HKU Bulletin October 2012 (Vol. 14 No.1)

People intact (his stomach did suffer). But he relished the chance to push himself to the limit. Now, in a much less physically challenging environment, he is taking up another ambitious task: to help the Faculty of Engineering reach new heights as it navigates the incredible changes underway, economically and technologically, around the region and the world. “I think coming here satisfies the Blue Angels desire that I have where you get a thrill from the excitement,” he says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity with tremendous potential.” “HKU Engineering has this incredible legacy that has completely intertwined it with the development of Hong Kong. You can see that infrastructure has been a big theme for the past 100 years. But the future in my opinion, and it is shared by others, is that Hong Kong needs to have more innovation and knowledge-based industry. It needs to have a more comprehensive economy.” Pushing to greater heights That was a view shared by his father, the late Professor Tien Chang-lin, a former Chancellor at UC-Berkeley who was invited by Hong Kong’s then-Chief Executive Tung Chee- hwa to head the Innovation and Technology Commission in 1998. The recommendations included ASTRI and the Innovation and Technology Fund. “The blueprint was excellent, the vision on the mark,” says Professor Tien who, like his father, has spent almost all his working life in academia including being Dean of Case Western Reserve University immediately before coming to HKU. While he was at Case Western Reserve, he instigated new vehicles for research in energy innovation and health technology. He sees potential for the Faculty to make a mark in these areas, too, especially given the opportunities being presented as China develops. “The centre of gravity of the world is coming to this region – it’s dynamic, it’s moving quickly, it’s rising rapidly. So it’s an exciting place to be.” “I would also love to be part of pushing both Engineering and this University to greater heights. There’s no reason for HKU not to be one of the top universities in the world such as Cambridge, Stanford, MIT. And if we’re looking at top universities, they can’t do that without a stellar engineering programme because technology is such a major part of the global economy. To be a really top university, you have to have a strong engineering programme,” Professor Tien says. Igniting the engine of change Strong not only in research but also education: he sees the Faculty as an ‘ignitor’ of innovation among students. “We should enable students to see opportunities to do things that are not only available in their specialities. There are thousands of possibilities. They can turn ideas into thriving businesses, like Google and Facebook, and transform their technical know- how into technological entrepreneurship. It’s all about re-imagining what’s possible. We here at HKU should not only be a fertile training ground but a beacon, igniting students to stretch their limits for what can be accomplished.” Such opportunities could arise from more collaborative work. He is nudging both staff and students in this direction by encouraging them to participate in an international robotics grand challenge, which will require them to cross departments and disciplines. “It’s an exercise in doing something in a different way – that’s important for the Faculty, for any organisation,” he says. “We have the strongest students in Hong Kong compared to other faculties of engineering. There is strength among the teachers and professors. We definitely need to build on these things. A lot of that will be helping students and staff to see new and higher paths” – maybe not quite from the perspective of a fighter jet, but certainly with eyes fixed on the new horizons ahead. M Thrill of the Challenge The new Dean of Engineering at HKU hopes to inspire innovation not only among researchers, but also students. ~ Y ] \ W l l ] Y ] Y ^ Z [ T W [ Z l T [ T U W m U ] h W Z Z l l W [ X W Y ] \ U V W f g W [ X W f l l ] ^ W d W Z Y l Z X ] r ~ Y ] \ W l l ] Y ] Y ^ Z [ T W [ l ] c W T [ U V W n [ X T [ W W Y T [ X k g ^ ^ W Y e Z ^ r There’s no reason for HKU not to be one of the top universities in the world such as Cambridge, Stanford, MIT. And if we’re looking at top universities, they can’t do that without a stellar engineering programme. The Blue Angels are incredibly fit US fighter pilots who use their muscle power to constrict their veins and keep the blood from rushing out of their heads when they perform loops, barrel rolls and other intense manoeuvres. That strength – and the thrill of the ride – has left a lingering impression on the new Dean of Engineering, Professor Norman Tien, who was invited to be a passenger a few years ago. Professor Tien worked hard to keep his blood in place and survived the 45-minute ride mostly s t u v w x x u t u t { w { 35 October 2012 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin