Bulletin Number Four 1985

The Society's aim is to promote understanding and awareness o f infectious diseases, public health and water pollution. Seminars and activities o f local and regional interest, particularly in the public health area and in applied microbiology, are organized. Collaborative Research The Institute o f Microbiology o f the Academia Sinica, Beijing, and the Biology Department signed a collaborative research agreement on Biotechnology for a period o f three years on 2nd August, 1985. The agreement centres on biotechnology, w ith special emphasis on fusion technique and genetic analysis o f protoplasts and vector-host systems as well as gene expression and regulation in gene engineering. Hebei Academy o f Sciences, Shiziazhuang, China, has started three collaborative research projects w ith the Depart ment, namely, nitrogen fixation in cereal crops (e.g. wheat), fru it preservation and cultivation o f edible mushrooms. The Department is also engaged in collaborative research projects w ith several institutes both abroad and in China. Future Development A critical review o f both undergraduate and postgraduate curricula has been undertaken and is expected to be completed w ithin the coming academic year. The various fields o f biological knowledge including recent advances in biotechnology, environ­ mental biology, genetic engineering, physiology and socio-biology are being considered. Since Biology encompasses all aspects o f life and its interaction w ith the environment, team work and collaborative research w ill be encouraged par ticularly in the fields o f biotechnology and marine sciences. Jointly w ith the Department o f Biochemistry, the Department is planning to establish a research and teaching programme in biotechnology at the University. The jo in t programme has received a grant from the Croucher Foundation to support its establishment. Also, a jo in t programme in marine bacteriology involving the Marine Science Laboratory, Qingdao Oceanographic Institute and the University o f Maryland has received support from UNESCO and is expected to start work at the end o f 1985. Members o f the Marine Science Laboratory are also exploring the feasibility o f launching a research project on the possible effects o f the Daya Bay Nuclear Plant on marine life , in collaboration w ith the South China Sea Institute o f Oceanology, Academia Sinica. It is anticipated that in the future, more contacts w ill be made to establish additional 'links' w ith institutions abroad so as to promote research o f mutual interests. Professor Chang Shu-Ting Professor Chang Shu-Ting Professor o f Biology Professor Chang Shu-Ting was born in Shanxi, China. He received his BSc degree from National Taiwan University in 1953. He went to the United States for graduate studies at the University o f Wisconsin, receiving an MS degree in 1958 and the PhD degree in 1960. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University in 1966-67 and a Visiting Fellow at the University o f Tokyo in 1969. He was at the same time a Visiting Fellow o f the Australian National University and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in 1972-73, 1976 and 1978-79. Before The Chinese University o f Hong Kong was established, Dr. Chang was appointed to the position o f Assistant Lecturer in the Biology Depart­ ment o f Chung Chi College in 1960. He was promoted Lecturer in 1961 ， Senior Lecturer in 1970 ， Reader in 1974 ， and Professor in 1978. Professor Chang is now Professor and Chairman o f the Department o f Biology, Director o f the Institute o f Science and Technology, and Director o f the Marine Science Laboratory o f this University. Professor Chang is also the President o f the International Mushroom Society for the Tropics, National-Point-of-Contact Representative o f Hong Kong for the UNESCO Regional Network o f Micro biology in Southeast Asia, Executive Secretary o f the Headquarters o f the UNESCO Regional Network o f Microbiology in Southeast Asia, and Director o f Hong Kong MIRCEN (Microbiological Resources Centre). He has been a member o f several inter national academic societies for many years. A t this University, Professor Chang was Dean o f the Faculty o f Science in 1975-77 ， and Director o f the Office o f Student Affairs in 1979-81. He also 14 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS