EVENTS

HKU Centennial Distinguished Chinese Scholars Scheme Public Lecture: From Light to Life, from Seeds to Sustainability

Rayson Huang Theatre, Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus, HKU

  Food production is one of the most powerful forces shaping the planet, placing enormous demands on land, water, energy and biodiversity. As the global population moves toward 10 billion by 2050, the world must produce more, better, and more nutritious food under increasing climate uncertainty and resource constraints. At the same time, rapid advances in genomics, biotechnology and genome editing are opening a new era of agriculture guided by biological understanding and precision design. In this public lecture, Professor Deng will share how fundamental discoveries in plant biology can be translated into crop improvement and real-world agricultural impact. Using examples from wheat, soybean, peanut, watermelon, pepper, tomato, pumpkin, kiwifruit and grape, he will show how modern plant science can accelerate gene discovery, trait improvement and precision variety development. He will also introduce the “Xiashan Model” ─ an integrated framework linking basic genetic research, crop innovation, efficient cultivation, seed production, brand development and market delivery. The lecture invites the HKU community to consider a larger question: How can fundamental biology help design the future of sustainable agriculture?   ~ A story of discovery, translation and agricultural transformation ~ From pioneering discoveries on how plants perceive light to building a modern agricultural innovation platform in China, Professor Xing Wang Deng will share how fundamental plant science can translate into real-world impact and help design the future of sustainable agriculture. 從北大求學，到赴美深造；從耶魯大學終身教授，到美國國家科學院院士；再到重返北大、創立現代農業研究院，鄧興旺教授以植物科學推動精準育種，為中國與世界農業的未來貢獻智慧與力量。

Science Communication Contest: Myth Busters Challenge 2026

  About the competition: Science in 5 minutes Unleash your inner myth-buster with HKU Science! Have you ever wondered if the "facts" shared in family group chats or viral social media videos are actually true? Join our "Science Communication YouTuber Challenge: MythBusters Challenge 2026". This is your stage to find out. Select a widely believed science myth, dissect the truth using solid scientific evidence, and bring your explanations to life in a captivating 5-minute video. Take on popular misconceptions, separate scientific fact from fiction, and join the next generation of leading science communicators!   Eligibility The contest is open to students studying in Forms 3 to 5 (equivalent to Grades 9 to 11 / Year 10 to 12) in secondary schools located in Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzhen (including public schools, schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme, international schools, etc.) during the academic year 2026-2027. Criteria: Participation in the contest will be based on a group format, with each group comprising 3 to 6 students. All participating group members must be students of the same school. Each school can enter a maximum of two teams in the contest. *Participating groups must either submit entries through their respective schools or be nominated by their schools to enter the contest   If you want to be a YouTuber with HKU Science, please go here for the details!