HKUST 2006-2007 Annual Report
21
T
he School of Science
enrolls about 25% of the University’s
undergraduate and postgraduate students. The school emphasizes studies
in areas of science that meet the needs of Hong Kong, consistent with HKUST’s
mission of contributing to Hong Kong’s social and economic development.
The School has five departments: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics
and Physics.
Undergraduate programs also provide a strong core of instruction in basic
science through course work and laboratory studies. Research-oriented
postgraduate programs prepare students to become scientists capable of
independent and original research.
Departments collaborate with the Hong Kong Institute of Education to jointly
offer four cross-disciplinary integrated science undergraduate programs as
well as the Mathematics and IT Education program. The School also offers
a postgraduate program in Nano Science and Technology as well as the
Atmospheric, Marine and Coastal Environment program.
All departments have well-established laboratories equipped with state-of-the-
art facilities for teaching and research. Access to the Coastal Marine Laboratory
that maintains organisms in very clean running seawater is available to Marine
Environmental Science students for research and education purposes.
Research programs are further supported by a number of central facilities and
interdisciplinary research institutes, such as the Biotechnology Research Institute,
the Institute of Nano Materials and Nano Technology, and the Institute for
the Environment.
In order to provide students with a broadly-based university experience, the
School runs a “Science for Success” program consisting of enrichment programs
which prepare them to become community leaders and lifelong learners. It
also champions outreach programs for primary and secondary schools and
enhancement programs for gifted students.
