The School of Science and Technology
The School of Science and Technology aims to impart modern scientific knowledge and IT skills to help students take up leading roles in such fields as computing, communications, health care, occupational safety and environmental sustainability. With fully-furnished laboratories on campus, students are able to develop practical ‘hands-on’ skills. They also participate in field trips and site visits in actual operational environments.
The School introduced new programmes in mathematical studies, statistics, engineering and environmental technology management, and invited several internationally renowned scientists to give talks on a wide range of topics, from quantum theory and microfluidics to WiMAX and semi-conductor wafer bonding. It also organized international conferences on red tide and water conservation.
New programmes in mathematics, statistics, engineering
and environmental management
Several new programmes were launched in October 2009. The two new distance learning undergraduate programmes were Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mathematical Studies, and Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Statistics and Decision Science. The part-time, face-to-face postgraduate programmes were Master of Science in Energy and Environmental Sustainability; Master of Engineering (Energy and Environmental Technology Management); Master of Engineering in Engineering Management; Postgraduate Certificate in Energy and Environmental Sustainability (Cleaner Production and Green Technology); and Postgraduate Certificate in Energy and Environmental Sustainability (Energy Management and Audits). Courses such as Cleaner Production and Green Technology that are the first of its kind in local universities were also specifically developed for the programmes.
International Conference on the Preventation and Management of Harmful Algal Blooms in the South China Sea
Co-organized by the School, the Association on Harmful Algal Blooms in South China Sea, the Kadoorie Research Institute and Jinan University in mainland China, the Conference from 30 November to 3 December 2009 held in the Shek Kong Centre of the Kadoorie Research Institute of the University of Hong Kong gathered professionals and academics in the field to identify state-of-the-art technologies and management strategies for minimizing the impact of red tide.
Forum on China’s Water Resource and Water Quality Protection
Co-organized by the Office for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing-Hong Kong International Training Centre, and the School, the Forum on ‘China’s Water Resource and Water Quality Protection’ was held on campus on 18-19 June 2009. HKSAR Director of Water Supplies Mr Ma Lee-tak spoke at the opening ceremony of the Forum, which covered water management systems and technologies.
Lectures and talks by renowned professionals
At the ‘Quantum in our Future’ public lecture, organized by the School on 26 August 2009, Prof. Sham Lu Jeu, winner of the Willis E Lamb Medal for Laser Science and Quantum Optics in 2004, presented the revolutionary impacts of quantum mechanics on technological development and their applications. At the talk on ‘Microfluidics...Coming Soon to a Screen Near You’ on 7 June 2009, Liquavista founder Dr Rob Hayes shed light on innovative changes and trends that we can anticipate in the LCD industry. The School also invited Prof. Paul Yu of the University of California, San Diego to give a talk on 8 April 2009 on semi-conductor wafer bonding technology, which has led to smaller, faster and increasingly high-powered cell phones, wi-fi tools and optical communications systems. The public lecture ‘WiMAX Traction and Applications’ on 15 May 2009 was delivered by Ir. Danny Cheng from Motorola Home & Networks Mobility (Asia Pacific), who illustrated the applications and performance of WiMAX technology through a collaborative study conducted by Motorola and the OUHK.
Hong Kong Innovative E-Learning Tool Design Competition 2009
The School and the Centre for Innovation (CFI) jointly organized the Hong Kong Innovative E-Learning Tool Design Competition from October 2008 to July 2009 to raise awareness of e-learning and advocate the innovative use of new technologies in teaching and learning in secondary schools. St. Stephen’s Girls’ College, which used the social networking website Facebook as a reference to create a flash game for learning Chinese idioms, was selected the champion. Students of the College were presented with an award at the ‘demo fest’ on 27 November 2009, during which learning tools designed by the CFI were also demonstrated.
