News & Stories

Nobel Laureate in Economics and Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, New Jersey) Eric Maskin speaks on election and voting, and on bilateral contracts at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology this week. Prof Maskin has signed on as a visiting member of the Institute for Advanced Study of HKUST and will visit the University on a regular basis to teach and interact with faculty and students.

World Class Tests in Mathematics and Problem Solving administered by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have found that Hong Kong students aged 8 to 14 performed better in arriving at the right answers in tests, but less well in explaining each step in the process of calculation. The difference is particularly significant in the younger age group between 8 and 11. For instance, in the Algebra questions, the average score for the “answers” part was 67, but the average score for the “calculation process” part was 42. Meanwhile, in the Measurement questions, the average score for “answers” was 68 while that for “calculation process” was only 38.

Prof Xu Kuangdi, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, advocates a restructuring of China’s energy regime to put greater emphasis on developing nuclear and renewable power. Prof Xu was today invited by the Institute for Advanced Study of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to give a Distinguished Lecture on “Addressing Climate Change: Developing a Low-Carbon Economy in China”. Prof Xu pointed out that China was in a period of rapid growth in terms of industrialization and urbanization. Unfortunately, the current coal-based energy regime has made China one of the world’s largest coal-emitting countries. From another perspective, however, China’s average per capita emission is still significantly lower than that of the developed countries. Hence, China’s responsibility for reducing carbon emission should be different from the developed countries.

The Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology announced today that Professor Joseph Hun-wei Lee, currently Redmond Chair of Civil Engineering and Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President at the University of Hong Kong is appointed the Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies (VP-RG). Prof Lee is expected to take up the appointment in the Fall semester 2010. Professor Lee is a distinguished scholar, research leader, educator and University administrator with extensive local, national and international experience. The Chairman of the University Council, Dr Marvin Cheung reflects the University’s enthusiasm about his appointment in these words “With Prof Lee’s wealth of experience in governmental and non-governmental consultancy, his achievements in research and administration, he is the ideal choice for this strategic new post to help take the university to its next level of excellence by strengthening its senior leadership.”

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today officially named its Exposition Hall "Tsang Shiu Tim Art Hall", in recognition of the generous donation of HK$20 million by the Tsang Shiu Tim Charitable Foundation for HKUST's development. Mr and Mrs Tsang Wing-Lok, representatives of the Foundation, officiated at the Ceremony alongside HKUST President Tony F Chan. President Chan said, "This donation differs from most other donations in that it came to us unasked. The donor took the initiative to support us because they endorse what HKUST is doing educationally and scientifically. We are therefore particularly grateful to the generosity of the Tsang family." "HKUST aims to provide students with a holistic education, and this Art Hall offers a superb venue for the University's artistic activities, thereby enriching campus life," he added.

香 港 科 技 大 學 （ 科 大 ） 第 一 宿 舍 足 球 隊 今 晚 與 本 港 足 球 勁 旅 傑 志 足 球 隊 展 開 慈 善 友 誼 賽 ， 並 將 籌 得 善 款 捐 贈 給 聯 合 國 兒 童 基 金 會 ， 以 支 援 海 地 大 地 震 的 災 民 。 科 大 校 長 陳 繁 昌 教 授 在 科 大 足 球 場 主 持 開 球 禮 時 說 ： 「 關 心 社 會 向 來 是 科 大 的 宗 旨 ， 而 我 們 經 常 鼓 勵 學 生 參 與 慈 善 活 動 。 我 很 欣 賞 社 一 學 生 主 動 發 起 這 場 慈 善 足 球 賽 。 」 科 大 學 生 在 球 場 內 設 置 了 多 個 籌 款 箱 ， 讓 入 場 觀 眾 捐 獻 善 款 。 科 大 社 一 主 席 何 智 銳 同 學 說 ： 「 傑 志 是 香 港 一 支 頂 級 足 球 隊 ； 我 們 都 很 感 謝 他 們 蒞 臨 科 大 ， 一 同 為 慈 善 籌 款 盡 力 。 此 外 ， 我 們 球 隊 能 夠 與 一 支 這 麼 出 色 的 球 隊 切 磋 ， 實 在 是 一 個 非 常 難 得 的 機 會 ！ 」 傑 志 最 後 以 10 比 0 的 比 數 大 勝 科 大 社 一 。 For media enquiries, please feel free to contact : Ross Lai Tel: 2358 6306 / 9103 2928 Email: rosslai@ust.hk  

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today presented its first Long Service Award to 35 staff members who have served the University for 20 years or more, joining the institution even before it admitted students in 1991. HKUST President Tony F Chan said, “The awardees today are all founding members of this University, and naturally they all have a very special dedication to this place. I trust that they will continue to serve the University with undiminished loyalty and zeal.” HKUST Vice-President Yuk-Shan Wong said, “This first batch of long-serving colleagues does not encompass any faculty members for the simple reason that the University did not start to admit students until Fall 1991. So the earliest professors all joined the University in that year.”

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has been presented with a serial number 001 souvenir share certificate and a product model of the newly-listed technology company Perception Digital by the Company’s Chairman, Dr Jack Lau. HKUST President Tony F Chan, who received the share certificate on behalf of HKUST, said, “I am delighted to see the successful listing of Perception Digital, which is closely associated with the University in many ways. I trust the Company will achieve sustained success and inspire generations of HKUST students to be entrepreneurs.”