The Interdiscplinary Programs Office (IPO) held the IPO Best Research Award 2019-20 award presentation ceremony on 14 May 2020. 

The IPO Best Research Award was established in 2011 with the support of the Provost’s Office to recognize outstanding achievements by research postgraduate students who made the most original and influential research achievements outcome from their study that has been carried out mainly at HKUST.  The key objective of the Best Research Award is to foster the overall quality of research education in the University.  The Award has two categories – the PhD and the MPhil category.

Among the nominations, Dr. WONG Yee Ka (PhD in Environmental Science, Policy and Management program, Class of 2019) and Ms. ZHANG Yiqi (PhD in Environmental Science, Policy and Management program, Year 5) were selected as the recipients of the first prize of the PhD category.

The Selection Committee, comprising Prof Zhi NING (Chair), Prof Xun WU (Division of Public Policy) and Prof Jianzhen YU (Division of Environment and Sustainability), assessed candidates on the research impact and output on evidence-based criteria based on candidates’ work done at HKUST.  The Selection Committee hopes that the Award would encourage the students to continue their research work and make an impact to the society.

Prof. Jimmy FUNG, Head of the Division expressed the appreciation on the research work of all the students and encourage other students to submit the self-nomination form for the Award next year.

Dr. WONG and Ms. ZHANG were invited to give some insights and tips to all RPg students during the award presentation ceremony. They also shared their research experience with the class via Zoom.

The IPO Best Research Award accepts both self-nominations by students or nominations by supervisors. All research postgraduate students who are registered students of IPO in the award year, including those who graduate in Spring semester of the award year, are eligible to apply.  Nomination is normally invited in the Spring semester of an award year.