cross-cultural understanding paves way for a better world · prof zhang started learning foreign...

FEATURES

P.3 P.5 P.12Funding for MERIT

Library adopts UHF RFID technology

Postgraduate Forum 2009

• Research 1

• Knowledge Transfer 5

• Recent Events 10

• Graduate Studies 12

• CUPA News 16

Newsletter Advisory BoardProf Roderick Wong, Vice-President (Research & Technology) / Dean of Graduate Studies • Prof Y V Hui, Associate Dean, Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies • Prof K K Wei, Dean of College of Business • Dr Zhu Chunshen, Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics • Dr Bruce Richardson, Department of Biology and Chemistry • Dr John Ho, School of Law • Mr H Y Wong, Knowledge Transfer Office •

Mr Tang Kin-ching, representative from CityU Postgraduate Association

Editorial BoardMrs Linda Cheng, Research Grants & Contracts Office • Ms Shirley Lam, Office of the Vice-President (Research & Technology) • Ms Millie Mark, Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies • Ms Eliza Chan, Knowledge Transfer Office

The Editorial Board welcomes articles,photos and ideas. Please send yourcontributions to Ms Millie Markc/o Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies(Fax: 3442 0332; Email: [email protected]).

Graduate Studies & Research NewsletterPublished by City University of Hong Konghttp://www.cityu.edu.hk/ro/newsletter

IN TH

IS ISSUE

1

Cross-cultural understanding paves way for a better world

Prof Zhang Longxi was elected as a foreign member of the

Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities in February in recognition of his scholarly contribution in promoting East-West cross-cultural studies. Becoming the third Chinese to join the 250-year-old Academy, which counted the French philosopher and writer Voltaire as a foreign member, Prof Zhang has brought honour to CityU, Hong Kong and China.

As Chair Professor of Comparative Literature and Translation in the Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics, Prof Zhang is a world-renowned scholar in humanities and cross-cultural studies. “My interest has always been in Chinese and foreign languages and cultures,” he said.

Prof Zhang started learning foreign languages and reading Chinese literature, philosophy and history when he was in secondary school. The outbreak of the Cultural Revolution deprived him of formal education for almost 10 years, during which he was sent to work at a farm and a factory. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue his interests by self-study.

In 1978, with only secondary school education, he was admitted as a top student to Peking University, where he received his MA in English in 1981. He obtained his PhD in Comparative Literature at Harvard University in 1989. He taught at Peking

University, Harvard, and the University of California, Riverside, before joining CityU in 1998.

Prof Zhang focuses on promoting cross-cultural understanding between China and the West, from the perspective of East-West comparative studies. “Cultural conflicts and misunderstanding between the East and the West have made very clear to me that cross-cultural understanding and studies have relevance to the world we are living in,” he said. “Cultural studies are not only about tradition and history, they have a way to influence our contemporary time.”

The wars and conflicts in the Middle East to some degree are due to economic interests, but they also owe something to cultural misunderstanding. The

9/11 incident had historical reasons, too. “In order to address today’s world problems, there is need to understand the past and understand culture, both our own culture and those of others,” said Prof Zhang.

All nations have their own cultural traditions. People identify with their culture and are proud of their cultural traditions including their languages, literature, religions and customs. As the world becomes increasingly globalized, people realize the importance of their cultural traditions, and cross-cultural studies become more important for developing better relations among different cultures and traditions, he said.

Science and technology enhance and enrich human lives. Cross-cultural awareness is equally important in improving

July 2009

Volume 37

(continued on page 2)

Prof Zhang Longxi

the quality of our lives. “Good quality of life is beyond material and entertainment,” said Prof Zhang. “The spiritual part such as religion, literature and philosophy give us intellectual gratification that is not available otherwise.” That’s why he tells his students that when they read a novel, a poem or philosophy, they will not become richer materially but they will intellectually and culturally. “Humanities teach us to be a better person, culturally and intellectually,” he said.

Widely respected for his outstanding achievements, Prof Zhang has received prestigious honours and appointments worldwide. In 2005 he became the first non-Westerner and the first Chinese to deliver the University of Toronto’s Alexander Lectures. He has served on review panels for the University of California President’s Research Fellowship in the Humanities and for Academia Sinica fellowships, among others.

The importance and contribution of cross-cultural studies has also been given due recognition at home. Prof Zhang won the Grand Award at CityU’s first Research Excellence Awards in 2008. “I was happy, in particular, that the award was given to a humanist at CityU,” he said. “It shows that good research is recognized. It is a very encouraging message.”

He enjoys living and doing research in Hong Kong, which provides him with many opportunities to contact the mainland,

Taiwan and the West. “Hong Kong is a place where East meets West and is conducive to cross-cultural studies,” he said.

Prof Zhang is the author of many articles and books including The Tao and the Logos, which won honourable mention for the Joseph Levenson Book Prize; A Critical Introduction to Twentieth Century Theories of Litera-

ture; Mighty Opposites: From Dichotomies to Differences in the Comparative Study of China; Out of the Cultural Ghetto; Allegoriesis: Reading Canonical Literature, East and West; Ten Essays in Chinese-Western Cross-Cultural Studies; and Unexpected Affinities: Reading across Cultures.

He is currently writing an essay which he has been invited to contribute to a special issue of Interdisciplinary Science Review. The article focuses on the relationship between some scientific research and cultural influences. At the same time, Prof Zhang is writing a book on the relationship between nature and human beings, in which he will discuss how nature is represented in Chinese painting, literature and art vis-à-vis those in the West.　

— Shirley Lam

(continued from page 1)

Upcoming deadlines / activitiesDate Activity Responsible Party15 August Hong Kong Electric Clean Energy Fund RO

27 August Smuts Visiting Fellowship in Commonwealth Studies 2010-2011 RO

September/October Technology Transfer Forum on Chemical Sensor KTO

1-30 September Application period for the Conference Grant and Research Activities Fund, 3rd Round 2009

SGS

16 October Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID) RO

16 October Health and Health Services Research Fund (HHSRF) RO

22-23 October Science for the Future: A World-class Summit- “Where is Science Going in the 21st Century?”

Organizing Committee for the World Academicians

Conferences

5-6 November Science for the Future: A World-class Summit- “Energy and Environment: Crisis, Opportunities and Challenges”


Conferences

16-21 November China Hi-tech Fair 2009 CityU Shenzhen Research Institute & KTO

14-15 December Science for the Future: A World-class Summit- “Engineering Science and Technology: Trends and Frontiers”


Conferences

Graduate Studies & Research Newsletter2

RESEARCH

The International Conference on World Literature and World Culture, which took place in May, was one of many conferences Prof Zhang has organized to promote cross-cultural studies.

The Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovative Technology (MERIT) led by CityU has been

awarded HK$23.6 million in sustained funding from the Areas of Excellence Scheme of the University Grants Committee (UGC). Sustained funding is only granted on exceptional grounds to projects with superior performance, and in this case, in recognition of the centre’s outstanding contributions to research and management of the marine environment in Hong Kong and worldwide.

Since being selected by the UGC in 2004 as one of Hong Kong’s areas of excellence and receiving funding of HK$45 million, MERIT’s research has attracted worldwide

New funding for CityU-led marine environmental research

New School to position CityU as leader in energy and environment

attention and had a significant global impact. A team of six international reviewers unanimously commended its cutting-edge marine environmental research and management. They also praised its excellent integration of research in biology, chemistry and engineering, from genes and molecules to the entire ecosystem, as breathtaking and key to enabling a truly interdisciplinary approach to managing the environment.

This additional funding is for a period of three years, and will be matched by an equal amount of funding from the six collaborating institutions. The MERIT team, led by Chair Professor Rudolf Wu Shiu-sun from the Department of Biology and Chemistry, will focus on the research of major foreseeable threats to the marine environment in the next decade.

Key research programmes to be undertaken include:• The development of various novel chemical, genomic,

proteomic and metabolomic technologies for early detection and monitoring of hypoxia (lack of oxygen), emerging new chemicals of concern and chemicals that can disrupt animal hormonal systems;

• Control and bioremediation technology to remove such chemicals from effluents and the environment;

• Assessment of risk and predicting the effect of such chemicals on marine ecosystems and public health.

Adapted from CityU NewsCentre

The Council of CityU has approved the establishment of the School of Energy and Environment, the first in Hong Kong

and one of the few in the region, to lead teaching and research tackling two of the most pressing issues of our time.

The School is committed to improving environmental quality and support sustainable development in Greater China and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. It aspires to be one of the leading schools in the region, specializing in professional education and cutting-edge research in energy and environment, and addressing core environmental issues relating to energy sufficiency and security, climate change and air pollution.

According to Prof Johnny Chan Chung-leung, Acting Dean of the School and Chair Professor of the Department of Physics and Materials Science, energy and environment are two primary concerns of every country in the world. “The School will fill a substantial gap in the demand for graduates and researchers in

the areas of energy and environment, and such a demand will only grow in the foreseeable future,” Prof Chan said.

With regard to research, he said the initial focus of the School would be in the science and technology areas relating to renewable energy generation, energy storage, energy efficiency and conservation, green materials, climate change and air pollution, with a dual emphasis on global excellence and local/regional relevance.

Student admissions for the School will begin in the 2009-10 academic year, comprising a cohort of full-time PhD students, while a Master degree programme is planned for the 2010-11 academic year. The School

is also considering a proposal to introduce an undergraduate programme in the next triennium and developing Executive Education and professional development programmes.


July 2009, Volume 373

RESEARCH

Prof Johnny Chan

(Front row, from right): Prof Wu and the MERIT CityU researchers Dr Doris Au Wai-ting, Dr Bruce Richardson, (back row from right) Dr Paul Shin Kam-shing, Prof Yang Mengsu, and Dr Richard Kong Yuen-chong.


RESEARCH

A conference featuring some of the best brains in the world was held at CityU on 16 June to unravel the secrets of how

the brain learns and remembers.

The “Frontiers in Bioscience: Learning and Memory” conference featured seven prominent international scholars, who shed light on neuroscience advances that could help enhance memory and brain function: • Nobel Laureate Prof Susumu Tonegawa,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology; • Prof Roger Nicoll, University of

California at San Francisco; • Prof Duan Shumin, Chinese Academy

of Sciences; • Prof Poo Mu-ming, University of

California at Berkeley; • Prof Dr Wolf Singer, Max Planck

Institute for Brain Research; • Prof Guo Aike, Chinese Academy of

Sciences; and • Prof David J Anderson, California

Institute of Technology.

The speakers shared with the audience their latest endeavours to understand how the engine behind all scientific progress – our brain – learns and remembers, two vital attributes of human intelligence. Among them is a recent discovery by Prof Tonegawa and his research team of a specific brain circuit that plays a crucial role on the conversion of short-term memory to long-term memory.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prof Way Kuo, President of CityU, said the conference provided an excellent platform for neuroscience experts to discuss the exciting future of brain research that will have a tremendous impact on society.

“CityU, as a forward-looking institution dedicated to advancing the frontiers of knowledge, is well positioned to explore the far-reaching implications of scientific progress in this area,” Prof Kuo said.

Science summit explores how the brain learns and remembers

The conference was the first in a four-conference series titled “Science for the Future: A World-class Summit”, orchestrated by Prof Roderick Wong Sue-cheun, Vice-President (Research and Technology) and Dean of Graduate Studies, to mark the 25th Anniversary of CityU. The conferences will bring together academic elites in several diverse and cutting-edge scientific fields.

Professor Kuo said CityU’s international reputation for research achievements, forged in the course of 25 years, allowed it to stage such a prestigious summit.

“The 2009 science summit not only promotes collaboration between the world’s foremost scientific minds but also helps the host university, CityU, accelerate its strategic growth in each of these areas,” he said.

The “Frontiers in Bioscience: Learning and Memory” conference was convened by Prof Michael Yang Mengsu from the Department of Biology and Chemistry. The other conferences in the series will be held in October, November and December, on the advancement of science; energy and environment; and engineering science and technology.

All four conferences bear enormous relevance to the future of humankind.


Prominent scholars gather at CityU to discuss the future of brain research.

The conference attracts a full house.

Panel discussion

An automated library check-in/check-out system developed by CityU has been licensed to a Hong Kong-based listed

company specializing in automated library systems. The system, known as EasyCheck and EasyReturn System, is the first library system in Hong Kong to make use of ultra high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF RFID) technology. Beyond commercial success, the invention is a tribute to the synergy of interdisciplinary collaboration.

With the support of a HK$1 million Applied Research Grant, CityU’s Wireless Communications Research Centre and Run Run Shaw Library embarked on a two-year project in 2006

to explore the efficacy of UHF RFID technology. The project was led by the centre’s director, Chair Professor Edward Yung Kai-ning, and Prof Steve Ching Hsianghoo, University Librarian.

RFID technology, which uses radio waves for tracking, enjoys wide-spread application in lo-gistics, traffic control and product identification. Data about a product or

object are “sealed” in an RFID tag and transmitted to an RFID reader in the form of radio waves upon activation. The Octo-pus card, Autotoll, and eChannel at customs checkpoints are just a few of the more notable examples of RFID applications in Hong Kong. A powerful tool that dates back to the 1940s, when its wartime uses included espionage, RFID technology is a fast-expanding field in the 21st century.

The evolution of RFID technology has been marked by the adoption of different radio frequencies. Normally, the higher the frequency, the higher the speed and data load of transmission. The typical frequency of high frequency (HF) RFID is 13.56 MHz with a reading distance of one metre. The frequency of UHF RFID can vary from 860 to 960 MHz, with a reading distance up to 10 metres.

The increase in frequencies facilitates newer and broader applications, one of which is automated library systems. Since it emerged earlier, the HF RFID is more popular than the UHF variant among libraries. However, UHF RFID is fast catching up, and some major libraries in Australia, Singapore and the mainland have already adopted UHF RFID. Of all the differences between HF and UHF, perhaps the most striking is cost: UHF tags are at least 50% cheaper than HF tags.

Although UHF RFID is likely to become the trendsetter, the CityU Library is not in a hurry to usher in sweeping changes.

Library in the lead with advanced check-out system

“The CityU Library is one of the very few libraries, if not the only one, to be equipped with barcode, HF and UHF self check machines at the same time,” said Prof Ching. “The co-existence of different types of machines ensures that users don’t have to ride on too steep a learning curve, and it also provides a buffer zone for any possible glitches or contingencies.”

A proliferation of RFID tags and frequencies is a major obstacle to the design of readers and antennas, said Prof Yung. To maximize the spread of RFID technology, industry standards governing the design, production and deactivation of RFID tags are regularly updated. The CityU Library uses “Gen 2” tags, which conform to the Class 1 Generation 2 UHF Air Interface Protocol, to achieve reliable hardware interoperability.

At CityU, the Library’s interest in UHF RFID is matched by research expertise in the field. “The library is an ideal setting for experimenting on the use of UHF RFID, because the items to be scanned are fairly alike. A supermarket, for example, is a much more diversified environment compared with a library. Such diversity will pose limitations to the research design,” said Prof Yung.

User-friendly UHF RFID self check machines have been in use in the Semi-closed Collection since April 2008. The machines feature a unique “shielding” device developed by the Library that limits the direction of microwaves emitted by RFID readers to prevent the reading of unrelated items. Feedback from users has been encouraging, as evidenced by a 50% increase in checkouts.

On top of self service, UHF RFID technology helps relieve Library staff members from repetitive tasks so that they can be retrained for new value-added services. Recovering misplaced books and inventory management can be labour-intensive and time-consuming, but with advanced RFID technologies, both tasks can be accomplished by scanning at short and long ranges.


KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Prof Edward Yung

Prof Steve Ching

The achievements of the automated library system have attracted the attention of other libraries. Two papers on the system have been published in internationally recognized library journals abroad and on the mainland: The Journal of Academic Librarianship and the Journal of Library Science in China.

But success in technological application should not be taken for granted. The story of CityU’s automated library system illuminates an often overlooked aspect of commercialization: the introduction of a new piece of machinery can set off organizational changes that in turn determine the success of

the machine’s application. According to Prof Ching, for the automated library system to be successfully implemented, staff members across different levels and capacities had to act in unison.

“In most instances that require changes, it is the professional staff who are in the full picture. But that is far from ideal, because supporting staff and research staff must move in

the same direction and pace to avoid ‘gaps’ in expectation that may stifle progress,” said Prof Ching. “A good strategy is all it takes to mobilize staff to work towards a common goal – that is by far the most challenging part of each library transformation project.”

The next time you pass by the CityU Library, don’t forget to pop by the Semi-closed Collection to check out the self check machine. Be impressed by the cyber aesthetics and high technologies embodied in this home-grown gizmo!　

— Eliza Chan, Knowledge Transfer Office

Prof Horace Ip Ho-shing, Director of CityU’s Centre for Innovative Applications of Internet and Multimedia

Technologies (AIMtech Centre) and Acting Dean of the School of Creative Media, has a HK$2.3 million grant from the Quality Education Fund for the Collaborative Blended Learning Curriculum Design and Development Programme.

The one-year programme, which started in October 2008, aims to improve the language learning of students in Hong Kong and to meet the challenges of introducing e-books and other e-resources into school-based curricula. The grant is an acknowledgment of the AIMtech Centre’s strength and its contribution to the application of advanced internet technology in e-learning. Blended learning is a mixed mode of learning which usually involves both face-to-face and computer-mediated instruction. Teachers and students participating in the programme are given comprehensive pedagogical, technical and content support. Such support is widely recognized as crucial to the successful introduction of IT tools and e-learning resources in school-based teaching and learning.

The deliverables of the project include a range of blended learning curricula that would complement the use of

Blended learning programme receives $2.3m grant

e-learning resources, training sessions for teachers, and related experimental studies. A sharing session is planned to disseminate the outcomes and experience of the project to school teachers.

The project will strengthen the ties between CityU and the school sector.　



KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

The EasyCheck Service at CityU Library brings convenience to users.

Training session for teachers

Patents have recently been granted for inventions by four research teams in the College of Science and Engineering.

A team led by Dr Chung Chi-yuen, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Materials Science, has been awarded two mainland patents for a memory alloy and coupling devices for spinal surgery (ZL200480016533.3/ZL03824606.6). Scoliosis, sideways curving of the spine, is currently treated by realigning the spine using titanium or stainless steel implants. The inelastic implants cause an immediate correction that may injure muscles and ligaments adjoining the spine. Instead of achieving immediate correction, the super-elastic memory alloy will gradually exert correctional forces over an extended period, with toxic substances “sealed in” to avoid leakage. The patent follows 10 years of research, jointly conducted by CityU and the University of Hong Kong, supported by grants from the Research Grants Council and the Innovation and Technology Fund.

A team led by Chair Professor Lee Shuit-tong of the Department of Physics and Materials Science has been awarded a US patent for red-emitting electrophosphorescent devices (7429662). The discovery lifts the upper limit of the internal quantum efficiency of a traditional fluorescent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) from 25% to nearly 100%. By using a highly stable red triplet phosphor, Prof Lee’s invention significantly improves the electroluminescent (EL) efficiency and stability of a red-emitting EL device. The EL efficiency can be maintained at a high level even when a high current is applied. The new technology maximizes the efficiency of red-emitting OLED devices and facilitates a pure-red emission for OLED display and lighting. OLED devices are used in television screens, computer displays as well as PDA, MP3 and mobile phone screens.

Recent patentsA mainland patent (ZL200410042927.8) granted to a team led by Prof Luk Kwai-man, Head of the Department of Electronic Engineering, recognizes an innovative technology that requires only a single antenna element to achieve the same amount of antenna gain that could previously only be secured with the use of at least two elements. Antenna gain is proportional to an antenna’s communicative coverage, and the greater the gain, the wider the coverage. On top of gain enhancement, the single antenna element can also cover several systems such as GSM, 3G, WiMAX and WiFi. Additional functions include bandwidth enhancement and polarization purity enhancement. The multi-tasking single antenna element will reduce antenna pollution and installation costs.

A team led by Dr Tommy Lo Yiu, Associate Professor of the Department of Building and Construction, has earned two mainland patents for a surface absorption modifier and its application process (ZL200510087913.2/ZL200510084957.X). The surface absorption modifier is designed to treat high water absorption sand and gravel (also known as aggregate) used in making concrete. Ideally, granitic sand and gravel, which have extremely low water absorption rates, are added to cement to produce concrete. With the decrease in the supply of granite, attention has been drawn to other types of aggregate, especially recycled and lightweight aggregate, which have a high water absorption rate. To address the problem, Dr Lo developed an agent or modifier capable of reducing the water absorption rate of recycled and light weight aggregate to that of granitic aggregate. The patented technology can replace the practice of “pre-wetting” highly absorbent aggregate, improving quality control and lowering the production costs of concrete.


Emerging technology in solar energy systems was the topic of an Emerging Technologies Forum held on 16 July. Mr

Aman Yuen, Director of Quality, Du Pont Apollo Ltd, spoke on the advantages of thin film PV modules; Mr Chiu Fu-wa and Mr Jonathan Lai, Business Development Manger, SUNGEN International Ltd., spoke on thin film silicon PV modules; and Prof Henry Chung Shu-hung, Department of Electronic Engineering and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, outlined the practical challenges for micro-grid PV inverters.

Emerging Technologies Forums are organized by the Knowledge Transfer Office to facilitate exchanges between industry and academia on the latest technology. The forums invite speakers from industry and research institutions to talk about the latest

Forum discusses the latest solar energy system technology

government policies, technological trends, local and regional initiatives and product development strategies related to their sectors.　

— Shirley Lam


KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

CityU showcased nine research projects by faculty members and students at the International ICT Expo

2009 organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 13 to 16 April.

The Expo was co-organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the HKSAR’s Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Torch High Technology Industry Development Centre. About 30 IT companies and government agencies from Hong Kong and abroad lent their support to the event, reflecting the international recognition it attracted.

CityU’s Knowledge Transfer Office helped coordinate the University’s participation in the Expo, which featured some of the latest innovations from the Departments of Computer Science (CS), Electronic Engineering (EE) and Information Systems (IS).

Personal 3G Multimedia Gateway Solution by Prof Jia Weijia (CS) facilitates video phone calls between a 3G phone and electronic devices installed with the WeFUN software tool, also developed by Prof Jia and his team. Smartphone, PDA and computer users can place phone calls to a 3G phone via the Gateway, and vice versa. The Gateway also connects home cameras with a 3G mobile phone and WeFUN enabled devices, providing real-time mobile video surveillance, and can also serve as a WiFi router and firewall hardware for home use.

In addition, Prof Jia displayed and gave a demonstration of his WeZOOM-3G Mobile Surveillance System at the Expo. The system, designed for home use and small businesses, provides remote video surveillance via an off-the-shelf 3G phone and the internet with the installation of the WeZOOM software. Upon detection of strangers, the surveillance camera alerts users through their 3G phones. ZigBee remote sensing technology enables the system to monitor interior temperature, lighting and heating from different locations.

Dr Duncan Wong Shek, Assistant Professor (CS), displayed Secure Mobile Messaging, which he developed with Mr Xiong Xiaokang, Research Associate. Dr Wong also spoke on the topic “The Next Generation PKI for Secure Messaging and Email without Using Digital Certificate” at the Exhibitors’ Forum.

Secure Mobile Messaging allows users to send encrypted multicast SMS messages to multiple receivers without pre-agreeing any shared secret keys with the receivers, and without digital certificates. Such features are not offered by any product currently on the market. Once the software is installed in a mobile phone, users can opt for plain or secure SMS mode. The software tool is suitable for individual and corporate users such as banks.

Digital Watermarking Chip by Dr Cheng Lee-ming, Associate Professor (EE), reduces the risk of tampering by embedding a robust secure message into multimedia content, such as video images, digital documents and photocopied documents. The technology can authenticate and protect the copyright of digital images, photocopied documents and surveillance systems.

A Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) device creates a system in which music and other digital entertainment content can be made accessible from electronic devices such as TV sets and personal computers, regardless of where the content is stored. DLNA Device for Home Network by Dr Leung Shu-hung, Associate Professor (EE), maintains wired and wireless interoperable networks that allow users to retrieve digital content automatically.

Wireless Sensor Network for Energy Management by Dr Tsang Kim-fung, Associate Professor (EE), addresses the need for efficient energy management systems to reduce energy consumption, which contributes to global warming and its disastrous effects on the environment. The network uses ZigBee technology to minimize energy wastage in buildings and industry.

3D Video Kiosk by Dr Peter Tsang Wai-ming, Associate Professor (EE), provides a comprehensive solution for the recording, transmission, distribution and viewing of 3D


KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

CityU research innovations displayed at ICT Expo 2009

Dr Duncan Wong introduces the Secure Mobile Messaging software tool.

CityU showcases nine research projects at the ICT Expo 2009.

content. The innovative 3D capturing and display system is suitable for video chains, conferences, entertainment, education, health care services, movie production and advertising.

Power Amplifier for Consumer Electronic Appliances, developed by Dr Xue Que, Associate Professor (EE), and his team, combines wideband linearization and efficiency boosting techniques. The amplifier suppresses power leakage and enhances efficiency, with power consumption as low as one thousandth of a watt. Its design is simple and compact, making it ideal for fitting into smaller electronic devices such as mobile phones.

VIGer, developed by Dr Michael Ho Moon-tong, Senior Lecturer (IS), and students, is a platform for video messenger supporting the next generation Internet Protocol version 6. It provides MSN-like communication functions and YouTube-like multimedia reporting functions.



KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Technology transfer forum fosters links with industry in Shenzhen

The Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) organized CityU’s first technology transfer forum on the mainland in the

Shenzhen Virtual University Park (SZVUP) on 23 April. The forum, titled “Data Security and Encryption”, demonstrates the University’s commitment to expanding commercialization activities on the mainland.

The forum was co-organized by the SZVUP and supported by the CityU Shenzhen Research Institute. Dr Cheng Shuk-han, Executive Director of the CityU Industrial and Business Club and Associate Head in the Department of Biology and Chemistry, spoke at the opening of the forum. “The forum is a fine example of the interaction between the academic and industrial communities in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. I truly believe that there will be more collaboration opportunities in future,” said Dr Cheng.

The increasing popularity of mobile and electronic communications has dramatically augmented the demand for secure data transmission methods. Innovative electronic gadgets and software tools bring about ingenious applications but they may also invite unwanted interceptions and log-ins.

At the forum, Dr Cheng Lee-ming, Associate Pro-fessor of the Department of Electronic Engineer-ing, and Dr Duncan Wong Shek, Assistant Professor of the Department of Com-puter Science, shared their latest inventions in data security and encryption with participants from major telecommunications and electronic companies on the mainland such as IBM, Zhongxing Telecom and Foxconn.

The forum was well received by participants, who were eager to learn about new technological developments in the field. “We want to explore the latest technologies that are useful to our company,” said Mr Li Junqi from the Foxconn Technology Group. “The seminar is an excellent platform for us to meet experts of various areas,” said Mr Zhao Rongbao of the Resources Coordination Department, Shenzhen Nanshan Science and Technology Institute.

— Fanny Ho, Knowledge Transfer Office

Mr Zhao Rongbao

Mr Li Junqi

Prof Jia Weijia (right) demonstrates the WeZOOM-3G Mobile Surveillance System.


RECENT EVENTS

Mathematics professor receives prestigious fellowship

Prof Philippe Ciarlet, Chair Professor from the Department of Mathematics, was recently named a Fellow by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) for his contribution to

mathematics. Specifically, SIAM said Prof Ciarlet was recognized for his “contributions to numerical analysis and computational mechanics, particularly to the development of the mathematical theory of finite element methods and the modelling of elastic structures”. The fellowship has extra significance as only a few recipients were from outside the US.

Lifetime contribution to public management recognized

Prof David Rosenbloom, Chair Professor of Public Management in the Department of Public and Social Administration (left), was recently granted

the Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Public Sector Human Resources by the Personnel Administration and Labor Relations section of the American Society for Public Administration.

Prof Rosenbloom is among the first US scholars to conduct extensive research on the constitutional rights of public employees and on the politics of public personnel administration.

Six supporters to receive honorary fellowships

CityU is to confer the title of Honorary Fellow on six distinguished persons in recognition of their significant contributions to the development of, and

service to, the University. The honorary fellowships, to be presented at a ceremony on 23 September, will go to (clockwise from top left): • Prof Chan Kei-biu, MH, Chairman, Senior Managing Director and founder of

Surface Mount Technology (Holdings) Ltd; • Mr Chan Tai-ho, founder and former Chairman of Playmates Holdings Ltd and

Director of Dragon Lake Development Ltd; • Mr Andrew Fan Ka-fai, President of the Greater China region for Nu Skin

Enterprises, Inc; • Mr Peter Ho Ka-nam, Managing Director of Techworld Industries Ltd; • Mr David Hui Yip-wing, Director and Group General Manager of Chinachem

Group; and• Mr Gabriel Yu Chi-ming, founder and Chairman of iTVentures Group of

Companies and Italade Technology Holdings Ltd.

Two PhD students help combat capital markets misconduct

PhD students Terrance Fung Chi-yeung (right) and Jean Lai Hok-yin (left) of the Department of Information Systems have received scholarships of up to

AUD240,000 over three years to sponsor their research on ways to fight market misconduct and defend market integrity.

Granted by the Australian Federal Government-funded Capital Markets Cooperative Research Centre (CMCRC) in cooperation with the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for the first year, the scholarships aim to raise the quality of research on capital markets in Hong Kong, Australia and around the world. The funding contributed by the SFC as CMCRC’s industry partner is matched by the Australian Government.


RECENT EVENTS

Collège de France president delivers distinguished lecture

Prof Pierre Corvol, President and Chair of Experimental Medicine, Collège de France, Paris, delivered a lecture titled “Deciphering the Vascular Tree” in the France-Hong

Kong Distinguished Lecture Series, co-organized by the French Academy of Sciences, the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and CityU. The lecture, on 7 May, examined the rapidly growing field of angiogenesis, or the growth of new blood vessels.

Students receive awards for demonstrating potential in research

Three students from the Department of Building and Construction have received awards from the Occupational Safety and Health Council. Year 3 students Lo

Ting-fung (left) and Yip Wing-kit (second from left) received the Student Research Scholarship in recognition of their potential for undertaking quality applied research. The titles of their projects were “Safety Assessment in Demolition Works for High-rise Buildings in Hong Kong” and “Safety and Risk Control in Heavy Plant at Hong Kong Civil Engineering and Building Projects” respectively. Graduate Kirby Leang Sze-ting (right) won the Best Project Award for his project “Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course (Green Card Course) in Hong Kong Construction Industry”. The three students were supervised by Dr Ivan Fung Wing-hong (second from right), Lecturer in the department.

Study of world civilizations put under microscope

More than a dozen distinguished scholars from Europe, North America and Hong Kong specializing in the

evolution of civilizations shared their views on the teaching of their subject area at the International Conference on Teaching and Learning of World Civilizations, hosted by the Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics from 20 to 22 June. The assembled experts explored ways of presenting world civilizations as a CityU General Education course.

Conference seeks justice in world of conflict

Speakers from the US, Europe, the mainland and CityU, discussed how to promote harmony and justice in a world driven by various forms of conflict at

the International Conference on Social Work and Counselling Practice, organized by the Department of Applied Social Studies from 2-5 June.

Top mathematical researchers converge on CityU

The Liu Bie Ju Centre for Mathematical Sciences, in conjunction with Memorial University of Newfoundland and York University in Toronto, organized the

International Conference on Asymptotic Analysis and Infinite-dimensional Dynamical Systems from 19-22 June. The conference provided a platform for top researchers in these areas to present their recent research studies, exchange new ideas, and discuss future directions of research.


GRADUATE STUDIES

Over 100 research degree students attended the

Postgraduate Forum 2009 organized by the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies on 31 March, gaining an insight into the challenges that face researchers and how to cope with them.

Four speakers shared their research experiences at the forum, titled “Challenges of Conducting Quality Research”: Prof Douglas Vogel, Associate Head, Department of Information Systems; Prof Chen Guanrong, Chair Professor, Department of Electronic Engineering; Dr Cheung Ho-ming, Assistant Professor, Department of Media and Communication; and Ronnie Chow Pui-ting, PhD student in the Department of Building and Construction.

“What is quality research varies from person to person,” said Prof Roderick Wong Sue-cheun, Vice-President (Research and Technology) and Dean of Graduate Studies, in his Forum opening address. Prof Wong advised participants to associate with accomplished colleagues and academics of high standing to get an idea of what is good research and quality. He said he spends two hours on research every day even though he is heavily occupied with administrative duties. “Doing research is a lot of fun, and it ranks top among my engagements,” he said.

Prof Vogel, in his presentation titled “Surviving and (Thriving) as a Researcher”, said: “A research life is wonderful. It gives the researcher personal freedom, opportunity to contribute and directly affect the future, apart from bringing decent rewards and quality of life.” He added, however, that there are lots of challenges in doing research in a world where one is inundated with data and information, faced with decreased government

funding, competitive markets and research alternatives that have arisen from globalization.

Prof Vogel noted that research requires a variety of skills, for example those involved in conceptualizing theory, research design, research operationalization, analysis, writing and presenting. “None of us possess all of the skills,” he said.

Postgraduate Forum 2009: Challenges of Conducting Quality Research

“What we should do is to collaborate.” He advised students to recognize their strengths, and to identify and make use of opportunities to collaborate.

When it comes to doing good dissertation, Prof Vogel advised students to choose an area that interests them and a topic that is manageable and has resources.

Prof Chen also emphasized the importance of identifying a good topic. “A long journey starts from your very first step, thus a good thesis topic is very important,” he said in his presentation titled “How to Find Yourself a Good Thesis Topic”. Whenever his students ask him for a topic, Prof Chen said he asks them to think about their interest and background and find a topic themselves. “Without interest, one would not be able to do good research.

Even if one has started, one would not be able to continue well,” he said.

In order to find a good topic, students should have curiosity about non-traditional ideas and unusual phenomena. Curiosity will give students the motivation to understand, tackle and solve a problem, Prof Chen said. He also suggested that students read scientific news in reputable magazines to get inspiration. Students may come up with many possible topics. It is important for them to narrow down the topics to one or two that interest them, suit their background and match their abilities, and to discuss their thoughts with experienced researchers and their advisers.

Dr Cheung, in her presentation titled “When Mind, Heart and Hands Meet: The Process of Conducting Quality Research”, emphasized the importance of having a mind of inquiry, a heart of passion and a pair of skilful hands. “Scientific research is a process involving an alternation of deduction and induction,” said Dr Cheung. “It is also a process full of fun and challenges.”

She stressed the need for students to set their goals first so that they have the drive to continue. She shared her personal experience and told the participants that she has been

Prof Roderick Wong delivers opening remarks.

Dr Cheung Ho-ming

Prof Douglas Vogel

Prof Chen Guanrong


GRADUATE STUDIES

studying non-stop since she got her bachelor’s degree. She is now doing her third master’s degree after getting her PhD. Finally, she said that it is important to have a pair of skilful hands to select and apply the right methods at the right time and in the right manner to realize one’s dreams: “When your mind, heart and hands meet, there comes quality research that will give you achievement and satisfaction.”

Ronnie Chow shared her experience in overcoming the difficulties that she has encountered in doing research for the past five years at CityU.

“Networking is a way to solve the problem of feeling isolated,” she said. Research students can always look to their supervisors, colleagues, research fellows, peers, friends and families for support. Time management is another challenge faced by research students as they have to conduct experiments, do literature searches, publish results in journals and conference papers and assist with tutorials. The most important thing is to plan the major tasks and prioritize, said Ronnie. When it comes to financial problems, there are always studentships, scholarships, awards and loans around.

When students feel overburdened, they should try to be focused and devoted to their work. Team building, Ronnie said, is important in the learning process. Last but not least, she stressed the importance of maintaining good health, advising students to do regular exercise and have a day off occasionally.

The forum concluded with a lively Question and Answer session during which participants sought insights and advice from the speakers.

— Shirley Lam

A research paper outlining the internet blogging behavioural patterns of university students has earned Rachael Ip

Kwai-fun, PhD student and instructor at the Department of Information Systems (IS), an Emerald Management Reviews Citation of Excellence Award.

The Emerald Management Reviews Accreditation Board, comprising management experts from industry and academia, selected the 50 best papers from 15,000 articles published annually in 400 top management journals, including Harvard Business Review and Oxford Review of Economic Policy.

The award-winning paper, “Weblogging: A Study of Social Computing and its Impact on Organizations”, was co-authored by Rachael and her supervisor, Prof Christian Wagner.

“It was beyond my expectations to earn such a high accolade from so many articles published in top international journals,” Rachel said. “As a teacher, I need to look for new information technologies and social software for my class. Interacting with CityU students has inspired me to study the effects of web blogging. The paper benefited from my teaching experience and research studies.”

Rachael, who joined CityU as an instructor in 2001, completed her BA and MPhil degrees at CityU and holds a Master of Education.

PhD student’s blogging paper stands out among 15,000

“Special thanks must be given to Chair Professor Wei kwok-kee, Dean of the College of Business, and Professor Wagner, as they encouraged me to participate in international conferences where I gained valuable experience and feedback,” she added.

Prof Wagner said researchers at CityU are ahead of the industry trends. “Researchers study the phenomenon of new information technologies before they become popular. Like surfing, websurfers must be early enough to catch the waves. Rachael is a good surfer and this award recognizes her foresight,” he said.


Rachael Ip (right) and Prof Wagner

Ronnie Chow


GRADUATE STUDIES

Third PhD Student Workshop in Suzhou

The annual PhD Student Workshop, jointly organized by the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies and the

Graduate School of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), was held in the CityU Suzhou Research Centre from 14 to 16 April.

About 280 partici-pants attended the workshop, which offered an oppor-tunity for Hong Kong and mainland members of project teams under the Mainland Collabo-ration Schemes to meet and discuss their research find-ings. The Mainland Collaboration Schemes were launched in 2005 to recruit and train research students from leading universities on the main-land, and to facilitate research collaborations that are beneficial to society.

In celebration of CityU’s 25th anniversary, distinguished scholars from North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the mainland and Hong Kong were invited to attend this year’s workshop to deliver lectures and share their expertise with the students.

Prof Way Kuo, CityU President, and Prof Hou Jianguo, President of USTC, officiated at the opening ceremony. Prof Kuo welcomed students to the workshop, saying he hoped that they would make good use of the opportunity to advance their understanding of cutting-edge research in different fields through interacting and exchanging with fellow students and renowned scholars.

Prof Hou encouraged students to participate and learn actively in the workshop and said that he looked forward to having more academic exchanges and cooperation with CityU in the future.

As in last year’s event, the workshop focused primarily on eight key areas: ap-plied mathematics; business and manage-ment; computational and theoretical mate-rials physics; control and mechatronics; environmental science; fire safety and nano-mechanics; informa-tion engineering; and web services.

An award presentation ceremony for Peter Ho Conference Scholarships was held in con-junction with the workshop. The award recognizes and rewards PhD students with outstanding academic perfor-mance. Scholarship winners receive a subsidy to participate in an academic conference to help widen their academic exposure and strengthen their research writing and presenta-tion skills. Prof Roderick Wong Sue-cheun, CityU’s Vice-Presi-dent (Research and Technology)

and Dean of Graduate Studies, introduced the scholarships and presented certificates to 20 recipients.

— Adelaide Lau, Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies

Peter Ho Conference Scholarship RecipientsCHEN Haoyao (MEEM) LU Qingshu (MS)

GUO Xitong (IS) LUO Chuan (IS)

HE Qizhen (CS) PAN Kewen (MS)

HUANG Qian (IS) PAN Liwei (BC)

JIANG Yanbin (AP) PAN Zhiwei (MA)

JIANG Zaihong (MA) TAN Youhua (MEEM)

LAI Xin (MS) TIAN Qianzhu (MA)

LI Fuli (MGT) WANG Ming (MS)

LIN Shiyou (MA) WU Weiwei (CS)

LIU Hefu (IS) WU Yumao (MA)

Supervisors from CityU and USTC gather with renowned scholars from all over the world to participate in the Third PhD Student Workshop at the CityU Suzhou Research Centre.

Prof Liu Chun from Pennsylvania State University delivers a lecture at the workshop.

Prof Way Kuo

Name: Du HongweiDepartment: Computer ScienceThesis: Virtual Backbone Construction and Energy Efficient Routing in Wireless Ad Hoc and Sensor

NetworksSupervisor: Prof Jia Xiaohua Enrolled: September 2004 – September 2008

“My research focuses on analysis of constructing the virtual backbone and reducing the energy communication consumption in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. I proposed several

approximation algorithms for energy saving, and reliable and efficient virtual backbone construction. Frontier research not only contributes to theoretical performance but also to practical application in the field.

I am grateful to my supervisor Prof Jia Xiaohua. Without his support, guidance and encouragement, this thesis would not have been possible. Hong Kong provides a lot more resources for research and at CityU I have many opportunities to meet experts from all over the world. I love CityU very much in all aspects.

I am now working as a Research Fellow in the Department of Computer Science where I completed my PhD study.”

Name: LAU Kam-tangDepartment: Chinese, Translation and LinguisticsThesis: The Study of Wang Yinzhi’s Erya Shuwen of Jingyi ShuwenSupervisor: Dr Kwok Pang-feiEnrolled: September 2005 – October 2008

“My study is to analyse the contributions of Erya Shuwen to the study of Chinese philology and to attempt to offer alternative interpretations to those given in the text. My study also attempts to

provide different interpretations of the characters. The findings of my study will hopefully shed new light on Wang’s works, the Five Classics and other Chinese classics. It is hoped that the results will bring new interpretations to the characters and words in the Erya.

I am very much honoured to receive this award. My thanks go to my supervisor Dr Kwok Pang-fei. Without his encouragement, advice and valuable suggestions, this dissertation would not have been possible. I would also like to thank the Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics, which provides the most inspiring environment for productive interaction and research. I am now working on the proposal for my PhD thesis, which will focus on Classical Chinese lexicons from the West Han Dynasty. I am interested in finding out more about the lexical items that are significantly different from those prevalent in the pre-Qin period and post-Han Dynasty.”

Outstanding Research Thesis Awards

Promoting graduate programmes on the mainland

The Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies participated in the annual China International Education Exhibition

Tour (CIEET) from 28 February to 15 March to promote CityU’s taught postgraduate, research degree and professional doctorate programmes to prospective mainland students. This year, 460 tertiary institutions and educational bodies from 30 countries and regions participated in the tour, which went to Beijing, X’ian, Shanghai, Nanjing and Guangzhou.

— Adelaide Lau, Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies


GRADUATE STUDIES

Dr Cheng Jinping, a postdoctoral student of Dr Cheng Shuk-han, Associate Head and Associate Professor,

Department of Biology and Chemistry, won a Gold Prize, a Silver Prize and a Special Award with two inventions at the Korea International Women’s Invention Exposition (KIWIE) 2009 held in Korea in May.

KIWIE 2009 was hosted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and organized by the Korea Women Inventors Association to recognize domestic and overseas women inventors and to provide a platform for them to showcase their inventions. The event drew the participation of 500 inventions from 35 countries and regions.

The project titled “Zebrafish Embryos as Testing Organisms in Nanotoxicology” won the Gold Award and Special Award. “Many nanomaterials have been synthesized and used in everyday consumer products in recent years but it is unclear whether they are safe to mankind and the environment,” said Dr Cheng Shuk-han, who supervised both winning projects. “We developed this bioassay to assess the safety of nanomaterials in vertebrate animals.”

The other project, titled “Computer System for Chinese Mateira Medicine and Pharmacological Research”, received a Silver Award. The software developed is used in PDA devices that

Postdoc inventions take three prizes in Korea

support multiple users performing screening experiments worldwide. It is accompanied by a database which is visualized and functions via the worldwide web.

“We are proud of our projects which have brought prizes and honour to CityU,” said Dr Cheng Jinping. “We have gone a long way in bringing these projects to success and are pleased that our efforts paid off well.”

— Shirley Lam

CUPA NEWS

GRADUATE STUDIES

The 13th Executive Committee of the CityU Postgraduate Association (CUPA) was elected recently. Four members of

the team are from the Department of Economics and Finance: President Kenny Tsung Kin-keung, Treasurer Yau Sai-hung, Sport and Recreation Leader Liu Kwun-kiu, and Publication Leader Yip Fung-shan. The other members are: Tang Kin-ching, Department of Computer Science, Vice President; Lau Sui-ping, Department of Applied Social Studies, General Secretary I; and Lo Ka-wing, School of Law, General Secretary II.

In a letter thanking CUPA’s more than 6,000 members for their ongoing support, the new President said past Executive Committees had established credibility and gained recognition from members, other universities and the local community.

New CUPA Executive Committee“We will continue to strive hard and take bold steps in serving our members, contribute to society and play a vital role in achieving the University’s aspiring vision of becoming an internationally renowned education institution,” he said. “I am confident that 2009-2010 will be a spectacular and meaningful academic year for all of us.”

The Executive Committee welcomes comments and suggestions from CUPA members (email: [email protected]).


Dr Cheng Jinping

cross-cultural understanding paves way for a better world · prof zhang started learning foreign...

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