News & Stories

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (“HKUST”) has partnered with Esquel Enterprises Limited (“Esquel Group”) to launch a five-year study program that allows HKUST students to conduct biannual field research at the textile manufacturer’s 500,000-square-meter Sustainable Development Garden Integral, recognized as one of China’s top 20 sustainable development projects by the United Nations.  Guided by HKUST faculty, students will visit the garden twice a year in groups to assess and make recommendations regarding its sustainability impact on environmental monitoring and biodiversity conservation.  This initiative marks another academic-industry collaboration aimed at accelerating the Greater Bay Area’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is proud to be the exclusive university partner of the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong & Macau for the Anita Conti Sustainable Innovation Fellowship, under the partnership framework of France-HKUST Innovation Hub. The Fellowship pays tribute to Anita Conti (1899-1997), also known as « la Dame de la Mer » (the Lady of the Sea ) and the first French woman oceanographer and a pioneer in marine ecology, as well as her scientific contribution and commitment to the protection of the oceans. It aims to inspire the next generations of researchers, innovators, and environmentalists to address the challenges of climate change and its impacts on our planet.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) hosted the French Science Festival with the theme “Oceans of Knowledge” from October 6-7, 2024, on campus for general public.Organized in partnership with the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong & Macau, the festival showcased HKUST's world-class capabilities in marine science research and education. Through a diverse range of public activities including talks, film screening, hands-on workshops, virtual reality experiences, and tours of HKUST's state-of-the-art Ocean Research Facility, participants delved deep into conservation and sustainable utilization of marine resources.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) launched HKUSTours in 2023, an innovative community engagement initiative in partnership with Kaifong Tour, a social enterprise founded by HKUST alumni. This ongoing program promotes sustainable tourism practices while fostering deeper appreciation for ecosystem conservation within our local community.Educational FocusHKUSTours offers visitors an immersive experience centered on the region's natural heritage and biodiversity. Through carefully curated tours of HKUST's picturesque Clear Water Bay campus, participants gain valuable insights into the area's rich natural resources and discover the university's sustainable development initiatives. The program emphasizes the critical importance of environmental and biodiversity conservation through engaging storytelling and hands-on experiences.

 The recent arrival of a whale in Saikung waters proved a magnet for curious onlookers. (Photo: Tak/Xiaohongshu)  

HKUST becomes the first university in Hong Kong to make a pledge to eliminate investments in fossil fuels.

The University is strengthening its commitment to building a sustainable culture and environment while enhancing its goal on attaining a net zero.

Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) decoded for the first time the chromosomal-level genome of a deep-sea gutless tubeworm and how the worm’s co-living bacterial partners manufacture organic nutrients for its host so it can survive the extreme habitat. The discovery lays foundation for potential applications such as biomaterial production and microbial growth control.Living in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps ecosystems characterized by darkness, high pressure and often high concentrations of toxic substances, submarine tubeworms - common living organisms of such extreme environments, were known to owe their survival and fast growth to sulphide-oxidising symbiotic bacteria that live inside their body. However, the success behind such a complementary “marriage” between the tubeworms and their co-living bacteria had remained unknown due to the lack of genomic resources.