hkust masterclass

Global Sustainable Development Congress

 

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will participate in the upcoming Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024, organized by Times Higher Education (THE) in Bangkok, Thailand from June 10-13, 2024. As a leading research university committed to driving sustainable innovation and solutions, HKUST will be joining thought-provoking sessions during this international event.

The Congress is expected to draw over 3,000 global thought leaders, policymakers, industry executives, and civil society representatives, underscoring the urgency and importance of the sustainability agenda. HKUST's participation underscores its commitment to addressing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on a global stage. Our faculty will share their cutting-edge projects and insights across a range of sustainability topics throughout the congress.

HKUST will host two high-profile sessions and a panel discussion that highlight the university's multifaceted contributions to addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On June 11, Professor Alexis LAU, Director of the Institute for the Environment, will lead a masterclass on developing effective climate warning systems. Additionally, Professor Yang WANG, Vice-president for Institutional Advancement, will participate in a panel discussion on harnessing digital transformation for sustainability. On June 12, Professor Hong LO, Dean of Engineering and Director of GREAT Smart Cities Institute, will lead a session on smart city innovations.

The GSDC represents a crucial international platform for driving tangible progress on the sustainability agenda. HKUST is honored to contribute its expertise and thought leadership to this global dialogue. Through collaboration and knowledge-sharing, HKUST aims to inspire new ideas, foster cross-sector partnerships, and accelerate concrete actions towards a more sustainable future for all.

 

 

hkust masterclass
Climate Resilience

Date: June 11 (Day 2)
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

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hkust masterclass
Digital Sustainability 

Date: June 11 (Day 2)
Time: 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM

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hkust masterclass
Sustainable Cities

Date: June 12 (Day 3)
Time: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

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hkust masterclass
Joint Declaration

Date: June 12 (Day 3)
Time: 13:40 PM - 2:00 PM

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OUR SESSIONS

 

 

Day 2 - June 11, 2024 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Room 105

From data to action: effective extreme climate warning systems to safeguard communities

This impending session convenes a distinguished gathering of international organizations, academic experts, and community-based groups to collectively examine the development of robust early warning systems targeted at climate and health crises. The dynamic discussions will center around innovative approaches to crafting personalized warnings tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations, as climate change threats continue to evolve. Notably, the session will explore strategic leveraging of the Internet of Things and mobile technologies to enable precise risk detection and dissemination of personalized guidance - all with the aim of prompting decisive action from affected individuals, while diligently avoiding the pitfall of overwhelming the public.

Speakers:

  • Professor Fei CHEN, Co-chair of the WMO's Urban Prediction Project; Professor, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST
  • Professor Alexis LAU, Head, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST
  • Ms. Eva Yeung, Senior Manager of Community Resilience Service, Hong Kong Red Cross

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Day 2 - June 11, 2024 | 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 103

The digital revolution is now: How will it ensure a sustainable future?

The advent of the sixth industrial revolution presents a complex landscape of both promising opportunities and formidable challenges when it comes to driving sustainable development. As rapidly evolving technologies continue to transform how we work, live, and learn, this session will explore strategies for aligning digital transformation with the sustainable development agenda and mitigating any negative impacts. Key areas of discussion will include harnessing the power of big data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and other emerging technologies to address pressing sustainability challenges, while also examining the potential risks and unintended consequences of unchecked technological progress. 
 

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Day 3 - June 12, 2024 | 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM | Room 105

Smart innovations for sustainable cities and communities

As environmental concerns escalate the need for resilient and liveable cities intensifies, the convergence of technology and sustainability has become increasingly important. To guide policymakers, researchers and industry leaders in their pursuit of sustainable urban development, this session will elucidate the elements that bring about smart innovations for sustainable cities and communities, focusing on the integration of advanced technologies like AI and the Internet of Things, as well as the application of big-data analytics for addressing urban challenges, promoting resource efficiency, enhancing quality of life, and fostering sustainable development.
 

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Day 3 - June 12, 2024 | 13:40 PM - 2:00 PM | Room 105

Joint Declaration on Promoting Carbon Neutrality

In our shared commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, HKUST, together with our distinguished university partners, will announce the "Joint Declaration on Embracing a Living Lab Approach to Promote Carbon Neutrality." This declaration demonstrates our firm commitment to SDG 13 ‘climate action’ and calls for joint effort to address climate change by leveraging our campuses as test-beds for hands-on learning and advancing applied research.
 

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Our Speakers

Professor Yang WANG

 

Professor Yang WANG
Vice-President for Institutional Advancement
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 

Yang Wang is Vice-President for Institutional Advancement at HKUST. He is also a chair professor of mathematics, and industrial engineering and decision analytics. He is the co-founder of HKUST’s Big Data Institute and the founding director of the Big Data for Bio Intelligence Laboratory. As chief scientific adviser of the Institute of Web 3.0 Hong Kong and the founding adviser for the Blockchain Academy, Professor Wang has made significant contributions to advancing digital technologies education. He also launched the popular big data technology MSc programme. He is an internationally respected scholar having published more than 150 research journal papers and two books, contributing to knowledge on wavelets, machine learning, harmonic analysis and supply chain management.

 

 

Professor Hong K. LO

 

Professor Hong K. LO
Dean of Engineering and Director of GREAT Smart Cities Institute
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 

Hong K. Lo is Dean of Engineering, Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Director of the GREAT Smart Cities Institute at HKUST. He is an accomplished scholar in intelligent transportation systems, smart cities and sustainability. He serves as the founding editor-in-chief of Transportmetrica B: Transport Dynamics and managing editor of the Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems. He is also director of the HKUST-MTR Joint Research Lab, leveraging AI and other technologies for urban mobility research. Professor Lo has been awarded the prestigious World Conference on Transportation Research Prize, and is a Justice of the Peace, fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.

 

 

Professor Alexis LAU

 

Professor Alexis LAU
Director of the Institute for the Environment
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 

Alexis Lau leads the Division of Environment and Sustainability at HKUST, also holding roles as Chair Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Institute for the Environment. His research evolved from focusing on air quality, weather, and climate data to explore interdisciplinary areas like health impacts of air exposure, climate resilience, and decarbonization tools, including blockchain for carbon tracking. His contributions include developing systems for air quality studies used in major events like the 2008 Olympic Games. Recognized by Nature China in 2007 for his work on urban modifications affecting local climates, his research influenced Hong Kong's 2013 Clean Air Plan. Prof. Lau has served in various advisory roles, including for the Hong Kong Observatory and the WHO's Air Quality and Health Advisory Group. He's also been involved with the UN's Environmental Sustainable Transport Program, sharing his expertise in air quality management internationally.
 

 

 

Professor Alexis LAU

 

Professor Fei CHEN
Professor of Environment & Sustainability
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 

Fei Chen is currently a professor within the Division of Environment and Sustainability at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Prior to this role, he spent over 26 years at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and led projects to develop the community Noah and Noah-MP land/hydrology models, and the WRF-Urban and WRF-Crop coupled models. These modeling systems have been widely used at international operational weather prediction centers.  His research interests and expertise include understanding land-atmosphere interactions and their impacts on boundary layer structures and precipitation. He also investigates the feedback mechanisms between soil moisture, vegetation conditions, land-use and land-cover changes, urbanization, agriculture management, and regional hydroclimate. His research extends to urban heat islands and their adaptation strategies, and urban extreme weather and climate. He serves on the Co-Chair of the UN World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) Urban Prediction Project and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) My Climate Risk Scientific Steering Group. He chaired the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Award Nomination Committee and the Board on the Urban Environment. He was an Elected Board Member of the International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC) Board. He was elected to a Fellow of the AMS in 2013 and received the 2018 Helmut E. Landsberg Award from the AMS.

 

 

Mr. Marcus LEUNG-SHEA

 

Mr. Marcus LEUNG-SHEA
Acting Director of Sustainability/Net-Zero Office
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 

Marcus provides leadership for HKUST’s Net-Zero 2045 initiatives, focusing on decarbonisation strategies, adoption of green technologies, and exploring and implementing new-step change initiatives to make sustainability a practical reality on HKUST’s campus. His experience ranges across management consulting, corporate strategy, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on systems thinking and digital transformation. Marcus holds a B.A. in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from George Mason University, and an MBA from HKUST.
 

 

 

OUR RECEPTION

 

reception

HKUST will be hosting a Cocktail Reception in Bangkok on June 12, 2024, and we would like to invite you join us for this special event. The reception will be attended by the HKUST delegation led by Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Prof. Yang WANG, along with the presence of Associate Provost (Institutional Data and Research) Dr. Alison LLOYD, Dean of Engineering Prof. Hong LO and Director of the Institute for the Environment Prof. Alexis LAU. It is going to be a fantastic opportunity to reconnect and make new connections with our esteemed global partners and HKUST alumni.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Time: 17:30 – 20:00
Venue: Medinii Restaurant Sukhumvit (35/F, The Continent Hotel, BTS Asok, Exit 6) Location Map
Dress Code: Smart Casual