The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today (7 January 2010) officially inaugurated its Division of Environment with an inaugural lecture by three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Mr Thomas Friedman entitled “Reflections on Our Hot, Flat and Crowded World”.
A foreign affairs columnist with New York Times, Mr Friedman is often hailed up as the world’s most influential journalist.
The inaugural ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for the Environment The Hon Edward Yau, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Sir Harold Kroto, Hang Lung Properties Chairman Mr Ronnie Chan, Civic Exchange CEO Dr Christine Loh, HKUST President Tony F Chan, Mr Thomas Friedman, and Acting Head of Division of Environment Prof Chak Chan.
Division of Environment up and running
Established in Fall 2009, HKUST’s Division of Environment strives to foster collaboration among students and faculty members to address relevant science, technology and policy issues in environmental education.
More precisely, the Division will:
Provide rigorous and inquiry-based education for students to solve complex environmental problems involving scientific, technological, societal, regulatory and business issues;
Enhance the environmental awareness of university students by offering general education courses; and
Engage in interdisciplinary environmental research that is academically challenging and has high potential impact in Hong Kong and the region, with initial focus on atmospheric, oceanographic, and policy research.
At present, the Division is running three postgraduate programs:
MSc / Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science
MPhil / PhD in Atmospheric Environmental Science
MPhil / PhD in Marine Environmental Science
Meanwhile, the Division will also be launching an undergraduate program – BSc in Environmental Management and Technology – in Fall 2010. This program has been ranked the second most competitive and third most popular program at HKUST among the JUPAS applicants.
Currently, the Division is staffed by 10 faculty members from various Schools at HKUST.
For media enquiries, please feel free to contact :
Ross Lai
Tel: 2358 6306 / 9103 2928
Email: rosslai@ust.hk
Donna Wong
Tel: 2358 6317
Email: donnaw@ust.hk