HKU Bulletin June 2013 (Vol. 14 No. 3)

Dr Wang Mingfu . ) - % % + % & ? " % + % 7 " ) * + . ) " $ ) $ Dr Wang has an impressive track-record in food toxicology and health foods. He has demonstrated the formation and inhibitory mechanism of several foodborne toxins, changing mutant and carcinogenic compounds into non-mutant and non-carcinogenic forms. He has published extensively on his findings, including a Handbook of Analytical Methods for Dietary Supplements published by the American Pharmacists Association, and he is among the top one per cent of agricultural scientists as ranked by the ISI Essential Science Indicators and a co-inventor of five patents/patent applications. But while Dr Wang works on problems that have wide significance for food and nutritional science and public health, his motivation has been quite simple. “I really enjoy my research because I like using my knowledge to discover something that not only helps my family but also our society so we can have a better quality of life,” he said. Dr Wang’s humble approach has not gone unnoticed by his students. “When he is doing research, I find he is concentrated, creative and he enjoys himself in the moment,” PhD student Zhang Xinchen said. Dr Cheng Chung-kong 0 $ 1 * 2 ! 3 $ ! % & = % 3 1 # ! $ 2 . ) " $ ) $ Some see the forest, others see the trees. Dr Cheng falls somewhere in the middle. He likes to take the ‘trees’ – in his case, uncertain and probabilistic database systems that can handle imprecise data – and develop them into a bigger technological form. “Doing research is like exploring a forest,” he said. “The different leaves of the forest are like data. And in the forest there are roads that can lead to answers. Sometimes I may get lost, but I think this is the fun of research.” The technology he has developed is prevalent in mobile services, Radio Frequency Identification systems, sensor networks and biological applications, and he has published extensively in high- impact journals and elsewhere. Dr Cheng also collaborates with and encourages his students to work on problems that have both academic and practical value. PhD student Mo Luyi said: “He works hard to apply new technology to the real world and he inspires us to believe that our academic research can really make a contribution to society.” Dr Zhao Yun 0 $ 1 * 2 ! 3 $ ! % & 9 * : Dr Zhao’s research interest is in the relatively little known area of space law, focussing particularly on legal issues related to space commercialisation and privatisation, and national space legislation in China. “In Hong Kong, I’m the only person doing research on space law,” he said. “I’m fighting the space law battle alone. To make a difference I need to let more people know about the subject.” He’s starting with his research students. SJD student Du Rong says that in the light of China’s recent progress in outer space she is hoping that with what Dr Zhao is teaching her she can “provide insight and expertise when it comes to the building of space law in China in the future.” Dr Zhao is a pioneer in an area that most people are unaware of, and he recognises that even those who have heard of it tend to view space law as being far removed from their daily lives. But with commercialisation, Dr Zhao explained, it is now much closer – even using a mobile phone or watching digital television is related to space law. Dr John Wang Junwen 0 $ 1 * 2 ! 3 $ ! % & ? " % ) - $ 3 " ! 2 5 As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Centre for Genomic Sciences, Dr Wang works in the emerging area of bioinformatics, which uses skills from biomedical science, statistics and computer science to promote scientific discovery. He enjoys working in this interdisciplinary area, partly because it enables him to take full advantage of his diverse background, which encompasses food engineering, biology and computer engineering, and partly because he can collaborate with scientists from different fields, including recently from geography. “Bioinformatics uses expertise from different fields such as computer science, statistics and of course a biological/biomedical background, so I’m particularly suitable for this kind of research. I can integrate those areas together and focus my energies to make an impact.” Dr Wang also credits his success to the hard work of his research team members and to the inspired help of his collaborators. Through their combined expertise, he said: “We can design drugs to treat diseases and can benefit humankind.” OutstandingYoungResearcher Award Exceptional academic staff under the age of 40 and ranked Associate Professor or below are honoured with this award. Winners receive $150,000 annually for two years to further their research as well as a research postgraduate studentship. June 2013 35 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin Teaching, Research and Knowledge Exchange Awards