News & Stories

Loyalty is a virtue quietly forged through dedication. This year, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)’s Long Service Awards celebrates this very spirit by honoring 158 colleagues who have served for 20 years or more. Notably, HKUST is presenting its inaugural 35-Year Awards, recognizing colleagues whose 35 years of service—a milestone predating the University’s founding—underscores the deep-rooted commitment within our community. Join us to meet three of the remarkable honorees who have helped shape HKUST into the institution it is today.

As a pioneering electrochemist and Head of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Prof. SHAO Minhua is accelerating the clean energy transition and seeking to fast forward top faculty and young talents in making their own contribution to a resource-friendly world.

  In a world still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, health disparities are widening and healthcare worker shortages persist, revealing vulnerabilities in our health systems. “Yet within all these challenges lie immense opportunities for collaboration and innovation,” noted Professor Nancy IP, President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), at the 2025 Asia Summit on Global Health. As a keynote panelist, she asserted that universities can play a pivotal role in shaping a more equitable and sustainable health system. 

Compassionate and altruistic, one energetic Indonesian HKUST BEng graduate is using the knowledge and skills she obtained at university to help change the world for the better. Sustainability is more than a buzz phrase for Cindy Aiko Filbert TANAKA (BEng in Chemical and Environmental Engineering), who is rapidly building a career with one of the world’s leading business consultancies.

Pursuing undergraduate studies in Hong Kong 15 years ago marked the start of a highly rewarding journey for Malaysian native Dr. Nick CHIN Jing-Wei. He not only realized his dream of establishing a technology start-up, but also set up his own family here.

HKUST’s Engineering Commons, opened in 2013, has been the School of Engineering’s “family room” that enhances interaction of the engineering community and enables the display of top-notch research of its faculty members. Located at a key intersection of the campus, the Engineering Commons was renovated in 2024 after being used for more than a decade. As the Commons officially reopened in October 2024, it features an array of new research applications that are most relevant to campus life, including AIoT sensing research led by Prof. Gary CHAN Shueng-Han of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

For over 30 years, Mei has been the gentle heartbeat of the HKUST campus. Her warm presence at the China Garden, the University’s Chinese restaurant, has touched and rippled through generations of HKUSTers. While daily tasks like greeting diners, preparing ingredients, and brewing tea may appear routine, for Mei, they have evolved into meaningful connections with the students, staff, and alumni who define this university community. As one of the earliest staff members at this restaurant on campus, Mei has witnessed HKUST transform into the remarkable institution it is today. Through her dedication, she is so much more than just a hard-working staff, she is a true “community builder” in every sense—someone who has contributed to cultivating the vibrant and welcoming spirit that unites the HKUST family.

Imagine a hiker collapsing from heatstroke on a remote trail in Sai Kung. In the past, help could take an agonizing hour, but now, thanks to a groundbreaking drone delivery system being pioneered in Hong Kong, life-saving medical supplies can arrive in just minutes. This isn’t just a vision of the future; it’s a reality unfolding before our eyes. Cities worldwide are embracing drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and advanced air mobility (AAM) systems to enhance urban mobility, logistics, emergency response, and even entertainment, such as stunning drone shows. In Mainland China, the low-altitude economy (LAE) is projected to reach a staggering 2 trillion yuan by 2030, signalling a transformative shift in everyday life.