New Discoveries, Global Conversations
Professor Edmund C M TSE
Assistant Dean of Science (Outreach)
Faculty of Science, HKU
This issue offers a vivid glimpse into the breadth of discovery across the Faculty of Science, illustrating how our research transcends the laboratory and resonates on a global scale.
We are particularly honoured to welcome Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Andre Geim to HKU as Chair Professor in Physics. His arrival marks an exciting milestone for the Faculty and further strengthens our role as a centre for frontier scientific inquiry and intellectual exchange.
We are also proud to announce that our newly established Centre of Functional Materials for Energy and Sustainability (CFMES), led by Professor Vivian Yam and co-headed by Professor Hongjie Dai, has been officially admitted as the premier centre in the third InnoHK research cluster (SEAM@InnoHK) to drive breakthrough discoveries in advanced materials for a sustainable future.
The research highlights featured in this issue reflect the remarkable range of questions our scientists pursue, from the first Einstein Probe observation of a black hole tearing apart a white dwarf, to new insights into Earth’s early oxygenation, Saturn’s magnetic environment, and the biological strategies that shape life in both oceans and skies.
This spirit of innovation is further reflected in HKU’s record-breaking success at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, where projects involving our chemists received top honours, highlighting our strength in translating research into real-world impact.
Our leadership in the chemical sciences was further demonstrated at the Hong Kong International Symposium on Synthetic Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Research, co-organised with the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians. The symposium brought together leading scholars from around the world, highlighting the role of chemistry as a unifying platform for innovation in healthcare, energy, and materials science.
A major highlight on our horizon is APRIM2026, a premier international assembly of astronomy and space science. Proudly hosted by our Laboratory for Space Research (LSR), this conference will bring the world’s leading researchers to our doorstep, cementing Hong Kong’s role as a vital pillar of global scientific collaboration.
Alongside these developments, our outreach initiatives remain the heartbeat of our mission. By connecting our work with students, alumni, and the public, we continue to nurture the curiosity that will define the next generation of scientific pioneers.
Warm regards,
Professor Edmund C M TSE
Assistant Dean (Outreach)
Faculty of Science, HKU