk video.

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

Home News & Media Teaching & Learning Published Date 03/03/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title From Eye Health Research to Expanding Horizons Prof. Ying CHAU Sees Lifting Students to Full Potential as Her Calling in Life Content Banner Prof. Ying Chau enjoys sharing her experience with young people, and witnessing how her work helps them make a greater impact on society. Prof. Ying Chau enjoys sharing her experience with young people, and witnessing how her work helps them make a greater impact on society. [Download Photo] Body While you may have become accustomed to taking a vaccination injection in the arm, imagine the torment of those suffering from diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration who receive drugs directly in the eye with a tiny, thin needle. This will thankfully change as revolutionary research in drug delivery for eye diseases comes to fruition from the lab of Prof. Ying CHAU, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Director of Student Innovation for Global Health Technology (SIGHT). An accomplished academic, Prof. Chau’s human-centered approach to nurturing students to their full potential has also brought her the recognition of “Leading Woman in STEM” at the recent 18th Annual Women of Influence (WOI) Conference & Awards organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham) and the WOI committee. We learn more about the incredible journey in engineering and mentoring that culminated in this accolade.

“When I completed my PhD in Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005, HKUST was a young and promising university. Being the only university in Hong Kong with a chemical engineering department, it had a new opening in my exact area of expertise at that time. Born and raised here, I felt like it was the right move, and was lucky to get the role,” says Prof. Chau, recalling the serendipitous beginning of her academic career.

As an engineer deciding on a research focus, Prof. Chau looked to find a balance between her interests, society’s needs, and what would be of great value for public health. After careful consideration, drug delivery for eye diseases became her research focus as the area had a strong yet unmet demand, offering greater opportunities for breakthroughs. Her research lab has nurtured hundreds of students, with a few being inspired to work under her supervision from undergraduate up to doctoral level. In particular, former students Dr. YU Yu and Dr. Langston SUEN, who researched drug delivery by hydrogel and ultrasound respectively, both creating solutions to avoid the intimidating eye injection procedure, are in the process of translating the laboratory findings for patients’ benefits through their own start-ups.

Global health challenge in focus The year 2012 saw the introduction of the 3+3+4 new academic structure, which places great emphasis on experiential learning in university education. This fueled Prof. Chau’s spirit of mentorship, resulting in the initiation of the Student Innovation for Global Health Technology (SIGHT), an interdisciplinary platform aiming to inspire and empower undergraduate students to brainstorm and create innovative health technology for sustainable implementation in developing countries.

“We toyed with a few ideas for the name. One of the options was Student Innovation for Global Health – it would form the acronym ‘sigh’, which is not encouraging,” she says laughing. “But the real challenge was getting the ball rolling. I still remember personally interviewing and shortlisting students out of some 60 applicants in the first year. I connected with a small non-government organization that runs mobile clinics in Cambodia, so one of the first SIGHT projects was developing an electronic medical record system for mobile clinics servicing slum residents in Cambodia. It won the first place in the 2016 Rice 360° Sixth Annual Undergraduate Global Health Technologies Design Competition in the US.”

Each year, new students from different Schools work collaboratively in teams to solve health-related issues in resource-challenged communities. Phase by phase, they go through a year-long cycle from brainstorming and prototyping to turning ideas into reality, field testing, and deploying technology during a two-week study trip, which includes engaging with end users. “My role is to present the case to students and provide guidance. I let them take ownership and follow through,” Prof. Chau emphasizes.

The SIGHT experience is unique in several ways. While the Stanford University’s Design for Extreme Affordability program looks at global health, it is primarily for graduate students. The RISE Global Health Initiative from San Diego, California, US involves undergraduates but students mainly focus on implementation. Local hackathons provide opportunities for students to develop one-off solutions to problems within a few days or a week, but those are usually short-term projects where students will not be able to experience the launch of their ideas in the real world.

“In a sense, students get no immediate benefit from joining the SIGHT program because the hours and efforts they put in would exceed the normal requirements of equivalent academic credits. But in terms of future benefit, their project accomplishments would make a truly impressive CV,” says Prof. Chau.

Global pandemic poses unique challenges Perhaps it is ironic that the greatest challenge facing SIGHT is also a global health crisis – the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. “Travel restrictions prevent students from going abroad to visit developing countries. Some projects continue with online video-conferencing, but the impact and feedback from face-to-face interaction is very different,” says Prof. Chau, adding that other projects have been placed on hold due to issues like ongoing unrest in Myanmar, or limited internet access in remote areas in Sri Lanka. Local projects on fall prevention in elderly homes and other issues in special education schools have also faced difficulties due to limited visiting arrangements and school closures.

Looking ahead, she says: “I hope our projects can become more scalable and have greater continuity. There is great potential for the mobile clinic record project in Cambodia to be extended to other communities, but the current situation does not allow it. We also encourage students to work on intellectual property rights through creative commons, so that they have the right to expand their ideas in the future.”

She reveals that SIGHT is currently supporting two projects in incubation – including Pinocchio, a social media platform for students’ mental well-being, and FORESEE, which tracks eye health for children who spend long periods of time staring at computer screens.

Utopia for students For Prof. Chau, SIGHT is a great “luxury” for her and student teams, especially the study trip with two weeks of full-time interaction. “It is very intimate and intense. Students often reflect that the study trip was particularly eye-opening as they witnessed the difference they made in a different country. Students may forget other lessons as time goes by, but they will surely treasure this in-depth experience for life.”

Prof. Chau has been credited with her distinctive style of human-centered teaching and mentoring. “Each student is unique and has different potential, and deserves my respect. My role as a mentor is to provide the right motivation and a nurturing environment for them to grow. I always tell students that research results can never be guaranteed, but they can count on positive transformation in themselves,” she says.

“Looking back at its first decade, SIGHT has been a utopia in giving me the opportunity to nurture students’ interests. The timing was definitely right to start SIGHT. I would like to thank Roger and Wei, who were Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies) and Provost respectively back then, as well as the support of HKUST through the years.”

Advice for women in STEM – confidence and compartmentalizing With the STEM industry being generally male-dominated, what is Prof. Chau’s advice to female students looking to enter the field? “It is most important to truly understand yourself. Once you are clear about your abilities, strengths, weaknesses, limitations, and priorities, you can map out your career path accordingly.” She also observes that female students appear less confident than equally capable male classmates. “Believe in yourself and carry yourself the way you want people to treat you,” says Prof. Chau.

She is often asked, by female students in particular, how she juggles her busy schedule between teaching, research, mentoring, and a family with two children. “To achieve work-life balance, I stringently compartmentalize these roles. I understand that each of the areas has a cost, and I must strive to balance them. It is not ideal to focus on one problem and let the other areas fall apart. This is also my advice to students who may face family, friendship, relationship, and study issues at the same time.”

On being named the Leading Woman in STEM by AmCham, she pledges to continue being herself and extend her efforts in mentoring. “I am thankful to HKUST for the opportunity to find my calling in mentoring. SIGHT has allowed me to share my experience with young people, and to witness how my work helps them make a greater impact on society.”

Being a modest Christian, Prof. Chau recalls Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. “I may not be very successful or the most important person, but if God has given me a role to play, however small and humble that is, then it’s worthwhile to dedicate myself to it. I would be happy to be that donkey,” she says.

Related links:

SENG news (Nov 26, 2021): Prof. Ying CHAU and Undergraduate Anushka PUROHIT Celebrated at AmCham’s Women of Influence Awards American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong news (Nov 22, 2021): Exceptional Female Leaders and their Allies Celebrated at AmCham’s 18th annual Women of Influence Conference & Awards

Home News & Media Women in Engineering Published Date 22/02/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Breaking Invisible Barriers Wisdom from Women Faculty in STEM Content Banner (Top row, from left) Prof. Im Eun Soon, Prof. Wang Yiwen and Prof. Angela Wu, (bottom row, from left) Prof. Rhea Liem, Prof. Julie Semmelhack and Prof. Becky Kuang Yi (Top row, from left) Prof. Im Eun Soon, Prof. Wang Yiwen and Prof. Angela Wu, (bottom row, from left) Prof. Rhea Liem, Prof. Julie Semmelhack and Prof. Becky Kuang Yi [Download Photo] Body Since its establishment 30 years ago, HKUST has been cultivating an inclusive learning and research environment where every student, researcher, and faculty members are encouraged and empowered to excel regardless of gender and background. In part one of this Smashing the Glass Ceiling series, we are bringing you tips from HKUST female members on how to break invisible barriers and get ahead to reach their full potential.

STEM is a field that is traditionally perceived as being male-dominated. In a gender-friendly community like HKUST, we are not short of female role models to provide reassurance and inspirations for younger females who want to pursue ambition in STEM. Here some of our female faculty members share with us their career stories and the revolutionizing potential of their research work.

IM Eun Soon, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was a civil servant at the National Institute of Meteorological Research in Korea before she joined HKUST. Prof. Im says she didn’t get to the position at first and gender barriers were one of the obstacles.

“I was still working on my PhD and not fully qualified then, and there was gender bias in the hiring process. Regardless of the reason, I didn’t give up. I worked there for a temporary position and demonstrated my latent potential and work ethics. After six months, I secured a permanent position.”

Prof. Im’s research at HKUST focuses on one of the biggest issues of the age –– climate change. She has been working on the development and improvement of climate models for Southern China, including Hong Kong, to determine the ramifications of climate change induced by anthropogenic forcing such as greenhouse gases and land-use change.

Prof. Im says there continues to be a big fall-off rate among women in the STEM field. “About 50 per cent of my classmates were female when I was an undergraduate. However, that ratio sharply decreased as I moved up the ranks. As of now, only a few female classmates have survived in this field and held major related jobs.” But she advises young women not to get despondent, “I genuinely believe there is no singular clear-cut path for long-term success.”

Mentorship has proven rewarding for WANG Yiwen, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, who has been at HKUST since 2017. She has mentored a number of female students, one of whom won second place in the Best Student Paper Award in the Workshop on Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) Systems at the flagship annual conference of the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society. Prof. Wang has been working on the development of Brain Machine Interfaces, which aims to build engineering approaches to diagnose the impairment and restore the cognitive functions for the disabled, such as memory loss, motor paralysis and attention deficit.

Angela WU Ruohao, Assistant Professor in the Division of Life Science and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, works with her research group on a new technology for sequencing single-cells called scONE-seq, which will help observe tumours at various stages and thus better understand cancer and help generate new therapeutic strategies. The field especially embodies a cross-disciplinary ethos.

“Students working on the projects have to develop both engineering skills and deep biological knowledge such as cancer biology and neurobiology,” says Prof. Wu, also a passionate mentor herself. “I find mentoring and nurturing future scientists very fulfilling. There are many barriers for women in the field that are too numerous to name. But for me, I keep in mind my genuine interest and passion and disregard the barriers. If more women can persist, we will head toward a better future.”

While she encourages younger women scientists to be brave and reach for their ambitions, Prof. Wu advises them to be prepared for challenges. “I think women who are interested in STEM, love the feeling of discovery and love learning about the world around us, or love to create in the STEM field, should not be afraid to join our ranks. Girls and women in STEM should be aware of these barriers, and that it may be very difficult at times.”

A HKUST trailblazer in a field where there have historically been few women is Rhea LIEM, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has recently been recognized with the University Grants Committee Teaching Award for her outstanding teaching performance. Raised by parents who practiced no bias in gender roles and educated in schools that had a similar outlook, Prof. Liem passes the same values to her students. “I always encourage all my students, regardless of their genders, to find their true identity, stay true to their passion and disregard barriers and general perceptions.”

These faculty members are testimony to a rise in women working at the highest levels of STEM fields. Their research projects were supported by the Chau Hoi Shuen Foundation, which donated $10m to the University in 2019 with the aim of increasing the visibility of women in the STEM research field and supporting tenure-track women faculty whose research has the potential to influence industries and adopts cross-disciplinary approaches.

Also benefiting from the Foundation’s support are Julie SEMMELHACK, Assistant Professor in the Division of Life Science and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Becky KUANG Yi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Prof. Semmelhack’s lab uses functional imaging and quantitative analysis of behavior to understand the neural circuits involved in visual behavior, while Prof. Kuang is currently conducting research to develop a synthetic RNA and a synthetic peptide-based platform for multiplex non-invasive purification of cells, ultimately to be used in multiple laboratory and clinical applications.

At HKUST, students and faculty members are encouraged to pursue advanced learning and knowledge through research and teaching in an equitable environment that the University endeavors to build. This is facilitated by a number of initiatives, including the WISE Scholarship, which encourages high-caliber female students to join the School of Science, School of Engineering and Interdisciplinary Programs Office. Besides, the Women Faculty Association and the IWDxHKUST are both devoted to promoting gender inclusiveness and equality.

HKUST has always been a female-friendly space where abundant resources and opportunities are available for women who consider a future in STEM. Our doors are widely open to talents regardless of background and gender.

(This story was adapted from the full story “Wisdom from Women Faculty in STEM” by HKUST Public Affairs Office.)

Home News & Media Alumni Connection Published Date 28/04/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Taking Your Pulse with Your Phone Winning AI Solution Helps Remotely Monitor Patients’ Vital Signs Content Banner PanopticAI developed an AI health monitoring app using the camera on a smartphone or tablet to monitor the user’s vital signs such as heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure etc. A pilot scheme has been deployed to 10 to 20 elderly homes across the city. PanopticAI developed an AI health monitoring app using the camera on a smartphone or tablet to monitor the user’s vital signs such as heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure etc. A pilot scheme has been deployed to 10 to 20 elderly homes across the city. [Download Photo] Body The upheaval wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world and businesses have had to quickly pivot in response to the new normal. Hong Kong start-up PanopticAI was one, seeing a demand for new methods of remote diagnosis and self-diagnosis in a time of social distancing.

“A 30-second scan can get your vital signs before you see the doctor” The company developed a fully remote wellness monitoring app with AI-enabled smart technology. Unlike existing wearable health-monitoring watches which use LED sensors, the app simply connects to the camera on a smartphone, tablet or computer to capture subtle changes of coloration in the skin due to changes in blood flow to obtain the user’s health readings.

“We can do a quick 30-second scan to get your vital signs before you see the doctor online,” says CEO Kyle WONG.

These include heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate variability. From these, further readings, such as stress, energy levels, and health risk factors, can be triangulated with the visual scanning algorithms that the team developed.

Kyle, who is currently studying for a PhD in Bioengineering at HKUST, initially started the company as an offshoot of an existing research group at HKUST which was installing smart temperature monitors for border points and government offices since 2018. His three co-founders were all from HKUST – Nick CHIN, who has since graduated with a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management; Teric CHAN, who holds an MPhil in Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics; and also Prof. Richard SO of the School of Engineering, who was overseeing the research group.

A chance encountered with Prof. So at a careers fair in London, where Kyle was an undergraduate in biomedical engineering at King’s College, led him to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS).

“We found that our research interests lined up,” says Kyle. “My research focus in biomedical engineering has always been how to make use of the latest software, whether it’s AI, big data, cloud computing, or signal processing, to improve someone’s health and to improve a person’s life,” he says.

Though not yet commercialized, the response to the product has been positive to date, winning the university/tertiary section at the inaugural Hong Kong City I&T Grand Challenge last November due to the product’s marketability and the business model, all of which was underpinned by the team’s published scientific papers and patents. “Aside from the very generous award money, they are also providing us a gateway to deploy and commercialize our idea,” Kyle says.

That deployment comes in the form of a pilot scheme at 10 to 20 elderly homes across the city from April to June. The tracking app is connected to the elderly homes’ tablets or computer devices for the staff to obtain vital signs of their residents. A health profile for the residents can also be created using the data to better monitor their health and detect any early health signals that may lead to timely assessment and care.

“The health monitoring booth can be replaced with a tablet” While the benefits of the technology in reducing contact during a pandemic are obvious, there are also other logistical advantages, such as saving much-needed space with a potential reduction of equipment.

“Our proposal is to simplify this whole health monitoring process to just a tablet, which will essentially replace the health monitoring booth,” Kyle says.

More immediately, the trial scheme will allow PanopticAI to get valuable feedback from users and troubleshoot any problems before the product goes to market. Initially, elderly residents will be monitored via the software under staff supervision, though Kyle sees future elderly users being more autonomous, in the process benefiting from greater independence.

“Now that more and more elderly are becoming tech-savvy, or at least know how to use a smartphone, and our technology can play a big role in healthy aging,” Kyle says.

But it is not just the elderly who stand to benefit – pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses can also monitor their health, and anyone who might not be able to see a doctor immediately.

Instrumental in PanopticAI’s journey to date has been the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center (EC), which gave the fledgling company lots of support, both financially and administratively, in its early days, particularly via the Lo Kwee Seong Tech-Ship Fund, which supports HKUST faculty, students and alumni who found start-ups using HKUST intellectual property.

“We had a lot of networking opportunities, whether it’s with investors or just strategic partnerships with different institutions,” Kyle says.

Among the institutions the EC introduced PanopticAI to were Hong Kong Science Park, where the company is now based, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The team now focuses on delivering their proprietary technology to a wider local market while global expansion will be their ultimate goal.

“For now, we are looking to expand locally and collaborate with different industries. In the future, our hope is to make PanopticAI code available as a software development toolkit (SDK) to companies to integrate into their own systems, and that our ‘snapshot of health’ will encourage people to monitor their own health, for which we envisage a number of innovations, such as gamification, to make it a reality.”

Related link:

SENG news (Nov 3, 2021): HKUST Student Teams Won Two Champions in First-Ever “City I&T Grand Challenge” (This news was originally published by the HKUST Public Affairs Office here.)

Home News & Media Recognition Published Date 03/05/2022 Thumbnail Title Excellence in Research and Innovation Victory at HKUST President’s Cup 2022 Content Banner (From left) Bioengineering undergraduate students Cheng Ting-Kai, Minato Kobashi, and Mark Alexander Ngai won the Gold Award of HKUST President’s Cup 2022. (From left) Bioengineering undergraduate students Cheng Ting-Kai, Minato Kobashi, and Mark Alexander Ngai won the Gold Award of HKUST President’s Cup 2022. [Download Photo] Body Final Year Projects of three student teams from the School of Engineering were recognized in the HKUST President’s Cup 2022, an annual University-wide competition that encourages undergraduate students to pursue excellence in research and innovation.

A Bioengineering team comprising Mark Alexander NGAI (Dual Degree), CHENG Ting-Kai, and Minato KOBASHI won the Gold Award for their project “Development of a Smartphone-based Microscope for Histological Analysis of Biological Samples”. The team was supervised by Prof. Terence WONG Tsz-Wai.

The Silver Award went to WONG Yan-Ho, CHIN Tian-You, and Ken YEUNG Man-Lung (Dual Degree), three Computer Science and Engineering students supervised by Prof. Desmond TSOI Yau-Chat, for their project “Cnails: Cloud IDE Tailor for UST Programming Courses”.

Another Computer Science and Engineering team took the Special Mention. TIAN Xiangan, WU Lijia, and WU Yijian, supervised by Prof. Dimitris PAPADOPOULOS, collected the prize for their project “VaxPass: Decentralized Two-Tier Verifiable Blockchain Platform for COVID-19 Certificate Verification”.

Related link:

CBE news (Apr 29, 2022): BIEN Final Year Students Won Gold Award in President’s Cup 2022 CSE news (Apr 27, 2022): CSE Students Received Silver Award and Special Mention of HKUST President’s Cup 2022

Home News & Media Entrepreneurship Published Date 11/03/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title A Cradle of Innovation Unicorns Spotlight Hi-Tech Entrepreneurship Content Banner The entrepreneurship success of the School of Engineering (SENG) members was recognized with six out of 18 start-ups in the “Unicorns HK 2021” shortlist being founded or co-founded by SENG faculty or alumni. The entrepreneurship success of the School of Engineering (SENG) members was recognized with six out of 18 start-ups in the “Unicorns HK 2021” shortlist being founded or co-founded by SENG faculty or alumni. [Download Photo] Body In the inaugural “Unicorns HK 2021” shortlist, announced by the Hong Kong X Foundation, six out of 18 companies were founded or co-founded by faculty or alumni from the School of Engineering.

As unicorns, the 18 unlisted start-ups each have a market value of more than US$1 billion. All the companies were also founded, or incubated/headquartered in Hong Kong, or the founders were Hong Kong residents. Those related to HKUST (see table) focus on AI, robotics, high-end manufacturing, sensors, and autonomous driving.

The unicorns’ shortlist was released at the Inno Bay 2021 program, organized by the Foundation and China Global Television Network in November 2021. The event gathered policymakers, entrepreneurs, and technology experts to discuss the further development of innovation and technology in the Greater Bay Area. Prominent speakers included Mrs. Carrie LAM, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government, and Mr. LEUNG Chun-Ying, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The Hong Kong X Foundation was established by Sequoia Capital China, a venture capital fund, in 2016 to foster entrepreneurial culture and support young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong.

Related link:

News of Entrepreneurship Center (Dec 21, 2021): HK Unicorns 2021 CGTN news (Nov 23, 2021): ‘InnoBay 2021’ special program focuses on Greater Bay Area's innovation dynamism

Start-up*

HKUST Member(s)

Position in Unicorn

4Paradigm

Platform-centric solutions for enterprise-class

AI products

DAI Wenyuan

Alumnus

Computer Science and Engineering (PhD)

Founder and CEO

Prof. YANG Qiang

Faculty

Computer Science and Engineering

Co-founder

CiDi

Smart automotive driving for

commercial vehicles and logistics modeling

Prof. LI Zexiang

Faculty

Electronic and Computer Engineering

Co-founder

DJI

Global consumer drones and

aerial imaging technology

Frank WANG Tao

Alumnus

Electronic and Computer Engineering (MPhil & BEng)

Founder, CEO,

and CTO

Googol Technology

Innovative motion controls

for manufacturing automation

Prof. LI Zexiang

Faculty

Electronic and Computer Engineering

Co-founder

and Chairman

SmartMore

Computer vision technology for

intelligent manufacturing and

video-enhancement services

JIA Jiaya

Alumnus

Computer Science and Engineering (PhD)

Founder

and Chairman

SmartSens Technology

High-performance CMOS

image sensor chip design

XU Chen

Alumnus

Electronic and Computer Engineering (PhD & MPhil)

Founder

and CEO

* The other companies on the Unicorns HK 2021 shortlist were: AfterShip, Airwallex, EcoFlow, Geek+, GeneHarbor, GOGOX, Hai Robotics, Insilico Medicine, KLOOK, Lalamove, SenseTime, and WeLab Bank.

This story was originally published in the SENG In Focus magazine (Spring 2022 edition, issue 34, P.8).

Home News & Media STEAM Education Published Date 25/02/2022 Thumbnail Title Inspiring Future Engineers Setting STEM Knowledge to Work in Soccer Robot Workshops Content Banner Participants go into action at a pilot workshop. Participants go into action at a pilot workshop. [Download Photo] Body The Academy for Bright Future Young Engineers, under the School of Engineering (SENG), held two well-received soccer robot workshops for secondary school students in January 2022 as part of its new Bright Future Cup – Soccer Robot Competition.

At the workshops, students from Tseung Kwan O Government Secondary School set science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) knowledge and skills to work to devise game-playing robots in HKUST’s Undergraduate Student-initiated Experiential Learning Lab (USEL Lab). Last summer, pilot workshops involving junior and senior secondary school students from a total of seven schools were successfully held. A grand final bringing together teams from various schools is targeted to take place in July 2022.

In 2021, Prof. Roy CHUNG, Founder of the Bright Future Charitable Foundation, donated a further HK$5 million for the Academy’s daily operations and soccer robot contest. Among its goals, the Academy seeks to inspire young people’s interest in engineering and build connections with SENG students.

This story was originally published in the SENG In Focus magazine (Spring 2022 edition, issue 34, P.8).

Home News & Media Alumni Connection Published Date 28/02/2022 EN 繁 简 Thumbnail Title Breathing Easier Atmospheric Scientist Alumna Advances Sustainability Through Leading-Edge Air Quality Research Content Banner Prof. Sally Ng Nga-Lee inside the Environmental Chamber Facility in her lab at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she is delivering greater understanding of aerosols and air pollution. Prof. Sally Ng Nga-Lee inside the Environmental Chamber Facility in her lab at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she is delivering greater understanding of aerosols and air pollution. [Download Photo] Body Spurred by her School of Engineering student days to become an atmospheric scientist, alumna Prof. Sally Ng Nga-Lee is advancing sustainability through her leading air quality research, as well as fostering the next generation of aerosol explorers.

Clearing the air has had a special meaning for alumna Prof. Sally NG Nga-Lee ever since her days as a Chemical and Environmental Engineering undergraduate at the School of Engineering (SENG) 20 years ago. Indeed, she has gone on to make it her life’s work to contribute to improving global knowledge of air quality and its impact on human health and climate change.

Now a tenured Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in the US, with a joint appointment in the university’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and a courtesy appointment in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the atmospheric scientist is opening up fresh horizons in her field by extending knowledge of fundamental chemical mechanisms related to the formation and composition of aerosols (fine particles suspended in air) through her research and teaching.

“My work allows me to explore the unknown, discover, and learn something new and exciting all the time” Most recently, in October 2021, she and her inter-university team received US$12 million in grant money from the National Science Foundation in the US to generate high time-resolution (every 1 to 15 minutes), long-term measurements of aerosol properties. The work will be carried out via a network of 12 sites nationwide in a project officially known as the Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT). The resulting data will assist understanding of how sustainability-based changes to electricity production and transportation are affecting air pollution and climate change variables.

In March 2021, she was among the scientists featured by the US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Women’s History Month, an annual international celebration of women’s contributions in history and contemporary society.

As Sally noted in the NOAA article: “I like that my work allows me to explore the unknown, discover, and learn something new and exciting all the time. I have the flexibility to pursue any research topics that I deeply care about.”

“Being a professor is the closest I can get to be a student forever” In an email conversation with SENG, she also explained that she chose academia rather than a career as a researcher in industry or government as she really enjoys the enthusiasm and curiosity of students. “During my graduate studies and postdoctoral research, I had many opportunities to work with junior students. I found it very rewarding to be able to pass on my knowledge, learn new things, and grow with them. I enjoy learning and would have loved to be a student forever, and I think being a professor is the closest I can get to be a student forever.”

Interested in chemistry and mathematics in secondary school, Sally’s search for a university program combining these two subjects led her to SENG, which provides the only chemical engineering department at a Hong Kong university. When she received a positive response to her enquiries from then Department Head (now Professor Emeritus) YUE Po-Lock – “to my delight and surprise, Prof. Yue took the time to respond to my email and explain what chemical engineering was about” – and learned of the Chemical and Environmental Engineering bachelor’s degree, she decided to make it her major.

“The opportunity to participate in undergraduate research and the exchange program truly shaped my career path” At SENG, Sally had the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research under the supervision of Prof. CHAN Chak-Keung, learning about aerosols and air quality. She also went on a one-year exchange to the University of Minnesota in the US, where she realized the air quality in Minnesota was much better than in Hong Kong. She then decided, with the encouragement and guidance of Prof. Chan, to apply for graduate programs in the US to learn more. “The opportunity to participate in undergraduate research and the exchange program truly shaped my career path,” she said.

Sally graduated from HKUST with a BEng in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (First Class) in 2002, moving on to a MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and joining Georgia Institute of Technology in 2011 after three and a half years at an R&D company.

As an academic, she finds her life continually interesting and satisfying. “It is quite a lot of work to build a research program from scratch. But it is also very fulfilling and rewarding when things come together and to see the scientific, professional, and personal development of students over the years.”

“It’s important to choose what one loves to do. Then things will work out, one way or another” She also recalled how on deciding that career path, she let passion for her subject guide her decision-making. “Back in those days, my decision to choose to major in chemical engineering in Hong Kong was perceived as an unconventional choice by many. But I think it’s important to choose what one loves to do. Then things will work out, one way or another.”

On her latest ASCENT project, she sees an advanced, long-term atmospheric aerosol network as critical in providing the measurements needed for informing science-based decisions on climate and environmental change. “We are very excited about this opportunity to establish ASCENT and we hope to strengthen collaborations with international atmospheric observation networks, including those in Asia,” she said.

Related link:

Georgia Tech news (Oct 7, 2021): $12 Million NSF Grant Will Establish Nationwide Atmospheric Measurement Network NOAA research scientist profiles (Mar 29, 2021): Sharing the joy of science through academia and aerosols Sally shared her US exchange experience in In Focus magazine (Fall 2001 edition, issue 1, P.6): Much More Than Fun Times in a Foreign Country This story was originally published in the SENG In Focus magazine (Spring 2022 edition, issue 34, P.26-27).

Home News & Media Outreach & Community Published Date 17/03/2022 Thumbnail Title Dialogue with Taikonauts Aerospace Engineering Fresh Graduate Co-Hosted Out-of-this-World Event Content Banner School of Engineering fresh graduate Marco Clark and professional media anchor Zhu Dan hosting the extraterrestrial encounter. School of Engineering fresh graduate Marco Clark and professional media anchor Zhu Dan hosting the extraterrestrial encounter. [Download Photo] Body AMechanical and Aerospace Engineering fresh graduate had a truly space-age experience last September when he served as an emcee for the real-time video dialogue between three taikonauts orbiting the Earth in China’s Tiangong space station and Hong Kong young people.

Passionate about space innovation and engineering from an early age, Marco CLARK (2021 BEng in Aerospace Engineering) was thrilled to have the opportunity to take part in the call and seminar alongside a professional media anchor at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

During the otherworldly exchange, NIE Haisheng, LIU Boming, and TANG Hongbo answered students’ questions on experiments being carried out and daily life at the space station. In addition, students could converse with space engineers and experts in Beijing, including China’s first taikonaut YANG Liwei.

Top officials at the special event, arranged by the central government, included Mrs. Carrie LAM, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government, and Dr. TAN Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR. Close to 300 students, teachers, scientists, and academics also attended.

While Marco is fluent in Putonghua (his alumna mother is Chinese and his father from the US) and engaged in hours of practising, he still had to battle initial nerves during his inaugural stint as an emcee. That was until excitement at being up close with the taikonauts took over. Indeed, the whole event was an “incredible” moment for all students studying the field and working to become future aerospace scientists or taikonauts, he told reporters.

The young engineer is now continuing to enhance his communication skills at BAH Partners, a niche head-hunting firm specializing in technology recruitment, and by serving as a Head Engineering Student Ambassador for 2021-22. He sees such capabilities as a key factor to attaining top-flight positions and responsibilities.

In the longer term, rather than heading into space himself, Marco wants to use his strengths in engineering, technology, and presentation to advance the aerospace industry and space exploration through innovation, with the nanosatellite sector of particular interest. “In this way, I really hope I can bring about many out-of-this-world experiences and achievements for others,” he said.

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Marco’s interview on Our China Story (Sept 20, 2021): 受楊利偉啟發 港生逐夢航天見證「天地對話」 This story was originally published in the SENG In Focus magazine (Spring 2022 edition, issue 34, P.9).