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GLOBAL ACHIEVERS
The year brought a host of accolades for faculty members
at HKUST, reinforcing the global standing and influence of
its academics. In national awards, Prof Weijia Wen (Physics),
Prof Ping Sheng (Physics), Prof Wing Yim Tam (Physics) and
Prof Shihe Yang (Chemistry) were awarded a State Natural
Science Award (Second Class). Another State Natural
Science Award (Second Class) also went to Prof Jianping Gan
(Mathematics). This national award is the most prestigious
award given in China in such fields.
Three professors also received Ministry of Education Higher
Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards,
Second Class: Prof Yilong Han (Physics) and Prof Bing Zeng
(Electronic and Computer Engineering) in the Natural Science
category; and Prof Huamin Qu (Computer Science and
Engineering) in the Scientific and Technological Progress
category.
In Hong Kong, Prof Tom Hiu Tung Cheung (Life Science) and
Prof Kam Tuen Law (Physics) saw their scientific research
achievements recognized with Croucher Innovation Awards
Internationally, Dean of Science and The Morningside
Professor of Life Science Prof Nancy Ip was elected a
Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences;
Prof Irene Lo (Civil and Environmental Engineering) was
made a member of the European Academy of Sciences
and Arts, becoming the first academic in Hong Kong to
gain such recognition; Prof Michael Altman (Physics) was
elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society; and
Prof Ricky Lee (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
was the first scholar in the city to receive the Calvin W
Rice Lecture Award. In addition, Prof Pascale Fung and
Prof Patrick Yue (both Electronic and Computer
Engineering) became Fellows of the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), bringing the total
number of Fellows at HKUST to 34.
NAMED PROFESSORSHIPS
The Second Inauguration Ceremony for Named
Professorships honored four outstanding faculty members
whose accomplishments have placed them at the forefront
of international scholarship. Dean of the School of Business
and Management Prof Jitendra V Singh was named
Michael Jebsen Professor of Business, Prof Qiang Yang was
appointed New Bright Professor of Engineering, Prof Xin
Zhang was made Swire Professor of Aerospace Engineering,
and Visiting Professor from the University of Michigan
Prof Xiuli Chao was named Fung Visiting Professor of
Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations
Management.
RECOGNITION OF TEACHING
The University strives to create an environment whereby
excellence thrives among faculty members and recognition
for such excellence is given. For his remarkable contribution
to student learning, the annual Michael G Gale Medal for
Distinguished Teaching was awarded to Prof Chun Man
Chan (Civil and Environmental Engineering) in 2014. The
Common Core Course Excellence Award for 2015 was
awarded to Prof May Yi Shaw and Mr Bo Xu (Humanities)
for the course “Identity Goes Global: From Border Crossing
to Boundary Remaking”.
