Youders\u2019 Story – Prof. Christopher Chao \u8d99\u6c5d\u6046\u6559\u6388
Recipient of Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships for Overseas Studies in 1990\/91
\u5c24\u5fb7\u7235\u58eb\u7d00\u5ff5\u57fa\u91d1\u6d77\u5916\u7814\u7a76\u751f\u734e\u5b78\u91d11990\/91\u5e74\u5f97\u734e\u8005<\/p>\r\n
Whilst most of us yearn for a long life of adventure and exploration when we are young, we often decide to settle within our comfort zones as we get older. The story of Professor Christopher Chao, however, is wildly different. Since receiving the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships for Overseas Studies in 1990\/91, the Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has continued to embrace challenges and step outside of his comfort zone. The scholarship had lasting ripple effects on his career and life choices, as he made significant strides in academia through exploring advanced engineering research in combustion science and thermal engineering, and continuously pushed his professional and personal boundaries throughout his life.<\/p>\r\n
Prof. Chao has been interested in a variety of topics from a young age. Although he was more interested in physics and mathematics, he enthusiastically read philosophy, social sciences, and literature. Knowing that he wanted to make a difference in Hong Kong and China, he decided that engineering was a great way to realize his talents and dreams. In 1988, he received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hong Kong (HKU). After graduation, he started working at Swire Bottlers Ltd. (now Swire Coca-Cola HK Ltd.). Although the practical work was exciting at first, boredom soon began to settle in as his work lacked intellectual stimulation. With hopes of gaining more exposure from other countries and pursuing a career in research, Prof. Chao decided to apply for the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowship for Overseas Studies. In 1990, he received the scholarship, and used it to support his Master\u2019s and Doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California (UC), Berkeley. At Berkeley, he majored in heat transfer and minored in fluid mechanics and air pollution.<\/p>\r\n
His decision to go to UC Berkeley was inspired by a film called \u2018The Graduate\u2019, which featured the Berkeley campus and captured his imagination. The school is also renowned for its liberal and humanistic culture, in addition to its world class engineering school. After Prof. Chao graduated with a PhD in 1994, he returned to Hong Kong to contribute to the betterment of the city, fulfilling his commitment to the scholarship. He began his academic career as a lecturer and later on as an Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), which had just been granted University status. In 1997, he switched to working at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Over the next 20 years, Prof. Chao participated in various research programmes, engaged in entrepreneurship with students, and got promoted from Assistant Professor to Head and Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at HKUST. In 2018, he decided to take on the Deanship of Engineering and Chair Professorship of Mechanical Engineering at HKU, using his talents to serve his Alma mater.<\/p>\r\n
In September 2021, Prof. Chao made a return to PolyU, assuming the role of Vice President (Research and Innovation). In this senior leadership position, he is in charge of the planning and development of research and innovation at the university. He admitted that while it was not an easy decision to leave HKU, his new position offered opportunities to be involved in management decisions at the institutional level and to engage staff and students from different disciplines to develop their research careers. Previously, at HKU, he was just managing a single faculty, which focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). He also noted that Hong Kong has insufficient supply of local research talent, since the best students tend to move into Medicine or Finance, instead of Engineering or advanced scientific research. If Hong Kong wants to develop itself into a research hub, talent is the key factor. Therefore, he strives to create a culture that stimulates local students to be involved in advanced research. For example, he is currently finetuning a funding matching system to streamline the way research teams obtain funding from the university.<\/p>\r\n
The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships for Overseas Studies facilitated not only his advanced studies and innovations in mechanical engineering, but also encouraged him to embrace challenges and contribute his talents to Hong Kong. A few years ago, he started to serve as a Council Member of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund, assisting with interviewing and selecting the brightest minds to receive the Council\u2019s prestigious awards. He described feeling \u201cdeja vu\u201d, as he witnessed young scholars take on the same journey as he did back then. It has been 30 years since Prof. Chao was awarded the scholarship, and while he has already made great achievements in academia, he has never stopped giving back. In addition to serving as a member of the Fund Council, he is also a member of several government advisory committees, contributing his professional knowledge to society.<\/p>\r\n
\u5c0f\u6642\u5019\uff0c\u6211\u5011\u90fd\u6703\u56ae\u5f80\u5192\u96aa\u548c\u63a2\u7d22\u7684\u751f\u6d3b\uff0c\u4f46\u96a8\u8457\u5e74\u6b72\u7684\u589e\u9577\u4eba\u5011\u6703\u6e34\u671b\u5728\u81ea\u5df1\u7684\u8212\u9069\u5708\u4e2d\u751f\u6d3b\u3002\u7136\u800c\uff0c\u5c24\u5fb7\u7235\u58eb\u7d00\u5ff5\u57fa\u91d1\u6d77\u5916\u7814\u7a76\u751f\u734e\u5b78\u91d11990\/91\u5e74\u5f97\u734e\u8005\uff0c\u9999\u6e2f\u7406\u5de5\u5927\u5b78\u526f\u6821\u9577(\u7814\u7a76\u53ca\u5275\u65b0)\u8d99\u6c5d\u6046\u6559\u6388\u7684\u6545\u4e8b\u537b\u5927\u76f8\u5f91\u5ead\u3002\u4ed6\u4e0d\u65b7\u6311\u6230\u81ea\u5df1\uff0c\u8d70\u51fa\u8212\u9069\u5708\uff0c\u5f9e\u7562\u696d\u5f8c\u4e0d\u4e45\u6bc5\u7136\u96e2\u958b\u5b89\u9038\u7684\u5de5\u4f5c\u6c7a\u5b9a\u8d74\u7f8e\u5347\u5b78\uff0c\u5230\u5728\u5b78\u8853\u754c\u53d6\u5f97\u5de8\u5927\u7684\u6210\u5c31\uff0c\u4e0d\u65b7\u5730\u5728\u4eba\u751f\u65c5\u9014\u4e0a\u7a81\u7834\u81ea\u5df1\u7684\u5c08\u696d\u548c\u500b\u4eba\u754c\u9650\u3002<\/p>\r\n
\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u81ea\u5e7c\u5c31\u5c0d\u4e0d\u540c\u7684\u8ab2\u984c\u7522\u751f\u8208\u8da3\u3002\u5118\u7ba1\u4ed6\u5728\u4e2d\u5b78\u6642\u5df2\u9189\u5fc3\u65bc\u7269\u7406\u548c\u6578\u5b78\uff0c\u4ed6\u4ea6\u5c0d\u54f2\u5b78\u3001\u793e\u6703\u79d1\u5b78\u3001\u6587\u5b78\u6709\u8457\u6fc3\u539a\u7684\u8208\u8da3\u3002\u7576\u6642\uff0c\u4e2d\u570b\u6b63\u7d93\u6b77\u6539\u9769\u958b\u653e\uff0c\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u5e0c\u671b\u6240\u5b78\u7684\u77e5\u8b58\u8207\u6280\u80fd\u53ef\u4ee5\u5e6b\u52a9\u570b\u5bb6\u7684\u767c\u5c55\uff0c\u6240\u4ee5\u4ed6\u6700\u7d42\u9078\u8b80\u6a5f\u68b0\u5de5\u7a0b\u3002\u4ed6\u65bc1988\u5e74\u5b8c\u6210\u9999\u6e2f\u5927\u5b78\u7684\u6a5f\u68b0\u5de5\u7a0b\u5b78\u58eb\u5b78\u4f4d\uff0c\u4e4b\u5f8c\u77ed\u66ab\u5730\u5230\u592a\u53e4\u53ef\u53e3\u53ef\u6a02\u5de5\u4f5c\u3002\u8d77\u521d\uff0c\u4ed6\u5c0d\u5de5\u4f5c\u611f\u5230\u8208\u596e\uff0c\u4f46\u6162\u6162\u5730\u4ed6\u5c0d\u91cd\u8907\u6027\u7684\u5de5\u4f5c\u5931\u53bb\u4e86\u8208\u8da3\uff0c\u611f\u5230\u4e0d\u80fd\u518d\u8c50\u5bcc\u81ea\u5df1\u7684\u5b78\u8b58\u3002\u70ba\u4e86\u64f4\u95ca\u8996\u91ce\u548c\u65b9\u4fbf\u65e5\u5f8c\u7684\u7814\u7a76\u4e8b\u696d\uff0c\u7d04\u5169\u5e74\u5f8c\uff0c\u4ed6\u7533\u8acb\u5c24\u5fb7\u7235\u58eb\u7d00\u5ff5\u57fa\u91d1\u7684\u734e\u5b78\u91d1\u5230\u7f8e\u570b\u52a0\u5dde\u5927\u5b78\u67cf\u514b\u840a\u5206\u6821\u6df1\u9020\uff0c\u4e3b\u4fee\u71b1\u529b\u5b78\u4e26\u526f\u4fee\u6d41\u9ad4\u529b\u5b78\u53ca\u7a7a\u6c23\u6c61\u67d3\uff0c\u4e26\u5206\u5225\u5b8c\u6210\u4e86\u6a5f\u68b0\u5de5\u7a0b\u78a9\u58eb\u548c\u535a\u58eb\u5b78\u4f4d\u3002<\/p>\r\n
\u63d0\u5230\u9078\u64c7\u67cf\u514b\u840a\u5206\u6821\u7684\u539f\u56e0\uff0c\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u53d7\u5230\u4e00\u9f63\u540d\u70ba\u300a\u7562\u696d\u751f\u300b\u7684\u96fb\u5f71\u4e2d\u7684\u6821\u5712\u93e1\u982d\u555f\u767c\uff0c\u52a0\u4e0a\u8a72\u6821\u4ee5\u81ea\u7531\u958b\u653e\u7684\u6821\u98a8\u800c\u805e\u540d\uff0c\u4f7f\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u4e00\u5fc3\u8981\u5230\u8a72\u6821\u611f\u53d7\u4e00\u4e0b\u6fc3\u70c8\u7684\u4eba\u6587\u6c23\u606f\u3002\u7576\u7136\uff0c\u8a72\u6821\u7684\u5de5\u7a0b\u5b78\u79d1\u5728\u4e16\u754c\u4e0a\u540d\u5217\u524d\u8305\u4ea6\u662f\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u7684\u8003\u616e\u56e0\u7d20\u4e4b\u4e00\u3002\u4ed6\u65bc1994\u5e74\u7562\u696d\uff0c\u7531\u65bc\u734e\u5b78\u91d1\u8981\u6c42\u5f97\u734e\u8005\u56de\u6e2f\u5de5\u4f5c\uff0c\u8ca2\u737b\u793e\u6703\uff0c\u4ed6\u6c7a\u5b9a\u65bc\u525b\u525b\u5347\u683c\u70ba\u5927\u5b78\u7684\u9999\u6e2f\u7406\u5de5\u5927\u5b78\u64d4\u4efb\u8b1b\u5e2b\u53ca\u52a9\u7406\u6559\u6388\uff0c\u958b\u5c55\u81ea\u5df1\u7684\u5b78\u8853\u751f\u6daf\u3002\u5169\u5e74\u5f8c\u4ed6\u8f49\u8077\u81f3\u9999\u6e2f\u79d1\u6280\u5927\u5b78\u300220\u5e74\u9593\uff0c\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u53c3\u8207\u4e0d\u540c\u7684\u7814\u7a76\uff0c\u4ea6\u66fe\u8207\u5b78\u751f\u4e00\u8d77\u5275\u696d\uff0c\u4e26\u64d4\u4efb\u5404\u7d1a\u884c\u653f\u8077\u52d9\uff0c\u7531\u52a9\u7406\u6559\u6388\u4e00\u8def\u6649\u5347\u81f3\u6a5f\u68b0\u8207\u822a\u7a7a\u822a\u5929\u5de5\u7a0b\u7cfb\u4e3b\u4efb\u548c\u8b1b\u5ea7\u6559\u6388\u3002\u57282018\u5e74\uff0c\u4ed6\u56de\u5230\u9999\u6e2f\u5927\u5b78\u51fa\u4efb\u5de5\u7a0b\u5b78\u9662\u9662\u9577\u548c\u6a5f\u68b0\u5de5\u7a0b\u8b1b\u5ea7\u6559\u6388\uff0c\u767c\u63ee\u81ea\u5df1\u7684\u624d\u80fd\uff0c\u70ba\u6bcd\u6821\u670d\u52d9\u3002<\/p>\r\n
\u52302021\u5e74\uff0c\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u91cd\u8fd4\u7406\u5de5\u5927\u5b78\uff0c\u51fa\u4efb\u526f\u6821\u9577(\u7814\u7a76\u53ca\u5275\u65b0)\u548c\u71b1\u80fd\u53ca\u74b0\u5883\u5de5\u7a0b\u8b1b\u5ea7\u6559\u6388\u3002\u4ed6\u4e3b\u7ba1\u5927\u5b78\u7814\u7a76\u8207\u5275\u65b0\u65b9\u9762\u7684\u7b56\u5283\u548c\u767c\u5c55\u3002\u4ed6\u5766\u8a00\uff0c\u96e2\u958b\u9999\u6e2f\u5927\u5b78\u4e26\u4e0d\u662f\u4e00\u500b\u5bb9\u6613\u7684\u6c7a\u5b9a\uff0c\u4f46\u76f8\u6bd4\u8d77\u5728\u5de5\u7a0b\u5b78\u9662\u4e2d\u5c08\u6ce8\u6578\u7406\u548c\u5de5\u79d1\u65b9\u9762(STEM)\u7684\u79d1\u7814\uff0c\u4ed6\u5728\u65b0\u5d17\u4f4d\u4e0a\u9700\u8981\u5f9e\u9662\u6821\u5c64\u9762\u6c7a\u7b56\uff0c\u5e6b\u52a9\u4e0d\u540c\u5b78\u7cfb\u7684\u6559\u8077\u54e1\u548c\u5b78\u751f\u767c\u5c55\u4ed6\u5011\u7684\u7814\u7a76\u4e8b\u696d\u3002\u4ed6\u8a8d\u70ba\uff0c\u9577\u671f\u4ee5\u4f86\u9999\u6e2f\u5b78\u751f\u5728\u7814\u7a76\u7684\u53c3\u8207\u5ea6\u4e0d\u8db3\uff0c\u6210\u7e3e\u6700\u597d\u7684\u5b78\u751f\u90fd\u50be\u5411\u9078\u64c7\u91ab\u5b78\u6216\u91d1\u878d\u9818\u57df\uff0c\u800c\u4e0d\u662f\u5de5\u7a0b\u6216\u79d1\u5b78\u7814\u7a76\u3002\u5982\u679c\u9999\u6e2f\u8981\u767c\u5c55\u6210\u79d1\u7814\u4e2d\u5fc3\uff0c\u4eba\u624d\u662f\u7576\u4e2d\u6700\u91cd\u8981\u7684\u4e00\u74b0\u3002\u56e0\u6b64\uff0c\u4ed6\u5e0c\u671b\u5728\u7406\u5de5\u5927\u5b78\u5275\u9020\u4e00\u7a2e\u6c1b\u570d\uff0c\u900f\u904e\u4e0d\u540c\u63aa\u65bd\u9f13\u52f5\u5b78\u751f\u6295\u8eab\u7814\u7a76\u4e8b\u696d\u3002\u4f8b\u5982\uff0c\u4ed6\u6700\u8fd1\u512a\u5316\u4e86\u5927\u5b78\u7684\u8cc7\u91d1\u5339\u5c0d\u7cfb\u7d71\uff0c\u8b93\u7814\u7a76\u5718\u968a\u80fd\u66f4\u6709\u6548\u5730\u5f97\u5230\u9662\u6821\u7684\u7814\u7a76\u7d93\u8cbb\u3002<\/p>\r\n
\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u65bc1991\u5e74\u7372\u5f97\u5c24\u5fb7\u7235\u58eb\u7d00\u5ff5\u57fa\u91d1\u6d77\u5916\u7814\u7a76\u751f\u734e\u5b78\u91d1\u3002\u5c0d\u4ed6\u4f86\u8aaa\uff0c\u734e\u5b78\u91d1\u4e0d\u50c5\u4fc3\u4f7f\u4ed6\u5c0d\u6a5f\u68b0\u5de5\u7a0b\u9032\u884c\u66f4\u6df1\u5165\u7684\u7814\u7a76\uff0c\u9084\u9f13\u52f5\u4ed6\u53bb\u8fce\u63a5\u6311\u6230\uff0c\u53ca\u56de\u994b\u793e\u6703\u3002\u5e7e\u5e74\u524d\uff0c\u4ed6\u4ed6\u66f4\u6210\u70ba\u5c24\u5fb7\u7235\u58eb\u7d00\u5ff5\u57fa\u91d1\u6703\u7684\u59d4\u54e1\uff0c\u9074\u9078\u4e00\u773e\u734e\u5b78\u91d1\u7533\u8acb\u4eba\u3002\u4ed6\u5f62\u5bb9\uff0c\u770b\u8457\u5e74\u8f15\u4eba\u8e0f\u4e0a\u8ddf\u81ea\u5df1\u7576\u5e74\u4e00\u6a23\u7684\u65c5\u7a0b\uff0c\u611f\u89ba\u4f3c\u66fe\u76f8\u8b58\u3002\u5f97\u734e\u81f3\u4eca30\u5e74\uff0c\u8d99\u6559\u6388\u5728\u5b78\u8853\u754c\u53d6\u5f97\u5de8\u5927\u7684\u6210\u5c31\uff0c\u4f46\u4ed6\u4ea6\u4e0d\u66fe\u505c\u4e0b\u8173\u6b65\uff0c\u9664\u4e86\u5728\u57fa\u91d1\u6703\u64d4\u4efb\u59d4\u54e1\u5916\uff0c\u4ed6\u4ea6\u662f\u591a\u500b\u653f\u5e9c\u8aee\u8a62\u59d4\u54e1\u6703\u7684\u59d4\u54e1\uff0c\u70ba\u793e\u6703\u8ca2\u737b\u81ea\u5df1\u7684\u5c08\u696d\u77e5\u8b58\u3002<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Youders\u2019 Story – Prof. Christopher Chao \u8d99\u6c5d\u6046\u6559\u6388Recipient of Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships for Overseas Studies in 1990\/91\u5c24\u5fb7\u7235\u58eb\u7d00\u5ff5\u57fa\u91d1\u6d77\u5916\u7814\u7a76\u751f\u734e\u5b78\u91d11990\/91\u5e74\u5f97\u734e\u8005 Whilst most of us yearn for a long life of adventure and exploration when we are young, we often decide to settle within our comfort zones as we get older. The story of Professor Christopher Chao, however, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35602,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[34],"tags":[33],"class_list":["post-35586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youders-story","tag-youders_story"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n