KE Spotlight - Community Engagement - HKU Knowledge Exchange

HKU at InnoCarnival 2014

The InnoCarnival 2014, organized by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) as a major event of the InnoTech Month 2014, was held from November 1-9, 2014 in the Hong Kong Science Park. The Technology Transfer Office coordinated the University's participation in the InnoCarnival 2014.

HKU architects win the "Small Project of the Year 2014" award at the World Architecture Festival

Mr John Lin and Mr Olivier Ottevaere of the Department of Architecture won the "Small Project of the Year 2014" award at the World Architecture Festival with their project, "The Pinch". The project was funded by the HKU Knowledge Exchange Fund in 2011/12. As part of the government-led reconstruction work following the 2012 Yunnan earthquake in China, the team collaborated with a local timber factory and built a community library in a village damaged by the earthquake. The library and the surrounding plaza offer public space for villagers to meet and children to read and play. World Architecture Festival is an annual festival and awards competition dedicated to celebrating and sharing architectural excellence from across the globe.

Customs and Excise Department cracks down suspected copyright infringement case on Internet using system developed by HKU

The Customs and Excise Department has recently used Lineament Monitoring System 1 Plus (LMS1+), which was jointly developed with HKU, to crack down a suspected copyright infringement case on the Internet. A suspect, who allegedly made money by uploading and illicitly sharing a large number of movies and videos through cyber-lockers, was arrested. The Department has been using LMS1+ since July this year, and this was the first case effected with the system. The LMS1+ is an automatic monitoring system that searches discussion forums and detects suspected intellectual property infringement activities.

Four HKU students organise community art events

Four HKU students initiated an art group called "Artseeker" to allow participants to explore the HKU neighbourhood through a community art programme "Sai Ying Pun Seek & See". Their initiative is supported by the HKU Knowledge Exchange Fund granted by the University Grants Committee and the community partner organization, The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage.

Knowledge Exchange Awards 2014

The Faculty Knowledge Exchange (KE) Awards were introduced in 2011 in order to recognize each Faculty's outstanding KE accomplishment that has made demonstrable economic, social or cultural impacts to benefit the community, business/industry, or partner organizations. Following the successful launch of the Faculty KE Awards, the KE Award (Non-Faculty Unit) was introduced in 2012 with the same objective for the independent centres, institutes and units of the University. Results of the 2014 KE Awards are now available.

HKU develops Asia's first liver cancer staging system with treatment guidelines to improve survival rate of liver cancer patients

HKU Surgery Department and Queen Mary Hospital have developed a five-stage liver cancer staging system with treatment guidelines - the Hong Kong Liver Cancer (HKLC) staging system. By introducing better prognostic classification and newer, more aggressive treatment strategies than the existing four-stage Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, the HKLC staging system yields a better survival outcome and cure rate for liver cancer patients. The launch of the HKLC staging system also represents a major new direction in the field of liver cancer, offering clinicians a more valid and reliable approach to determine treatment for liver cancer patients in different stages. The HKLC staging system has already received widespread international recognition and is expected to replace the BCLC as the new standard guideline for treatment of liver cancer worldwide.

HKU launches tooth brushing app for children

A student team of the Dentistry Faculty, under the mentorship of Dental Public Health Clinical Professor Colman McGrath, has developed a free mobile app, "Brush Buddy", to help children learn how to brush their teeth. The app uses pictures with Chinese and English subtitles to provide step-by-step guide to teach tooth brushing. The app is the first of its kind available in Chinese for teaching children about oral self-care. The app is downloadable for free from iTunes. This student KE project is supported by the HKU Knowledge Exchange Fund granted by the University Grants Committee.