The 7th meeting of the Advisory Committee of the Division of Science and Technology (DST) was held in the Council Chamber on 8 May. The consultants all gave advice and recommendations actively supporting the future development of UIC and DST.
DST Advisory Committee members
The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of iASPEC Technologies Group Dr C. K. Wong. The external members attending the conference included President of Guangdong AF Technology Co. Ltd Ms You Jingyu; Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department of Guangzhou’s Zengcheng District Ms Hong Ye; Dean of Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition at Jinan University Prof Shi Lei; and Director of Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences-Zhejiang Gongshang University Food Nutrition Science Joint Research Centre Prof Rao Pingfan.
Dr C. K. Wong, Chairman of iASPEC Technologies Group, presides over the meeting
UIC's Vice President (Academic Affairs) Prof Chen Zhi introduced the development and future planning of UIC. He said all the consultants are leaders in the industry as well as the academic circles and he hoped they can guide while making suggestions to the development of the College and the Division.
Vice President (Academic Affairs) Prof Chen Zhi at the meeting
Other attendees of the meeting were Dean of UIC’s Division of Science and Technology (DST) Prof Stephen Chung; Associate Deans of DST Prof Lei Bo and Dr Ricky Hou; Associate Professor of DST Dr Ivan Deng; Programme Director of Applied Psychology (APSY) and Director of Human Factors and Performance Centre Dr Ghee W. Ho; Programme Director of Computer Science and Technology (CST) Prof Su Weifeng; Programme Director of Data Science (DS) Dr Xuanyuan Zhe; Prof Daniel Ruan from the Environmental Science (ENVS) Programme; Programme Director of Financial Mathematics (FM) Dr Sherry Zhou; Programme Director of Food Science and Technology (FST) Prof Bruce Xu; Programme Director of Statistics (STAT) Dr He Ping; and Director of UIC DST - HKBU CSD Joint Active Media Computing Research Centre Dr Amy Zhang. During the meeting they gave reports on the development of each unit.
Experts gather in the Council Chamber
Prof Stephen Chung first introduced the development and achievements of DST in the past year. Then, the representatives of the seven majors of DST introduced the curriculum planning, teacher strength, personnel training, and scientific research achievements of each programme one by one.
Prof Stephen Chung introduces the development and achievements of DST
At this meeting, several important laboratories of DST were introduced. According to Prof Lei Bo there are three teaching laboratories, six research laboratories, four support functional laboratories and one food safety testing centre. FST also actively uses existing resources to serve society, such as the establishment of the Zhongyou Zhong You Agri-Brand Research Institute in cooperation with the China Good Agri-products Development and Service Association.
Dr Amy Zhang introduced activities such as the Active Media Computing Research Centre and the Artificial Intelligence Forum that was organised by the centre. Dr Ghee W. Ho introduced the Human Factors and Performance Centre in addition to the support of the University Innovation Fund.
The members of the Advisory Committee give their advice
Finally, Dr Ivan Deng introduced the development of the Four Points Innovation Lab over the past year from four aspects: hardware equipment, experimental teaching and student training, scientific research achievements, and school-enterprise cooperation. He said that the goal of the laboratory is to become a first-class data collection and analysis centre in China.
At the meeting, all the participating consultants expressed their strong support for the development of DST. They actively discussed how to recruit high-calibre faculty, as well as enhance learning, research and industrial cooperation under the policy of vigorously developing education in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and further promote UIC.
Ms You Jingyu said: "DST is specialised in the development of national core scientific and technological forces. Talented faculty members are the foundation of national science and technology development. Now that the talent demand in the Greater Bay Area is growing, UIC should seize the opportunities and complete practical projects in a down-to-earth manner.”
Reporter: Wei Xiaojing
Photographer: Ivy Liao
Editors: Deen He, Samuel Burgess, Marissa Furney
(from MPRO)
