Prof. Naubahar SHARIF, Acting Head and Professor of the Division of Public Policy (PPOL), Prof. Stuart GIETEL-BASTEN, Professor of the Division of Public Policy (PPOL) and other guests attended a symposium on international humanitarianism and sustainable development at HKUST.

In an article on the Covid-19 pandemic denting HK’s record for longevity, Prof. Stuart GIETEL-BASTEN, Professor of the Division of Public Policy (PPOL), was quoted as saying that it’s not the case that in 2022 people’s lives got shorter, it’s just the case that there were more deaths, primarily at older ages, which is going to skew the life expectancy.

Prof. Chi Ming SHUN, Adjunct Professor of the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), said HKUST is developing a climate adaptation and resilience plan with a focus on tropical and urban environments at the 17th Asian Financial Forum (AFF). He added that the data from insurers and other organizations can be used to quantify climate risks and develop new insurance products related to extreme weather events.

In an article by Prof. Erwin HUANG, Adjunct Professor of the Division of Integrative System and Design (ISD), he commented on the ethical dilemmas over AI romantic relationships.

Prof. Alexis LAU, Head and Chair Professor of the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), co-writing an article with HKU and PolyU professors, expressed concerns regarding the Hong Kong government’s decision to further delay the citywide waste-charging scheme and urge the government to move forward decisively with the waste-charging scheme.

At an international symposium on child-bearing held in Japan, Prof. Stuart GIETEL-BASTEN, Professor of the Division of Public Policy (PPOL), said economic assistance provided by governments to households has not been as effective as expected in reversing the shrinking of child populations, adding that countries will be able to "see a way out of" their declining child populations if they start to regard the challenge not as "a problem to be solved" but as "an opportunity" to change gender roles, work culture, and other social aspects.

In a column article by Prof. Donald LOW, Professor of Practice in Public Policy of the Division of Public Policy (PPOL), he discussed how the Government should boost the economy by keeping an open mind about the goods and services tax and considering linking HKD to a basket of currencies instead of just the greenback.

In a column article by Prof. Erwin HUANG, Adjunct Professor of the Division of Integrative System and Design (ISD), he discussed the strategy of "letting it go" to cope with uncertainties.

In an exclusive article, Prof. King Lun YEUNG, Professor of the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), introduced the 3D-printed cellular scaffoldings of human skin, lung, kidney, and heart cells created by the HKUST-APEL joint laboratory research team as artificial organoids for monitoring air and water pollution to measure their potential harm to human health. Prof. Yeung stated that the laboratory is considering future collaborations with the government to install similar experimental equipment, such as detectors, on streets and buildings. Additionally, more coverage on the HKUST-APEL Joint Lab establishment.

In a column article by Prof. Erwin HUANG, Adjunct Professor of the Division of Integrative System and Design (ISD), he discussed the cultivation of AI mindset from a young age.