22 Aug 2023

HKU Science Takes the Lead in Environmental Research Funding, Securing Over Eight Million Dollars for Seven Innovative Projects

Our researchers are devoted to cultivate groundbreaking technologies and progressive methodologies that elevate the environment and safeguard invaluable resources.

Our primary focus at the HKU Faculty of Science is to champion sustainable development and environmental conservation.

We are proud to announce that HKU topped the Environmental Research, Technology Demonstration and Conference Projects 2022/23 funding, with 10 projects receiving a total of $9,882,800. Among these, 7 projects are from the Faculty of Science, marking the highest number in the past years and securing a total amount of $8,407,976.

Our researchers are dedicated to developing innovative technologies and practices that enhance the environment and preserve valuable resources.

The funded projects encompass a diverse range of topics, spanning from marine biodiversity to sustainable energy solutions. These projects aim to provide practical and effective solutions to pressing environmental issues. Moreover, their outcomes hold the potential for general adoption within the local environmental fields in Hong Kong.

Awarded Project Summary

No.	Project Coordinator	Department/School	Project Title	Approved Budget (HKD)	Duration (No. of Months)
1	Professor Gray A. WILLIAMS	School of Biological Sciences; Swire Institute of Marine Science	Environment and Conservation Fund - Connecting the dots: a standardized and quality-assured marine biodiversity database for Hong Kong	$1,021,000	24
2	Dr Mathew SEYMOUR	School of Biological Sciences	Environment and Conservation Fund - Hong Kong Chironomidae biodiversity: an initial assessment of the largest freshwater insect group and their link with ecologically important stream conservation	$1,300,000	24
3	Dr Juan Diego GAITÁN-ESPITIA	School of Biological Sciences; Swire Institute of Marine Science	Environment and Conservation Fund - Assessing and monitoring ecological dynamics of seagrass ecosystems in Hong Kong: Tools for management and restoration efforts	$2,307,296	36
4	Professor David L. PHILLIPS	Department of Chemistry	Environment and Conservation Fund - Towards Livable & Healthy City: Solar-Driven Exhaust Fume (NOx) Purification Engineering for Eco-Friendly Transportation and Electricity Generation in Hong Kong	$1,083,000	36
5	Dr Celia M. SCHUNTER	School of Biological Sciences	Environment and Conservation Fund - Fish Community Monitoring: Environmental Factors and Marine Protected Area Effectiveness	$1,306,000	30
6	Dr Stephen C.Y. NG	Department of Physics	Environment and Conservation Fund - Exploratory Study of the Impact of Artificial Light at Night on Birds at Mai Po Nature Reserve	$499,880	24
7	Dr David M. BAKER	School of Biological Sciences; Swire Institute of Marine Science	Environment and Conservation Fund - A mammoth task: creating a reliable and cheap test to distinguish mammoth and elephant ivories to prevent trafficking and laundering of elephant ivory	$890,800	24