Doing Us Proud

HKU Academics Recognised for Their Respective Achievements

Known as one of the ‘Three Wise Men’ of the electric vehicle industry, Professor Chan Ching-chuen, Honorary Professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was presented with the eminent Prince Philip Medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering in London on July 2 for his contributions to the profession. With an enthusiasm for electric vehicles that started when he was a boy, Professor Chan has contributed to the development of the field through his academic research with over 300 research papers in his 40-year career, and is a Co-Founder and President of the World Electric Vehicles Association. His expertise continues to help the advancement of modern electric vehicle technology as well as the development of infrastructure to support the electric vehicle revolution.

The scholarly output of Dr Alexandra Cook, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy, on Rousseau has been recognised by the Society for the History of Natural History and she has been awarded the prestigious John Thackray Medal 2013 on July 19 at the Society’s Annual General Meeting held in Oxford. Dr Cook has been very active in knowledge exchange projects in France and Switzerland based on her award-winning research on Rousseau. The scholarship she presents in her book Jean-Jacques Rousseau and botany: the salutary science (Oxford: The Voltaire Foundation, 2012) is considered ‘original and compelling’ by the Thackray Medal Award Committee, making her a well- deserved winner of the Medal.

Professor Jim Chi-yung, Chair of Geography, received the 2014 L C Chadwick Award for Arboricultural Research presented by the International Society of Arboriculture on August 3 in the United States. The Award is given to individuals to recognise their research and valuable contributions to arboriculture and Professor Jim is the first Asian socientist to receive this Award. Acclaimed as a cornerstone in the growing research community locally and internationally, Professor Jim has dedicated his 30-year professional life to ecological research and the welfare of trees: “As a university teacher and researcher, it is my duty to advance, enrich, improve, transmit, and preserve knowledge. I am delighted and thankful for the chance to participate in this wonderful and fulfilling endeavour.”

Mr John Lin, Associate Professor of Architecture, won two awards in a row. He was presented with the 2014 University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award on September 10, in recognition of his teaching excellence and the leadership he brought to a project of rebuilding a historic bridge in Guizhou that involved both HKU students and local villagers. The recipients of the 2014 UGC Teaching Awards were selected from among 16 outstanding nominees through a rigorous process.

Mr Lin and Assistant Professor of Architecture Olivier Ottevaere jointly won the World Small Project of the Year 2014 at the World Architecture Festival with a knowledge exchange project called ‘The
Pinch’ – a library and community centre in the earthquake-damaged village in Yunnan Province.

Dr Yao Wang, Associate Professor of Department of Physics, received the 2014 Achievement in Asia Award (Robert T Poe Prize) from the International Organization of Chinese Physicists and Astronomers for his important contributions to the physics of spin and valley pseudospin in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides. The Award, which is presented annually to a physicist/astronomer of Chinese ethnicity working in Asia who has made outstanding contributions in physics/ astronomy, will be presented to Dr Yao and the other co-winner Dr Han Yilong from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology during the American Physical Society meeting to be held in March 2015.

Professor Ron Hui, Chair of Power Electronics, Philip K H Wong Wilson K L Wong Professor in Electrical Engineering, has been honoured with the 2015 IEEE William E Newell Power Electronics Award for his contributions to power electronics applications in planar wireless charging and sustainable lighting technology. One of Professor Hui’s accomplishments is the development of the Electric Spring, which can help stabilise the power grid, allowing increased use of renewable energy sources and thus make a significant contribution in sustainability. The Award, presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), was established in 2005 to recognise outstanding contributions of an individual to the advancement of power electronics. Professor Hui is the first Hong Kong scientist to receive this honour.■