At a time when humanity is facing unprecedented challenges, the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study (HKIAS) of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) provides a unique platform for leading academics from various disciplines to address some of society's most pressing issues.
The lecture was moderated by Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Executive Director of Special Projects at CityU.
Since its launch in 2015, through promoting diversity in disciplinary and methodological approaches, the HKIAS has endeavored to be a platform for specialised research that contributes to creating a better world. A prime example, HKIAS Distinguished Lecture provides a forum for the exchange of knowledge and facilitates the introduction of new insights that stimulates dialogue. For instance, during his recent HKIAS Distinguished Lecture, Professor Way Kuo, President and University Distinguished Professor of the CityU explained that, since the outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of 2019, little consolidated effort has been taken to deal with the epidemic worldwide. In his talk, Professor Kuo discussed expected losses from pandemic outbreaks and nuclear power plant accidents, together with environmental pollution. He also explained how early simulations of possible scenarios can reduce global losses both healthwise and economically.
(Right) Professor Jacob Huang, Executive Director of HKIAS and Chair Professor of Department of Materials Science and Engineering at CityU, presented a souvenir to (left) President Kuo.
Speaking to a hybrid audience of physical and more than 300 online participants, Professor Kuo outlined how identifying the critical elements that impact the spread of infectious diseases is just as important as identifying the critical elements in the fault tree of operating nuclear power plants. He explained how such an adoption could greatly reduce the infection rate in highly susceptible communities. He also stressed the importance of simulating outcomes and consequences based on data drawn from different areas of expertise. Similar to the critical elements in the fault tree of operating nuclear power plants, Professor Kuo said simulating COVID-19 outcomes requires input from engineers, experts in infectious diseases, bio-informatics, behaviour science, and quality assurance in addition to public health experts. "Just like a nuclear problem, controlling a pandemic involves a lot of elements that need a lot of data to solve the problem," Professor Kuo noted. "Decisions should be based on data collected, no more, no less," added Professor Kuo who was the first foreign expert to be invited to conduct a post-accident assessment on the safety of the Fukushima Power Plant following the 2011 earthquake. The co-author of seven technical books and author of the popular science book, Critical Reflections on Nuclear and Renewable Energy, Professor Kuo is a Member of US National Academy of Engineering, Academia Sinica in Taiwan, and Hong Kong Academy of Sciences.
Distinguished scholars from CityU discussed how data-driven can manage global pandemic with President Kuo throughout the talk while maintaining social distancing.
Senior Fellows include Nobel Laureates
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In addition to establishing an internationally-recognised high-impact dissemination platform for interdisciplinary research, the HKIAS has put in place appropriate procedures to recognise and reward interdisciplinary research and education. Notably, the HKIAS is constantly evolving. When the Institute was established five years ago, there were 10 Senior Fellows. Today the number has grown to 34, including three Nobel Laureates, while the majority of Senior Fellows are members of national academies or of equivalent stature. By inviting internationally recognised academics in their fields, the HKIAS fosters intellectual exchange across disciplinary fields.
