Inaugural HKU President’s Forum on Science and Society
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) will host the inaugural President’s Forum on April 3 (Monday) at Loke Yew Hall, HKU. This year’s theme is “Science and Society”, featuring a line-up of distinguished speakers who will share their insights on the intersection between science and society.
The HKU President’s Forum is launched to provide an arena for thought leaders around the globe to gather and stimulate cutting-edge ideas, practices, and actions tackling the world’s most pressing issues. It will feature distinguished scholars from various fields, and become a recurring platform that fosters diverse insights, sparks discussions, and incubates innovative ideas in society.
It will be convened by Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU. Four HKU Honorary Graduands of 2023 will speak on how science can offer potential solutions to pave the way for a more sustainable future. They are Professor Dame Carol Black, a respected clinician and UK government advisor; Professor Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate in Physics and former US Secretary of Energy; Dr Jack Dangermond, globally renowned leader in the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the founder and president of Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri); and Professor John Hennessy, Chairman of Alphabet Inc. and the former President of Stanford University.
“Facing various challenges in today’s world, I believe that the future of the University of Hong Kong lies with positive changes that promote a real sense of ownership, openness, willingness to take risk and think globally,” said Professor Zhang. He reiterated that HKU will take an active role in addressing the challenges facing humanity, which are complex and interconnected.
“The University is not an observer to global challenges, but an active participant in providing global solutions,” he said. “It is my hope that the HKU President’s Forum, with the presence of distinguished scholars from different fields, shall become a regular platform that offers diversified insight, ignites discussion and incubates new ideas in our society.”
The speakers and their speeches
Professor Dame Carol Black is a renowned clinician and scientist specialising in research and treatment of scleroderma. She will deliver an inspiring talk entitled “How can Science and Social Science Influence Society?” Drawing on her vast experience in both academia and government advisory, Dame Carol will explore the ways in which scientific and social science research can inform policy and drive meaningful change in society. (Please click here for an abstract of Dame Carol’s speech)
Professor Steven Chu is currently William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics, and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and of Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University. He will deliver a thought-provoking talk on “Climate Change and Innovative Paths Towards a More Sustainable Future”. A world-renowned expert on energy and climate policy, Professor Chu will discuss the latest research on climate change and explore innovative solutions for achieving a more sustainable future. (Please click here for an abstract of Professor Chu’s speech)
Dr Jack Dangermond, a leading figure in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), will grace the forum with his expertise on the role of GIS in driving innovation and creating value in a range of industries. His talk, entitled “GIS is Imperative for Sustainability” will demonstrate the power of GIS in solving complex problems like sustainability and climate resilience. (Please click here for an abstract of Dr Dangermond’s speech)
Professor John Hennessy, a pioneering figure in the field of computer architecture and former President of Stanford University, will speak on the “Deep Learning Revolution”, offering his expert insights on the societal implications of machine learning based on deep neural networks and the transformative power of deep learning on society. Professor Hennessy was presented with the prestigious Turing Award by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 2017. (Please click here for an abstract of Professor Hennessy’s speech)
Alongside the President’s Forum, three distinguished lectures will be held by the Honorary Graduands on their expertise fields.