Brief introduction:

The HKUST team has taken the challenge to develop innovative and benign technology to improve the living environment and enhance the health and safety of the individual and the community. The HKUST team invented advanced technologies employing smart materials that responds intelligently to environmental cues to mitigate pollutions and microbial contamination. Examples include a family of smart antimicrobials that disinfect the air, water, and surfaces of harmful bacteria and viruses to prevent infections. Technologies that target odor find uses in the Hong Kong drainage network to deodorise and improve air quality, while anti-biofouling coatings for water pipes protect pipes from corrosion, prevents microbial contamination, and improve energy efficiency. The HKUST team adopts a holistic approach considering technology innovation, stakeholder benefits, and societal impact in these researches.

About the Speaker:

The HKUST impact case study on the Environmental Health Technologies for Healthier Living is rated highly by the territory-wide Research Assessment Exercise 2020 conducted by the University Grants Committee of the Hong Kong SAR government.

Prof. King Lun Yeung is a Professor of Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Division of Environment and Sustainability at HKUST. He is the Director of the HKUST-CIL Joint Laboratory of Innovative Environmental Health Technologies, the HKUST ENVF-INA/LMA Joint Laboratory of Environment, and the France-HKUST Innovation Hub. He was the Associate Dean of the School of Engineering and Director of the Technology Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program (2014-2018). He is a recipient of the 2020 Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service for the Outstanding Contribution to the Fight Against COVID-19, the 2018 Gold Medal in the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva and the 2015 Google Solve for X Moonshot.

Prof. Joseph Kai Cho Kwan is an Adjunct Professor of Division of Environment and Sustainability at HKUST, and a Special Consultant to the Office of the President. He is the Chairman of Advisory Committee on Water Supplies, and the Chairman of Board of Directors, Haven of Hope Christian Services. He was the Founding Director of Health, Safety & Environment Office at HKUST (1991-2019). He is a Distinguished Fellow of American Industrial Hygiene Association, and a recipient of the 2015 Google Solve for X Moonshot.

Dr. Wei Han is a Research Associate Professor of Division of Environment and Sustainability at HKUST, and the Associate Director of HKUST-CIL Joint Laboratory of Innovative Environmental Health Technologies. He is a recipient of the 2020 Asian Universities Alliance Scholars Award, and the 2018 Gold Medal in the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.

Brief introduction:

OLED is a promising emerging technology for flat panel displays and has found applications in smartphones, HDTVs and VR devices nowadays. HKU’s proprietary OLED materials have provided great opportunities for regional and global businesses to create a new mainstay industry in Mainland China. HKU has exclusively licensed patents on Pt(II) emitters to major global OLED display manufacturers, as well as attracted industrial capital to realize the commercial use of such inventions in display technology. HKU’s pioneering work on Au (III) emitters has led to a joint laboratory with one of China’s largest enterprises to develop printable OLED materials.

About the Speaker:

Vivian W.W. Yam is currently the Philip Wong Wilson Wong Professor in Chemistry and Energy and Chair Professor at The University of Hong Kong. She was elected to Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences, International Member (Foreign Associate) of US National Academy of Sciences, Foreign Member of Academia Europaea, Fellow of TWAS and Founding Member of Hong Kong Academy of Sciences. She was Laureate of the 2011 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award. She has received a number of awards, including the Porter Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Centenary Medal, RSC Ludwig Mond Award, Japan Photochemistry Association (JPA) Eikohsha Award, Japan Society of Coordination Chemistry (JSCC) International Award, State Natural Science Award, CCS-China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) Chemistry Contribution Prize, CCS Huang Yao-Zeng Organometallic Chemistry Award, etc. Her research interests include inorganic/organometallic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, photophysics and photochemistry, and metal-based molecular functional materials for sensing, memories, organic optoelectronics and energy research.