Knowledge exchange through WUN virtual meetings

CUHK researchers remain actively engaged in the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) despite the pandemic. Three virtual academic meetings were organised during November and December by CUHK researchers who were awarded by WUN Research Development Fund (RDF) with the aims of fostering knowledge exchange and sharing research findings. They were:

• ‘2020 A Year Without Public Space: Reflection and Outlook’ International Symposium, 6–7 November: The 2-day meeting brought together 460 participants from the academia and industry, including speakers from CUHK, the University of Auckland, the University of Sydney, British Council, UN-Habitat, City Space Architecture, and the Spatial Perspective, for a discussion on cities-related topics emerged from an unusual 2020, including resilient communities, health disparities, and public space and creative practices. The symposium was convened by Prof. Hendrik Tieben of the School of Architecture who leads the WUN project ‘Analysing the Role of Urban Forms in Making Sustainable, Healthy Cities’. The event can be viewed here.

Prof. Hendrik Tieben (top left) convenes the ‘2020 A Year Without Public Space: Reflection and Outlook’ International Symposium. 

• Online Workshop on Low-Carbon Transport: A Global Perspective, 10 November: Organised as part of the WUN project ‘Low-Carbon Transport, Individual Wellbeing, and Planetary Health in the Era of Smart Cities and New Mobilities’ led by Prof. Sylvia He of the Department of Geography and Resource Management, the workshop featured scholars of eight universities who shared their latest research on low-carbon transport modes before COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on travel. Some 60 participants joined the workshop and discussed matters related to technology, transport, and wellbeing, as well as their implications on urban planning and public policy. To revisit the event, please click here.

Prof. Sylvia He speaks at the WUN online workshop on low-carbon transport. 

• International Symposium on Digital Health, 3 December: Hosted by the International Society for Digital Health (ISDH), an international network resulted from the WUN project ‘The Role of Big Data in Addressing the Determinants of NCDs in the Ageing Era’ led by Prof. Kelvin Tsoi of the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care who is also the President of ISDH, the symposium gathered experts and professionals from the healthcare and engineering sectors to present and discuss digital health initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic and digital health in the post-COVID-19 era. The event attracted some 230 participants. Please click here to revisit the symposium.

Prof. Kelvin Tsoi speaks at the International Symposium on Digital Health.

The WUN RDF is an annual seed funding scheme that aims to foster research collaborations among member universities with a view to stimulating larger projects that will strengthen WUN and the competitiveness of the collaborating partners to bid for major external grants. Since 2012, CUHK faculty members have led 15 projects and participated in over 30 projects led by other member universities under the RDF. This year, CUHK once again achieved great success in the highly competitive RDF with two submissions awarded. They are:

• ‘Development and Evaluation of a Mesh WiFi-based In-Home Health Monitoring System for Older Adults’ led by Prof. CHEN He of the Department of Information Engineering. Collaborating WUN institutions in this project include the Universities of Bristol, Massachusetts at Amherst, and Sheffield, and Zhejiang University.

• ‘Health and Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young People across the Socioeconomic Ladder: A Cross-Country Comparative Study’ led by Prof. WONG Hung and Prof. Roger Chung, Associate Directors, CUHK Institute of Health Equity. Collaborating WUN institutions in this project include Maastricht University, National Cheng Kung University, the Universities of Auckland, Bristol, Massachusetts at Amherst, Sheffield, Southampton, and Zhejiang University.

In addition, four CUHK researchers are involved in four projects led by three WUN member universities.