Prof. ZHANG Qian, Head of Division of Integrative Systems & Design (ISD) and the Chair Professor of Department of Computer Science & Engineering (CSE), has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director, and a member of the Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee of Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited, effective last Friday. She is also a director of HKUST MOE/MSRA Information Technology Key Laboratory and Digital Life Research Center of HKUST, as well as a co-director of Huawei-HKUST Joint Laboratory. (marketscreener)

A feature story by i-Cable TV highlighted how universities are encouraging students to create AI-generated films through art and technology education. HKUST organized the "AI Film Festival", the first of its kind in Greater China, showcasing 35 AI-generated short films selected from over 700 global entries. The story included interviews with Prof. Anyi RAO, Assistant Professor of the Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC), who predicted the first AI film could reach cinemas within one to two years; and Ms. TANG Yuying, PhD in Individualized Interdisciplinary Program student; and Mr. WEI Zheng, who discussed the creative challenges posed by current AI limitations in character control and emotional expression.

Prof. CHEN Fei, the Associate Head and Chair Professor of the Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR), has become the second scholar from Greater China to receive the prestigious 2025 Luke Howard Award from the International Association for Urban Climate. This award was conferred in recognition of his exceptional leadership and transformative contributions to urban climatology. Prof. CHEN is currently collaborating with Prof. Alexis LAU Kai-Hon, the Head and Chair Professor of the Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) and the Chair Professor of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CIVL); Prof. Jimmy FUNG, the Chair Professor of the Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) and the Department of Mathematics (MATH); Prof. SHI Xiaoming, the Associate Professor of the Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR); and Prof. YANG Jiachuan, the Associate Professor of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CIVL); to lead the development of a next-generation global urban weather prediction model. (Various media)

At the 2025 Beijing-HK-Macao Young Scientists Conference, Prof. HAN Wei, Research Associate Professor of Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR), highlighted in an interview that HK and Beijing, both being international I&T centers, can complement each other. HK scholars can leverage Beijing's scientific facilities, while helping Beijing take its technological achievements to the world.  (Various media)

The Head and Chair Professor of Department of Chemistry (CHEM) and the Chair Professor of Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR), Prof. YU Jianzhen, and the Liwei Huang Associate Professor of Business of Department of Finance (FINA), Prof. JI Yan have been awarded fellowship under the 2025/26 Research Grants Council (RGC)’s Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS), respectively. Their research projects, which focus on atmospheric analytical chemistry and AI-powered imperfect competition in financial markets, have secured fundings of over HK$13.6 million. VPRD Prof. Tim CHENG noted that this year's projects addressed critical global challenges and have potential to yield transformative breakthroughs with far-reaching societal benefits. Also on the list are three scholars from PolyU and seven scholars from CUHK. (Various media)

Cutting-edge technology was showcased for first-year students at HKUST(GZ)'s welcome ceremony held last Saturday. The President of HKUST(GZ), Prof. Lionel NI tasked the student representatives to locate their admission letter and gift boxes on site.
Prof. HUI Pan, HKUST(GZ) Information Hub Associate Dean and Chair Professor of the HKUST’s Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas (EMIA), along with his team, assisted the students in the task using XR glasses. A humanoid robot delivered the admission letters to them. (Sina)

Prof. Erwin HUANG, the Adjunct Professor of Division of Integrative Systems & Design (ISD), attended the book launch session for the book titled "Why Children Should Read Even More in the AI Era" last Wednesday. (Various media)

A column article by Prof. Erwin HUANG, the Adjunct Professor of Division of Integrative Systems & Design (ISD), on how to use AI effectively to improve thinking skills. (HK Economic Times)

A column article by Prof. Erwin HUANG, the Adjunct Professor of Division of Integrative Systems & Design (ISD), on using CODA to build a reliable AI assistant. (HK Economic Journal)

More coverage on the conclusion of the third "Four Seas Cup" HK International University Student WeiQi Competition, which was hosted by the HK Greater Bay Area WeiQi Promotion Association with HKUST as a partnering university. (Various media)