IMPRESSIVEHKUST ENGINEERING | Summer 2014 | Newsletter No.25 DISPLAY Groundbreaking Advanced Displays and Optoelectronics Technologies
Dean’s Message Tri-modal education provides students with a career aspiration track system based on what they want to achieve; whether it is research, professional engineering, or entrepreneurship, we will provide them with the best tools in order to achieve their goal. We are focusing on expanding our entrepreneurship activities through innovative co-curricular programs. A new minor in entrepreneurship is being launched, while a new MPhil Program in Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship will be introduced. We are viewing the seemingly unstoppable e-learning issue from two points of view: first, to offer our own undergraduates the opportunity to view lectures online, which would then be followed up with interactive classroom sessions; and second, to offer MOOC programs to interested students around the world. Following the reinvention of undergraduate education, we are now seeking to give graduate education a similar treatment. It is particularly vital that we help graduate students to develop non-research skills, such as presentation, writing and ethics. We have also identified three key research themes designed to bring the whole School together, namely autonomous systems and robotics; big data; and smart green cities. Most discoveries are made at the intersection of disciplines, so it is imperative that our work embraces an interdisciplinary approach. The School will face challenges in achieving these goals, but I believe we can build on excellence and move to the next level through engagement, cooperation and collaboration in order to ensure we work within our research themes and make an impact with major projects on a global scale. Prof Khaled Ben Letaief Dean of Engineering This coming September marks five years since I was appointed Dean of the School of Engineering. It is incredible how time flies, and this seems an appropriate time to take stock of what we have achieved and examine the direction we wish to take for the future. First, let me say that the School is doing extremely well in all key aspects related to our vision of positioning HKUST as a center of excellence for world-class engineering education. To mention major highlights of the past five years: reinvention of the undergraduate curriculum; transition to 334 education system; establishment of the Center for Engineering Education Innovation (E2I); increasing the quantity and quality of exchange-outs and internships; and pushing for more interaction with the outside world through the Center for Global & Community Engagement. We are continuing to focus on internationalizing the School. Witness our achievements in attracting the best and brightest from around the world through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme: of the 223 selected for the 2014/15 academic year, 65 came to HKUST – and of these, 42 chose Engineering. I am extremely pleased that the School continues to shine in prestigious international education-related rankings, or the fact that Engineering at HKUST is proving increasingly popular with local students. So where do we go from here to maintain – indeed, increase – our momentum? Alongside consolidation, our strategy is to emphasize three main areas of development: tri-modal education, entrepreneurship, and e-learning/blended learning. 1 IN FOCUS
* No. 1 in Greater China Δ No. 1 in Hong Kong Global Employability University Ranking 2013 No. 18* QS World University Rankings by Subject 2014 No. 11* Computer Science & Information Systems No. 11* Electrical & Electronic Engineering No. 12 Civil & Structural Engineering No. 20Δ Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering No. 26Δ Chemical Engineering QS Top 50 Under 50 2013/14 No. 1 in the world Times Higher Education World University Rankings of Top 100 Universities for Engineering and Technology 2013-14 No. 21* Excellence Rewarded in Prestigious Global Surveys The excellence of a university is gauged not just by academic results but also by the employability of its graduates. Employers are looking for talented people who will bring effective communication skills, team work aptitude, and the ability to perform under pressure and in challenging situations. So it is particularly pleasing that HKUST has been ranked first in Greater China in the high-profile Global Employability University Ranking 2013, carried out by French consulting group RH Emerging in partnership with German polling institute Trendence. The University’s position at No. 18 represents a very impressive jump of 28 places over the 2012 ranking, and makes it the only institution in Greater China in the top 20. As one of the most international universities in China, HKUST is committed to nurturing graduates who have a broad set of skills and a global perspective, as well as embracing a creative and entrepreneurial spirit. It is encouraging to see that this mission is bearing fruit and that these efforts are recognized by the business world. More than 5,000 top recruiters in 30 countries and regions were interviewed for the survey. Engineering Success The School of Engineering in particular can be proud with the results of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2014, where engineering and technology subjects have posted striking rises. Overall, HKUST is ranked within the world’s top 20 in most engineering and technology subjects in this prestigious survey, which ranks subjects based on reputation and research citations. Three subjects achieved their highest positions since the subject rankings were launched in 2011, namely Computer Science & Information Systems (11th), Electrical & Electronic Engineering (11th), and Civil & Structural Engineering (12th). These results establish HKUST as No. 1 in Greater China in both the Computer Science & Information Systems and Electrical & Electronic Engineering fields, and No. 1 in Hong Kong in both the Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering and Chemical Engineering fields. Among the five engineering and technology subjects, HKUST enjoyed a leap of between one-to-seven places in four subjects compared with last year. HKUST continues to be ranked within the global top 30 in all five subjects in engineering and technology. Elsewhere, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of Top 100 Universities for Engineering and Technology 2013-14 has placed HKUST first in Greater China and 21st globally. The School of Engineering moved up two places from the previous listing and has occupied the No. 1 slot in Greater China for three straight years now. The School’s performance in this acclaimed survey pays tribute to its status as a global center of excellence embracing groundbreaking research and transformative teaching. Best of the Young Stars The QS Top 50 Under 50 2013/14 is an interesting ranking survey in that it rates the world’s top 50 universities established within the last 50 years, based on the highest-performing young institutions in the 2013/14 QS World University Rankings. This is the secondyear running that HKUST has secured top spot, having risen from second in 2012. IN FOCUS 2
The School of Engineering is proud to house the second State Key Laboratory at HKUST. The new facility, which was officially opened in September 2013, will lead research into advanced displays and optoelectronics technologies. Prof Hoi-Sing Kwok, Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Dr William M W Mong Chair Professor of Nanotechnology, has been appointed Director of SKL. The establishment of this prestigious laboratory is testament to the pioneering work done by the ECE Department under Prof Kwok’s leadership in the field of display technology. But talk with the professor about his work in this area, and he confesses that he “stumbled” into display technology shortly after his return to Hong Kong from 23 years of study, teaching and research in the US. His primary interest while on the faculty of the State University of New York at Buffalo for 13 years was in optics and electronics. “I was working on different combinations of optics and electronics and material science,” he recalls. “When I returned to Hong Kong I thought I should do something more practical, and considered integrating microelectronics and optics as HKUST had good microelectronics facilities. I was thinking of doing research into programmable holography. Then by chance I met a friend for tea, who was the founder of a successful LCD company in Hong Kong, and he asked me why not integrate microelectronics and optics in the form of display, as in having an entire display system on a single piece of silicon.” When he looked more deeply into it, Prof Kwok realized that this was indeed a “hot area”, with the likes of industry giants IBM, Sony and Intel all working on it, and is a technology that people encounter in everyday life. He was also struck by the fact that display technology is a very practical field and therefore not a research area usually covered by universities. “It was not considered scientific enough, it’s very commercially oriented,” he comments. So he set about building on Hong Kong’s expertise in microelectronics and applied for funding to set up an LCD line for the University, something he says would probably not have been possible in the US because it is much commercialized. He convinced the Hong Kong government to provide HK$15 million in funding, and his friend played a role with HK$1 million matching funds. Prof Kwok’s first project focused on the invention of liquid-crystal display on silicon (LCOS), which involved the successful integration of LCD and silicon-wafer integrated circuits (IC). “We developed one of the best micro-LCOS,” he notes. “Applications include highdefinition TV, projection TV and wearabledisplay goggles.” This technology has since been licensed to a Taiwanese company. Next came the photo-aligning technique for LCD applications, for which Prof Kwok recruited the world’s foremost expert in this field, Prof Vladimir Chigrinov. “The team is working with a Japanese company on this technology, which uses light rather than mechanical rubbing to align liquid crystals; it achieves better uniformity and doesn’t produce waste and dust. We are hopeful that this technique will be commercialized in time.” A third project has pioneered the development of low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFT). “This is the backbone of all high-resolution displays on glass,” he says. “We have invented a whole series of patents related to this technology, and we are also trying to commercialize it.” Display-Related Hub The SKL was set up in collaboration with Sun Yat-Sen University following approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Central Government. With a grant of HK$5 million per year and matching funds from HKUST, it is initially focusing on five areas of research: oxide The establishment of the State Key Laboratory on Advanced Displays and Optoelectronics Technologies (SKL) pays tribute to the excellence demonstrated by the School in these fields and the groundbreaking work of Prof Hoi-Sing Kwok Displaying Exper 3 IN FOCUS
TFT-array technology; third-generation organic LED (OLED) devices; LCD devices; video signal processing and IC design; plus frontier technologies. “Our aim is to make the best possible display and to improve existing technology,” notes Prof Kwok. “There are still a lot of areas in this field where enhancements can be made, especially in energy conservation, cutting manufacturing costs and the development of flexible displays. Through SKL we will be able to establish one of the best facilities for display research internationally. One of our goals is to make HKUST a hub of research in this field for China and the outside world. We also want to establish a platform for people to meet and discuss display-related issues, and to this end we will be organizing workshops; this will bring more activities to the School and the University.” Prof Kwok’s role as director is to distribute funding and ensure that the facility generates good results and publicity. “I am working hard on interacting with industry. We have already achieved our first industrial contract, with China Star Optics Technology in Shenzhen, for TFT technology. We are also in negotiation with another company to work on flexible displays,” he says. He is keen that all the principle investigators involved in SKL work in tandem and share their ideas and challenges. “This was a condition I made when deciding where the funding should go,” he says. Among the projects that are already up and running, Prof Oscar Au is working on new ways to render sub-pixels to generate resolution by means of software. Prof Long Quan is working on 3D displays. Prof Patrick Yue is involved in integrating LED with displays in designs of circuits and transistor designs on panels. And Prof Ching W Tang – the inventor of OLED – is striving to improve coating technologies in order to reduce both cost and waste. “Looking to the future, we have a good core of principle investigators and within the next five years I would like to see more funding from commercial activities, with at least three more technologies commercialized and generating revenues for the Lab,” he says. Prof Kwok takes this opportunity to sit back and ponder on the amazing developments in the field of display technology. “Display was not in my life 20 years ago – or anyone else’s. But now it is everywhere: our world is display-centric and every person is in contact with it at least 20 times a day, be it on our phones, at the train station, the shopping mall, the bus stop…” He points to an area of wall adjacent to his desk and shares that in his imagination he can see a huge LCD frame there: “One day you can have a Monet on your wall, the next day a classical Chinese painting…” But his real wish is that it will be at SKL that these amazing technologies can be developed. Our aim is to make the best possible display and to improve existing technology. Prof Hoi-Sing Kwok tise to the World IN FOCUS 4
ext five years I would like to see funding from commercial activities, at least three more technologies mercialized and generating revenues e Lab,” he says. Kwok takes this opportunity to ck and ponder on the amazing opments in the field of display ology. “Display was not in my life 20 ago – or anyone else’s. But now it erywhere: our world is display-centric very person is in contact with it at 20 times a day, be it on our phones, e train station, the shopping mall, the top…” He points to an area of wall ent to his desk and shares that in his nation he can see a huge LCD frame : “One day you can have a Monet on wall, the next day a classical Chinese ing…” But his real wish is that it will SKL that these amazing technologies e developed. r aim is to make the st possible display d to improve existing hnology. Hoi-Sing Kwok World Five Core Research Areas of SKL OLED Diagrams Cathode Electrode Electron Transfer Layer Organic Luminescent Layer Hole Transfer Layer Hole Injection Layer Anode Electrode Glass Frontier technologies TFT-array technology OLED devices LCD devices Video signal processing, IC design Ultimate displays IN FOCUS 4
Fascination for Electronics • A childhood fascination with electronics sparked Prof Kwok’s lifelong academic career; his hobby was electronics – he made a simple radio in elementary school, and in secondary school he built his own hi-fi system • “I always found electronics fascinating because you get to make things yourself,” says Prof Kwok • BS, Electrical Engineering, Northwestern University • MS and PhD, Applied Physics, Harvard University • When HKUST started, Prof Kwok wrote to the founding president asking if he could spend a one-year sabbatical at the University. The president wrote back saying, “Sure, but why not spend 10 years with us?”; 22 years later he is still here! • Recipient of 77 patents, with another 30 under review and produced over 700 refereed publications on display-related research • Recipient of the first Distinguished Research Excellence Award of the School of Engineering for contributions to the field of display technologies • IEEE Fellow • Society for Information Display Fellow – “enables interaction with industry,” says Prof Kwok • Outside interests: history, Chinese poetry, calligraphy, geography and astronomy
Bernard Wai Lok Li Queen’s College Top scorer of HKDSE exam among students admitted to the School of Engineering in 2013 ‘‘Engineering is the link between the work of scientists and the everyday lives of people.’’ Ihave always been fascinated by the question that I reckon many scientists face, and that is, is their invention economically feasible? Scientists work hard to develop laws and formulae that form the basis of inventions, but how many of these are destined to remain forever in the lab? I suspect many never see the light of day. This is where the profession of engineering comes in: it is the link between the work of scientists and the everyday lives of people. I was prompted to delve into the essence of this subject, by searching for studies that elucidate the nature of “engineering” to general readers. I discovered that engineers differ from scientists in that they often deal with the issue of “how” to produce the inventions put forward by scientists through optimizing the benefits. As a studentto-be of engineering, I was pondering over the fact that while a concrete foundation in scientific knowledge was important, engineering itself relies upon sociological tools – such as economics – to consider these theories in a more real-life and practical way. This reveals why I choose to be an engineer, which is different to becoming a scientist. Personally, I adore mathematics and science when they are applied in a broad sense. As for why I specifically chose HKUST, I would say I was impressed by the academically oriented atmosphere. In terms of software, the School of Engineering provides ample opportunities to equip students with a strong theoretical background as well as practical skills for their future career. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) is an example of how students can gain access to research independently, rather than being confined to rigid theories from textbooks. This “trial-and-error” approach to learning can prepare me for becoming a self-dependent engineer who transforms theories into practicality. These are vital qualities that all engineers should be endowed with, and I am confident to say that I’m ready to accomplish the dreams of my own, and to inherit the work left undone by engineers of past generations. Jenny Ji Eun Kang Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong “I’ve always wanted to study the technicality of science with a touch of creativity, and engineering seemed to marry the two.” Ionly really discovered my underlying love for engineering during my last year of high school, when I had to think about what I wanted to study at university. I mainly wanted to pursue chemistry because I was interested in how chemicals work and shape our lives. I still remember my very first science project in which I had to test whether or not professional shampoos really lived up to their claim of being “better” than regular shampoos. Shortly after, I homed in on my fascination with pharmaceuticals – from the design process all the way to their effects on our bodies. It was then it struck me: chemistry may be a good choice for me... but what about chemical engineering? Three outstanding Year 1 undergraduates discuss why they chose to study engineering rather than pure science – and what appeals most about HKUST Young Engineers Ms & Mr 5 IN FOCUS
Tony Jenny Bernard The more I looked into engineering, the more it appealed to me. I’ve always wanted to study the technicality of science with a touch of creativity, and engineering seemed to marry the two. And the fact that engineering can tackle some of the most pressing problems humanity faces in the present filled me with excitement. Engineers are people who design our world, who innovate and explore, who strive for a better tomorrow... and I wanted to be one of them! My story is just beginning and with the help of HKUST and the many opportunities it offers – such as exchange programs to universities all over the world and UROP – the possibilities are endless. With all that I’ve learnt and the inspiring peers and professors whom I’ve met in the past few months, I’m excited to discover what is to come. Whether it is household chemicals or pharmaceuticals, I hope to explore my interest in the application of chemistry in our lives through studying chemical engineering. And with HKUST Engineering, I know that I can take my interests to the next level and equip myself to become the engineer that the world needs today. Tony Peng Zhou Hangzhou Xuejun High School Mainland China “I like the words of Theodore von Kármán: “Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was.” “Why didn’t you continue to study physics at university?” “Why did you choose the School of Engineering?” These are the most common questions asked by my friends once they hear that I won a gold medal at the 14th Asian Physics Olympiad in 2013. Doing well in physics might be an advantage – albeit temporary – in others’ eyes. But for me, the reason I chose engineering was purely because of interest. I like the words of Theodore von Kármán, the Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist: “Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was.” After careful consideration, I realized that I was more enthusiastic about creating new stuff. And HKUST is a very internationalized university that can spark my inspiration. Studying at HKUST is more than just going to classes and reading textbooks in the library. Rather, it provides us with a variety of activities that enable us to connect with the most advanced science and technology. There are many prestigious researchers and corporations sharing their ideas and achievements with us. For me, one of the most inspirational is DJI Innovations, founded by a School of Engineering alumnus, which is a world leader in small, highperformance unmanned aerial systems for commercial and recreational use. This is just one of the numerous inspiring instances that have revolutionized my view of engineers. I have joined HKUST’s Aeronautics Interest Group. We are working on a project to manufacture a model plane. Our target is not merely to get it airborne, but develop it to perform a series of difficult tasks. For example, we have designed a suspension system with large wheels that enables the plane to taxi across undulating ground, while we have also changed the configuration of the plane so it is lighter and faster. During this process, I experienced the excitement of being an engineer. And I thank HKUST for giving me this excellent opportunity. In hindsight, I rejoice that I made the correct decision to study at the School of Engineering. Here at HKUST, I can develop my confidence so as to become a young yet prominent engineer, just as I have always dreamed. IN FOCUS 6
Three School of Engineering students share their thoughts on why they are passionate about music Idecided to do my PhD at HKUST because Prof Andrew Horner, the only computer music researcher in Hong Kong, is based here at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Exploring computer software and hardware was my hobby since primary school, and while I was at secondary school I started developing websites and programs. I have been playing the piano since I was five or six, and I have tried different instruments since then – most recently I am working on the marimba, which is a big kind of xylophone with rich and mellow bass sounds. So with this background in music and computers, I had a hard time determining which to study when I left secondary school. I took advice from my family and friends and for career reasons I chose computer engineering with a music minor. After all, engineering and music are both “arts” – yes, even engineering – with delicate craftsmanship and communication vital to both. For my PhD, I am carrying out research on the synthesis and analysis of sound. Together with Prof Horner, we dismantle sound – for example, the pure sound that comes from a violin, which we then rebuild using software programs. We are now working on timbre – or tone color – and emotion of various instruments. For example, do guitars and harps sound sad? Do xylophones have a happier sound? There is a lot of freedom here at the School of Engineering, especially in the relationship with my research advisor. I benefit from abundant valuable experience outside of studies: I am involved in the HKUST Summer Musicals, for instance – I helped as the rehearsal pianist, and I encountered so many talented musicians, singers and actors here in the university. It was simply fun to make music with these students. I perform as a collaborative pianist and percussionist at my leisure. Being involved in music and computers is rewarding because cross-curricular study has increasing prominence recently. We always need to ensure that our minds do not get too narrow. Achieving a balanced life is certainly challenging yet satisfying. There is hardly a measurement for a successful life, but for me, success is about making a difference in the lives of others – with arts which communicate emotions and thoughts, and with technologies which connect and enhance the communication. Chuck-jee Chau PhD, Computer Science and Engineering (2017) MSc, Computer Science and Engineering (2011) We Ihope that in the future, HKUST will offer more music courses because the current ones are very interesting! A music composition course I took in summer 2013 with Prof Bright Sheng coincided with the inaugural Musicus Fest calling for original scores, from which they selected students to compose new works. Musicus Fest not only aims to cultivate young musical talents, but also to promote sites of historical and cultural significance. I was invited to write a piece inspired by the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, situated at the Former Explosives Magazine site in Admiralty. I Kenny Tsun Yat Lam Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management – BEng Logistics Management & Engineering + BBA General Business Management (2015) One of the two full-time students selected by Musicus Society to compose a new work as part of Musicus Fest in 2013 7 IN FOCUS
Crystal Suet Ying Yuen BEng, Logistics Management and Engineering (2014) Simply put, my life in music is based solely on one thing – faith. The most important lesson music has brought me is that faith makes a difference. It motivates you to try harder, encourages you to enjoy the process, and leads you to success. I don’t have an affluent family background, I don’t have great connections, but I always believe that even without support, I can achieve much more – and I have. Music plays an important role in my life. From learning to performing, then to composing, teaching and developing talents, music is my lifelong companion. I used to take part in many local and international competitions, and was often lucky enough to be awarded. Although I studied at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts when I was younger, for several years I studied piano on my own, partly for financial reasons, but also because I believed that I could do it on my own. One year, I studied and then passed a diploma with distinction just with the help of YouTube! I won Best Original Music Award 2010 at the Hong Kong 5th Inter-School Film Festival, even though I had never studied composition, and most adventurous of all, I managed to get myself a place in international piano competitions, including the 15th Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Germany in 2010. That’s how far faith can take you when you are really determined. Engineering does not seem to be related to music in any way. But I chose to study it because I wanted to be proficient in both sciences and arts. In fact, possessing knowledge in both areas gives me the chance to think in a more creative, critical and innovative way because of the different skills needed; the ability to appreciate the arts, in particular, raises my inner quality. Having experienced the life of self-learning through music, I don’t really care about “success” anymore. Seeing myself growing day by day is already a rewarding process. Music composed a piece for a piano trio, which was my first time composing for string instruments. It was challenging and very exciting at the same time. My work was world premiered by internationally renowned violinist Latica Honda-Rosenberg, cellist Jens Peter Maintz and Hong Kong pianist Colleen Lee last December. I started playing the piano when I was four, and later on I also took up the recorder. I started singing in an a cappella group in Form 6, when I tried my hand at music arranging. Since entering HKUST, I have interests. Outside school, I sing in a chamber choir Die Konzertisten, as well as a contemporary male a cappella group Set Tone Men. Music has become an integral part of my life. I am now attending the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden for an exchange program. This has so far been an eyeopening experience to immerse in Europe’s rich musical history. I am looking forward to learning about their arts scene and sharing it with my friends. taken several music composition courses offered by the School of Humanities and Social Science, because I wanted to explore different areas in music. Entering university, I am becoming more involved in music. Apart from the music courses I took in HKUST, I live in Hall VII, where we have a community called Arts a-LIVE, which gathers residents who love performing arts. We organize events like music sharing nights and dance workshops. It is an immersive experience to live in a community with friends who share similar IN FOCUS 8
Electronic Engineers Win Recognition for High-Performance Transistors Water-Saving Technology ‘Exported’ to Cuba Congratulations go to the research team led by Prof Kei May Lau, Chair Professor of Electronic and Computer Engineering, for receiving the JSAP Outstanding Paper Award from the Japan Society of Applied Physics for its work on novel high-speed, energy-saving transistors. This is the first time the award has been won by any team from Hong Kong and Mainland China since its inception in 1979. The paper on “InvertedType InGaAs MetalOxide-Semiconductor High-Electron-Mobility Transistor on Si Substrate with Maximum Drain Current Exceeding 2A/mm” was co-authored by alumna Dr Xiuju Zhou, PhD student Qiang Li, researcher Chak Wah Tang and Prof Lau. The award honors excellent original papers that contribute to the progress and improvement of applied physics. The novel “match-making” technology deposits next-generation, highspeed, energy-efficient transistors on silicon using high-mobility compound semiconductor materials. These devices seek to reduce power consumption by as much as 10 times and increase switching speeds five-fold. This is indeed groundbreaking work, given the importance of computers, mobile devices and other gadgets in everyday life and their reliance on high-performing transistors. In addition, the research team has also demonstrated high-speed transistors and photo-detectors utilizing the compound crystals with comparable performance to those using highcost matching crystals. The project is supported by major multinational companies in the field and by public funding, and the technology is expected to be widely used by the semiconductor integrated circuit industry in the future. It is an everyday matter that Hong Kong people hardly give a second thought to, but for those in developing parts of the world it can make a huge difference to their lives – and that is the SAR’s seawater toilet-flushing system, which saves huge amounts of fresh water and energy daily. Prof Guanghao Chen, Civil and Environmental Engineering, explains: “Leveraging this unique system, we have developed a novel, energy-efficient and low-carbon sewage treatment technology.” The resulting innovative urban watermanagement system is part of “+AGUA PARA TODOS (More Water for All)”, a three-year water-saving project at the heart of a partnership between HKUST and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, being implemented in the Caribbean island of Cuba. “The Sulphate Reduction, Autotrophic Denitrification and Nitrification Integrated (SANI) Process can eliminate 90% of sewage sludge production and reduce sewage treatment costs by 50%, space requirements by over 50% and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35%,” explains Prof Chen. This valuable project includes the conversion of part of a tourist resort near Havana to seawater toilet flushing, reuse of wastewater for irrigation and the use of the SANI Process for wastewater treatment. It is an excellent example of the relevance of HKUST’s research and development regarding global water management and environmental protection. Water shortages are a growing problem in the world today, and this innovative technology provides an energy-efficient and economical way to save water in coastal cities and islands. 9 IN FOCUS
Top China and International Honors for Innovative Academic Researchers Collect National Science and Technology Awards Prof Tianshou Zhao, Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and his research team have won one of Mainland China’s most prestigious science and technology awards for the second consecutive year. Internationally, the eminent academic has also been selected as a World’s Most School of Engineering researchers have received two honors in the 2013 Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (Science and Technology), presented by the Ministry of Education. A First Class Award in Scientific and Technological Progress was awarded to Prof Charles W W Ng, Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, his collaborators from Tianjin University and Mainland China industry partners, who have developed a new theory and calculation methods for building underground structures in a more economical and faster way without compromising safety. They also identified key controlling factors which shed new light on deformation and failing mechanisms in deep underground structures. Influential Scientific Mind and a Highly Cited Researcher 2014 by Thomson Reuters. The team received a 2013 State Natural Science Award (Second Class) from the State Council for pioneering work on Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells (DAFC). Fuel cell technology is efficient and clean, and has a variety of applications including mobile phones, computers, automobiles and buildings. Prof Zhao’s research is focused on the physical and chemical process of fuel cells, successfully revealing the underlying mechanism of coupled heat/mass energy transfer and electrochemical kinetics in fuel cells and establishing a new theoretical framework. This significant breakthrough has improved the performance of direct alcohol fuel cells, and has A Second Class Award in Natural Science was presented to postdoctoral fellow Dr Tian Fang, Computer Science and Engineering, and collaborators from Beijing Normal University and Wuhan University, who put forward a series of novel approaches to improve clarity and segmentation accuracy when building complex 3D city models. The Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards recognize leading research projects driven this type of fuel cell closer to commercialization. The research has made a seminal contribution to the creation of a new interdisciplinary field between thermo-fluid sciences and electrochemistry. The Highly Cited Researcher honor is a new accolade announced recently to identify influential and contemporary researchers who have contributed significantly to highly cited publications in a given field. Researchers earn the distinction by publishing the greatest number of papers ranked among the top 1% most cited for their subject field and year of publication between 2002 and 2012. The 2014 list contains some 3,200 researchers in 21 fields of the sciences and social sciences. Prof Zhao is among only 187 researchers worldwide to be included in the list’s engineering field. at tertiary institutions in China and are presented to individuals or units that have made remarkable contributions in the areas of scientific discovery, technological innovation, science and technology advancement, and the implementation of patented technologies. IN FOCUS 10
Nine faculty members have been elected Fellows of prestigious professional organizations International Recognition for Excellence in Research Prof Kevin Chen Electronic and Computer Engineering Prof Chen was elected for contributions to compound semiconductor heterojunction transistor technologies. At the core of his contributions are inventions and fundamental understanding of several technologies that have advanced the commercial applications of the high-performance but difficult-to-manufacture enhancement-mode compound semiconductor transistors. These devices have been used to implement high-efficiency and high-linearity radio-frequency amplifiers in wireless mobile devices, such as wristwatch mobile phones, and for realizing next-generation lowloss and high-efficiency power switches that can lead to substantial energy saving. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Three of the six new 2014 IEEE Fellows in Hong Kong are from HKUST. They bring the total number of IEEE Fellows at the School of Engineering to 33, including 24 from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, seven from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and two from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Prof Howard Luong Electronic and Computer Engineering Prof Luong has been recognized for single-handedly pioneering and building up a world-class radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) research program in Hong Kong. He has made significant contributions to the advancement of low-voltage low-power RFIC designs by being the first to propose many innovative and useful design techniques. His most important contribution has been to propose transformer feedback to implement ultra-low-voltage high-performance voltagecontrolled oscillators. He successfully designed and demonstrated the first LC VCO at 0.35V supply, which is even smaller than the devices’ threshold voltage of 0.5V, while still achieving high frequency, good phase noise, and low power consumption. As of now, it is still the lowest supply voltage ever reported for CMOS VCOs. Prof Philip Mok Electronic and Computer Engineering Prof Mok has made distinctive contributions to the design of power-management integrated circuits (PMIC), and has helped making handheld devices such as smart phones, digital cameras and tablet computers smaller, thinner and lighter by pushing the limits of the performance of handheld devices while maximizing the battery run-time. The effectiveness of power delivery from the rechargeable battery to the handheld device in different modes of operations relies on the performances of power converters inside the PMIC. He is a leader in PMIC and has developed numerous novel analog and mixed-signal circuit techniques and control methodologies. US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) President Prof Tony F Chan Chair Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Prof Chan has been elected in recognition of his application of numerical techniques to image processing and scientific computing, and for providing engineering leadership at national and international levels. He is the only ethnic Chinese among the 67 members newly elected this year, and is one of just a handful of US NAE members based in Hong Kong. “This recognition will allow me to connect with leaders of the US engineering profession, as well as provide a great forum for me, and HKUST as a whole, to be involved in discussion and influence issues and trends in science and technology,” said Prof Chan. 11 IN FOCUS
US Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Prof Ravindra Goonetilleke Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management Prof Goonetilleke is the first member from Hong Kong and the Greater China region to be elected as a Fellow. This honor acknowledges his outstanding professional contributions to the Society and to human factors and ergonomics, as well as his achievements to advance the discipline and science of this field. His work on design related issues has been internationally recognized and his various projects have won top awards both in Hong Kong and around the world. He is a Hong Kong representative of the International Ergonomics Association, of which HFES is a member. Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Prof Christopher Leung Civil and Environmental Engineering Prof Leung has been elected Fellow for his research in composite materials and their applications. He is a pioneer in the development of pseudo-ductile cementitious composites (PDCC) that exhibit high deformation and energy-absorption capabilities. These materials are now being employed in the US, Japan and China for various applications including structural members in buildings to enhance seismic resistance, deck surface and joints of bridges to improve durability, and the surface repair of deteriorated concrete dams. His major contribution is the establishment of a fundamental theory that provides material selection guidelines to achieve the desirable properties of PDCC. International Congress on Fracture – The World Academy of Structural Integrity (ICF-WASI) Prof Tongyi Zhang Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Prof Zhang has been elected for his research in the interdisciplinary area between materials science and solid mechanics. He has made significant contributions to the fracture of piezoelectric materials under electrical and/or mechanical loading. He has established a novel testing technique, called microbridge tests, to characterize the mechanical properties of materials in small scales, which is very difficult to achieve in a conventional way. Recently, he discovered the mechanism behind the size-dependent mechanical properties of nanomaterials such as nanowires and thin films. Prof Zhang is also Vice-President of the ICF Society. International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society (IMAPS) Prof Ricky Lee Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Prof Lee has been elected Fellow for his research and development efforts related to the packaging and assembly of integrated circuits (IC), optoelectronic devices and microsystems. His research covers chip scale and wafer-level packaging, through-silicon vias (TSV) and 3D IC integration, LED packaging, and solder joint reliability. He has made vital contributions to a number of areas, namely applications of finite element method and fracture mechanics to the stress analysis of electronic components and systems; investigation of board-level solder joint reliability under thermal and mechanical loading; research on TSV technologies for 3D IC integration; and development of LED wafer-level packaging technologies. International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) Prof Jianan Qu Electronic and Computer Engineering Prof Qu has been elected Fellow in recognition of his achievements in biomedical optics, especially in areas of optical diagnosis of early cancer and multiphoton spectroscopy. His significant discoveries have pioneered a variety of highly innovative technologies that pave the road for the translation of advanced optical technologies to molecular bio-imaging and clinical applications. He has been a member of SPIE since 1994 and currently serves as an editorial board member of the Journal of Biomedical Optics. IN FOCUS 12
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) has granted provisional accreditation to the School of Engineering’s four-year undergraduate degree programs under the outcome-based education approach, making the School the first in Hong Kong to acquire this recognition. Provisional accreditation was granted following a two-day visit by the HKIE accreditation team last Fall. The result continues the School’s long-held HKIE recognition, which covers programs within the Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular The HKUST Energy Institute celebrated its grand opening in March, with leading scientists and energy experts from around the world participating in the occasion. The Institute demonstrates the University’s commitment to the global development of a sustainable energy future. It will provide a multi-disciplinary platform to bring together scientists to work on cutting-edge research across HKUST and beyond, and coordinate energy programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Some 90 faculty members are currently engaged in energy-related research at the University, with particular strengths in solar cells, fuel cells, solid state lighting HKUST Energy Institute Celebrates Opening with Forum on Sustainable Future and thermal energy technologies. The Institute’s diverse portfolio of interests will cover energy generation, storage and distribution, efficiency and policy-making. The keynote speech was given by Dr Christine Loh, Under Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR, who focused on the evolving picture of energy in Hong Kong and the challenges facing the community, ranging from the city’s fuel mix, the regulatory framework for the two power companies, and air pollution. Other officiating guests included Ms Janet Wong, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan, Executive Vice-President and Provost Prof Wei Shyy, Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies Prof Joseph Hun-wei Lee, and the Institute’s Director Prof Tianshou Zhao, also Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and an award-winning researcher in the field (see P10). President Chan said that the Institute would engage in emerging energy research that can have a transformative impact over the long term on Hong Kong and the country’s energy future. The ceremony was followed by a two-day forum on sustainable energy, with eminent speakers from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan and the United States discussing a range of cutting-edge developments involving ocean wind power, environmentally friendly building, cost-effective production of bioethanol, and solar cell design, among others. HKIE Recognizes Four-Year Degree Program Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and the Computer Engineering Program. Such status is important as HKIE is a signatory of the Washington Accord, a recognition agreement between engineering degree accreditation bodies overseas. Engineering degrees accredited by HKIE also receive recognition from other Washington Accord signatories, giving the programs international standing. 13 IN FOCUS
HKUST- Qualcomm Joint Innovation and Research Laboratory celebrated its official opening in September 2013. The initiative represents a collaboration between the University and Qualcomm Inc, with a focus on talent development and R&D for next-generation Internet infrastructure. Qualcomm has donated US$200,000 (approximately HK$1.5 million) as initial funding. Prof Khaled Ben Letaief, Dean of Engineering; Prof Ross Murch, Head of Talent Development at Heart of New Initiative Electronic and Computer Engineering; Prof Patrick Yue, Associate Provost for Knowledge Transfer and Founding Director of HKUST-Qualcomm Joint Innovation and Research Laboratory; and from Qualcomm Inc, Dr Mingxi Fan, Senior Director, Engineering; Dr Jilei Hou, Director, Engineering; and Dr Xing Jin, Senior Manager, Program Management, all signed the commemorative banner to signify the official opening of the lab. The lab aims to nurture research and talent in areas of mutual interest between the partners under the nextgeneration Internet infrastructure pilot theme, an approach that can better utilize funding resources to create synergy between related projects and harness the expertise of multiple faculty. Qualcomm is a world-leading provider of wireless technology and services, headquartered in the US and with 175-plus locations around the world. HKUST has entered into a partnership with a leading global telecommunications giant that will create extraordinary innovation with true market impact. Industry Partnership Spearheads Research The University has signed a research cooperation agreement with Deutsche Telekom (DT), with a grant of €500,000 (approximately HK$5 million), to set up the HKUST-DT System and Media Lab (SyMLab) for cutting-edge research on mobile systems and media. The lab aims to bring pioneering system and media research to Asia. It provides an excellent academic research environment with strong ties to industry and has the capabilities to address real problems. Through this strategic partnership, DT is able to access the research and innovation environment in Greater China while the researchers are able to connect with the rest of the world. DT operates in around 50 countries, especially in Europe and North America. The arm involved in the HKUST venture is T-Labs, a world leader in telecommunication and networking research. The Director of the HKUSTDT SyMLab is Prof Pan Hui, Computer Science and Engineering, who has a wealth of industry experience, including with T-Labs. The accreditation team was led by Prof David Holger, Associate Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of the Graduate College of Iowa State University in the US. Prof Holger praised the School for creating an environment of creative, educational, and curricular innovation which was well in line with the increasingly complex demands on graduates seeking to prepare themselves for an engineering career. The accreditation team also highlighted the high quality of the School’s academic staff, and the School’s ability to secure resources to develop excellent educational programs, and the way the School had taken full advantage of Hong Kong’s education reform move to a four-year degree program to refocus on outcome-based education and continuous improvement. Those involved in the exercise included HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan, Dean of Engineering Prof Khaled Ben Letaief, management teams for departments and programs, students, employers and alumni. IN FOCUS 14
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