The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) recently held the inauguration ceremony for two University Research Facilities (URFs): the University Research Facility for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (UDSAI) and the University Research Facility for Human Behavioural Neuroscience (UHBN). These facilities aim to enhance interdisciplinary research across various fields, including artificial intelligence, biology and neuroscience, early childhood education, curriculum and instruction, learning sciences, and linguistics.
The UDSAI is equipped with advanced high-performance computing facilities and strives to leverage the power of computers and information technology to address a diverse range of research questions. It is led by Professor Xu Guandong, Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence. His research areas include data science, artificial intelligence, and social computing. Professor Xu’s pioneering research has won widespread recognition, and he has been consistently ranked in the top 2% of the world’s most-cited scientists compiled by Stanford University.
The UHBN has been established to advance research in areas such as learning and memory, movement and motivated behavior, sensation and perception, and emotional well-being, while also enabling the sharing of cutting-edge equipment. It aims to provide multimodal technological platforms that promote a deeper understanding of how biologically based data from visual, auditory, motor, and neural processes are integrated.
It is led by Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam, Chair Professor of Biology and Neuroscience leads the UHBN. He and his team have developed nanomaterial-based technologies for harvesting autologous neural stem cells and devices for cell differentiation, which have won over 50 international innovation awards. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Vice President (Research and Development) Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, the senior management of EdUHK and scholars from other universities in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
In his welcoming remarks, Professor Lee stated that over 70 principal investigators and students in UDSAI and UHBN have used the facilities for their research over the past few months. He expressed confidence that, with the two URFs, EdUHK can challenge itself to produce even higher-quality research outputs. “EdUHK is committed to expanding multidisciplinary research and teaching, as well as promoting interdisciplinary knowledge exchange. The University will continue to lead in the field of education and promote strategic development in related areas,” he said.
Professor Chan expressed his gratitude to the two Directors of the URFs and the distinguished scholars for their leadership, contributions, and dedication. He reaffirmed that the spirit of innovation and collaboration reflected in their work is central to EdUHK's identity. He believes that the new facilities will serve as a hub for cross-disciplinary research, fostering connections across various fields and facilitating groundbreaking and innovative research at the University, ultimately paving the way for a brighter and more technologically advanced future.
