High-profile community leaders including Prof. Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist in the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), attended the kick-off ceremony of the "CAN Step Up 2026" campaign launched by local non-profit Clean Air Network. Prof. Loh encouraged proactive community action toward environmental sustainability.

In a column article, Prof. Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist in the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), emphasized that universities must update their core curriculum to prepare students for a multipolar, technologically transformed, and ecologically constrained world.

In an article on how technology gives China's farmers an edge against extreme weather, it was mentioned that researchers at HKUST are developing technology that could provide earlier warning of severe thunderstorms. Prof. SU Hui, Chair Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Ocean Science, and Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), noted that her team's AI model can forecast storms up to four hours in advance. The model is being tested by meteorological authorities in HK and the Chinese Mainland, while the HKUST team continues to train it with new data to enhance its robustness.

In a column article, Prof. Erwin HUANG, Adjunct Professor in the Division of Integrative Systems and Design (ISD), addresses the risk of letting AI and "second brain" tools replace human deep thinking, highlighting that over-reliance on technology can weaken cognitive engagement and retention.

The 2026 Environmental Management and Technology Program (EVMT) freshmen study camp was held in the Kubuqi Desert of Inner Mongolia. Centered on national ecological strategies, desertification control, and green technology innovation, the program combined field research, industry visits, and aesthetic education activities to deepen the HK and Macau youths’ understanding of the country's ecological achievements.

Prof. SHUN Chi-Ming, Adjunct Professor in the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), stated in an interview that the deadly mudslide on the China-Nepal border is closely tied to global warming. He explained that the intensified melting of Himalayan glacier and thawing of permafrost have caused structural instability in the region. He urged for the enhancement of early warning mechanisms, emphasizing that carbon reduction and climate adaptation measures are urgent priorities.

The inaugural "AIGC Film Leaderboard" announced a shortlist of 26 AI short dramas. Dr. LIU Yexin, PhD in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program (IIP) student, was one of the judges and attended the press conference.

In a contributed article to Caixin, Prof. Alicia GARCIA-HERRERO, Adjunct Professor in the Division of Public Policy (PPOL), stated that China's successful Arctic silk road is now a reality, stemming from a deliberate Chinese strategy.

Prof. SU Hui, Chair Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Ocean Science, and Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), chose Hong Kong to break the "bamboo ceiling" after working in the US for 17 years. The MUSICO, the greenhouse gas detector she developed is now deployed on China's space station, marking Hong Kong’s first national-level space research project. Leveraging her personal journey and the appeal of aerospace innovation, she now chooses to work in Hong Kong.

In his column article, Prof. Erwin HUANG, Adjunct Professor in the Division of Integrative Systems and Design (ISD), examined how AI credit cards delegate self-discipline to algorithms. Though this offers a safety net against debt, delegating financial choices to AI risks eroding personal financial judgment and relies on spending boundaries that lack operational transparency and neutrality.