The Hong Kong Baptist University recognises researchers’ leading-edge interdisciplinary approaches focused on health and well-being
- Award-winning research studies by academics at HKBU address issues impacting mental health, digital health, medicine, and other aspects of our daily lives.
- These research papers emphasise interdisciplinary approaches, with their findings considered highly valuable across diverse fields.
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The well-being of humanity is under threat: serious concerns have emerged in areas including our mental and physical health, as well as the overall health of the digital world.
The breakneck development of the Internet, particularly social media, has taken a toll on our mental health. Alarm has been raised regarding the rising prevalence of cyberbullying worldwide. Many studies point to significant correlations between cyberbullying victimisation and suicide ideation in adolescents. A survey conducted by a Hong Kong NGO reveals that close to one-third of respondents, aged six to 24 years, admit to making harmful, mean, or mocking remarks online.
Meanwhile, the escalation of geopolitics has led to trade wars, hikes in tariffs, and increased sanctions. The consequences include job losses and inflation, putting tremendous strain on people’s mental well-being. Of particular concern is the trade war’s impact on the healthcare industry. Tariffs inevitably increase costs and put more pressure on healthcare manufacturers, providers, and patients.
To help inspire potential solutions to the pressing issues threatening the overall health of humanity, HKBU encourages its researchers to work on interdisciplinary studies by introducing the HKBU Outstanding Research Output Award. Its objective is to recognise and honour excellent research outputs produced by HKBU researchers, with a primary focus on evaluating the merit and quality of individual research outputs, taking into account their originality, significance, and rigour.
For the academic year 2023/24, Professor Christy M.K. Cheung and Dr. Zi Wang, both from the School of Business at HKBU, are among the awardees.
Responsible Use of Technologies
.jpg?itok=aGTk1kt_ "Professor Christy Cheung")
Her funded project contributes to our understanding of the role of technology in the formation, prevention, and intervention of online collective deviant behaviours. “Studies have found that most 'bystanders' of online bullying posts either laugh it off or join in the attack. They underestimate the serious consequences of some online behaviours,” she says. “With the diversity and ambiguity of online identities, online users should 'think before share'.”
As the Chair Professor in Information Systems and Digital Innovation Management, Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems, Professor Cheung’s research expertise lies in digital wellness and safety, digital health and well-being, and workplace DEI. She has achieved the top rank in Hong Kong and the 16th place worldwide in the recently released Association for Information Systems (AIS) Research Rankings. The rankings are based on the list of global high-quality journals by the AIS, accumulated from 2021 to 2023. Professor Cheung’s influence extends globally, ranked among the world’s top 2 percent of scholars in her field.
.jpg?itok=T0jkf1j9 "One of Professor Cheung’s research interests is the responsible use of technology")
Trade war
.jpg?itok=tJGAzLWv "Dr Zi Wang")
Dr Wang’s research impacts multiple aspects of our daily lives. His research outcomes and analyses carry interdisciplinary significance, contributing to the understanding of trade policy implications by academics and professionals in many fields, including mental health and healthcare services, in addition to governments and the business sector.
.jpg?itok=I5h9rJXE "Dr Wang’s award-winning study explores the impact of trade war")
Sharing his research insight, he observes that the economic conflicts between the two countries reflect strategic contests over industrial policies. “Since competition between the US and China appears inevitable, competing via industrial policies, rather than resorting to tariffs, would be preferable, as it would create fewer trade distortions, and consequently, generate higher welfare for both nations,” Dr Wang says.
HKBU’s research clusters
To further promote interdisciplinary research, HKBU has unveiled cutting-edge advancements across four research clusters: Creative Media and Practice, Health and Drug Discovery, Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, and Humanities and Cultures.
The goals of developing these clusters of strength are to maximise and optimise knowledge outputs and impact, enhance HKBU’s research coherence, and foster alliances of research strengths.
In this first article of a four-part series, Professor Cheung and Dr Wang’s research papers are highlighted in the Humanities and Cultures cluster. This cluster is a vibrant epicentre of interdisciplinary scholarship where arts, languages, philosophy, and social sciences converge to explore human experiences and cultural expressions. The strategic use of digital technology enhances HKBU’s research capabilities. This multifaceted perspective broadens knowledge of different cultures and fosters an inclusive dialogue on global human legacies.
Future articles will focus on award-winning research papers in the other research clusters.