HKU Bulletin May 2009 (Vol. 10 No. 2)

1 IN BRIEF Scholars Scoop Prestigious Prize T hree University academics have been awarded the prestigious Senior Research Fellowship and Senior Medical Research Fellowship, by the Croucher Foundation, in recognition of their groundbreaking scientific achievements and their contributions to the international scientific community. HKU secured three of the six Fellowships awarded to four of the territory’s universities. The three academics are Professor Alfonso Ngan Hing Wan, of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Wang Jian, of Physics and Dr John Malcolm Nicholls, of Pathology. Ngan’s research focuses on discovering how submicron- sized materials behave mechanically, and on developing a theoretical understanding of this behaviour. He said he was thrilled to have his work recognized. He has previously received a Croucher Scholarship and a Croucher Fellowship. “So, to be able to receive the highest award from Croucher Foundation is indeed my honour.” Wang has worked on a number of different fields including critical phenomena and phase transition, localization of light and photonic crystals, as well as biophysics. His current research is on quantum transport in mesoscopic and nanoscale device systems. He thanked the University of Hong Kong and Physics Department for their continuous support. Nicholls is investigating influenza receptor binding and novel therapies in an ex-vivo setting. In 2003, he was a key member of the University’s research team that isolated, and characterized, the SARS coronavirus. Since then he has authored many highly cited publications on the interaction of viruses with receptors in the lung and respiratory tract and his work on SARS and avian influenza. He said he was honoured to receive the ‘Senior Medical Research Fellowship’. This award relieves winners from their teaching and administrative duties for one year, allowing them to devote more time to their research work. Each winner also receives a research grant of $60,000. Satellite Tracks Wild Birds to Study Link with Avian Flu Editor The Registrar Editorial Board Katherine Ma, Allison Jones Writers Kathy Griffin, Allison Jones Photographer Eric Lee & Co. Graphic Designer trinity & co. Printer HeterMedia Services Limited Items for Publication Items for publication in The University of Hong Kong Bulletin or suggestions for subjects which might be included should be addressed to the editorial board, Knowles Building, telephone number: 2241 5258, fax number: 2858 5413 or e-mail: bulletin@hku.hk . Items should include the author’s name and University contact details. If you have any comments or suggestions to make regarding the content or format of The University of Hong Kong Bulletin , please direct them to the editor for consideration by the editorial board. Printed on recycled paper. IN BRIEF 1 u Scholars Scoop Prestigious Prize u Satellite Tracks Wild Birds to Study Link with Avian Flu 2 u Funding Approval for Centennial Campus u Lights Out for Earth Hour 3 u HKU Launches the Territory’s First Geological Museum u The Review 2008 Scoops International Gold Award RESEARCH 4 u The Role of Youth in Colonial Empire 6 u Hong Kong Triads Move North: For Markets and Recruits 7 u The March of AIDS in China 8 u The Poor Hurt More on Bad Pollution Days COVER STORY 10 u Tough Times Ahead TEACHING AND RESEARCH 16 Excellence in Teaching and Research 2008 17 u Outstanding Teaching Award 21 u Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award 22 u Outstanding Young Researcher Award 24 u Outstanding Researcher Award 26 u Research Output Prize HONOURS 27 u Honorary Degrees 29 u Nine Honoured as University Fellows VISITORS 30 u A Dialogue with Hong Kong’s Last Governor u Let There be Light: UK Government Science Advisor Talks at HKU PEOPLE 31 u Masters to Groom Artistic Sense 32 u Hong Kong’s Oldest Museum: A Well-Kept Secret 34 u Getting the Green Message Across 36 u Award-winning Poet Inspired by a Science Talk BOOKS 37 u Developing China: The Clash between Urban and Rural CONTENTS W ild birds are frequently blamed for the spread of avian influenza, even though little is understood about their migratory routes, or their connection to outbreaks of the virus. Now, in an effort to gain a clearer picture of their role in the ecology and epidemiology of bird flu the University, the World Wildlife Fund and various partners have trapped, sampled and marked 24 wild ducks with satellite transmitters. The project will track their movements to reveal new insights into the perceived link between wild bird migration and influenza outbreaks. Previous studies have demonstrated that ducks – particularly the Northern Pintail and Eurasian Wigeon – migrate from Hong Kong to northern China and on to the Russian Far East in spring. However, little information exists about their actual route, stopover sites or final destination. Small satellite radios attached to these ducks are now recording and transmitting GPS locations to provide detailed travel movements. The study, launched by the Department of Microbiology, together with partners such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the Hong Kong government, is particularly relevant to Hong Kong as the territory provides both wintering and stop-over grounds for waterfowl, migrating along the East Asian Australasian Flyway. Dr Connnie Leung of the Department of Microbiology said: “This is very important because it is the first step in establishing where these birds fly to. From our initial results we know that their pathway is northeast, as far as the Chinese border with Russia. “From the original 24 birds, one has been lost and we have not received satellite data on another three for almost a month, but we’re hoping they’ll show up.” Anyone interested can track the satellite-tagged ducks online by going to http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sattrack/hongkong/index.html.