Key Performance Indicators

Over the years, the department has organized a total of 288 seminars in 35 cities across 20 countries with invited academic researchers, businesses, and consultancy representatives: 76 relating to China (since 2002); 30 relating to Environment (since 2010); and 139 relating to Urban and Transport (since 1998).

 

(i) China: To further initiate and expand the scope of influence that allows more students and the public to familiarize themselves with contemporary China studies, the International Centre for China Development Studies (ICCDS) represents the department in organizing high-impact collaborative research conferences and programmes with renowned institutions. The ICCDS has successfully built up an active collaborative research network with the University of Oxford and the City University of New York, as well as other Hong Kong and mainland China universities to facilitate academic exchange. This has resulted in the centre becoming a global research institute on China development and globalization issues.

 

• The International Symposium on Land Policy and Housing Market in May 2016 was co-organized by the ICCDS, the University of Hong Kong SRT (China Business and Economics, and Contemporary China), Peking University-Lincoln Institute Centre for Urban Development and Land Policy, and the Centre of Urban Studies and Planning. ICCDS was invited to present a plenary presentation on China finance and sponsored two keynote guests to elaborate on the opportunities and challenges of land and housing in Hong Kong and China.

• The research network established by ICCDS under the RGC Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) provides extensive collaboration opportunities across academia. The joint conferences and academic exchange activities held at the University of Oxford and the University of Hong Kong in 2014–2015 allowed Prof. Dariusz Wójcik, Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Oxford, to discuss issues relating to international finance and geography. Dr Zhao was invited to be a member of the advisory board and ceremony panellist at the Global Network on Financial Geography (FinGeo) at the University of Oxford in 2015.

• The University of Hong Kong Strategic Research Theme (SRT) framework provided an opportunity for the ICCDS to establish a joint research programme—namely the HKU-PKU-FudanU Joint Research Programme (partnering the University of Hong Kong with Peking University and Fudan University—two frontier research institutes in mainland China)—on China’s New Urbanization Studies. Dr Liu Zhi, an internationally renowned scholar from Peking University, was invited to share his insights on urban land development in China at the University of Hong Kong in 2014.

 

(ii) Environment: To share research findings and facilitate better knowledge dissemination, faculty members continually engage with the public to raise awareness of environmental sustainability.

 

• Dr Li wrote a story-based introductory column in Wenhui Bao explaining how tree-rings can be used as a proxy parameter for long-term climate change identification.

(URL: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2015/12/18/HS1512180018.htm). His recent publication on Yellow River flow is featured in AGU Eos.

• Dr F. Y. S. Lee and Dr Ng are project co-investigators of the Jockey Club Initiative for Water Sustainability. They developed the first Hong Kong water footprint calculator application and created an open-access GIS-based river database (River@HK Database) to raise awareness about the importance of water sustainability (URL: https://www.jcwise.hk/).

• Dr Ng (co-director) and Dr Ran (research team member) are core members of the Centre for Water Technology and Policy (CWTP) at the University of Hong Kong. CWTP is a strategic, interdisciplinary research group created to disseminate research knowledge on water safety, security, and urban resources sustainability (URL: http://www.socsc.hku.hk/cwtp/).

• Dr Ng led an introductory activity for the general public into water affiliations and cultures along river bodies in the Pearl River Delta (URL: http://www.mingpaocanada.com/tor/htm/News/20171030/HK-gfi1_er_r.htm).

 

The department also offers a variety of local and overseas fieldtrips on human-environment interaction for students and the public. Faculty members design and organize regular fieldtrips for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. For example:

 

• Dr Chen has led course-based fieldtrips on examining spatial variation of ecosystem services in natural, restored, and heavily modified river ecosystems. She has also led students in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou to visit power plants and river systems near cities to highlight the importance of mitigation measurements and environmental conservation.

• Dr Ng’s fieldtrips on water resources and management in Lai Chi Wo and Tai O are other stunning examples of practical experience for students to better understand the importance of developing sustainable communities, and protecting natural environments and resources.

 

(iii) Urban and Transport: Faculty members have been invited to participate in numerous conferences and public outreach initiatives with regards to urban and transport issues in the development of smart cities.

 

The International Conference on Smart Mobility and Logistics in Future Cities in 2018—where Prof. Loo is one of the Chairs of the Conference Organizing Committee—is co-organized by Institute of Transport Studies at the University of Hong Kong (HKU ITS), The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (CILTHK) and Transport Department (TD) of the Hong Kong Government. Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government, was the Guest of Honour. The event—with 1 luncheon talk, 24 parallel sessions, and 5 industry showcases—attracted over 400 leading interdisciplinary academics, professionals, and policy-makers in transport and logistics from around the world to discuss the various opportunities and challenges facing the development, implementation, and enhancement of smart mobility and logistics in the cities of the future.