HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VOL.14 NO.6 JULY/AUGUST 2003
KUST researchers and experts have been actively in-volved in the community’s efforts to fight Severe Acute Re s p i r at o r y Sy n d r o m e (SARS) since the outbreak began in March.
Research aids
Senior Lecturer in Mechani-cal Eng ineer ing Dr See Chun Kot assisted the World Health Organization with their enquiry into the Amoy Gardens outbreak, speci-fically tracking the spread of the coronav ir us v ia the
chimney effect. Dr Kot produced models of the Amoy Gardens estate and neighboring buildings, which he tested in HKUST’s Wind/Wave Tunnel Facility.
At the nearby Haven of Hope and Tseung Kwan O hospitals, HKUST offered SARS-related assistance: The Safety and Environ-mental Protection Office is improving infection control measures at the hospitals, while the Department of Computer Science is work-ing to install video-conferencwork-ing facilities that enable families to communicate with SARS-infected relatives.
On 28 May, HKUST convened a special panel discussion at which faculty and re-searchers participated in a dialogue with senior frontline medical professionals. The medical representatives, Prof S C Sydney Chung, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong;
Dr Thomas S T Lai, Consultant Physician and Head of the Infectious Disease Team at Princess Margaret Hospital; and Dr John C K Kwok, Consultant and Cluster Chief of Service at Kwong Wah Hospital, recounted their experiences in battling SARS and highlighted areas in which HKUST ’s research expertise might help eradicate the disease, or at least hinder its spread.
“With HKUST’s expertise, we can try and develop fast and cheap diagnosis kits and drug vaccines, adopt mathematic and eco-nomic models to predict what will happen in future outbreaks, design data capture sys-tems to digitize patients’ records, and devise ventilation systems to prevent the virus spreading on wards,” said Dr Kwok.
Community service
Prof K C Chan, Dean of Business and Management, has been appointed to the Government’s Economic Relaunch Strategy Group, chaired by Financial Secretar y Antony Leung.
HKUST faculty were also involved in a series of SARS-related talks aimed at broad-ening the general public’s understanding of the disease. The presentations and discus-sions, co-organized by the University’s Education Development Program, local think-tank Civic Exchange and the Hong
HKUST experts in areas including air quality, physics, biology, civil and mechanical engineering, information and systems management and economics, together with Dr Loretta Yam, Chief-of-Ser vice at the Pamela Youde Eastern Hospital’s Department of Medicine, explained a variety of issues
to the audience, includ-ing how facemasks and infrared thermometers function, the chimney effect, the coronavirus, analysis of statistics and the economic cost of the outbreak, among others.
In another initiative, faculty and staff reacted with generosity to an appeal from Dr Yang Leng, his colleagues in Mechanical Engineering and the HKUST Staff Associa-tion, to donate their salaries tax refunds to the victims of SARS.
Over HK$540,000 was raised by 260 staff members in response to the HKUST Cam-paign for SARS Relief, and the entire collec-tion was donated to the We Care Educacollec-tion Fund on 19 June to help pay the education fees for the orphaned children of SARS victims. Said Dr Raymond Wong, Chairman of both the Staff Association and the HKUST Campaign for SARS Relief, “The generosity of our staff and faculty was overwhelming and really demonstrated how all of us at HKUST are committed to ser ving the community.”
H
University stands with community
in SARS battle
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Customized executive programs best in region... 2
First Hong Kong Physics Olympiad... 2
Fundraising efforts stepped up... 3
Council Chairman meets SU... 3
In memory of Dr Chan Nai-Keong... 3
Scholarships promote cultural awareness... 4
Mercury’s solar transit... 4
President Prof Paul Chu (second right), Dr Yang Leng (right) and Dr Raymond Wong presented the staff donation to Mrs Fanny Law, Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower and co-founder of the We Care Education Fund.
• HKUST Business School 28 • Australian Graduate School of Management 33
• Mt Eliza Business School 45
• China Europe International Business School 50
Financial Times ranki
n
g of executive
education programs
in
Asia Pacific
Ranking School
KUST’s School of Business and Management (SBM) recorded another success in May when the Financial Times (FT) named it the best pro-vider of customized executive education programs in the Asia-Pacific region.
Overall, the FT ranked HKUST 28th in the world for the quality of its tailored execu-tive education programs, ahead of other in-ternationally renowned institutions like UC Berkeley (34th), the University of Chicago (37th) and the University of Toronto (49th).
This was the first time that a Hong Kong business school had ever appeared in these prestigious FT rankings, which are calculated by analyzing the opinions of senior managers at sponsoring companies, and by evaluating the strengths and diversity of the schools under consideration.
The FT noted that the faculty diversity of the SBM was the fifth best in the world. The School’s customized executive education programs also scored highly in the categories of “value for money” and “future use”, indi-cating that organizations will continue to look towards HKUST for its expertise in training their employees.
“Executive education programs provide a
direct conduit for the transfer of manage-ment knowledge from our best faculty to participants who are typically leaders in the business and public sectors,” commented Prof K C Chan, Dean of Business and Management. “The good news is that Hong Kong based organizations need look no further than home for a business school that can provide world-class executive education for their valued employees,” Prof Chan concluded.
The FT survey was conducted in 2002, when HKUST provided non-degree level executive education programs to over 1,000
executives and 25 customized programs to 20 multinationals and non-profit organiza-tions from around the world, including North America, Europe and the Chinese Mainland.
Only three other schools from the region made the FT rankings. They were the Aus-tralian Graduate School of Management (33rd), Mt Eliza Business School (45th) and the China Europe International Business School (50th).
This latest accolade follows the FT ’s January publication of its MBA league tables, in which HKUST was also ranked top in Asia Pacific.
Customized executive education programs best in region
GENESIS, 7 JULY 2003
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University hosts Hong Kong’s first Physics Olympiad
n S u n d a y 2 5M a y, H K U S T played host to over 400 enthusiastic students from Forms 4 to 6, who came to campus in order to compete in the first ever Hong Kong Physics Olympiad, which was jointly organized by the University, the Hong Kong Physics Society, and the Education and Manpower Bureau.
Students from over 140 local schools attend-ed the event, and were welcomed by Dr Jason
Yang, Associate Professor of Physics, before sitting a variety of quizzes to discover Hong Kong’s newest young stars in the subject.
The winners of the Olympiad will face a further exciting
challenge: The 30 best young physicists will receive coaching from HKUST faculty for the next 12 months, and a s e l e c t fe w o f t h e s e lucky students will be chosen to represent Hong Kong at nex t year’s Inter nat ional Physics Olympiad, to be held in Seoul.
“The enormous in-terest generated by the event was fantastic, and the whole day went ver y smoothly,” said Prof Yang. “Preliminary grading results show that the students did better than we expected, and I am sure we will have some excellent students to represent Hong Kong at the International Physics Olympiad in 2004.”
Concerted efforts needed to raise funds
s an up-and-coming youngUniversi-ty, HKUST needs to overcome the tough challenges that arise from the Government’s proposed 2004-07 funding cuts.
The University Grants Committee (UGC) recently established a HK$1 billion matching fund scheme for the higher education sector, in which every dollar raised by local univer-sities will be matched by the UGC. This is a great opportunity for us to develop our sup-port base by looking to the wider communi-ty, as well as to ourselves, for help with fund-raising.
The University must develop private funding sources to sustain its development, especially in four crucial areas: We need to maintain and advance our excellence in research and teaching; attract and retain the best faculty, who are integral to the international reputation the University has forged; continue nurturing the young talent that Hong Kong so urgently needs as a knowledge-based society, and further
internationalize the student body by recruit-ing top overseas students and expandrecruit-ing our
exchange programs.
The public, business and industry can help the University in these areas by supporting various funds and scholarships, sponsoring professorial Chairs, or providing support to individual departments and institutes.
It is also important that every member of the University community– Court and Council members, faculty and staff, students and alumni–plays an active role in sup-porting HKUST’s future. Fundraising plans are now being devised to engage UST members in contributing to the University’s continued growth.
President Prof Paul Ching-Wu Chu said: “The matching fund offers a significant op-portunity for each of us to join together and help fund our future development plans. United by the spirit to excel and grow, we will continue to fulfill the University’s founding mission: to advance learning and knowledge through teaching and research, and to assist in the economic and social development of Hong Kong.”
A
On 13 May, Dr John Chan, Council Chairman, and President Prof Paul Ching-Wu Chu met with the Executive Committee of the HKUST Students’ Union. This was the first of the informal biennial meetings to enhance communication between the Administration and the student body.
Without a pre-set agenda, ideas and opinions were freely exchanged during the 90-minute meeting and over lunch. Topics discussed included SARS prevention on campus, opportunities for related research collabora-tions and fundraising drives within and outside the University; status of the merger proposition; challenges due to budget cuts; the compulsory physical education program for first year students; and areas for improve-ment in transportation during peak hours, among others.
Prof Chu took the opportunity to encourage the student representa-tives to mobilize the student body in support of upcoming fundraising campaigns for the University, in response to the opportunities afforded by the HK$1 billion matching fund from the University Grants Committee.
Council Chairman meets with
SU representatives
The University is saddened by the loss of Dr Nicky Chan Nai-Keong, a founding member of the Uni-versity, who passed away on 9 May.
Dr Chan served on the Planning Committee from September 1986 to April 1988 and on the Council from April 1988 to April 1993. He headed up the Campus Planning and Estates Management Committee, which was responsible for the construction of the campus, from September 1986 to April 1993.
In addition, Dr Chan also served on the Aca-demic Planning and Development, Campus Project Management, and Finance sub-committees when he was a member of the Planning Committee.
After the establishment of the Council, Dr Chan became a member of the Standing Committee, Academic Planning and Development Committee, Campus Project Management Committee, and Finance Committee.
Dr Chan’s invaluable contributions to the University are much appreciated. We extend our condolences to his family on their loss.
In loving memory of
GENESIS, 7 JULY 2003
4
hanks to the provision of cultural scholarships by two long-time friends of the University, Dr Helmut Sohmen and Dr Chan Kow Tak, this summer three lucky HKUST undergraduates will be head-ing to Europe to experience life and study overseas.
Mun Li Law (ECON, Yr 3) and Chloe Sum Tseung (FINA, Yr 3) are this year’s recipients of Dr Chan Kow Tak’s Self Enhancement Scholarships. They will participate in a variety of cultural programs in Italy, including lan-guage, art appreciation and cooking classes, and will experience Italy at first hand as they travel around the country.
Tiffany Yee Tak Tam (MARK, Yr 2) is the recipient of the 2003 Sohmen Foundation Austria Summer Program Award, sponsored by University Court member Dr Helmut Soh-men. “I’m really looking forward to the op-portunity to meet people from all over the world, and to learn about their cultures,” said Tiffany. “I’m particularly interested to learn
about the musical aspect of Austrian culture since I love jazz and classical music. On the program I have the chance to go to the Opera, to really go to the place and be inside those buildings myself! It is difficult to describe how excited and thank-ful I am.”
Someone who fully understands Tiffany’s anticipation is last year’s recipient of the same Award, Ada Kar Ling
Ma. Ada told Genesis that her eyes were opened to Europe’s cultural diversity when she attended the International Summer Program at the famous University of Vien-na, where she achieved an A-Grade average, excelled in modern art and European law, and also learnt first hand about life overseas
from a variety of multinational scholars, many of who became her friends.
“Europe stimulated my thinking processes and expanded my knowledge. The moment I arrived back at Hong Kong airport, I knew there was much more for me still to accom-plish in life,” concluded Ada.
T
Scholarships promote cultural exposure
Dragon boaters fired up
for race season
Dust off your paddles and root out those drums: dragon boat season is here, and once again the University is home to some seriously committed racers.
The HKUST students’ team covered itself in glory in a range of races through May and June, including men’s first place in the Educational Division at the Deepwater Bay races on 11 May, and overall third place at the Macao University Students Invitational Men’s Race event on 1 June. “We’re still a very young team with great spirit,” said their captain, Bobby Chi-Hung Poon. “And we’re getting stronger, so those older teams better look out!”
Also on 1 June, teams comprising staff and MBA alumni contested the Lantau Island Dragon Boat Festival at Mui Wo. Half of the men’s boat consist-ed of female paddlers, and this mixconsist-ed team fought valiantly against the all male competition to finish in third place, with the women’s-team-proper coming home fourth. Reflecting on an exciting day’s racing, MBA alumna Heidi Adick said: “We had great fun and will definitely be back again next year, after a good rest!”
Students admire cosmic wonders
This photo of Mercury in transit was taken by mem-bers of the Student Astronomy Club at the Piazza around 2 pm on 7 May. Using powerful telescopes and home-made sun filters, the enthusiastic students ob-served the rare astronomical event in which Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, moved across the face of the star, casting a black spot on the brilliant solar disc. Gloria Cheung, Chairperson of the Astronomy Club, said, “We were very excited about our observation because this happens only 13 times on average each century.” The images captured by the students are displayed on the Club’s website (http://home.ust.hk/
~su_astro/frame2.htm). Gloria and her peers now
eagerly await their next observation of the opposition of Mars on 29 August, during which the red planet will be at its closest to the Earth and people will be able to observe its surface.
Phebe Ho and Simon Tang took part in a language cum cultural program in Florence in 2002, with support from the Self Enhancement Scholarships.
思梅，怎麼你在這裡！”不少訪問科 大的歐洲和內地來賓見到彭思梅女 士，都會像1992年到訪科大的魯平先生(當 時擔任國務院港澳辦公室主任)這樣喊出 來。彭思梅曾在聯合國紐約總部工作，認 識不少歐洲和內地的外交領袖；這個背景 有助她擔任大學發展工作。 彭思梅在1989年加盟科大，是科大創 校成員；歷任校長執行助理、大學基金發 展處主任，及大學發展與公共事務處處長。 她於去年底請辭，校長朱經武教授邀請她 繼續協助科大籌款。她說：“這個不 是全職工作，可是我可以專注籌款 事務，全力為科大拓展私人捐助的 網絡。” 從校長執行助理開 始，彭思梅一直身兼數 職。她表示：“從我第 一天在科大工作起，便 從事籌款工作；此外， 我 亦 兼 任 國 際 項 目 主 任，協助創校校長吳家 瑋教授拓展科大的國際網絡，其中包括籌 辦歐洲研究所和東亞研究型大學協會。” 彭思梅指出：科大較接近美國辦學模 式，一向十分重視籌款工作。在建校期 間，校方已成功向香港賽馬會籌得1.3億港 元，成立生物技術研究所。科大亦是本港 院校中率先成立大學發展部門的學府。 大學基金發展處從第一屆畢業生起， 便把校友聯繫與大學發展連在一起。彭思 梅說：“我們成功建立校友資料庫，到目前 為止，失去聯繫的校友只佔極少數。隨著 科大校友在事業上不斷 發展，他們將會成為大 學發展的重要支持。” 這些年來，彭思梅 促成多項大型捐贈，但 她最津津樂道的籌款經 驗，則是1992年9月為 慶祝大學戶外游泳池落 成而舉行的“希望工程 慈善游泳賽”。她說： “很多人以為我不會游 泳，結果我以超標準速度游畢全程，讓他 們出乎意料之外，只好慷慨解囊。”科大 在12個參賽團體中籌得最多善款，為中國 山區的兒童募捐逾13萬港元。 彭思梅在科大工作逾13年，見證了科大 的創校與成長。現在由全職轉為兼職，有 何感想？“幾個月前，我整理這些年來的文 件，準備離任交接。發覺原來不知不覺 間，我們的確做了不少工作，也曾經為這 所大學的成長付出很多勞力；這些成果都 是很多科大成員共同努力得來的。就以籌 備十周年慶祝活動來說，這是一項重大的任 務，全賴多個部門的同事參與和幫忙，真 正的功勞應該是他們的。”群策群力，共創 佳績，正是科大成員這些年來凝聚的科大 精神。 展望未來的挑戰，彭思梅說：“與創校 階段相比，今天的籌款工作更為重要。科 大在八所院校中歷史較短，缺乏籌款優勢， 這表示我們要更加努力。只要每一個科大 成員都能繼續發揮科大的拼搏精神，定能 創造出人意表的成績。”
彭思梅女士─全情投入科大籌款工作
“
彭
教學促進中心於6月12日舉行“最佳教學助理協調員”頒獎典禮，由 學術協理副校長杜家磊教授(Prof Peter Dobson)主禮；多位教職員 和教學助理出席。本年度得主是土木工程學系張賀忻(由系內教學助 理於網上評選)和計算機科學系劉偉基(由教學助理協調委員會成員互 選)。他們除獲頒獎狀外，更分別獲國泰航空公司贈送一張泰國來回 機票。此外，數學系韓剛和工商管理學院何淑瑩則分別獲頒優秀教 學助理協調員獎狀。最佳教學助理協調員獲獎
科大學生試執教鞭
科大學生試執教鞭
本年6月，科大數學系學生會在香港四所中 學開辦短期課程，與中學生分享數學知 識，充分體現科大服務社群的精神。 約有15位科大同學參與這項活動，除 數學系外，還有兩位同學來自工學院和工 商管理學院；他們每人須負責教授10節 課(每節課90分鐘)。統籌這項活動的數學 系學會秘書林若曦同學說：“有志投身教育 工作的同學可以藉這次活動汲取教學經驗， 體驗為人師表需要承擔的責任。” 參加這項活動的同學均表示：在中學 教書最大的挑戰是保持學生對授課內容的 興趣；耐心和良好的溝通技巧是成功的關 鍵。 林若曦說：“很高興看到每位參加者 都全情投入；特別在非典型肺炎疫症期 間，我們並沒有輕言放棄，很高興能為香 港出一分力！”科大需要你的支持
6 同創 二○○三年七月七日
Senior Editor Barbara Yang Editors Ivan Broadhead, Bosco Wong Design & Production Publishing Technology Center
Genesis is published by the Office of
University Development and Public Affairs to keep members of the HKUST community in touch with
University news and views. The next issue of Genesis will be published on
8 September 2003. Contributions are welcome,
but must be received at least three weeks before publication date either by fax at 2358-0537, or by
email at [email protected]
下期《同創》將於2003年9月8日出版。 《同創》園地公開，歡迎投稿。來稿請傳真
2358-0537，或電郵 [email protected]。
截稿日期：出版前三週。
©2003 by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.
G E N E S I S http://www.ust.hk/genesis 區政府最近提出大幅削減2004-07年 的高等教育撥款，為科大這所年輕而 迅速成長的大學帶來了前所未有的挑戰。 科大急需開拓私人資助來源，以維持及發 展卓越的教學和研究工作，並且繼續培育 知識型社會必需的人才。 大學教育資助委員會(教資會)近月為 八間受資助大學成立十億港元的“捐款等 額補助基金”，承諾如大學在此計劃下募捐 一元，政府即補助一元。這是一個大好機 會，讓科大發展私人資助基礎。校方正積 極向社會人士募捐，同時亦擬定計劃，邀 請每一位科大成員參與籌款，支持四項對 科大發展影響深遠的重要工作： 維持卓越科研水平 卓越的科研工作必須不斷精益求精，才能 達到世界水平。科大已在多個領域建立了 很好的基礎，未來需要更多資源，使研究 工作更上層樓。 • 為新教授設立研究發展基金─添置實驗 室器材和研究設備，使新加盟科大的教授 在國際競爭環境中增強科研實力 • 為現職教授成立設施拓展基金─更換或 提升過時的研究設施和器材，從而保持科 大的卓越科研水平 吸引及挽留最優秀的教授 傑出的教授是科大最主要的優勢和成功關 鍵。在招聘優秀的教授時，科大須與世界 各地的著名學府競爭；因此，我們的薪酬 條件必須具有競爭力。 • 講座教授─吸引國際級學者加盟，加強 科大的學術及研究實力 • 教授資助基金─提供薪酬補貼，以招攬 和挽留優秀的教授(特別是年輕而正在冒 升的人才) 吸引和培育優秀人才 科大的創新課程是配合社會需要而設。這 些優秀的課程需要傑出的學生才能發揮成 效。 • 獎學金─吸引更多傑出中學生到科大就讀 把學生社群進一步國際化 校園邁向國際化，可以讓不同文化背景的 同學有更多交流，擴闊視野，提升溝通能 力；這是全球化經濟必備的技能。 • 國際學生獎學金─吸引世界各地的優秀 學生就讀科大 • 交換學生獎學金─為科大同學提供更多 外地交流機會，到世界各地的著名學府學 習，豐富閱歷 校長朱經武教授鼓勵科大同仁攜手支持籌 款工作：“這是一個很好的機會，為科大籌 募經費。我呼籲每一個科大成員─顧問、 校董、教職員、校友和學生都積極參與， 協助科大繼續履行創校使命：通過教學和 研究促進學習，追求知識，並且協助香港 經濟和社會發展。”
Home Affairs
Miss Joanne Pik Shan Chow (CCSS) is pleased to announce her marriage to
Mr Richard Cheung Chau Kwok on 22 June 2003.
教職員消息
秘書處周碧珊小姐於2003年6月22日與 郭長秋先生共諧連理。特
New Arrivals
新到貨品
Welcome to the Souvenir Shop New Products Website 歡迎光臨紀念品店 請瀏覽以下網址： www.ab.ust.hk/cso/comm_souvenirnewproduct.htm
Campus Calendar
校園活動
9-25 JulStalker．Lam Kong．Oil Painting Exhibit Exposition Hall 29 Jul 1-2 pm Guitar Duet (to be confirmed) Exposition Hall 7月9至25日 潛行者．林罡．油畫展 展覽廳 7月29日 下午1時至2時 結他二重奏 (待定) 展覽廳
納米催化技術有效淨化空氣
近
繼5月13日舉行教職員論壇後，校長朱經武教授於5月20日舉行學 生論壇，與同學討論科大面對的挑戰，並聽取同學的意見。 朱校長首先簡 述政府在未來數年 計劃大幅削減高等 教育撥款所帶來的 挑戰，以及科大與 香港中文大學合併 建議的最新進展。 同學的提問大 多環繞兩大合併的 問題，包括：合併 是否解決科大資源 短缺的唯一方案？ 為何政府提出只會資助兩所綜合研究型大學？如科大拒絕合併， 能否另找途徑發展？同學們提出的建議包括尋找私人機構捐贈和 開辦自負盈虧課程等。此外，同學亦質疑政府是否真的會在合併 後，為新大學提供額外資源；並且關注大學教育 資助委員會成立特別委員會，研究合併的可能性時，會否諮詢兩 校成員意見。 校友會主席林景 昇（現就讀科大工商 管理碩士課程）亦在 論壇中提出：“校友 支持科大扮演更主動 的角色；校友、同學 和校方應該從科大的 未來著眼，尋找科大 前面的方向。” 朱校長贊成科大 同 仁 應 跳 出 合 併 的 框框，探討怎樣使科大進一步發展。他表示：“校方對兩校合併 建議保持開放態度。不過，如果政府沒有兌現他們當初的承諾， 校方便不會繼續探討合併的可行性。”學生論壇探討科大前景
月爆發的嚴重急性呼吸系統綜合症 (又稱非典型肺炎)令人加倍關注空氣 質素。科大研究人員利用納米催化技術， 開發有效除去空氣中有害物質的材料和設 備，並與工業界合作，發展具有市場價值的 產品。 本年初，科大獲特區政府創新科技署 撥款近900萬港元，開發“納米潔淨空氣污 水的催化系統”，研究項目包括可以破壞病 毒機能的納米二氧化鈦催化劑。領導這部 分研究項目的科大化學工程學系副教授楊 經倫博士說：“二氧化鈦表面的氧化作用能 把細菌和病毒的細胞壁破壞，使它們失去 致病能力，原理就像我們現時利用漂白水 消毒一樣，因為漂白水就是一種有效的氧 化劑。”這個開發項目研製的是第三代納米 催化劑，氧化有機化合物的效能比現有的材 料優勝30倍。 楊博士指出：“細菌和病毒的細胞壁被 破壞時，可能會分解有毒物質，我們開發 的納米催化劑要能打入國際市場，必須在 破壞細菌和病毒的細胞壁後，只產生安全的 二氧化碳和水，像是把它們‘火化’一樣。” 自1997年起，楊博士便開始研究把二 氧化鈦催化劑進一步納米化。當時，市場 上的二氧化鈦催化劑晶粒大小約為25納米， 楊博士的研究小組製成晶粒只有3納米的二 氧化鈦催化劑，可以更有效地掌握這種納 米材料的特性，提升淨化空氣的效能。 二氧化鈦催化劑的氧化能力除可以破 壞 細 菌 和 病 毒 細 胞 外 ， 亦 可 以 分 解 含 碳 的 揮 發 性 有 機 分 子 和 一 氧 化 碳 等 有 害 氣 體 。 在理想的情況 下，氧化分解的產物是無害 的二氧化碳和水；由於市面上的 二氧化鈦催化劑效能有限，經常未 能把有機分子完全氧化，因而產生一些有 毒的化合物。例如，當酒類飲品中的酒精( 乙醇)揮發在空氣中，經過二氧化鈦催化劑 時，如果氧化不完全便會產生乙醛，這是 一種毒性比乙醇高近1,000倍的化合物。 科大開發的納米二氧化鈦催化劑無論 在大小和物理特性上都非常均勻，確保氧 化能力一致。楊博士說：“更重要的成果是 我們能夠在納米化過程中，控制二氧化鈦 催化劑的表面結構；不同的表面結構會對 特定的空氣污染物有特強效用，確保氧化 過程中只產生二氧化碳和水。”楊博士曾邀 請一家汽車生產商試用科大開發的納米催 化劑，結果發現空氣淨化效能非常高和 安全。 楊 博 士 又 指 導 一 群 科 大 畢 業 生 完 成 高 科技創業計劃， 把 他 們 的 研 究 成果開發成為空氣淨化設 備。他們從商店買來一部 日本製造的抽濕機，只花了數十 港元成本，便把抽濕機的結構改 造，使其兼具空氣淨化功能。他們已和該 日本製造商接洽，合作生產這種淨化空氣 抽濕機。 楊博士指出：“隨著社會大眾愈來愈關 注空氣質素，室內空氣淨化設備的市場前 景將會十分可觀。我們的研究重點是發掘 更多創新的納米材料應用領域，希望為香 港工業界創造更多商機。”香港科技大學 二OO三年七/八月號 從嚴重急性呼吸系統綜合症(又 稱非典型肺炎)於3月初在香港爆 發後，有賴醫護人員奮勇抗疫，至 今疫情已受到控制。在這期間，不 少科大教職員以他們的科研和教學 專長，協助社會大眾對抗疫症。以下 是部分例子。 科研貢獻 在疫症爆發期間，淘大花園的大規模感染 情況備受關注。科大機械工程學系高級講 師葛時俊博士協助世界衛生組織進行研究， 為公眾解開多個與煙囪效應有關的謎題。 他按照實際比例，製造淘大花園及鄰近地 區各棟樓宇的模型，然後在科大的中電風 洞實驗所進行測試。結果證實：即使在沒 有溫度差異的情況下，淘大花園E座的天井 設計和方向，仍能產生煙囪效應，導致病 毒向較高樓層擴散。 將軍澳醫院和靈實醫院與科大毗鄰。 科大安全及環保處與校產管理處實驗室服 務組正聯同兩院醫護人員，合力改善院內 預防感染措施；而計算機科學系則計劃為 兩間醫院裝置遙距視像會議設施，讓住院 的非典型肺炎病人可以與家人保持聯繫。 科大學術副校長辦公室亦於5月28日舉 行座談會，邀請醫學界人士與科大教研人 員講述抗“炎”經驗及醫院面對的問題，並 且一起探討如何以科學發明對抗非典型肺 炎，以及香港在這方面最需要的研究領 域 。 三位講者 是：中文大學醫學院院長鍾尚志教授、瑪 嘉烈醫院內科及老人科主任黎鍚滔醫生、 和廣華醫院腦外科主任郭正光醫生。 社會服務 除了科研工作，科大教職員亦積極參與抗 “炎”的社會服務。 工商管理學院院長陳家強教授獲特區 政府邀請，加入由財政司司長領導的“重 建經濟活力策略小組”，協助促進香港經濟 復甦。 在5月31日及6月7日，科大教育發展組、 思匯政策研究所及香港科學館聯合舉辦兩 個以非典型肺炎為主題的座談會，從科 學角度為市民講解有關資料。講者除 科大教授和專家外，還包括東區 尤德夫人那打素醫院內科主任 任燕珍醫生。 座 談 會 內 容 廣 泛 ， 包 括 在沖廁過程中產生的懸浮粒子（氣溶膠）問 題、不同類型口罩的效用、紅外線體溫檢 測儀的原理和效能、煙囪效應、各地衛生 部門公佈的疫情數字分析、非典型肺炎病 毒的傳播途徑和遺傳學研究，以及疫症對 社會經濟的影響等。 兩個座談會的內容已經錄影，可於科 大教育發展組的網頁http://www.edp.ust.hk/ SARS/html/index.htm下載收看。 為支援非典型肺炎患者的家屬，科大 教職員協會和機械工程學系組織籌款活動， 邀請教職員捐出本年度政府承諾退還的稅 款。逾260位教職員參與，籌得逾54萬港元； 已於6月19日由校長朱經武教授、科大教職 員協會會長王仕中博士及機械工程學系冷 揚博士代表，全數捐助香港護幼教育基金。 朱校長表示：“這次疫症顯示了研究和 知識的傳播對社會非常重要。科大匯聚國 際級學者專家，秉承服務社會的精神，積 極為控制和防治疫症作出貢獻。”
