HKU Bulletin January 2005 (Vol. 6 No. 2)

10 11 The Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award is granted in recognition of supervisors of research postgraduate students whose guidance has been of particular help to their students in the pursuit of research excellence. Professor Chau Kwong Wing Professor: Chair of Real Estate and Construction P rofessor Chau’s main research interests are interdisciplinary in nature, and have focused on real estate investment, building performance assessment and performance of the real estate and construction sector. In particular, his studies on construction productivity, cost modelling, risk analysis, subcontracting, construction procurement and real estate price indices have successful ly chal lenged exist ing theor ies and have won international respect and recognition. He has published and presented over 200 technical and academic papers, and serves on the editorial boards of 13 international peer-reviewed academic journals. Professor Chau believes that a university’s commitment to educating a substantial number of high-calibre postgraduate students is the hallmark of a distinguished research university. His approach to research postgraduate supervision and education can be summarized in three broad steps. Firstly, he has always tried to attract high-calibre research students. Secondly, he has striven to cultivate a research culture among his students by encouraging them to question received wisdom and to seek out knowledge. Finally, he has done his best to understand his students, in order to tailor a research programme and supervision strategy to enable all students to realize their full potential. hrrbckw@hkucc.hku.hk http://hkusury2.hku.hk/k wchau/ Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award Professor Herbert Fang Han Ping Professor: Chair of Environmental Engineering P rofessor Fang is an expert in environmental biotechnologies, including anaerobic degradat ion, nutr ient removal , bio- corrosion, and bio-hydrogen production. He has already received several research awards. These include a Croucher Foundation Senior Research Fellowship in 1999, and our own Outstanding Researcher Award in 2000. He is presently serving on the editorial boards of three international journals published in the UK and Holland. Many of Professor Fang’s students are now teaching in top universities in Mainland China, or serving in various sectors in Hong Kong. An early student, Dr H. K. Chui, won the first Li Ka Shing Prize in 1994 for the best HKU doctoral thesis. Professor Fang urges his students to be inquisitive, and not to be afraid of challenging experts. He tries to leave them room to grow, develop, become independent, and have fun in life. He would like to share the honour of this Award with all his students. hrechef@hkucc.hku.hk http://web.hku.hk/%7e hrechef/ Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH