The Department of Chemistry at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), hosted the 31st Symposium on Chemistry Postgraduate Research in Hong Kong on March 22, 2025, at its Clear Water Bay campus. Since its inception in 1994, the symposium has been a flagship annual event, bringing together postgraduate students, faculty members from all UGC-funded institutions, and industry partners to showcase cutting-edge chemistry research and foster academic and professional collaborations.
This year marked the symposium’s full return to an on-site format, attracting over 660 participants, including 55 faculty members. The event featured a plenary lecture by Professor Robert J. Gilliard, Jr. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a renowned chemist and associate editor of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. His talk, titled “The Ligand Matters: Unusual Strategies Toward the Design of Boron-Doped Molecules and Emissive Materials”, highlighted innovative approaches in inorganic and materials chemistry. Prof. Gilliard is a recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Chemical & Engineering News Talented 12 Scholar, the NSF CAREER Award, the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, and the Organometallics Distinguished Author Award.
The primary goal of this symposium is to discuss the latest advancements in postgraduate chemistry research, facilitate the exchange of innovative ideas, and strengthen collaborative networks within our community. This event provided postgraduate students with a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the plenary speaker, faculty members, and fellow researchers, fostering meaningful discussions and potential collaborations. Six student representatives—one from each the local universities (HKUST, City University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University)—delivered oral presentations on their exciting research across diverse chemistry disciplines. The Best Oral Presentation Awards were presented to Mr. Yueliang Yao from the University of Hong Kong and Mr. Dingdong Yuan from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Additionally, over 220 posters were displayed, covering topics in analytical, biochemical, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry, with six outstanding presenters received Best Poster Awards.
Notably, the very first symposium was held 31 years ago right here on the campus of HKUST. A special highlight of this year’s symposium was the participation of Prof. Yundong Wu and Prof. Vivian W. W. Yam—two of the key organizers of the inaugural event in 1994, both of whom are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Prof. Wu shared reflections on the event’s early days and its evolution over three decades, captivating a full lecture theatre of attendees. As the founding host of this annual gathering for chemistry postgraduates, HKUST remains dedicated to advancing chemistry research and nurturing the next generation of chemists.
