News & Stories

The global transdisciplinary "research-to-operation" (R2O) initiative, “Seamless Prediction and Services for Sustainable Natural and Built Environments” (SEPRESS), led by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has been endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of its International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD). Over the next decade, HKUST’s SEPRESS will spearhead efforts to collaborate with global partners in transforming scientific advancements into tailored solutions that enhance climate resilience and sustainability worldwide, with a particular focus on Least Developed Countries. SEPRESS will achieve this by translating progress in weather-to-climate prediction research into scalable solutions and fostering global partnerships to deliver actionable outcomes.

A collaborative research team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed an innovative laminated interface microstructure that enhances the stability and photoelectric conversion efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today announces its Net-Zero Action Plan (Action Plan), which is the first among higher education institutions in Hong Kong to have a comprehensive framework with multi-pronged strategies aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. This plan is supported by a commitment of HK$30 million earned from renewable energy generation to further accelerate research and adoption of innovative decarbonization solutions on campus.

Tropical marine low clouds play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate. However, whether they mitigate or exacerbate global warming has long remained a mystery. Now, researchers from the School of Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a groundbreaking method that significantly improves accuracy in climate predictions. This led to a major discovery – that tropical cloud feedback may have amplified the greenhouse effect by a staggering 71% more than previously known to scientists. The effects of tropical low clouds are difficult to investigate because they are influenced by a variety of factors. Commonly used low cloud controlling factors often struggle to separate the influence of local sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from that of temperatures in the free troposphere – the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, casting uncertainty in projections.

Landslides, flash floods, and fallen trees—these are just some of the alarming sights accompanying the summer typhoon seasons in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, the city has witnessed a distressing surge in extreme rainfall, characterized by intensity levels that surpass the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal. This trend serves as a stark reminder of the growing impact of global warming on our daily lives and safety. The question resonates: how can we better prepare for nature’s fury in the future?

Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed the world’s first kilowatt-scale elastocaloric cooling device. The device can stabilize indoor temperatures at a comfortable 21-22°C in just 15 minutes, even when outdoor temperatures reach between 30-31°C, marking a significant breakthrough toward the commercial application of elastocaloric solid-state cooling technology. The research findings have been published in the leading international science journal Nature, offering a promising solution to combat climate change and accelerate low-carbon transformation of the global cooling industry.