CUHK Holds Distinguished Lecture on Space Science and Sustainable Development and Launch Ceremony of CUHK Remote Sensing Satellite Construction Project
The Institute of Space and Earth Information Science (ISEIS) of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), reached an important cooperation consensus with the National Space Administration (NSA) on Earth Observation and Data Center. The collaboration aims to strengthen mutual cooperation between Hong Kong and mainland China in the field of earth observation and to promote the development of aerospace technology. ISEIS of CUHK held a ceremony on 30 November to launch the Remote Sensing Satellite Construction Project which plans to independently develop and launch the first CUHK satellite.
After thorough communication and coordination between the NSA Earth Observation and Data Center and ISEIS, consensus was reached, including cooperation in the CUHK Science-1 Satellite Project and constellation construction, satellite data sharing and exchange, international cooperation, and other related areas. Both parties will deepen their cooperation and expand the scope of collaboration to accelerate the establishment of the Hong Kong Space and Earth Data Application Center at CUHK.
Officiating guests at the ceremony included Mr. Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms. Zhao Jing, Director-General of the China Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Remote Sensing Center, Mr. Zhao Jian, Director of the China National Space Administration’s Earth Observation System and Data Center, Mr. Ivan Lee Kwok-bun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Professor Rocky S. Tuan, CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President, and Professor Kwan Mei-Po, ISEIS Director. Representatives from the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Land Registry, and the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were also in attendance.
Following the signing of the agreement, ISEIS held a ceremony to launch the project, “Development of CUHK Satellites and Integrated Remote Sensing Technologies for Near Real-time Landslide Monitoring”. This project is the first earth observation satellite construction project funded by the Hong Kong government (ITC/LSCM), and aims to independently develop and launch CUHK’s first satellite, which will be used to conduct research about smart cities, carbon neutrality and sustainable development.
Lectures on space science and sustainable development were organized during the event. CUHK invited two distinguished experts in the fields of geography and remote sensing, Academician Guo Hua-Dong and Academician Zhou Cheng-Hu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to share their profound insights. They introduced the scientific satellite programme for sustainable development and discussed the analysis and applications of remote sensing big data.
CUHK Organizes NSFC-CUHK Symposium on New Energy and New Materials
In collaboration with the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre (BHKAEC), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) organized NSFC-CUHK Symposium on New Energy and New Materials at CUHK during 30 November to 1 December 2023.
The Symposium aimed to promote the collaboration in China’s mainland and Hong Kong through the interdisciplinary exchange of scholars and experts, consolidating the research foundation and advancing scientific innovation on New Energy and New Materials.The Faculty of Science of CUHK held the ” International Conference on Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences for Carbon Neutrality” at the same time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Science. This Symposium serves as one of the sub-forums of the international conference to expand the international influence. The event attracted a total of more than 100 people from Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Guests officiating at the opening ceremony included CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Sham Mai-Har; Ms. Lai Yi-Nan, Director of Comprehensive and Strategic Planning Division of Engineering and Materials Science and Technology of NSFC; Mr. Hsu Hoi-Shan, President of BHKAEC; and Professor Song Chun-Shan, Dean of Science of CUHK.
Professor Sham said at the ceremony, “CUHK has been devoting to world-class research and transferring the research outcomes, with recent focus exploring the collaboration in Greater Bay Area. In the field of new energy and new materials, CUHK and the Great Bay University jointly signed a Memorandum of Agreement on the Great Bay University – The Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Institute of Advanced Materials and Green Energy Research in Dongguan. The establishment of this joint research institute will be able to fulfil the regional industrial development plan, serve the major needs and strategic goals of the country and the Greater Bay Area, and to construct a scientific and technological innovation complex with world-class academic impact in the field of materials and energy.”
Ms. Lai Yi-Nan expressed that the theme of Symposium, new energy and new materials, provided a platform for research exchanges between China’s mainland and Hong Kong scholars to bring more collaborative opportunities, continued to focus on and solve scientific problems, contributing to the development of the country.
Mr. Hsu Hoi-Shan said the NSFC and BHKAEC have long been working together to enhance scientific research cooperation between mainland and Hong Kong scientists in different fields. The symposium brought together experts and scholars to pursue greater breakthroughs in research on cutting-edge issues of new energy and new materials.
Professor Gong Jin-long, Vice President of Tianjin University, and Professor Song Chun-shan, Dean of Science of CUHK, delivered keynote speeches for the event. A total of 2023 experts and scholars from China’s mainland and Hong Kong gave talks during the Symposium to foster academic exchange.
Since 2007, CUHK and NSFC have co-organized annual academic symposia with different themes together with BHKAEC, to provide platforms for intellectual exchange between scientists and scholars in China mainland and Hong Kong, while exploring collaboration opportunities. Previous topics included Quantum Information Science and Technology, Smart Cities, Bio-informatics and Its Applications, Chemical Biology, Condensed Matter and Optical Physics, Developmental Studies in Health and Diseases, Control and Automation, Climate Change, Digestive Disease, Big Data, Adolescent Mental Health and Disorders, Big Data Driven Management and Decision, AI, Climate Change, Health and Sustainability, and Bone and Joint Degeneration and Regeneration.
CUHK President Attends Hong Kong/Beijing Co-operation Conference and Meets with Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission
Professor Rocky S. Tuan, President and Vice Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) attended the 26th Hong Kong-Beijing Cooperation and Exchange Meeting on 30 November and held a meeting with Director Zhang Ji-Hong of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.
The Hong Kong-Beijing Cooperation and Exchange Meeting serves as an important platform to promote collaboration and communication between Hong Kong and Beijing. As one of the distinguished guests, Professor Tuan introduced CUHK’s recent achievements and developments in scientific research, education, and knowledge transfer. He emphasized the potential for collaboration between CUHK and Beijing, particularly in the area of technological innovation and talent cultivation.
During the meeting, Professor Tuan and Director Zhang further discussed areas of cooperation, including joint research projects, talent exchange programs, and the establishment of innovation platforms. They agreed on the importance of strengthening academic and research linkages between the two regions through partnership, as well as promoting knowledge transfer and technology commercialization to facilitate mutual development.
At the signing ceremony of the Hong Kong-Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation achievements, CUHK signed a framework agreement for scientific and technological cooperation with the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park Management Committee. This agreement aims to leverage the unique strengths of both Hong Kong and Beijing, enhance international influence and integrate innovation resources, fostering collaboration in industry-academia research, as well as talent cultivation and exchange.
CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor Speaks at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Major Science and Technology Infrastructure Hong Kong Exchange and Sharing Activity
Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), attended the “Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Major Infrastructure of Science and Technology Exchange and Sharing Activity “in Hong Kong on December 12. The event aimed to enhance the sharing mechanism of large-scale equipment opening to Hong Kong to contribute to the development of the international innovation and technology center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It attracted more than 250 representatives from Hong Kong research organizations, universities, as well as experts and scholars in related fields. The activities bolstered communications with technology community in Hong Kong to learn more about the country’s major science and technology infrastructure, and also provided a more informative cooperation platform for scientists in Hong Kong.
In his speech, Professor Tuan remarked the significance of the CAS major national science and technology infrastructures opening to scientists from Hong Kong and Macao. The sharing will further enhance new practices in research cooperation, strengthen the construction of the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao platform, aligning with the national strategy for a more expanded and innovative scope.
CUHK Participates in the 20th Beijing Forum
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) participates in the 20th Beijing Forum from 3 to 5 November. With the theme of “Harmony and Common Prosperity of Civilizations – Inheritance and Mutual Learning”, the Forum was held in Beijing with more than 600 participants from 32 countries and regions. There were 16 sub-forums and 4 thematic forums, with a range of topics including international cooperation and global governance, Chinese modernization and global economic development, regional and country studies, population aging and sustainable development, digitalization and global higher education, human civilization and the path to modernization. Professor Cecilia Chun, Director of Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research (CLEAR) of CUHK, joined the activities and delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony on 3 November entitled “Promoting Digital Literacy and Computational Thinking among University Students”.
During the Forum, the International University Alliance for Digital Smart Education Development was established. The Alliance was initiated by Peking University and CUHK was invited to join as an alliance member.