In the second half of 2021, 15 promising scholars at the City University
of Hong Kong (CityU) presented their latest work in five HKIAS Rising
Star Lectures, focusing on mathematics, chemistry, physics, materials
science, and life sciences (See “HKIAS Rising Stars and Their Research
Presentations”). The goal of these lectures—sponsored in part by the
Kwang Hua Educational Foundation—is to promote diversity in academia
and to draw international attention to the latest work from the next
generation of academic leaders. “This is a great promotional opportunity for
CityU and our Rising Star scholars,” Huang said. HKIAS offered the top rising
stars grants that could be used to conduct their research projects at CityU.Mathematics
Kicking off the HKIAS Rising Star Lecture Series on September 15,
three young mathematicians explored new approaches to navigating
complexities with models. Junhui Wang—a specialist in statistical machine
learning—started the series with a discussion of latent factor modeling,
which can be used to improve the analytical predictability and accuracy
of relational data. Statistical mechanics expert Pierre Nolin discussed
how self-organized criticality can explain the complexity in many natural
phenomena, including modeling forest fires. To complete this session,
Xianpeng Hu—who studies partial differential equations—explored
advances in understanding compressible versions of the well-known
Navier–Stokes equations that describe the motion of viscous fluids.Chemistry
The September 30 lecture saw three experts introduce their latest
findings in interface chemistry, biological chemistry, and intercalation
chemistry. Materials scientist Angus Hin Lap Yip explored the many crucial
applications of metal halide perovskites, which make up a recent class of
semiconductors that can be tuned to improve the optoelectrical properties
of solar cells and LEDs. Next, Chun Kit Kwok—cofounder of the Hong
Kong RNA Club—described the fascinating world of RNA structures and
highlighted how mapping and targeting of functional RNA G-quadruplexes
and their interactions with proteins might be applied to treat diseases such
as cancers. Chaoliang Tan closed this lecture with an update on structural
engineering of layered nanomaterials by lithiation intercalation chemistry,
which can be applied to photothermal cancer therapy and aqueous zinc-ion
batteries.Advertorial
IMAGES: HKIASThe HKIAS Rising Star Lecture Series
nurtures leading young researchers
5 fascinating lectures on mathematics, chemistry,
physics, materials science, and life sciences
HKIAS Rising Stars and
their research presentations
Junhui Wang
Professor, Department of Mathematics and School
of Data Science
“Latent Factor Model: Methodology, Theory and
Applications”Pierre Nolin
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics
“Forest Fires and Self-Organized Criticality”Xianpeng Hu
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics
“Existence and Concentration of Weak Solutions for
Compressible Navier–Stokes Equations”Angus Hin Lap Yip
Professor, Department of Materials Science and
Engineering and School of Energy and Environment
“Molecularly Engineered Interfaces in Metal Halide
Perovskite Optoelectronic Materials and Devices”Chun Kit Kwok
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and State
Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution
“A Renaissance in RNA Structure”Chaoliang Tan
Assistant Professor, Department of
Electrical Engineering
“Structural Engineering of Layered Nanomaterials by
Lithium Intercalation Chemistry”The Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study (HKIAS) recognizes the promise of 15 scientists who are just beginning their careers. “Nurturing new talent with a rewarding
career has been a major mission of the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study since our establishment in 2015,” said Jacob C. Huang, executive director of HKIAS. “We
want to celebrate the accomplishments and promise of researchers at the early stages of their independent careers.” To do that, the institute launched the HKIAS Rising
Star Lecture Series in 2021.Mathematics
Chemistry
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