都大成立「都会藻种库」 推动大湾区及东南亚地区微藻研究

科技学院 都大成立「都会藻种库」 推动大湾区及东南亚地区微藻研究

都大成立「都会藻种库」 推动大湾区及东南亚地区微藻研究

日期:2023年9月28日

香港都会大学(都大)在环境科学研究成就卓越,尤其在红潮和微藻的科研及应用方面取得不少重要成果。为进一步推动大湾区以至东南亚地区的微藻研究,都大科技学院于2022年建立了本地首个对外开放的微藻收集及研究中心,名为「都会藻种库」。

微藻是存在于淡水和海洋中的单细胞光合作用生物,其平均体积仅5微米,但对环境和人类的具重大影响。都大科技学院副院长、专研微藻类生物的李宏发教授指出,近年许多研究发现微藻具有极高的应用价值,例如可提炼成生物燃料和生物塑胶等。然而,不同微藻物种具有不同特性,一如红潮会严重破坏生态,对水产养殖业和捕渔业带来巨大经济损失。他补充:「因此,将微藻进行分类鉴定并善加利用,对环境、社会和经济发展有莫大裨益。」

为了加快相关研究的进展,欧美多地均有建立藻种库。都大科技学院助理教授陈文艺博士表示,香港亦需要有相关平台促进学术研究。现时,除日本以外,「都会藻种库」是亚洲地区唯一对外开放的藻种库。他阐释:「『都会藻种库』具有背靠祖国,面向世界的天然优势,可以为大湾区以至东南亚地区的藻类研究提供坚实支持,并成为与世界交流的平台。」

设备完善的藻种库,旨在更有效地收集、保育和利用微藻资源,还会定期在香港及大湾区沿海地区收集微藻样本,并进行分析和鉴定,以辨识种类和特性。此外,藻种库会保存藻种样本并将相关资料如品种、生长条件等存入数据库,以便日后参考研究,进一步探索微藻的多样性和应用价值。

同时,藻种库的研究团队还举办讲座、研讨会和培训等活动,提高本地师生和学者对微藻生态的认知和环境保育意识,促进知识交流和合作,推动微藻研究的发展,并将最新的研究成果与公众分享;又会设立线上平台,发布微藻相关资讯和研究成果,并提供藻种的分销及寄存服务,使研究人员和相关机构能更轻松地获取微藻相关资源。

李宏发教授期望「都会藻种库」能够为都大以至本地微藻研究奠下厚实基础,展望未来,藻种库将继续累积科研成果,为香港以至世界的环境科学研究持续作出贡献。

凭借都大微藻研究的实力,其科技学院的科研团队亦将展开「红树叶片酚类物质的氧化活性及其对有害藻类生长和生理的抑制作用及分子机制」研究,期望为防治红潮的工作带来新方向,该项目获研究资助局「本地自资学位界别竞逐研究资助计划」拨款逾一百万港元支持。

Jonathan Chiu
Marketing Director
3DP Technology Limited

Jonathan handles all external affairs include business development, patents write up and public relations. He is frequently interviewed by media and is considered a pioneer in 3D printing products.

Krutz Cheuk
Biomedical Engineer
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital

After graduating from OUHK, Krutz obtained an M.Sc. in Engineering Management from CityU. He is now completing his second master degree, M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, at CUHK. Krutz has a wide range of working experience. He has been with Siemens, VTech, and PCCW.

Hugo Leung
Software and Hardware Engineer
Innovation Team Company Limited

Hugo Leung Wai-yin, who graduated from his four-year programme in 2015, won the Best Paper Award for his ‘intelligent pill-dispenser’ design at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering’s International Conference on Consumer Electronics – China 2015.

The pill-dispenser alerts patients via sound and LED flashes to pre-set dosage and time intervals. Unlike units currently on the market, Hugo’s design connects to any mobile phone globally. In explaining how it works, he said: ‘There are three layers in the portable pillbox. The lowest level is a controller with various devices which can be connected to mobile phones in remote locations. Patients are alerted by a sound alarm and flashes. Should they fail to follow their prescribed regime, data can be sent via SMS to relatives and friends for follow up.’ The pill-dispenser has four medicine slots, plus a back-up with a LED alert, topped by a 500ml water bottle. It took Hugo three months of research and coding to complete his design, but he feels it was worth all his time and effort.

Hugo’s public examination results were disappointing and he was at a loss about his future before enrolling at the OUHK, which he now realizes was a major turning point in his life. He is grateful for the OUHK’s learning environment, its industry links and the positive guidance and encouragement from his teachers. The University is now exploring the commercial potential of his design with a pharmaceutical company. He hopes that this will benefit the elderly and chronically ill, as well as the society at large.

Soon after completing his studies, Hugo joined an automation technology company as an assistant engineer. He is responsible for the design and development of automation devices. The target is to minimize human labor and increase the quality of products. He is developing products which are used in various sections, including healthcare, manufacturing and consumer electronics.

Course Code Title Credits
  COMP S321F Advanced Database and Data Warehousing 5
  COMP S333F Advanced Programming and AI Algorithms 5
  COMP S351F Software Project Management 5
  COMP S362F Concurrent and Network Programming 5
  COMP S363F Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing 5
  COMP S382F Data Mining and Analytics 5
  COMP S390F Creative Programming for Games 5
  COMP S492F Machine Learning 5
  ELEC S305F Computer Networking 5
  ELEC S348F IOT Security 5
  ELEC S371F Digital Forensics 5
  ELEC S431F Blockchain Technologies 5
  ELEC S425F Computer and Network Security 5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 ELEC S201FBasic Electronics5
 IT S290FHuman Computer Interaction & User Experience Design5
 STAT S251FStatistical Data Analysis5
 Course CodeTitleCredits
 COMPS333FAdvanced Programming and AI Algorithms5
 COMPS362FConcurrent and Network Programming5
 COMPS363FDistributed Systems and Parallel Computing5
 COMPS380FWeb Applications: Design and Development5
 COMPS381FServer-side Technologies and Cloud Computing5
 COMPS382FData Mining and Analytics5
 COMPS390FCreative Programming for Games5
 COMPS413FApplication Design and Development for Mobile Devices5
 COMPS492FMachine Learning5
 ELECS305FComputer Networking5
 ELECS363FAdvanced Computer Design5
 ELECS425FComputer and Network Security5