Learn from The Best

Press Release cum Press Invitation 2 August 2001

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Fifty outstanding Form 6 students will study under a great master––Prof Steven Chu, the 1997 Nobel Laureate in Physics––at a summer school organized by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) from 3 to 7 August 2001.

Prof Chu, Professor of Physics at Stanford University, will give a lecture on his path to scientific discovery and participate in an informal discussion session with these top students on Monday, 6 August 2001. Prof Chu was awarded the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics jointly with Prof Claude Cohen-Tannoudji of France and Prof William D Phillips of the US for the development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light.

“Having a Nobel Laureate as our guest lecturer gives the students a rare opportunity to discuss face to face with and to learn physics from a great master. This will be very inspiring for our very best and motivated students in Hong Kong,” said Dr Pak Wo Leung, summer school organizer and Associate Professor of Physics at HKUST.

Launched for the third year by the Department of Physics, the Summer School is designed to stimulate secondary-school students’ interest in major recent developments in the field of physics. These students are among the very top in Hong Kong and have all obtained high scores in the HKCEE. “We hope to inspire students to go beyond their standard textbooks and examination curriculum, and to learn physics from a new perspective,” said Dr Leung.

The Summer School covers a wide range of topics including quantum mechanics, general and special relativity, cosmology, thermodynamics and laser physics. It also has its lighter moments: Students will get a chance to discuss the meeting of science and fiction in “sci-fi” with university professors; and enjoy an informal lunch meeting with the faculty members of the Physics Department.

Details of Prof Chu’s lecture at the Physics Summer School are as follows: Topic: An Example of a Path in Scientific Discovery

Speaker: Prof Steven Chu, Professor of Physics, Stanford University 1997 Nobel Laureate in Physics

Date: Monday, 6 August 2001

Time: 9–10 am

Venue: Leung Yat Sing Lecture Theater, Chia-Wei Woo Academic Concourse, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon

Language: English

Prof Chu will also present an open lecture on “Biology at the Single Molecule Level” in the Lam Woo Lecture Theater at 4:15 pm on 6 August 2001.

Media coverage of the Physics Summer School is welcomed. Attached is the School’s program schedule for reference.

For media enquiries only:

Jacky Tsang

Media Relations, Office of University Development and Public Affairs Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Tel: 2358-6306 email: patsang@ust.hk