HKU Bulletin December 2013 (Vol. 15 No. 1)

With the approval of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Central Government, the Partner State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology has been established at HKU in July, in strategic collaboration with the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Nanjing University, bringing the number of State Key Laboratories at HKU to five. Located at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the Partner State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is run by the Department of Medicine and the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, with a team of nearly 80 researchers. The Laboratory aims to conduct basic, clinical and translational research on obesity, diabetes and its cardiovascular complications, and to facilitate scholarly and research exchanges with the Mainland and international scientists for the Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, who is already a world renowned geneticist, received two further exceptional honours in May. He was conferred an honorary doctorate from Fudan University in Shanghai, at a ceremony officiated by the President of the University Professor Yang Yuliang. The ceremony was then followed by a lecture HKU boasts many local and international scholars whose work continues to win accolades from around the world. Professor Ying Chan, Director of Journalism and Media Studies Centre; Professor Kathryn Cheah, Chair Professor of Department of Biochemistry; and Professor Anthony Yeh, Head and Professor of the Department of Urban Planning and Design, have received international acclaim in recognition of their contributions in their respective fields of study. Formerly an experienced and award-winning journalist, Professor Ying Chan was presented with the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asian-American Journalists Association’s national convention in New York this August. This prize is awarded to an Asian American or Pacific Islander who has demonstrated courage and commitment to the principles of journalism Vice-Chancellor Honoured, Twice Saluting Academic Excellence HKU ScholarsWinWorldwide Recognition Fifth State Key Laboratory Established at HKU Research Centre for Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Complications benefit of pharmaceutical industries and clinical practice in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Being regarded as key components of China’s science and technology research system, the State Key Laboratories serve as the base for top-level basic research and applied basic research development, assembling and nurturing outstanding researchers, as well as scholarly exchanges for the country. There are over 260 State Key Laboratories throughout China. Currently, HKU has five State Key Laboratories; the other four are Partner State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Partner State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Partner State Key Laboratory on Synthetic Chemistry and Partner State Key Laboratory for Liver Research. named ’The genes of a scientist’ given by Professor Tsui. Professor Tsui is grateful to be given the honour: “Shanghai is the place where I was born. After leaving for half a century and having travelled half the globe, I am home to be awarded this honorary doctorate. I am deeply pleased and honoured.” over the course of a life’s work. It recognises Professor Chan’s contributions to the media and society, as well as her efforts in developing professional journalism in Asia. At the 24 th General Meeting of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) held in Argentina in October, Professor Kathryn Cheah, together with other 51 outstanding scientists, was elected as a Fellow of the Academy. Professor Cheah’s research focusses on the regulation and function of genes and mechanisms of disease with an emphasis on the skeletal system, human degenerative skeletal disorders and the inner ear. The elected Fellowship recognises the scientific excellence of her work and her long-standing contributions to the advancement of science. The new TWAS Members, comprised of 46 new Fellows and six Associate Fellows, will be inducted at the In late May, when Western University (The University of Western Ontario) of Canada celebrated its 301 st Convocation in Hong Kong, Professor Lap-Chee Tsui was also conferred an honorary degree, in recognition of his scientific achievements throughout the years. Academy’s 25 th General Meeting in 2014, bringing the total TWAS Membership to 1,115. Professor Anthony Yeh was named an Academician by the United Kingdom’s Academy of Social Sciences. All selected Academicians have a wide range of expertise in the social sciences, including education, urban studies, social policy, gerontology, law, politics, sociology, criminology, geography and linguistics. Professor Yeh is among the 51 leading social scientists who have been awarded with this prestigious honour this year. Aiming to promote social sciences in the UK for the benefit of the public, the Academy of Social Sciences has over 900 Academicians from universities and the policy and practice communities, and 46 member learned societies, representing almost 90,000 social scientists. Professor Lap-Chee Tsui (left) and Fudan University President Professor Yang Yuliang (right) Professor Ying Chan receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian-American Journalists Association Professor Kathryn Cheah – Fellow Elect of The World Academy of Sciences New Academician Professor Anthony Yeh is welcomed by the Academy of Social Sciences Professor Lap-Chee Tsui (left) receives an honorary degree from Western University (The University of Western Ontario) of Canada in its 301 st Convocation in Hong Kong 02 | 03 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin | December 2013 News in Brief