News & Stories

Researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have received two awards in the 2013 Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (Science and Technology) presented by the Ministry of Education - one first-class and one second-class award. Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee, Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies congratulated the winning research teams. "The prizes are recognition of our University's on-going efforts to pursue excellence in education, research and innovation. We will continue to look for more collaborative opportunities to deepen ties between local and Mainland scientists, with a view to boost socio-economical development in Hong Kong and Mainland China at large," Prof Lee said.

Prof Ben Zhong Tang, Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Professor of Science and Chair Professor in the Department of Chemistry at HKUST, has been selected as a laureate of the 27th Khwarizmi International Award (KIA) by the Iranian Organization for Science and Technology. Prof Tang received the Khwarizmi International Award, Second Class, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and its high-tech applications in the areas of optoelectronic devices, chemical sensors, and biological probes.

A team of HKUST MBA students outperformed their peers from the business schools of eight top-ranked institutes including Yale University and University of Chicago, and won the Grand Prize at the Marshall Global Consulting Challenge. The annual business case competition organized by the University of Southern California (USC) is designed to challenge the minds and problem-solving abilities of the best MBA students around the world. The HKUST team was the only contender from Asia. Their thorough preparation, quality analysis, and innovative ideas impressed the judges, and took home the championship in the competition.

Prof Jian-shu Li, Chair Professor in the Department of Mathematicsat HKUST, has been elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) for his outstanding achievements in Mathematics, becoming the first Hong Kong-based scholar elected to the Academy's Division of Mathematics and Physics. The honor brings the total number of CAS members at HKUST to six. CAS membership is the highest academic recognition conferred by the Chinese government for science and technology research achievements. The election of CAS members takes place biennially, with the total number of new members kept under 60 each time. There are stringent nomination, appraisal and election processes. Members are elected under one of six categories: Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences and Medical Sciences, Information Technological Sciences and Technology Sciences.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) President Prof Tony F Chan has been elected as a member of the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. NAE's membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice or education - including significant contributions to the engineering literature", and to the "pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing / implementing innovative approaches to engineering education."

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) PhD student Zhang Shanchao, Department of Physics, has won the 2013 Young Scientist Award. Zhang was awarded the honor in the Physical/ Mathematical Science category for the project "Coherent Quantum Interaction Between Photons and Atoms". He also received the Best Poster Award for his poster on "Single-Photon Absorption and Reemission in Two-Level Cold Atoms" at the 21st Annual Conference of Hong Kong Institution of Science. Another PhD student Chen Shuming from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, received the runner-up prize in the Engineering Science Category with his project on white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs).

Prof Tianshou Zhao, Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Director of HKUST Energy Institute, and his researchers have received one of the most prestigious awards in science and technology in China for the second consecutive year. Prof Zhao and his researchers received a 2013 State Natural Science Award (Second Class) from the State Council of the People’s Republic of China for their pioneering work on Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells (DAFC).

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has climbed to No.18 in the high-profile Global Employability University Ranking 2013. HKUST is the only university in Greater China in the top 20. The survey and rankings are conducted by Emerging, a French human resources consultancy, and Trendence, a leading European research institute. The ranking was derived from the responses of 5,000 recruiters in a total of 30 countries and regions, including France, Germany, Italy, the US, the UK, Japan, Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong: Those responding comprised 2,700 online, and some 2,300 CEOs and chairmen from the leading 1,000 companies, who cast votes for the top 150 universities producing the most employable graduates.