11 IN FOCUS Prof. Wang Yu-Hsing sees students can work according to their aspirations given the School’s many innovative programs and activities. rof. WANG Yu-Hsing sees two important missions ahead as Associate Dean of Engineering (Undergraduate Studies) since January : to recruit high-quality students from around the world and facilitate innovative additions to the curriculum. He is now vigorously pursuing both tasks in synergy with the work of Prof. MOWWai-Ho, his fellow Associate Dean. Assisting Prof. Wang in his recruitment endeavors are the School’s and HKUST’s strong performances as leading learning destinations in international rankings and the diverse student enrichment opportunities available. These activities range from student exchanges and early research programs to experiential learning, mentorship, and counseling services. A curriculum that is continuously being enhanced is another major advantage, Prof. Wang believes. He is currently assisting full accreditation of undergraduate programs in Sustainable Energy Engineering, Bioengineering, and Decision Analytics. He also notes the launch of the Engineering with an Extended Major in Arti cial Intelligence, where students can undertake studies in AI-related subjects on top of their majors; and the earlier Individualized Interdisciplinary Major, o ered by the Interdisciplinary Programs O ce, which enables exceptional students to pursue a cross-school, non-traditional program shaped to their speci c interests. The latter is the only program of its kind in Greater China. “The academic freedom here ensures that students can choose to work according to their aspirations,” Prof. Wang said. His own aspirations have centered around studying the natural world, a passion since childhood. To do so, he chose geotechnical engineering, a branch of civil engineering, which both ful lled his parents’ expectations and his own interest. Dealing with soil, rocks, earthquakes, landslides, and the natural environment, geotechnical engineering “is not only about the man-made, concrete environment, it is about Mother Nature,” he explained. A er receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from National Taiwan University, Prof. Wang undertook PhD studies at Georgia Institute of Technology in the US. He joined HKUST soon a er gaining his doctoral degree in . A two-time awardee of the School’s Teaching Excellence Appreciation Award and Residence Master of student halls, Prof. Wang is fully committed to all-round learning and guidance. Such dedication includes actively recruiting undergraduates to the HKUST Data-Enabled Scalable Research Lab he directs to provide early research know-how as well as incubate creative learners. The Lab is a makerspace that specializes in the geotechnical internet of things, deep learning, and big data analytics, delivering sensors and applications that can advance sustainable city development and assisting numerous government departments. It covers areas such as slope health monitoring and critical infrastructure monitoring. Prof. Wang and his students have also used advanced sensors and AI to monitor the health and stability of trees. Meanwhile, in his own time, Prof. Wang has documented 6 kinds of birds, numerous plants, and even spotted a barking deer at HKUST’s nature-friendly campus, with most discoveries shared on social media. Such wide-ranging enthusiasms are likewise echoed in his advice to aspiring engineers. “Do not limit your potential,” he said. “Be brave and try out all possibilities.” P Drawing top talent, opening up potential Helping students to explore interests is a key quest for Associate Dean Prof.Wang Yu-Hsing
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