HKU Bulletin November 2009 (Vol. 11 No .1)

1 November 2009 News in Brief Contents The University of Hong Kong has been ranked 24th amongst the top 200 universities globally by the Times Higher Education-Quacquarelli Symonds (THE-QS) World University Rankings this year. The THE-QS World University Rankings result released on October 8 has placed HKU the best university in Hong Kong and China, and the second in Asia to the University of Toyko. The Times Higher rankings focus mainly on the strength of a university’s teaching and research excellence, its reputation among its peers and its international outlook. Among the parameters used, the University saw improvements in the peer review scores, which were reflected across almost all the academic disciplines including Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Information Technology, Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences, which saw the largest jump. The scores on staff-student ratios and percentage of international students also increased. HKU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Lap-Chee Tsui attributed the University’s reputation and success to the hard work, contributions and dedication of all members of the HKU community. “The aggregate results point to one encouraging fact, however, and that is we are taking the right direction in internationalizing the campus community and emphasizing teaching and research. Our vision and strategic directions are increasingly recognized by our peers around the world.” He said the University should continue to elevate the quality of teaching and learning, and to produce more academic and research work of high impact. Further details about the rankings can be found at http://www.hku.hk/cpao/Urankings2009 Information 24 TH HKU is world’s best university • Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Award HKU received the Platinum Award again in this year’s Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Survey, in the category of ‘universities’ in Hong Kong. This is the third win for HKU since the category was introduced to the Survey for the first time in 2007. • Yahoo! Emotive Brand Awards 2008-2009 The University of Hong Kong has won the ‘Yahoo! Emotive Brand Awards 2008-2009’ in the University category. The Awards aim to encourage Internet users to vote for the brands that are most appealing to them. Awards The ranking exercise also named HKU the best university in Hong Kong and China, and the second in Asia. NEWS IN BRIEF 1 HKU is World’s 24th Best University 2 From Strength to Strength: A New Council Chairman Praise Where it’s Truly Deserved 3 Donations for Body and Soul A New Home For Researchers Across Disciplines 4 Fighting Climate Change: A New Major in Environmental Science HKU’s New MFA in Creative Writing 5 Joint PhD Programmes Approved Diversity Through Food and Faith COVER STORY 6 Preparing for an Ageing Society RESEARCH 12 Standout Success in Research Funding 14 The Race is on to Avert a New Pandemic 16 Reading the Corals 18 Seeing the Light Teaching AND Learning 20 New Landscapes for Hong Kong 22 A Cosmopolitan Perspective, by Design PEOPLE 24 Not Doing it by the Book 25 The Intellectual Coffee House 26 Responding to the Rhythm ARTS and CULTURE 27 Ang Lee Keeps a Promise 28 Taking a Fresh Look at Ancient Treasures CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT 29 Greening the Campus 30 Fitting into the Community BOOKS 31 Light and Shade: Sketches from an Uncommon Life 32 The Bilingual Child: Early Development and Language Contact