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HKU study reveals city's socially deprived exposed to more polluted air
An interdisciplinary research conducted by the HKU-Cambridge Clean Energy and Environment Research Platform (HKU-Cambridge CEERP) revealed that there is a statistically significant, positive relationship between ambient PM2.5 concentration and the Social Deprivation Index (SDI) in Hong Kong. The findings revealed the existence of air pollution-induced environmental injustice at the constituency area level in the territory. Professor Victor Li On-kwok, HKU Chair of Information Engineering and director of the platform said the findings confirmed quantitatively that those who were down and out were being affected by unhealthy air compared with those in better-off neighbourhoods. The platform’s co-director Dr Jacqueline Lam Chi-kei said the study highlighted the need for the city to develop more integrated, human-centric, location-based and justice-based environmental policies.
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Knowledge Exchange (KE) Excellence Award 2017
The university-level KE Excellence Award was introduced in 2015-16 to recognise the significant impact that our academic staff had made to benefit society. Professor Paul Siu Fai Yip and team members – Dr Yik Wa Law and Dr Qijin CHENG of the Faculty of Social Sciences has received the KE Excellence Award 2017.
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HKU routine surveillance programme detects H5N6 virus in fresh provision shop
The HKU routine surveillance programme for avian influenza at markets and fresh provision shops, commissioned by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), detected traces of H5N6 virus from an environmental swab of a chopping board and skin swabs of a chilled duck sample taken from a fresh provision shop in Wan Chai earlier. After analysis by experts, it was believed that the chilled duck concerned was not infected and it was only contaminated by traces of virus on its outer skin. The chance of infection through properly treated chilled poultry meat is very slim. FEHD is investigating the source of the contamination.
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HKU biologist collaborative research offers solution to low oxygen in ocean
An international team of scientists from the Global Ocean Oxygen Network, an expert group of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, released findings of a research paper published in Science which investigated the causes, consequences and solutions to low oxygen worldwide, in both the open ocean and coastal waters. It was revealed that the amount of water in the open ocean with zero oxygen has gone up more than fourfold in the past 50 years. The scientists said to halt the decline, the world needs to rein in both climate change and nutrient pollution. HKU marine biologist Dr Moriaki Yasuhara, a co-author of the paper, said the Asian coast including Hong Kong is one of the most seriously suffered. The scientists urged the world to take on the issue to address the causes: nutrient pollution and climate change, protect vulnerable marine life, and improve low-oxygen tracking worldwide.
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HKU Faculty of Engineering organizes “Ultraviolet Radiation Measurement and Application Design Competition” together with Hong Kong Observatory and Hong Kong Meteorological Society for over 350 primary and secondary school students
Small amounts of ultra-violet (UV) radiation are beneficial to people and are essential in the production of vitamin D. However, excessive exposure to UV radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye and immune system. The potential harm that overexposure to UV may bring should not be underestimated. Supported by the HKU Knowledge Exchange Fund, HKU Faculty of Engineering, Hong Kong Observatory and Hong Kong Meteorological Society jointly organized the “Ultraviolet Radiation Measurement and Application Design Competition” to raise public awareness on the adverse health effects associated with excessive exposure of UV and to encourage changes in behavior to reduce the exposure. Over 350 students from primary 2 to secondary 5 joined the competition. They were required to design and implement a device that could measure UV radiation and put UV radiation to good use. A series of talks, workshops and visits were organized in November and December 2017 to enhance the participants’ understanding of UV and its measurement, as well as hardware and software techniques to build UV measurement devices. An exhibition will be held in April/May 2018 to showcase the designs of the students.
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KE in the Review 2017
The Review 2017 looks back at another fruitful year for knowledge exchange. The focus is on supporting technological innovation, as well as applying research to inform public policy, improve health and education, and other outcomes that benefit society. “An innovation mindset is also being cultivated on campus, with technology being a major driver,” says Professor Peter Mathieson, President and Vice-Chancellor. “New agreements with external partners, such as Cyberport and Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, are providing funding and opportunities for translating our innovations into impact.”
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HKU chemist-led research generates industrial-competitive materials and technologies for organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) and organic photovoltaics
A multi-institutional team led by Professor Vivian Yam of HKU’s Department of Chemistry has developed robust phosphorescent OLED materials, the superior performances of which have attracted a lot of interests from industry. An exclusive license agreement on OLED material patents has been executed with one of the world’s leading OLED display manufacturers. The licensing is anticipated to realise next-generation OLED technologies.
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