PolyU Innovation Reconstructs Geographic and Ecological Knowledge of Ancient Times, Awarded Top 10 Innovative Exploratory Projects in Tencent Tanyuan Scheme 2024

Scientific and technological innovations facilitate the preservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge and culture. Innovations are thus the key to the sustainability of our cultural heritage. A pioneering research project at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) promotes the synergy of scientific technologies and the humanities, applying interdisciplinary approaches to make cultural heritage relevant today. By distilling and formally representing geographic and ecological knowledge from ancient texts, the project aims to overcome the limitations of traditional text studies. It offers novel solutions that allow the digitisation of ancient texts to enable the transmission of knowledge, including visually presenting ancient geographical and ecological information. The project entitled "Knowledge Integration of the Classic of Mountains and Seas: Reconstructing Ancient Ecological and Geographical Knowledge Heritage with Artificial Intelligence" is led by Prof. HUANG Chu-Ren, Chair Professor of Applied Chinese Language Studies of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies of PolyU. The project has just been awarded one of the "Top 10 Innovative Exploratory Projects" in Tencent’s "Tanyuan Project 2024”. The new “Innovation and Exploration Track” of the Tanyuan Project received a total of 79 submissions from 48 universities and research institutes. The PolyU team led by Prof. HUANG is one of the five shortlisted and the only one awarded from Hong Kong and Macao. The expert jury commended the PolyU project for successfully addressing the limitations of traditional textual research through visualisation and its innovative approach “to build a digital knowledge integration platform and provide a new way of digitisation of classical texts”. Click HERE to read the story in the PolyU Excel x Impact.

Prof. Han Qi on the East-West Dialogue

Prof. Han Qi, Professor in the Department of Chinese History and Culture, shared his insights into the importance of the exchange of scientific knowledge between the East and the West in an interview with South China Morning Post. Prof. Han has published a large body of work on East-West cultural exchanges in history – in particular the transmission of science between China and Europe.

Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping Elected Fellow of the Cognitive Science Society

Our Faculty Dean and Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology, Prof. Li Ping, has been elected as a Fellow of the Cognitive Science Society (CSS). A Fellow of the Cognitive Science Society is an individual whose research has demonstrated sustained excellence and had sustained impact on the Cognitive Science community. The presentation ceremony will be held at the CSS Annual Meeting in San Francisco this summer. The CSS is a professional society for the interdisciplinary field of cognitive science. It brings together researchers from many fields, including psychology, linguistics, education and neuroscience, who share the common goal of understanding the nature of the human mind.

Dr Azar Tajabadi and Team Win Best Poster Presentation at JALT2024

Dr Azar Tajabadi, Lecturer in the Department of English and Communication, along with her students Hyunkyu Shim and Seong-bin Cho, won the best poster presentation at the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) Conference 2024 held in Shizuoka, Japan held on 15-18 November. Their poster, titled “Motivational Trajectories of Two Novice English Teachers” received the highest votes in Session 4. A total of 124 conference attendees participated in the voting across four sessions during the weekend. JALT hosts one of the largest annual international conferences for language educators in Asia, providing a platform for educators to share research, insights, and best practices. The JALT2024 Conference, themed Moving JALT into the Future: Opportunity, Diversity, and Excellence,” marks the 50th anniversary of the event.

600 Secondary School Teachers and Students Join PolyU Young Historian Competition 2024

The PolyU Young Historian Competition 2024 organised by the Department of Chinese History and Culture concluded successfully on 23 November with the award presentation ceremony. Over 600 S4 and S5 students and teachers from 74 schools were drawn to compete for the championship. The competition aimed to provide students with diverse and enriching learning experiences under the guidance of esteemed experts, foster a deep interest in Chinese history, and cultivate the talents of young individuals. Click HERE to read more.

Opera Show La Bohème Presented by ENGL Draws Full House

The Opera Show La Bohème, presented by the Department of English and Communication, was successfully conducted on 28 November. The event drew a large audience, resulting in a full house of enthusiastic opera lovers and supporters of the Department. La Bohème is an intimate dramatic adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s classic opera. Reduced to the four principal roles, this new version is designed to focus on the emotional ties between the two couples. It debuted in April 2024 in a run of special performances on Hong Kong’s iconic Star Ferry in a new production developed for The Peninsula Hong Kong and Dante Alighieri Society to commemorate the Puccini centenary. La Bohème is part of a larger programme of opera awareness developed together with Dr Warren Mok, Honorary Professor in ENGL, for the PolyU community. This programme includes opera performances, talks, and master classes.

PolyU Mandarin Debate Team Has Secured First Runner-up in the 2024 Inter-collegiate Mandarin Debate Competition

The PolyU Mandarin Debate Team (PolyU MDT) recently excelled in the 2024 Inter-collegiate Mandarin Debate Competition organized by RTHK's Putonghua Channel, gaining the first runner-up. With outstanding debating skills and resilient spirit, PolyU MDT showcased their brilliance across four matches. PolyU MDT defeated the debate teams from Lingnan University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in group matches, and then City University of Hong Kong in semi-final, successfully advancing to the final. LIU Haopeng was named the Best Debater in the first match. The final took place on 16 November 2024 (Sat), with the debate topic "Is choosing a lifestyle consistent with the majority an easier life path?" PolyU MDT was the affirmative side, while the debate team from the University of Hong Kong was the opposition. Both sides engaged in a fierce battle, with PolyU MDT ultimately finishing as the first runner-up with a score of 1:2. PolyU MDT earned this honour through excellent team performance and cooperation. The Faculty of Humanities highly commended their achievement and will continue to support and encourage students to showcase their talents and strengths. PolyU MDT Debaters: Gao Yuanlong Shi Tingwei Shi Biyu Liu Haopeng Chiu Yi-hsuan Xiao Jing Liu Yanqi Ni Zixun Li Shanshan Liu Qianli (in order of participation and appearance)

Dr Leung Wai-mun on Tea and Wine Culture and Related Economy in Song Dynasty

Tea and wine have always been important cultural symbols in the history of China. Dr Leung Wai-mun, Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, talked about the culture of wine and tea and related economy in the Song Dynasty in a local press. Click HERE to read more.

Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping on Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development

Our Faculty Dean and Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology, Prof. Li Ping, discussed the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in an interview with Wen Wei Po. Prof. Li suggested that the Government establish a fund to encourage creative bodies from the Mainland and overseas to visit the city and collaborate with local academic institutions, thereby advancing the development of arts, culture, and creative industries, as well as facilitating the preservation and promotion of Chinese culture.

PolyU and Jiangsu Normal University Organise “The Language and Literary Arts Workshops” to Celebrate the Beauty of Chinese Culture

The Faculty of Humanities of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the School of Language Science and Arts at Jiangsu Normal University jointly organised “The Language and Literary Arts Workshops” at PolyU from 18 to 21 November, which attracted more than 100 PolyU students, staff, and general public to explore the richness of the Chinese culture and the language and literary arts. Led by Jiangsu Normal University, the workshops include: “Chinese Characters and Calligraphy Art” - Under the guidance of Prof. Wang Ji'an, a renowned Chinese calligrapher, participants learned about the meaning and historical background of calligraphy and practised it; “Appreciation and Recitation of Outstanding Chinese Poetry and Prose” – participants appreciated and recited outstanding Chinese poems and prose, immersing themselves in the lyrical beauty of classical works; “Interactive Drama Script Performance” - Participants experienced the poetry and creative scenes of five poets: Li Bai, Wang Wei, Du Fu, Gao Shi, and Meng Haoran, and explored the rich narratives and cultural significance of the poems through their creative performances; “Sign Language Poetry Recitation and Hanfu Physical Art Experience” - participants were given a demonstration of sign language poetry and learned some sign language, and experienced the art of Hanfu. They were introduced to the Hanfu and etiquette of different dynasties, appreciating the beauty of Chinese culture. The workshops not only promoted the richness of Chinese culture, but also brought together and facilitated the exchange of PolyU students and staff who share the same passion for language and literacy arts.