17 May 2021
Time flies and more than three months have passed since I took office. Thanks to the support and collegiality of the HKBU community, I have found the University to be a home away from home. As soon as I came on board, I was immediately impressed by the passionate students and colleagues who have made HKBU into the magnificent institution it is today. In whatever they do, they demonstrate remarkable creativity to celebrate humanity, and they are deeply committed to their quest for knowledge and truth.
Down the path of augmented human creativity, they see beacons of light brought by the latest technologies. More importantly, they see how science and technology experts can lift the hearts and minds of our artists and humanities scholars with their ingenuity. Down that path, the humanities meet technology, and technology needs humanity.
At HKBU, our artists and scholars are using the latest technologies to push the boundaries of human imagination in the artistic and cultural disciplines in order to build a better world.
To this end, the Augmented Creativity Laboratory was established to offer a powerful interdisciplinary framework to advance human and AI creativity, and our researchers have come up with fascinating projects that explore this research direction in new and exciting ways. These projects are social and cultural innovations in their own right, as they address the pressing issues that are present in human society, while also engaging with the community in a creative manner.
I am impressed by the breadth and scope of these projects and the progress that the University has made in terms of advancing the use of technology in the arts. While there are too many to list, I would like to mention a few notable recent examples.
In the multidisciplinary “Space to Breathe” project, researchers from the disciplines of music, visual arts and computer science worked together to inspire people to reflect on climate change through a novel production called Aria that combined holographic vocal performances, light installations and big data analysis.
Held in the Forsgate Conservatory in Hong Kong Park, the 80-minute concert provided the audience with an immersive experience. As the concertgoers were ushered into different zones, they experienced shifts in the score and the associated light and media installations, with the changes based on the findings of a big data analysis carried out on social media posts about air pollution in Hong Kong and the Mainland. The more polluted a place, the more static and polluted the music. The use of holographic technology also allowed Theatre of Voices, a Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble from Denmark, to share the stage with the Hong Kong Children’s Choir. This exciting example perfectly demonstrates how the arts and science can unite to dramatise the grand challenge presented by climate change and inspire reflections on such an important topic.
To meet the fast-growing need for the application of AI in the artistic process, HKBU joined hands with Tsinghua University to establish the Tsinghua-HKBU AI Laboratory for Creative Arts in January 2021. In the years to come, the Laboratory will advance the frontiers of AI-based art creation by conducting impactful research, especially on music composition and music performance.
With these innovative transdisciplinary research projects, and many others, HKBU will continue to be a thriving creative hub, widening the horizons of the creative arts and nurturing creative talent.
The pandemic has taught us the hard way that things don’t always work out as expected, and versatility and resilience can help us manage unpredictable situations.
In the case of Daniel Chan Ho-yuen (Year 4, Physical Education and Recreation Management), a tragic car accident led to him losing one of his legs. A true fighter, Daniel overcame many obstacles during his recovery to shine on the badminton court. With his perseverance and drive, he is now one of Hong Kong’s top para badminton athletes, and he is ranked second in the world in the Men’s Singles Wheelchair 2 category.
When creative talent from HKBU meets one of our sports stars, a touching story that inspires awe and instils hope is brought to life. Watch this new short film directed by our award-winning alumnus Steve Chan Chi-fat and be inspired!
Our resident sports stars also captured our imagination by winning the championship titles at the recent University Sports Federation of Hong Kong (USFHK) women’s soccer and men’s basketball competitions, and they also broke a number of USFHK records at the Annual Athletic Meet.
The HKBU Athletics Team came first in the overall category, and also the men’s and women’s categories, for the second consecutive year. Kudos to student athletes Sit Wai-lok and To Yuen-kwan for breaking USFHK records in the Men’s and Women’s Shot Put events, and also to Wong Tsz-to in the 1,500-metre run and the women’s 4x400 metre relay team for their record-breaking performances.
We are proud of them and their achievements. Our students demonstrate in their actions and deeds what can be achieved with a positive attitude, years of dedicated training, and an excellent team spirit, and I’d like to express my gratitude to the hardworking colleagues and coaches who make it all possible.
This academic year is coming to an end soon. I would like to thank all faculty members and colleagues for their efforts in ensuring the smooth running of classes, seminars and lectures. It has also been encouraging to see the resilience and adaptability shown by our students during the ever-changing situation with the pandemic, and they have made remarkable progress in terms of their learning amidst the challenges.
It has been a tough year, but with foresight, creativity and versatility, we will continue to forge ahead, and I look forward to working with you all to nurture talent for a better future.