pdf version - seng, hkust

Empowering Excellence
40
Department
of Civil and
Environmental
Engineering
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has
used the forthcoming introduction of the four-year degree
program in Hong Kong to completely revamp our undergraduate
curriculum and teaching methods during the period under
review. It has been an exciting if demanding time for colleagues
working on the redesign.
We already provide students with a useful choice of focus
through our two undergraduate degree programs: one centered
on civil and structural engineering; the other on civil and
environmental engineering. Locating these programs within
a broader, more flexible educational framework and outcomebased
learning, we fully expect the result to be dynamic,
innovative civil engineers with wide understanding of how the
world works and confident written and oral communication skills
in English and Chinese.
Our approach to research has also taken significant steps
forward. The Department’s productive and diverse faculty
members have established a strong reputation for their
academic research. Over the past three years, the Department
has continued to be engaged in solving real-world issues.
Green slope engineering – the use of plants to stabilize slopes
instead of concrete – is one of the important initiatives being
undertaken. Hazard risk and mitigation, sustainability in urban
environments, and underground engineering are other key areas
to which we are contributing.
We have been assisted in such endeavors by HKUST’s excellent
research facilities. These include a geotechnical centrifuge,
equipped with the first biaxial servo-hydraulic shaking table and
the second four-axial robotic manipulator in the world, and an
environmental wind/wave tunnel. Such facilities enable us to
increase knowledge of the impact of earthquakes and how soil
structures behave, and engage in real-world testing for important
structures in Hong Kong and beyond.
In addition, our location has proved an enormous asset for our
researchers and students in terms of projects and job prospects.
Hong Kong’s special East-West orientation has enabled the
Department to develop a great network with the international
community and at the same time close China ties. And with its
rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, and sustainability
issues, I would say China is one of the places that currently
needs civil and environmental engineers the most.
Thus, the Department has had many opportunities to put what
we do into practice or work with China counterparts on largescale
meaningful projects. Air quality research within the Pearl
River Delta is one area where we have made significant impact.
In Hong Kong, our graduates can also gain the experience
they need to launch their careers in the major league given the
huge infrastructure projects planned, such as the Hong Kong-
Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong
Express Rail Link.
These factors, along with our strong record of achievement,
have helped our drive in the past three years for greater student
diversity through international recruitment and exchanges.
Creating a more international body within the Department allows
students to learn about intercultural issues first-hand. As civil
engineers, there is a high chance that our graduates will spend
part of their careers overseas and a multicultural experience at
university is excellent advance preparation.
I am also particularly keen to strengthen our links with industry
and alumni and have been proactively working to achieve this
over the past three years. By listening to their problems, sharing
our findings, and working together to develop research projects
with practical applications, the Department should be able to
work effectively toward our goal of making more impact on
society.
Prof Christopher Leung
Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering