january 2012 teaching and research

JANUARY 2012

Teaching and Research

Raising the Bar

Our Miracle Continues

Local Links

Mainland Connections

Global Network

In the HKUST Family

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Raising the Bar


Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family

JANUARY 2012

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TEACHING AND RESEARCH

Epileptic SeizuresDecoded - HKUSTUnravels Mechanismbehind BrainDevelopment

HKUST Invents a NovelSewage TreatmentTechnology

RAISING THE BAR

2011 Newly ElectedHong Kong Members ofChinese Academy ofSciences All fromHKUST

Engineering TalentsWin Accolade ofAwards

HKUST Sweeps All2011 Young ScientistAwards

Salute to GoodTeachers

HKUST Achieves HighRankings

OUR MIRACLE CONTINUES

Jubilation in 20thAnniversary Celebration

HKUST Hosts Scienceand Technology Forum

Let's Bring Technologyto the Community

HKUST Hosts iGEM inAsia

HKUST Global BusinessStudents HostInternationalConference





















LOCAL LINKS

Top-notchMathematiciansConverge atInternationalConference

Honoring Leaders forTheir Innovation andSocial Contribution atthe 19th Congregation

HKUST is Well Preparedfor 3-3-4 Transition

HKUST CampusDevelopment Caters forStudent-centeredLearning

MAINLAND CONNECTIONS

HKUST StrengthensIndustry, Education andResearch in Pearl RiverDelta Region

HKUST StrengthensMainland Relations

GLOBAL NETWORK

The President Goes toEurope

Institute for AdvancedStudy Hosts MajorForum

IN THE HKUST FAMILY

HKUST President'sOutstanding ServiceAward

Heroes at SecuritySection Win Awards

Alumni StrengthensConnections with AlmaMater

Event Highlights


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The photos show the normal neuronalmigration (left) and aberrant neuronalmigration after suppression of α2-chimaerin(right) with neurons in green

CONTENTS


Epileptic Seizures Decoded -HKUST Unravels Mechanismbehind Brain Development

HKUST Invents a Novel SewageTreatment Technology

Raising the Bar


Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family

JANUARY 2012 NEXT

Epileptic Seizures Decoded - HKUST Unravels Mechanism behind Brain Development

HKUST unravels mechanism behind brain development. The research team (from left): Dr Lei Shi, Prof Nancy Ip, Dr Amy Fu andMr Jacque Ip

Prof Nancy Ip, Dean of Science, Chair Professor of the Division of Life Science and Director ofthe State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience at HKUST has made with her researchteam a breakthrough discovery in signaling mechanisms in brain development that have far-reaching implications in biomedicine.

The team has recently identified a protein that isresponsible for brain cell migration. "Without this protein,the newborn brain cells cannot migrate to or reach theirdestination, thereby failing to connect with their targetcells to form the proper circuit within the brain. Brain cellmigration is important for brain development and failureof the process leads to neurological disorders such asautism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy," said Prof Ip.

The team has successfully identified a proteinα2-chimaerin as a key regulator of neuronal migrationand brain function. Using a cutting-edge technique known as in utero electroporation, theresearchers demonstrate that suppressing the expression of α2-chimaerin in the embryoniccerebral cortex arrests neuronal migration, resulting in the accumulation of migrating neurons atan incorrect area of the brain. Furthermore, mice with a genetic deletion of the α2-chimaerinexhibit spontaneous epileptic seizure behavior.

These exciting findings suggest that disrupting neuronal migration results in aberrant wiring ofthe neural circuit and subsequently epileptic seizures. Since many neuropsychiatric diseasesare associated with seizures and problems in neuronal migration in the brain, the findings onα2-chimaerin by Prof Ip and her team now provide a new avenue for understanding both thedisease mechanisms and the development of therapies to treat disease-related effects. Thesegroundbreaking discoveries by Prof Ip and her research team have been published in NatureNeuroscience, a prestigious journal in neuroscience.

A conversation with Prof Ip

"Perseverance is key," said Prof Nancy Ip whohas recently been decorated as Knight of l'OrdreNational du Mérite by the French President. Theaward ceremony, which took place at theresidence of Mr Arnaud Barthélémy, Consul-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, wasattended by over 100 community leaders, officials, academicians, colleagues, and
















students. She is one of a handful of people who have received the decoration in HongKong.

"Science is challenging. It takes a long time to make breakthrough discoveries and thereare no shortcuts. But you have to love what you do. New discoveries and publication ofour findings in prestigious journals excite me. I hope I can be a role model todemonstrate that it can be done."

Prof Ip has published over 210 scientific papers. With more than 14,300 SCI citations,she is among the top 100 highly cited researchers in neuroscience.

"An education in science benefits students. It enhances logical thinking and buildspragmatic problem-solving skills." Prof Ip has a few words for those who aspire to pursuecareers in science. "Never give up. Always find ways to overcome difficulties."

Prof Ip received her PhD degree in Pharmacology from Harvard University. She has garnerednumerous awards including the Honors for Women Innovators at the APEC Women andEconomy Summit (2011), the Scientific and Technological Progress Prize of Ho Leung Ho LeeFoundation (2008), the L'OREAL-UNESCO 'For Women in Science' Award (2004), making herthe first honoree in life sciences from China, and the National Natural Science Award (2003),China's highest honor in the natural sciences. She was elected Academician of the ChineseAcademy of Sciences, the highest academic honor bestowed on Chinese scientists, and aFellow of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. She holds 21 patents.

Devoted to investigating brain development and drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseasessuch as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, Prof Ip's research successfully providesimportant clues for their therapeutics. She is well known for her discoveries in the biology ofneurotrophic factors, which are proteins that promote the survival, development andmaintenance of neurons in the brain. Her research led to the identification of neurotrophicfactors as potential pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of such diseases. She is also aninternational leader in elucidating the molecular signaling mechanism at synapses where nervecells communicate, and associating synaptic dysfunction with the pathophysiology ofneurodegenerative diseases.



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CONTENTS


Epileptic Seizures Decoded -HKUST Unravels Mechanismbehind Brain Development

HKUST Invents a Novel SewageTreatment Technology

Raising the Bar


Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family

JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS NEXT

HKUST Invents a Novel Sewage TreatmentTechnology"Throughout my life, I have close connections withwater," said Prof Guanghao Chen of the Department ofCivil and Environmental Engineering. The professorleads a research team which has invented anenvironmentally- friendly sewage treatment technologySANI® which had been recognized by the InternationalWater Association (IWA) as one of the world's mostsuccessful water management systems. It may providesolutions to water-scarce coastal cities on MainlandChina.

In 1978, Prof Chen went to a university in Zhejiangwhich had one of China's first discipline inenvironmental science and engineering. In 1982, hewas among the top scorers in the province of Zhejiangwhen he took a public examination for graduatespursuing studies abroad. This eventually brought him toKyoto University where he did his Master's and PhD inEnvironmental Engineering. He worked in Japan forthree years as an environmental engineeringconsultant, after which he went to Singapore to becomean environmental research scientist in the NationalUniversity of Singapore. With this portfolio, it is notsurprising that he was among the first generation ofenvironmental engineers in China.

"I like water, especially wastewater," said Prof Chenhalf-jokingly. "Sewage is the main hazard to theenvironment, and proper treatment is important.Contaminated water can cause deaths."

As a civil engineer, Prof Chen could have built bridgesor dams, or built his career in clean water resources orhydroelectric power. But he chose sewage. He and hisresearch team members have been working day andnight in a laboratory where there is large amount ofsewage water. "I don't mind the dirt or the odour at all,"he said.

Known as the 'Sulphate Reduction, AutotrophicDenitrification and Nitrification Integrated Process',SANI uses sulphate reduction bacteria, integrated withseawater toilet flushing system of Hong Kong. Thenovel technology boasts the following advantages:

Minimizes the adverse environmental impact of sewage treatment plantsEliminates 90% of sewage sludge productionMinimizes energy consumption, odour and greenhouse-gas emissionLargely reduces the sewage treatment cost and space requirement by 50%

"Conventional biological wastewater treatment technology makes use of heterotrophic microbes to clean upsewage by converting organic pollutants into carbon dioxide. These microbes grow rapidly, resulting in the dailyproduction of 2,000 tonnes of sludge in Hong Kong. Handling of sludge means high costs and the use ofincinerators," Prof Chen said. "The SANI Process on the other hand, can reduce daily sludge production to 200tonnes or below, hence reducing treatment costs and space requirement." In recognition of his contributions, the IWA elected Prof Chen as a Fellow of the IWA and its first Fellow inHong Kong.


















Prof Chen's research team and partners include international participants from the Delft University ofTechnology in the Netherlands and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. In Hong Kong, he has beenworking with the Drainage Services Department, the Water Supplies Department and the Airport Authority fortechnology application. But his vision goes beyond Hong Kong. "SANI means good news to water-scarcecoastal cities on the Mainland. We will be establishing a wastewater treatment laboratory at the HKUST FokYing Tung Graduate School for technology application. Agreements have been made with the Sun Yat-senUniversity to establish an innovative water treatment center, where we will jointly nurture talents in watertreatment."

Prof Chen's relationship with water is definitely more than intricate.

"The SANI Process, when integrated with seawater toilet flushing and grey water reuse, gives thebest results. Its strength lies in reducing freshwater demand and minimizing sludge production. Itprovides an economic and sustainable solution for water-scarce coastal cities in Mainland China."

— Prof Mogens Henze, Technical University of Denmark










CONTENTS


Raising the Bar

2011 Newly Elected Hong KongMembers of Chinese Academyof Sciences All from HKUST

Engineering Talents WinAccolade of Awards

HKUST Sweeps All 2011 YoungScientist Awards

Salute to Good Teachers

HKUST Achieves High Rankings


Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family


2011 Newly Elected Hong KongMembers of Chinese Academy ofSciences All from HKUST

(From left) Prof Tongyi Zhang, Prof Ping Cheng and Prof Mingjie Zhang at the ceremony

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) elected three Hong Kong scholars to becomemembers. All of them are HKUST faculty members. Membership in CAS is the highestacademic title conferred by the Chinese government for achievements in science andtechnology research. The election of CAS members takes place biennially, with the totalnumber of new members kept under 60 each time.

HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan states that the excellent quality of the HKUST faculty isamong the key factors for its rise to a top-notch international research university in just 20years.

The three new members are:

Prof Mingjie Zhang, Chair Professor of the Division of Life Sciences

Prof Zhang’s research area embraces molecular mechanismgoverning the neuronal signal transduction and molecular basisof protein complexes regulating cell polarity establishment andmaintenance; His study has heightened the understanding of several fundamental issues inbiology such as synaptic signal transduction complex organization and dynamics ofvarious signaling complex assemblies, and has paved the way towards thetheoretical understanding of the pathogenesis of various neurological diseasesincluding stroke, neurological disorders and hereditary deaf-and-blindness;

This year, his exciting discovery concerning the visual systems of animals detectinglight was selected as the cover article of Cell, following his breakthrough discoveriespublished earlier this year and in 2009 in Science and Cell respectively on howmyosin VII and VI lead to hereditary deaf-and-blindness; He had won the Outstanding Overseas Young Scientist Award by the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China, the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship, the
















Second Prize of the State Natural Science Award , and the Ho Leung Ho LeeFoundation Science and Technology Advancement Award; He received his BSc in Chemistry from Fudan University, PhD in Biochemistry fromthe University of Calgary, and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the NationalCancer Institute of Canada before joining HKUST in 1995.

Prof Tongyi Zhang, Chair Professor from the Department of Mechanical Engineering

Prof Zhang is primarily engaged in research on hydrogenembrittlement, fracture and failure of multi-field couplingmaterials and micro/nanomechanics among other areas. Inrecent years he has proposed surface eigenstress andeigendisplacement models, leading to the nonlinear scaling lawfor the thickness-dependent Young's modulus under tension, compression andbending; He is a two-time recipient of the State Natural Science Awards, Second Class, andwas presented with the National Award for Young Scientists by the ChinaAssociation for Science and Technology. He was elected Fellow of the AmericanSociety of Materials International (ASM International) and awarded the CroucherSenior Research Fellowship; He received his PhD from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, andheaded to the University of Gottingen where he worked as a research fellow of theAlexander von Humboldt Foundation. He did postdoctoral research at the Universityof Rochester and was Associate Research Scientist at Yale University. He joinedHKUST's Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1993.

Prof Ping Cheng, Professor Emeritus from the Department of Mechanical Engineering

Prof Cheng is a world-renowned researcher in the field of heattransfer with great and far-reaching contributions; He was elected Fellow of ASME and Fellow of AIAA. He hasreceived numerous awards including the ASME Heat TransferMemorial Award, the AIAA Thermophysics Award, and the ASME/AIChE Max-JakobMemorial Award, considered the highest international honor in the field of heattransfer; and the ASME Heat Transfer Classic Paper Award. He won the ShanghaiScience and Technology Award, First Class, and the State Natural Science Award,Second Class; He obtained his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma StateUniversity, his MS degree from MIT and his PhD in Aeronautics and Astronauticsfrom Stanford University. He was appointed the second Head of MechanicalEngineering Department at HKUST from 1995 to 2002 and became ProfessorEmeritus in 2003. He is currently Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering andDirector of Center for Microfluidics and Thermal Control at Shanghai JiaotongUniversity.










CONTENTS


Raising the Bar







Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family


Engineering Talents Win Accolade ofAwards

(From left) Prof Oscar Au, Prof Johnny Sin, Prof Qian Zhang, Prof Vincent Lau, Prof Danny Tsang and Prof Roger Cheng

HKUST's School of Engineering treasures its talents who contribute to its outstandingperformance.

Six Professors Elected IEEE Fellows — largest share in Asia in 2012

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently elected 2012 Fellows.Hong Kong welcomed 14 new IEEE Fellows and six of them were from HKUST. This brings thetotal number of IEEE Fellows at HKUST to 25, which is equivalent to 29% of the total numberof IEEE Fellows in Hong Kong. This gives HKUST the highest number of newly elevated IEEEFellows not only among universities and institutions in Hong Kong but among the whole of Asia.The University boasts more new IEEE Fellows than Korea, Singapore, Australia and countriesin Europe.

The six newly elevated IEEE Fellows at HKUST are:

Prof Oscar Au, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was cited for hiscontributions to multimedia coding and security. Prof Roger Cheng, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was electedfor his contributions to multiuser communications in wireless systems. Prof Vincent Lau, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, wasrecognized for his contributions to wireless communication systems with channelfeedback. Prof Johnny Sin, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was cited forhis contributions to the design and commercialization of power semiconductor devices. Prof Danny Tsang, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, was electedfor his contributions to the optimization of communications networks. Prof Qian Zhang, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, was honored forher contributions to the mobility and spectrum management of wireless networks andmobile communications.

As the world's leading professional association for advancing technology and the leadingauthority on a wide variety of areas, IEEE selects every year IEEE Fellows whose numbercannot exceed one-tenth of one-percent of the total voting membership among its 395,000members in more than 160 countries. IEEE Fellowship is thus the highest grade of membershipand is recognized by the technical community as a distinction reserved for selected IEEEmembers with extraordinary accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest.

















Dean Won IEEE Harold Sobol Award

The School of Engineering continues to win accolades ofawards as its Dean Prof Khaled Ben Letaief from theDepartment of Electronic and Computer Engineering wonthe 2011 IEEE Communications Society Harold SobolAward for Exemplary Service to Meetings andConferences.

This award is given to a society member of IEEE at thetime of nomination who has demonstrated exemplaryservices to meetings and conferences over a sustainedperiod of time. Evaluation of candidates is based on suchfactors as long term service, significant contributions,strategic planning and financial success.

Professor Honored by World's Leading Authority onComputational Linguistics

Prof Dekai Wu, a computational linguistics and musicologyresearcher in the Department of Computer Science and Engineeringand the Human Language Technology Center, was honored amongthe first 17 Founding Fellows of the Association for ComputationalLinguistics (ACL). He was selected as one of the world's topresearchers in the artificial intelligence and cognitive science fieldsof natural language processing, language engineering, and human language technology.ACL is the world's largest, oldest and most prestigious international professionalorganization for research on making machines smart enough to learn and understandhuman languages, which drives the technology of leading edge companies like Google,Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, Facebook or IBM.

Professor Elected President of IEEE CPMT Society

Prof Ricky Shi-wei Lee from the Department of MechanicalEngineering has been elected President of IEEE CPMT Society forthe term between Jan 2012 and Dec 2013. Prof Lee is the first onebased in Asia who has been elected to this global leadershipposition.










CONTENTS


Raising the Bar







Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family


HKUST Sweeps All 2011 Young Scientist Awards

(From left) Mr Alan Wong Siu-lun and Ms Jiefei Chen

At the age of 26 and six months before graduation as a PhD student in Physics, Ms Jiefei Chenhas already received an offer from a Mainland university as an Associate Professor. She saidhumbly, "It's been my dream as a secondary school student to become a scientist. There hadbeen challenges during the years, but I am very fortunate to have met my PhD supervisor atHKUST who inspired and encouraged me to pursue my dream in scientific research. A personwho aspires to be a scientist needs to have the ability, passion and opportunity to do so. I amglad that I have such opportunities," said Chen who had just won the 2011 Young ScientistsAwards of the Hong Kong Institution of Science.

Chen and three other PhD students from HKUST swept all the 2011 Young Scientists Awardsunder the three categories of Physical / Mathematical Science, Life Science and EngineeringScience this year. To date, Chen had published eight papers. Her award-winning study wasentitled "Manipulate Classical and Quantum Light with Cold Atoms". She and her researchteam had directly observed the optical precursor of a single photon and proved that singlephotons cannot travel faster than the speed of light in vacuum, thus reaffirming Einstein'smuch-debated theory that nothing travels faster than light-in-vacuum.

Mr Alan Wong Siu-lun, a PhD graduate from the Division of Life Science, said, "Whereas HongKong offers a variety of career choices, those who choose to become scientists need to spendthree or four years on average on a research project. Pursuing scientific research is not easy;determination and perseverance are most important." Alan had published six journal articles.The award-winning article titled Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of endophilin B1 is required forinduced autophagy in models of Parkinson's disease, which aimed to find cures for Parkinson'sdisease, had been published on the prestigious journal Nature Cell Biology. Alan said,"Scientists don't just analyze phenomenon. We need to have the missions to improve humanwell-being."

The Hong Kong Institution of Science had received 65 nominations. Mr Wu Lin from theDivision of Life Sciences and Mr Li Dong from the Department of Electronic and ComputerEngineering of HKUST were the two other winners.





















(From left), Prof Shengwang Du, Prof Nian Lin, Prof NancyIp and Prof Zilong Wen

(From left) Prof Michelle Yik, President Chan and Prof Mike So

CONTENTS


Raising the Bar







Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family


Salute to Good TeachersAt HKUST, we count on our top-notch faculty membersto achieve teaching and research excellence. We saluteto our outstanding faculty members who are dedicatedto quality education.

Prof Michelle Yik, Acting Head and AssociateProfessor of the Division of Social Science, and ProfMike So, Associate Professor of the Department ofInformation Systems, Business Statistics andOperations Management have been nominated for theUniversity Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award.Prof Yik and Prof So had received the University’sMichael G Gale Medal for Distinguished Teaching in2010 and 2009 respectively. Prof Yik has become one of the six finalists of the UGC Teaching Award further toa series of selection procedures.

The School of Science presented awards torecognize outstanding performance of its facultymembers:

School Teaching Award – Prof Nian Lin,Department of Physics; School Research Award – Prof ShengwangDu, Department of Physics; Prof ZilongWen, Divison of Life Science

The School of Engineering launched the new research excellenceawards in 2011. The recipients are:

Research Excellence Award – Prof Hoi-sing Kwok, Dr William MW Mong Chair Professor of Nanotechnology of Electronic andComputer Engineering; Distinguished Research Excellence Award – Prof Guohua Chen,Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; and ProfQian Zhang, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering The Young Investigator Research Award – Prof MatthewMcKay, Assistant Professor of Electronic and ComputerEngineering

The School of Humanities and Social Science awarded theAward for Teaching Excellence. The recipient is Prof James Kung,Chair Professor from the Division of Social Science.
















CONTENTS


Raising the Bar







Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family



HKUST stands on par with the finest world-class universities, as revealed by its consistentlyhigh rankings.

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in Engineering and Technologyreleased in October 2011, HKUST Engineering School landed on the top spot in Greater Chinaand was placed 28th globally. The accolade was among many that the School has received lastyear, following the top ranking in Hong Kong accorded by both QS World University Rankingsin Engineering and Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Ranking of WorldUniversities in Engineering / Technology and Computer Sciences in September and Augustrespectively.

"Over the last 20 years, HKUST Engineering faculty and students have joined hands and mindsmaking outstanding and significant contributions in Hong Kong and globally," said Prof KhaledBen Letaief, Dean of HKUST's Engineering School. "We shall strive towards making evengreater local and global impact with our first-rate research and education."

The Business programs continue to be recognized internationally. The Kellogg-HKUSTExecutive MBA program remains the world's no. 1 EMBA program, according to the FinancialTimes 2011 EMBA global rankings. This is the third year in a row that it has achieved topstatus. Prof Leonard Cheng, Dean of HKUST Business School, praised the long-termpartnership with Kellogg. "This strong collaboration allows us to offer advanced executiveeducation for global business leaders."

The School of Science is no. 2 in Hong Kong and no. 15 in Asia according to Asia's Top 200Universities in Natural Sciences, QS Asian University Rankings 2011.

There are more exhilarating tales to tell. The success story of HKUST inspires a whole chapterin the World Bank study titled 'The Road to Academic Excellence: The Making of World ClassResearch Universities'. The Study identified HKUST as an innovative, convincing alternative toother existing world-class institutions. With its research-focused university culture, highconcentration of academic talents, significant budgets, strategic vision and leadership, theUniversity has created a robust scholarly community.

"Talent is what separates a great university from a good one," said Prof Chan. "Solidarity givesus the wings to fly higher and faster." With a shared vision and relentless drive, HKUST gainedworld recognition in merely 20 years. 'We do not want to simply copy what is best. We want tocreate what is better."


























CONTENTS


Raising the Bar


Jubilation in 20th AnniversaryCelebration

HKUST Hosts Science andTechnology Forum

Let's Bring Technology to theCommunity

HKUST Hosts iGEM in Asia

HKUST Global BusinessStudents Host InternationalConference

Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family



It was a celebration party fit for HKUST, the planned program ranged fromthe traditional to the technological, from the native to the international.There was the dragon dance and the ceremonial dotting of the eyes bythe Council Chairman Dr Marvin Cheung and President Tony F Chan.Equally obligatory was the cake-cutting ceremony and the champagnetoast with Founding President Prof Chia Wei Woo, Court Chairman DrJohn Chan, the Vice Presidents, Deans and student representativesjoining in.

What happens when energy meets festivity at an international university?A festival of diversity: Korean Drumming, Indian Dance, Chinese MartialArts, plus the jaw-dropping Beatboxing whose solo performer couldfabricate the amazing sounds of nature and human activity with nothingmore than his mouth and throat as instruments. Staff members and someof their spouses, including the President's wife Mrs Monica Chan, sangtheir hearts out for their audience.

As a university of science and technology we should have a technologicalcomponent in the celebration: a commemorative album showcasing ouroutstanding achievements and our future goals. Each copy comes withthe Augmented Reality technology, with its specially prepared software.By downloading the software and holding the cover in front of a webcam-equipped computer screen, a 3-D short film will be set in motion, bringingthe President to life on screen to introduce the album content.

The food lines were long and serpentine, the hugs were short and sweet,and the laughter and chatter audible above the din. It reminds one of acarnival where everybody finds something he or she fancies. Workinghard and playing hard — that too is the 1-HKUST spirit.

RTHK produced a special program 'OurMiracle Continues: HKUST 20thAnniversary Commemorative Special'featuring President Prof Tony F Chan,HKUST's founding fathers, staff andfaculty members, alumni and students
























CONTENTS


Raising the Bar







Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family


HKUST Hosts Science and Technology Forum

Distinguished speakers and the University's senior management at the HKUST Science and Technology Forum

HKUST hosted a major Forum on science and technology 'Innovation forthe Future of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta' with leading expertsfrom academia, industry and government from around the world to discussabout developing innovation and technology and strengtheningcollaboration between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. The eventwas co-organized by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciencesand the Hong Kong Institution of Science.

The Forum was part of the University's efforts to spearhead Hong Kong'ssocioeconomic development through research and tap into opportunitiesfor Mainland-Hong Kong collaborations in view of China's Twelve Five-Year Plan.

Over 20 keynote speeches and discussion sessions were held on themesranging from innovative education to science and technology policyrecommendations. The first day of the Forum centered on the theme'Science and Technology: Innovation for the Future of Hong Kong'. ProfTony F Chan, HKUST President, delivered a keynote speech on the roleof research-oriented universities of S&T in the knowledge economy. ProfArden L Bement Jr, Director of Purdue University's Global PolicyResearch Institute and Former Director of the US National ScienceFoundation spoke on the role of government in S&T policy, globalizationof R&D and challenges to Asia and other countries. Dr Yen-shiang Shih,Minister of Economic Affairs and Board Member of the CommerceDevelopment Research Institute of Taiwan shared insights on Taiwan'sjourney to the knowledge economy. Prof Wang Zhongtuo, Academician ofthe Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the ResearchCenter for Knowledge Science and Technology in Dalian University ofTechnology addressed the importance of R&D in a knowledge economyand the roles of enterprise, academia and government. Alumnus Mr Sing-cheong Liu, Chairman of MyTopHome (China) Holdings Ltd, spoke oninnovation in traditional business.

Ir Dr the Hon Raymond Chung-tai Ho, Member of the Legislative Councilof Hong Kong SAR Government, Dr Chun-ying Leung, Former Convenorof the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong

The Forum also witnessed thepresentation of the first ever HKUSTTechnology Industry Innovation Award toMr Huateng Ma, Chairman and CEO ofTencent Holdings Limited
















SAR Government, Prof France A Córdova, President of Purdue Universityas well as President of the National Science Board, USA, and Prof Chia-wei Woo, HKUST Founding President engaged in a dialogue on S&Tdevelopment strategies as well as knowledge transfer. Ir Dr the HonSamson Wai-ho Tam and the Hon Mrs Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, LegCoMembers, Dr York Liao, Co-founder and Executive Director of VaritronixInternational Ltd, Prof Yuk-shan Wong, Fellow of the Institution of Scienceand HKUST Vice-President (Administration and Business), Prof MatthewYuen, Head of HKUST's Department of Mechanical Engineering, MrNicholas Brooke, Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and TechnologyParks Corporation, Dr Nim-kwan Cheung, CEO of the Hong Kong AppliedScience and Technology Research Institute, conducted panel discussionson S&T policies in Hong Kong.

In his speech on 'The Role of a Research University of Scienceand Technology in a Knowledge Society', HKUST President ProfTony F Chan opined that major financial centers around the worldalso need S&T innovation which is crucial for the development ofany society in this knowledge era. The situation is much morefavorable now to develop S&T and we need to fully utilize ourfavorable factors to effectively enhance its value-added capacity.In recent years, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan have been activelysupporting the development of innovation and technology invarious ways, such as increasing resource input and formulatingS&T-friendly policies. As the only university of science andtechnology in Hong Kong, HKUST will continue to educate thenext generation of innovators and promote entrepreneurships.Prof Chan also suggested that the Hong Kong Government shalltake the lead to further win-win collaborations with MainlandChina. S&T is of utmost importance to the future of Hong Kong.Hong Kong needs to increase R&D spending and create a high-level bureau to coordinate the many different parts of the S&Tinnovation system. We must be ready to try, and have no fear offailure.

Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee, HKUST Vice-President for Research andGraduate Studies and Chair of Organizing Committee for Science andTechnology Forum, pointed out that innovative technology can be broadlyapplied in the public sector and infrastructure projects, to improveservices, increase efficiency and create significant impact and wealth.

The Forum also witnessed the presentation of the first ever HKUSTTechnology Industry Innovation Award to Mr Huateng Ma, Chairman andCEO of Tencent Holdings Limited. He delivered a speech on 'Reflectionson the Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the IT Industry in China'.

The Forum held at the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School inNansha on the second day was titled 'Guangzhou's "Twelfth Five-YearPlan": Integration of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta'. Officiatingguests at the Forum were Ms Wang Yan, Vice Chief, MOST ChinaScience and Technology Center, Mr Li Xinghua, Director of GuangdongProvincial Department of Science and Technology, Ms Gong Erzhen, ViceMayor of Guangzhou Municipal Government, Mr Xie Xuening, Director ofGuangzhou Science and Information Technology Bureau, Mr QuShaobing, Director of Guangzhou Education Bureau, together with MrYuan Guiyang, Director of Nansha District Government of Guangzhou.Guest speakers included Ms Janet Wing-chen Wong, Commissioner forInnovation and Technology of the Hong Kong SAR Government, HKUSTalumnus Mr Sing-cheong Liu, Chairman of MyTopHome (China) HoldingsLtd and Dr Jack Lau, Chairman and CEO of Perception Digital Ltd andother Mainland business leaders. They discussed about knowledgetransfer and commercialization. It also featured the launch ceremony ofthe University's 'Smart Green Building' project and the establishment ofThe National Engineering Research Center for Industrial Automation(South China).

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HKUST's School of Engineering hosted the "Bring Technology toCommunity" exhibition at Hong Kong Science Museum, featuringinnovative projects and research achievements of its faculty, students andalumni. With most of the exhibits being showcased in public for the firsttime, the exhibition aimed to promote popular science and demonstratehow technology improves everyday lives.

Among the exhibits was a 150-billion-pixel digital photo developed by ProfPedro Sander from the Department of Computer Science and Engineeringand a team of researchers. The photo set a world record and became theworld's largest digital photo in September 2010. A number of award-winning robot machines designed by HKUST's Robotics Team, formed byengineering students, were displayed. They included a mini smart carwhich can automatically identify routes, an underwater robot which wascommended by adjudicators for integrating aesthetics, simplicity andfunctionality, and a robot which entered the Robocon contest with highperformance in terms of speed, flexibility and accuracy. Also on displaywas a Braille Embosser, which provides an affordable andenvironmentally-friendly solution for the visually-challenged on printing ofcomputer documents; a digital photo frame with cognitive therapyembedded to postpone the deterioration of patients with Alzheimer's; andthe digital ink art "Moxi", a combination of modern technology andChinese art which was used to create special effects during the 2008Beijing Olympics.
























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HKUST Hosts iGEM in AsiaIn October 2011, HKUST hosted the first AsiaRegional Jamboree of the International GeneticallyEngineered Machine Competition (iGEM), anundergraduate Synthetic Biology competition launchedby the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in2003. Over 40 teams from universities in Hong Kong,Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India andAustralia gathered at HKUST and participated in theevent.

At the regional jamboree, the HKUST team won theBest Presentation Award. It also became one of the 18teams going to MIT for the final competition inNovember. The team, made up of first to third-yearundergraduate students from the Schools of Scienceand Engineering, presented on 'E. trojan – Boostingthe Effectiveness of Antibiotics through Quorum-sensing Disruption'. The judges praised HKUST forbeing creative in its design of online survey to assesspublic opinion.
























Dr William Fung Kwok Lun

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In the HKUST Family


HKUST Global Business StudentsHost International ConferenceStudents from the Business School's BBA in GlobalBusiness program organized for the first time the four-day international Global Business Conference 2011 inthe Fall, demonstrating their potentials as future leaderswith global perspectives.

Marking HKUST's 20th Anniversary and the 10thAnniversary of the Global Business Program, theConference centers on the theme 'Emerging Markets'Opportunities', featuring seminars and workshops onfinance, sustainability and business case studies, firmvisits and cultural exchange activities. The openingceremony featured two keynote addresses delivered byhonorable guests Ms Umran Beba, President ofPepsiCo Asia Pacific, and Ms Amy Fong, ManagingDirector and Chief Operating Officer of HSBC GlobalBanking Asia Pacific. Dr William Fung Kwok Lun,Executive Deputy Chairman of Li & Fung Limited, gavea keynote speech at the closing ceremony about howyoung business leaders can best equip themselves forcapturing opportunities in China and the emergingmarkets in a new era after the financial tsunami.

Attracting around 100 top undergraduate students from30 universities located in 17 countries, the Conferencewas a resounding success.

























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Top-notch MathematiciansConverge at InternationalConference

Honoring Leaders for TheirInnovation and SocialContribution at the 19thCongregation

HKUST is Well Prepared for 3-3-4 Transition

HKUST Campus DevelopmentCaters for Student-centeredLearning


Global Network

In the HKUST Family


Top-notch Mathematicians Convergeat International Conference

The International Conference on Scientific Computing was a gathering of top-notch mathematicians and scientists from all over theworld; the Conference was sponsored by various academic institutions

A group of top mathematicians around the world hosted the InternationalConference on Scientific Computing, a four-day event in Hong Kong toexplore recent developments and new directions in the field. One of theaims of the conference was to promote scientific computing in Hong Kongby providing a forum for participants to exchange ideas and discuss theirlatest research achievements. It was also held in honor of President TonyF Chan's 60th birthday.

Over 100 first-rate mathematicians and scientists converged to speak atthe Conference and exchange insights. Over 30 of them came to HongKong for the event from universities and institutes in North America,Europe and Mainland China. Among them are President Chan's fellowacademicians, friends, peers and former students at UCLA and HKUST.President Chan has supervised 38 PhD students and 25 post-doctoralfellows. Many of his former students are now professors in world-renowned institutions.

Scientific computing is an active research field with important applicationsto applied disciplines ranging from engineering, physics, imaging,computer vision to computational biology. Rather than using the twotraditional approaches to science which are theories and experiments,scientific computing has been well recognized as the third approach fordoing science. For instance, it uses super high-speed computing whichfacilitates the construction of aircrafts and lessens its reliance onexperiments with air movement. Likewise, computing enables virtualsurgeries which can be carried out by medical students to practicesurgical skills.

Formerly Assistant Director of the Mathematical and Physical SciencesDirectorate at the US National Science Foundation and Director of theInstitute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM) at UCLA, PresidentChan has contributed to research on mathematical image processing,computer vision and computational brain mapping. He is one of the mostcited mathematicians.

One of the warmest moments at the event was the congratulatory

Former PhD students of President Chancame to Hong Kong for the conferenceand presented to him his 'AcademicFamily Tree'

Prof Lap-chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor ofthe University of Hong Kong (1st fromleft) and The Hon Edward Yau,Secretary for the Environment (1st fromright) celebrated with President Chanand Mrs Monica Chan

Printed on the commemorative cups arefour important mathematical equationsinvented by President Chan: Chan SVD,and Rank-Revealing QR which he
















greetings from mathematics giants. Fields medalist Prof Shing-tung Yauand the Director of IPAM at UCLA Prof Russ Caflisch greeted PresidentChan through the internet. The Hon Edward Yau, Secretary for theEnvironment and Prof Lap-chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor of the University ofHong Kong also attended.

invented in the 80s. Google searchengines had taken these two equationsas reference. The other two are Chan-Vese Segmentation invented in 2000which was cited 3,500 times; andConformal Brain Mapping jointlyinvented by President Chan and ProfShing-tung Yau










The Hon Elsie LEUNG Oi SieDoctor of Laws honoris causa

Dr Simon IP Sik OnDoctor of Laws honoris causa

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Honoring Leaders for Their Innovation and SocialContribution at the 19th Congregation

The Congregation is one of the most anticipated days in the University's calendar. It is the dayof pomp and circumstance, of marking the successful completion of formal studies. At theCongregation, the University also honored outstanding individuals who have made significantcontributions to the community and to humanity.

Of four people chosen to receive top honors at the 19thCongregation, two are legal experts: the Hon Elsie Leung Oi-Sze, the Hong Kong SAR's first Secretary for Justice, and DrSimon Ip Sik-on, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Stewardsof the Hong Kong Jockey Club, former President of the HongKong Law Society and a founding Council member of HKUST.They were awarded Doctor of Laws honoris causa. Bothplayed an important role in Hong Kong through upholding therule of law. Dr Ip served on the Basic Law ConsultativeCommittee, represented the Legal Functional Constituency asa Legislative Councillor and chaired the Bills Committee. DrElsie Leung, who was an ex-officio member of the ExecutiveCouncil and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, hasnever ceased to seek justice for vulnerable members ofsociety. The other two honorees are scientists. Prof Tobin JMarks, Vladimir N Ipatieff Professor of Catalytic Chemistry,Professor of Materials Science and Engineering atNorthwestern University, was awarded Doctor of Sciencehonoris causa. Prof Tobin was hailed as the 'Molecule Master'for his design of 'smart' molecules to enable new kinds ofenvironmentally-friendly plastics. Prof Eli Yablonovitch, James& Katherine Lau Chair in Engineering, Professor of ElectricalEngineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley andDirector of the NSF Center for Energy Efficient ElectronicsScience, was awarded Doctor of Engineering honoris causa.He was one of the two applied physicists who invented thefield of photonic crystals early in 1987 and developed atechnique that is now globally applied to the majority ofsemiconductor lasers.

Congregation is also the occasion for recognizing HKUST'sown home-grown heroes. Prof Amine Bermak of theDepartment of Electronic and Computer Engineering wasawarded the University’s highest honor for teachers — theMichael G Gale Medal for Distinguished Teaching for hisexcellence in inspirational education. For contributions tostudent service, this year’s Stephen Cheung Kam-chuenMedal went to Mr Hung Hin San, a student in Industrial

















Prof Tobin J MarksDoctor of Science honoris causa

Prof Eli YABLOVITCHDoctor of Engineering honoris causa

Engineering and Engineering Management and Vice-President(Internal) of the Students’ Union during 2010-2011. We alsorecognized the unsung heroes with the President'sOutstanding Service Awards.

This year we achieved greater success in staging a carbon-neutral congregation as our carbon dioxide emissions reducedsubstantially by over 10% compared to last year.










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HKUST is Well Prepared for 3-3-4 TransitionHKUST will be welcoming an additional 2,000undergraduate students to the campus in Fall 2012 aswe begin the 3-3-4 transition. At the end of November2011, the President hosted a Forum to familiarize itsfaculty, staff and students with the initiatives to dealwith this challenge. Over 300 attendees showed up tolearn about the University's plans for the new four-yearundergraduate curriculum, additions to campus facilitiesand services to take care of the double cohort.

"The transition offers us a tremendous opportunity toredesign our undergraduate education and to increaseour scale and funding. All units of the University havebeen involved in long-term planning and developmentsince 2005. This is a campus-wide endeavor, requiringa collaborative effort. We will need to work together, bepatient and give a warm welcome to our new students,three-year and four-year alike," said President Tony FChan at the University-wide Forum: Preparations forthe 3-3-4 Transition.

Provost Prof Wei Shyy, Vice-President forAdministration and Business Prof Yuk-shan Wong,Dean of Students Prof Kar-yan Tam, Associate Provost(Teaching and Learning) Dr David Mole and Senior Advisor to the President Dr Richard Armour gavepresentations at the Forum, which showed the importance the University is attaching to the education reform aswell as faculty, staff and student communication in relation to the reform.

Attendees were informed about the new curriculum, enrollment and admissions, student advising andcounselling, campus life and residential experience, as well as out-of-class activities. Matters such as classscheduling, transportation, catering, medical and dental services under the new system were also covered.

The transition will be the culmination of a long period of planning for academic change, the enhancement ofcampus life and capital developments. HKUST is well prepared for the major reform in undergraduateeducation.

























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HKUST Campus Development Caters for Student-centered LearningThe scenic HKUST campus continues to grow as itwelcomes the double cohort starting from 2012. Thenew four-year curriculum, which offers both in-depthand a wide range of knowledge, paves the way forstudent-oriented education and whole-persondevelopment.

The University's new buildings and facilities arestudent-oriented. The Library Extension, which openedin June 2011, features floor-to-ceiling glass windows,outdoor balconies facing the sea, and the Multi-functionRoom. It provides space for housing media,newspapers and magazines. The new study space,with a variety of furniture, is ideal for individual andgroup studying.

The Learning Commons (LC) is a 1,800 sq m facilitywhich provides an additional 500 seats to the Library. A user-friendly central place that brings togetherservices, facilities and technology to support teaching,collaborative learning and media production, the LCfeatures e-learning classrooms, tutorial spaces, groupstudy rooms, open study area and a refreshment zone. At the LC, students will find services provided bymultiple academic support units including the Library,the Publishing Technology Center and the StudentAffairs Office. In order to create an integrated learninghub, the Library will actively explore servicepartnerships with campus units and departments.

"Occupying an entire floor and giving HKUST's Librarya new, second entrance, the Learning Commonsprovides the option of 24-hour access when needed.Scheduled to open in Spring 2012, it will be divided intoquiet areas and discussions areas, rooms to be bookedfor group discussions, a supporting service area forholding activities and even vending machines," said MrMike Hudson, Director of the Facilities ManagementOffice.

The Learning Commons also provides ample space formultimedia learning and creativity. The University'sPublishing Technology Center (PTC) will be running anew Creative Media Zone which puts together a mediaproduction studio and an AV control room, editingsuites and a graphics workshop. The facilities willsupport digital photography, video recording forpresentations and performances, interviews and post-production, as well as digital printing and posterplotting. "Customized training on design and multimediawill be arranged to support students' course work andactivities. The Creative Media Zone will promoteinteractive and experimental learning. It also enhancesstudent-centered learning arising from the new four-year curriculum," said Mr Thomas Ng, Director of PTC.

Below the Library Extension in the extended AcademicBuilding is the University's newly expanded cateringfacilities which are already up and running. Opened in Fall 2011, the new LG7 catering facilities now provide1,000 seats and easy access to LG5, another floor with catering facilities via newly installed escalators. "It's 100

















meters long – the length of a soccer pitch!" said Mr Hudson. Other facilities to be opened include expandedareas for the Student Union and other societies, which are in line with the University's strengthened emphaseson enriched campus life, community and service learning under the four-year curriculum.

Expansion of student hostels is also underway to enhance residential life. Soon-to-be commenced projectsinclude the joint hostel at Tseung Kwan O. "Apart from the two on-campus student hostels (Halls 8 and 9)which will be completed in Spring 2013, the University is exploring opportunities to increase hostel places oncampus," said Mr Hudson.

How about transportation arrangements for the expanded student body? "The University is building a newtransportation hub for taxis and buses. Subject to approval and further arrangements, the plan provides theoption of streaming for passengers at two transportation hubs to reduce bottlenecks and long lineups at thecurrent central location," said Mr Hudson.

With an enlarging student body, The HKUST community definitely longs to see the organic growth of thecampus in the years to come.










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HKUST Strengthens Industry,Education and Research inPearl River Delta Region

HKUST Strengthens MainlandRelations

Global Network

In the HKUST Family


HKUST Strengthens Industry,Education and Research in PearlRiver Delta Region

The opening of the HKUST Shenzhen Industry, Education and Research (IER) Building and thetopping out of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School Building in Nansha signify a newmilestone in HKUST's development. The buildings serve as the University's education andresearch bases in Mainland China.

HKUST is among the first eight local and Mainland universities which obtained approval fromthe Shenzhen Municipal Government to establish bases in the Shenzhen Virtual University,National University Park for Science and Technology. The seven-storey Building, opened inSeptember 2011, has a construction area of 15,000 sq m and is equipped with state-of-the-artresearch laboratories and teaching facilities. Research institutes and corporations in theBuilding include the HKUST Shenzhen Mechanical Engineering Laboratory and the State KeyLaboratory of Molecular Neuroscience.

HKUST President Tony F Chan said that Shenzhen has been playing a pioneering role sincethe economic reform kicked off on the Mainland. HKUST has been participating in Shenzhen'sinnovative efforts since the 1990s as Shenzhen launches a wide array of research andinnovative initiatives.

A topping-out ceremony for HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School Building was held atNansha IT Park in November 2011. With a construction area of 31,500 sq m, the five-storeyBuilding is home to advanced laboratories, central research facilities and lecture theaters.HKUST Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee said,"The 12th Five-Year Plan sets out a clear position for stepping up the development of NanshaNew District. We firmly believe that under the Mainland's policy, our Graduate School inNansha will make greater progress."

The Graduate School was founded with the generous support of the Fok Ying Tung Foundationfour years ago. It focuses on cultivating four major research areas encompassing Internet ofThings, Advanced Manufacturing and Automation, Advanced Engineering Materials as well asEnvironment and Sustainable Development. It has secured more than 100 projects includingthe 973 and 863 programs, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects, and'Guangdong- Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Projects'. The Foundation stated that thetopping-out of the Building is a manifestation of the pioneering spirit advocated by the provincialgovernment. It is also a key initiative of the Guangzhou Municipality and Nansha Districtgovernments to drive Guangdong-Hong Kong collaborations in innovation and technology.
















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HKUST Strengthens Industry,Education and Research inPearl River Delta Region


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Prof Joseph Lee, Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies (2nd from left), Prof Tony F Chan, HKUST President (3rdfrom left), Mr Wan Qingliang, Party Secretary and Mayor of Guangzhou Municipality (4th from left), Prof Eden Y Woon, Vice-President for Institutional advancement (5th from left) and other guests at the ceremony

HKUST continues to strengthen collaborations with Guangzhou and thePearl River Delta Region and build relationships in the Changjiang RiverDelta Region and other major regions on the Mainland. Riding onopportunities presented by close connections among Mainland and HongKong, the University has a clear positioning to strengthen its foothold andextend its reach on the Mainland.

The University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with theGuangzhou Municipal Government to strengthen collaborations to attractand nurture talents. It has the objective of developing quality professionalswith creativity and global vision to promote the advancement ofGuangzhou and the Pearl River Delta region. On the research front, theGuangzhou Municipal Government will support HKUST Fok Ying TungGraduate School to take a higher level and to promote the applications ofnew technologies.

HKUST signed an agreement with Nanjing Talents Affairs Office.Conducted under the framework of CEPA Nanjing and Hong Kong, thecollaboration will focus on training, technology and cultural exchange.

Leveraging its strengths in scientific research, the University signed amemorandum with the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronauticsto foster collaboration, identifying aims and directions for cooperation inthe field of aeronautics.

In the beginning of November, the Science China Press and the ChineseScience Bulletin arranged a visit of seven Fellows from the ChinaAcademy of Sciences to HKUST. HKUST hosted two seminars, duringwhich Prof Li Wei and Prof Guo Guangcan, Chief Editors from InformationScience gave presentations on breakthrough research.

Mainland media continue to report about HKUST. The People's Daily hadan interview with President Tony F Chan, HKUST faculty and students.The paper published a feature on the University's success achieved inmerely 20 years. The Hunan TV produced a special feature on HKUSTwhich helps Mainland students learn more about HKUST.


















(From left) Dr Eden Y Woon, Mr Michele Petochi from theWorld Economic Forum and President Tony F Chan

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The President Goes to Europe

Institute for Advanced StudyHosts Major Forum

In the HKUST Family


The President Goes to EuropeThis may be the digital age, but there is no substitutefor the personal touch that comes with face-to-facemeetings for building ties that endure.

HKUST has been a magnet attracting local andoverseas scholars and students because of our rapidrise in rankings and international recognitions. Butreaching out and building bridges is part of being aninternational university. To this end, the President, ProfTony F Chan, together with our Vice-President forInstitutional Advancement, Dr Eden Y Woon, took timeout of their jam-packed schedules for a swing throughEurope to visit some of the venerable seats of learningand research.

From 23 October to 1 November 2011, they had notime to play tourist. They called on 10 universities andtwo institutions. Included in their itineraries are thefollowing tertiary institutions: In England, Oxford,Imperial College London, University College London; inFrance, École normale supérieure (ENS), UniversitéParis et Marie Curie (UPMC) and École Polytechnique;in the Netherlands, Leiden University and DelftUniversity of Technology (TU Delft); in Switzerland,École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) andEidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZürich).

You cannot visit old Europe without rubbing against itshistory. Oxford, for one, is 900 years old. LeidenUniversity, twinned with Oxford, has an enchanting taleall its own. In the 16th century, as a reward forheroically repelling a Spanish invasion, the king gavethe town the choice of a 10-year tax moratorium or thegift of a university. Wisely, the people of Leiden chosethe latter. In modern times, Leiden was better known asthe 'Coldest Place on Earth' for its laboratory thatdeveloped cryogenics.

HKUST, at 20, is academically speaking the new kidon the block. But you wouldn't know it from the warmreception extended to them by their Europeancounterparts. The heads of seven out of the 10universities all found time to sit down and talked tieswith the HKUST delegation.

As leaders of a research university, President Chanand Dr Woon also visited Europe's world-leadingresearch institute CERN which, equipped with powerfuldata-processing facilities and employing nearly 8,000scientists, is known to the world for the planet’s largestparticle physics laboratory. They also called at theWorld Economic Forum, the Swiss non-profitfoundation famous for its annual meeting of intellectual,business and political leaders at Davos.

This visit serves another purpose. The President andDr Woon met with postgraduate students from five ofthe universities who are keen on studying or working atHKUST. In between these meetings, they found time to introduce HKUST to local media representatives. In all, nine














such meetings took place, almost one a day for the 10-day visit, from the venerable BBC, Times HigherEducation in the UK to Le Temps in Switzerland.

Our Alumni Association, like a young octopus growing tentacles stretching to different places, now hasmembers in responsible positions scattered throughout Europe. President Chan and Dr Woon held warm get-togethers with our alumni in all four countries visited. As the old Chinese saying goes, "There is no greater joythan meeting old friends in foreign places."

This visit lasted just 10 days, but the ties that it grows will last immeasurably far longer.










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The President Goes to Europe


In the HKUST Family



HKUST's Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) co-hosts the UC RUSAL President's Forum atHKUST with UC RUSAL, the world's largest aluminium producer.

Jim O'Neill Provides Insight into the Future of BRICS

The University invited Dr Jim O'Neill, Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM)- the renowned economist who coined the prominent BRIC concept - to conduct his very firstpublic lecture in Hong Kong. Dr O'Neill presented his views on the changing dynamics of theworld and the rapid rise and importance of BRIC countries, as well as the current economiccrisis.

The BRIC acronym has become synonymous with the remarkable rise of Brazil, Russia, Indiaand China and their influence on the world economy. The concept of the "Next 11" on the otherhand, is a simple description to bracket the 11 most populous countries and to see if they mighthave a BRIC-like impact on the world.

Talking about the rise of the 'Growth Markets', a grouping which includes the four BRICcountries and the four largest N-11 countries - namely, Mexico, South Korea, Indonesia andTurkey, Dr O'Neill shared his views on how their involvement will lead to great global prosperity.Following the lecture, Dr O'Neill engaged in a constructive dialogue with HKUST President TonyF Chan and answered questions from the audience.

Dr Jim O'Neill is currently the Chairman of GSAM and is responsible for overseeing the globaloperation of the Asset Management Division. Prior to assuming this role in September 2010, hewas head of Global Economics, Commodities and Strategy Research. He joined GoldmanSachs in 1995 as a partner, co-head of Global Economics Research and Chief CurrencyEconomist. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Dr O'Neill worked for Swiss Bank Corporation andthe Bank of America.

In 2010 RUSAL and HKUST established a five-year cooperative agreement. Under thesponsorship of US$1.5 million, RUSAL would support the development of HKUST's Institute forAdvanced Study, establish scholarships and conduct research project on the application ofinnovative technologies for using aluminium in construction. The UC RUSAL President's Forumwelcomes the world's renowned speakers to Hong Kong.

IAS also hosted Nobel Lectures and Distinguished Lectures with top scholars, attractingenthusiastic response.

IAS Nobel Lecture

Prof David GrossProf David Gross from the University of California at Santa Barbara
















shared his insights on the present state of knowledge in elementaryparticle physics and the state of string theory. He also discussed theexperimental revolutions that might occur at the Large Hadron Collider(LHC) now running at CERN, the world’s largest particle physicslaboratory. Prof Gross won the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics for hisdiscovery of asymptotic freedom, which focuses on understanding thestrong interactions that bind quarks and nuclear matter to string theory.

Prof Robert Engle Prof Robert Engle from New York University delivered a lecture on'Global Financial Stability and Long Run Risks'. At the talk, Prof Englediscussed the concept of risk management and how to utilize volatilitymodels in making forecasts. Prof Engle was awarded the 2003 NobelPrize in Economics Sciences for his breakthrough research on theconcept of autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH), astatistical model of volatility that captured the tendency of stock pricesand other financial variables to move between high volatility and lowvolatility periods. The finding was first mentioned in Econometrica, 1982. The model hasbecome an essential tool used for asset pricing and evaluation of portfolio risk.

Prof Edward PrescottProf Edward Prescott, from Arizona State University and FederalReserve Bank of Minneapolis believed that eliminating capital incometaxes will greatly increase savings opportunities and make savings forretirement system feasible with only modest amount of governmentdebt. In recognition of his contributions, Prof Prescott was awarded the2004 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences.

IAS Distinguished Lecture

Prof Justin Yifu LinProf Justin Yifu Lin, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of theWorld Bank provided a framework to analyze the causes behind thedramatic changes of China's economy throughout the centuries. As aresult, China has been the most dynamic economy in the world. Hebelieved that the current economic theory does not apply to theChinese economy and drawn some lessons from the Chineseexperiences for other developing countries.

Prior to joining the Bank, Prof Lin served as the Founding Director and Professor of the ChinaCentre for Economic Research (CCER) at Peking University. He had also been teaching atHKUST from 1995 to 2005.










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HKUST President's OutstandingService Award

Heroes at Security Section WinAwards

Alumni Strengthens Connectionswith Alma Mater

Event Highlights



Human talent is the prime factor making HKUST a world-class research university within only20 years. Its success is enabled by the joint efforts of its excellent faculty, its team ofprofessional administrators and supporting staff. By setting up the President's OutstandingService Award, HKUST aims to recognize non-teaching staff members who have demonstratedexceptional service, innovative thinking and commitment to excellence. This is the second timethe Award is presented.

Mr Tze-kin Cheung, Senior Technical Officer of the Materials Characterisation and PreparationFacility, Mr Michael Choi, Security Manager of the Facilities Management Office and Ms JulieShing, Executive Assistant to the Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies arepresented the President's Outstanding Service Award in recognition of their significantcontributions to the University, as well as their commitment and dedication to work.

Prof Yuk-shan Wong, Vice-President for Administration and Business and the Chairman of theSelection Committee for President's Outstanding Service Award, said, “The University'sacademic prowess depends not only upon the faculty's high-powered research and teaching,but also the all-round support and effective administration behind the scenes, such ascomputer networks, executive support and laboratory management. Outstanding administrativesupport and service is one of the University's most treasured assets."

Going through this year's nominations for the 28 exemplary staff members was no easy task."All nominees possess unique strengths. It was a challenging mission for the Committee toshortlist the 10 finalists and eventually the final three awardees. I truly hope that all colleagueswill continue to work hard and strive for excellence in all areas in the years to come."

The awardees and finalists were invited to bring their families to the award presentationceremony and dinner gathering on 15 November, where they shared their joy, insights and fondmemories. President Prof Tony F Chan expressed deep appreciation of the University's non-teaching staff who are enthusiastic and committed to excellence. He is happy to see theestablishment of the Award, which recognizes dedicated non-teaching staff and motivates themto keep on shining.

With our unifying concept of 1-HKUST, the University will continue to create miracles andachieve greater heights with the concerted efforts of teaching and non-teaching staff members.

Awardee – Mr Tze-kin Cheung Senior Technical Officer, the MaterialsCharacterisation and Preparation Facility

Mr Tze-kin Cheung has served the MaterialsCharacterisation and Preparation Facility fornine years. The unit, which centers on thecharacterisation and analysis of variousadvanced materials and nanomaterials,















involves the heavy use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To help keep thedown time of the TEM-related machines low and reduce repair expenditures, Mr Cheunghas self-studied machines, electronic circuit design, optics, software and other relevantdisciplines. To enhance quality service, he has taken the initiatives to design and locatethe components, set up file servers to facilitate user access and manage their TEMresults. Mr Cheung loves self-learning. "In order to design and compose a TEM camera, Ihave consulted and discussed with professors and students, turned to references booksand searched for information on the web. I have worked day and night to carry out thetest and modify the software. These tasks have been where my interests lie. I fully enjoyit no matter how tough it is." His passion and enthusiasm have been applauded byfaculty, staff members and students, which resulted in his entering the final round of theAwards for two consecutive years and being named the winner this year. Mr Cheungtakes this humbly. "The Award is a motivating force. My family is even happier than Iam. I feel content doing what I enjoy."

Awardee – Mr Michael Choi Security Manager of the FacilitiesManagement Office

Mr Michael Choi came on board in 1991 whenHKUST was still in its setup stage. As aformer commander of the British army in HongKong, he transferred his expertise into his thennew job and built the highly acclaimed securitysection in the Facilities Management Office from scratch. He worked hard to create asafe campus environment, and was generous with his expert advice, insights andsuggestions. Before major campus events, he would even pull all-nighters going overprogram details and supervise on-site to ensure smooth delivery. Mr Choi has helped toraise the standards and modes of operation of the security section. He was one of theimportant persons behind the first joint university forum of security forces, where securityrepresentatives of local universities converge to share information and experience. Underhis leadership, HKUST was awarded the Best Partner Property by the Regional CrimePrevention Office of Kowloon East in 2010-2011.

Over the years Mr Choi has been involved in the HKUST Staff Association and hasremained active in community service. He has organized volunteer visits to the Haven ofHope Hospital in Hong Kong and villages on the Mainland. Highly valued and counted onby the HKUST community, he has always been receiving staff members and students inhis office. Feeling pleased and deeply honored to be conferred with the Award, he said,"This honor belongs to all members of the security section. I work not for the sake ofrecognition. Having said that, I'm happy that the University has recognized my efforts."

Awardee – Ms Julie Shing Executive Assistant to the Vice-President forResearch and Graduate Studies

Serving the Office of Vice-President forResearch and Graduate Studies for close to16 years, Ms Julie Shing is a livingembodiment of HKUST's institutional memory.She testifies to the expanded scope ofresearch activities, among which are the growing number of research institutes andcenters from 10 at the beginning to more than 50 currently, and the rapid expansion ofcollaborative research and technology transfer initiatives. Ms Shing is able to remaincalm when changes arise. For whatever work she does, she is able to provide excellentleadership in the administrative operation and to help formulate and implement plans, aswell as deliver results in the most effective manner.

Ms Shing's low key, never-complaining and humble attitude has set a role model for hercolleagues. Her former and current supervisors give her their unanimous accord.Speaking of her work principles, Ms Shing remarked that she never gives up and sheputs all her heart and efforts into her job. She said humbly, "My performance is far frombeing outstanding. The success depends on my colleagues' support and collaborativeefforts. I should not take all the credits."

Finalist – Miss Margaret Sui-chun Chau Executive Officer of the Office of the Dean of Engineering

Miss Margaret Chau joined the HKUST community in 1994. Over theyears she has taken up various administrative positions of theEngineering School, handling a wide range of duties includingundergraduate and postgraduate student affairs, overseas exchangeprogram and global outreach, which is her recent focus. Speaking ofthe most impressive and fulfilling experience she has ever had in HKUST, she thought ofintroducing the Robocon Hong Kong Contest to the student circle and motivating them tojoin the competition. Once of an ad hoc nature with only a lean team of participants and acar park as the practicing ground, the Contest has now become one of the most popularevents among students with a well-equipped laboratory as its base, and a full-fledgedteam comprising more than 70 students.

Miss Chau thanked the University for recognizing her effort. She was also grateful to herever trusting and supportive colleagues who inspire her to excel in whatever roles sheassumes. She will continue to help facilitate integration among students and strengthentheir sense of belonging.

Finalist – Ms Helen Mei-yee Lai Executive Officer of the Department of Physics

Ms Helen Lai, Executive Officer of the Department of Physics, joinedthe Unit in 1996 and has been responsible for many kinds ofadministrative work in the department. She has shown great care tofaculty and students and has made well-thought arrangements forbudget preparation, course selection and logistics. She described theSARS epidemic as the most unforgettable episode in her career, during which she andher colleagues had to have all teaching, audio-visual and filming materials ready within ashort time for conducting lessons with home-bound students. While it was tough, the factthat they overcame challenges brought great satisfaction.

Over the years Ms Lai has earned the trust of the department head and other facultymembers, and has enjoyed a close-knit collegial relationship. She attributes this to herinsistence on "going one step further and being reasonable and sincere". "I am pleasedthat during my 16 years of service, none of the administrative staff in our department hasleft," she added. She will continue to work with faculty members, students and staffmembers to overcome challenges arising from the 3-3-4 education reform.

Finalist – Miss May Wing-mui Lee Personal Secretary to the Provost

Serving HKUST since its inception and having been the PersonalSecretary to seven serving Provosts / Vice-Presidents for AcademicAffairs, Miss May Lee has witnessed the University's rapiddevelopment . She noted that each of them has distinctive characterand management style, but what they have in common are theiremphases on quality and efficiency. "I am very fortunate to have worked closely witheach of them and gained their trust. This is extremely fulfilling," She said.

As the Office's 'commander-in-chief', Miss Lee is responsible for duties ranging fromcoordinating inter-school and inter-faculty meetings to regular office administration.Always patient and meticulous, she takes initiatives to solve problems and encouragesher colleagues to deliver their best. She did not work for awards. "There are many goodcolleagues at HKUST with contributions. I am only one of those luckier ones to havebeen recognized," she said.

Finalist – Dr Chi-moon Li Senior Manager of the Health, Safety and Environment Office

Currently the Senior Manager of Health, Safety and EnvironmentOffice, Dr Chi-moon Li joined HKUST in 1994 and has since thenassisted in devising a series of safety regulations for the University.

His task is by no means easy. "One example is the fire evacuationplan. There are many classrooms, laboratories and offices along theUniversity's interconnecting Academic Building. Also, there are members who are notfamiliar with the campus environment. We need to be careful to thoroughly communicatewith all units to plan and execute the apparently simple measures." In line with theUniversity's emphasis on sustainable development, Dr Li has studied green practice andimplemented environmentally-friendly measures in various parts of the campus. He hashelped to launch the food waste recycling machine and the organic farm to promotegreen living.

A finalist of the Award for two consecutive years, Dr Li remarked, "Of course I'm pleased– the Award means recognition and it motivates me to do better." As the Chairman of theHKUST Staff Association, he hopes that the University can introduce greater incentivesto further boost staff morale to enable the University to achieve new heights.

Finalist – Mr Donny Koon-ming Siu Associate Director (Student Life) of the Student Affairs Office

Mr Donny Siu joined HKUST right from the start in 1991. He hasplayed various roles in the Student Affairs Office, ranging from on-campus catering and medical care, scholarships and financial aid, halleducation, recreational facilities and amenities, career consultations tostrategic development. He facilitates communications among studentsand the University. He maintains close contacts with students who welcome and trust himas a friend.

Mr Siu is pleased to have become a finalist of the Award. Talking about his future goals,he said, "Students nowadays tend to have their own preferences. This results in greaterneeds to foster communication. I hope we can devote more time and resources to thebridging work in the future."

Finalist – Ms Shirley Suk-ping Tang Program Manager of the Interdisciplinary Programs Office

Ms Shirley Tang joined HKUST in 1996. A computer engineeringgraduate of HKUST, she started off her career serving the School ofEngineering and was actively engaged in undergraduate affairs andpreparation for the University's first dual degree program. Followingthe development of interdisciplinary programs, she was transferred tothe Interdisciplinary Programs Office. In those days, the idea of interdisciplinary studieshad not yet taken root in local or even international scenes. The need to formulatehuman resources and budgetary standards for the new office added to the variousdifficulties she was facing. With her conviction and the help of trusting professors andcolleagues, she was able to overcome the difficulties.

Miss Tang is impressed by professors' enthusiasm in teaching. She said, "HKUSTprofessors put in a lot of efforts to devise teaching activities. For instance, they had totake multiple injections and suffer from exhaustion arising from long journeys in order tohost a case study competition in Brazil. They went through all these to enrich students'learning experience." She is excited to have become a finalist of the Award twice in hercareer. She hopes that the University will provide greater recognition to deserving staffmembers in the future.

Finalist – Miss Wendy Suk-kwan Yuen Clerk of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering

Miss Wendy Yuen joined the Department of Electronic and ComputerEngineering in 1994 to support postgraduate affairs andundergraduates' final year projects. Having worked at HKUST for

nearly two decades, she has helped propose and implement the useof intranet for postgraduate research in the department. Centralizationof information has helped faculty and students access and retrieve useful data.

Miss Yuen appreciates the Department's insights in identifying talents according to theirabilities and not only taking into account their education and ranks. This has enabled herto build on her strengths, and she feels highly encouraged to be shortlisted for thisAward. For years she has been punctual, diligent and helpful. "Our duties such asscholarship administration involve many closely connected tasks. We have to ensure thatall tiny parts run smoothly such that the entire project can be implemented. Thus it isalways important to keep track of things and handle them with care no matter how busywe are."










Mr Ho (left) being presented Gold Award and Certificate forBest Security Professional by Assistant Commissioner of Police

The Security Section celebrates double happiness. Mr MichaelChoi, Manager (2nd from right), is pleased

CONTENTS


Raising the Bar


Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family




Event Highlights


Heroes at SecuritySectionWin AwardsThroughout the years, HKUST has nurtured manytalented scholars and students. The University campushas become an ideal location for studies and researchdue to the hard work of many unsung heroes, andamong them are members of the HKUST SecuritySection.

The Security Section's efforts were recognized as itwas awarded the Best Partner Award by the RegionalCrime Prevention Office of Kowloon East recently. MrShun-sing Ho, Superintendent at the Security Section,won the Gold Award for the Best Security Professional2010-2011 in the same region.

Mr Ho was awarded because of his performance whenhandling an assault on campus. "I yelled at the suspectto stop him, while protecting the injured and calling colleagues for help. I helped the suspect calm down, andsoon after he was able to control his emotions. He gave up the idea of hurting the victim and was later underarrest," said Ho who expressed gratifications to his colleagues. The trophy is now sitting in the office of theSecurity Section, showcasing the collaborative efforts and good deeds of its members.

Since winning the award, Mr Ho had been invited by the Fight Crime Committee to present the case and theway it was handled to police constables. As a member of the Security Section, Mr Ho has abundant knowledgeof counselling and crisis handling. A veteran of the St John's Ambulance Brigade for the past 40 years, he hasbeen saving lives on ambulances and has been awarded the Community Service Award by the Brigade and theBronze award by the Social Welfare Department. Having been awarded by HKUST's President and StaffAssociation, he said humbly, "It is nothing special; it is our responsibilities to save lives and to contribute tosociety."

Security Manager of the Facilities Management Office Mr Michael Choi stated, "All members of the HKUSTSecurity Section have to receive training in fire prevention, first aid and smoke-and-fog prevention. We arewell-trained to respond to emergencies such as accidents in laboratories. The Fight Crime Committee, afterconsidering our case, selected us from among various institutions in Kowloon East and presented to us theBest Partners Award. We are particularly pleased as the award was presented by the Police."

The professionalism and dedication demonstrated by Mr Choi, Mr Ho and other members of the Section give uspeace of mind to study and work on this beautiful HKUST campus with high security standards.

























CONTENTS


Raising the Bar


Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family




Event Highlights


Alumni Strengthens Connections with Alma Mater

In the past 20 years, HKUST has nurtured over 43,000 graduates.Members of the alumni, whether they are in Hong Kong or abroad, alwaysremember the homecoming experience as they join reunions and keepclose contacts with their Alma Mater.

From London, Paris, Amsterdam to Geneva, HKUST President Tony FChan and Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Dr Eden Y Woonhosted gatherings with the alumni during their visit to Europe last Fall.The warm get-togethers brought precious moments to the alumni body inEurope.

Back to Hong Kong, over 120 members of the alumni attended theAnnual Dinner of HKUST Alumni Association with a glittering line-up ofperformances. The alumni demonstrated their artistic talents with anAcapella. Engineering alumnus Mr Jacky Chiu led 'little angels', who werehis students at the SDM Jazz & Ballet Academie, to give a fabulous Jazzperformance. Illustrator Ms Jeanie Leung, a Marketing alumna, crafted acommemorative photo frame for the celebration.

400 members the alumni and their family members embraced the festivemoods towards the end of the year as they enjoyed a fun day at theOcean Park in December. They were greeted by President Chan andVice-President Dr Woon who introduced to them the latest developmentsof the University.

Members of the alumni definitely enjoyed their time together.

HKUST's first PhD graduate Prof JackLau (right) was awarded the Directors ofthe Year Award 2011 by the Hong KongInstitute of Directors
























CONTENTS


Raising the Bar


Local Links


Global Network

In the HKUST Family




Event Highlights

JANUARY 2012 PREVIOUS

Event Highlights

HKUST students joined the World Gallery of Hope service learning program to Cambodia. They visitedorphanages and engaged in voluntary work.

Students joined Sichuan – Light on Dreams to engage in voluntary teaching with children of the Yipeople and visited local families.

The Citi International Case Competition was jointly organized by Citi Hong Kong and HKUST’s School ofBusiness and Management and sponsored by the Citi Foundation. 20 outstanding teams from topbusiness schools around the world participated in the Competition.

22 HKUST undergraduate students wereawarded the Li & Fung Scholarships to go on















Dr Chan Sui Kau joined 130 students at the Chan SuiKau and Chan Lam Moon Chun Hall for thanksgivingdinner.

Prof Reinhard Renneberg fromthe Department of Chemistrylaunched the Wisdom ScienceCorner at HKUST’s coffee shopto foster exchange of ideas.

exchange in prestigious overseas universities. Arepresentative of the Victor & William FungFoundation Limited, which sponsors theScholarship, gave a briefing to applicants.










january 2012 teaching and research

Documents