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Month: March 2023

Transformative journey paves path for future career success

Posted on by Editorial Team

With strong support from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Cornelius Gilbert – a recipient of the prestigious Belt and Road Scholarship – continues to unleash his full potential as he inches closer towards his goals of becoming the next high-flier in the financial sector and eventually a change agent in his motherland Indonesia.

Why CUHK?

Cornelius’s parents were deprived of the opportunity to obtain higher education, so the value of top-notch education was a strong point of emphasis throughout his upbringing. Therefore, when the opportunity to study at the top-ranked CUHK came knocking on his door, he jumped at it.

“The top-ranked CUHK provides me with numerous opportunities to grow and move closer to my goals. The level of support received throughout the application process was also unrivalled. The location of CUHK in the international financial centre of Hong Kong was a factor too given my interest in pursuing a career in the financial sector,” Cornelius explained.

Well-recognized internationally for its academic strength spanning across diverse disciplines, CUHK – ranked 38th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2023 – offers more than 70 undergraduates programmes from eight faculties. Home to recipients of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Fields Medal and Veblen Prize, CUHK features distinguished scholars eager to inspire through high quality teaching and research.

CUHK recognizes academic rigor is only part of the equation so well-rounded support is provided to assist students develop into the best version of themselves.

“The university puts a lot of effort in making us feel comfortable. A game-changer for me and other international students is the guaranteed accommodation. It’s comfy and most importantly inexpensive, especially when you compare it to how much it costs to rent a place in the city,” Cornelius said.

CUHK Experience

Currently a third-year student of the Quantitative Finance and Risk Management Science Programme at CUHK, Cornelius is enjoying his fruitful learning experience which has helped him build a strong foundation instrumental to his goal pursuits.

“The courses are really well-designed while the professors are extremely approachable and helpful. I receive email responses to questions even on off days,” he said.

“Most importantly, there are a plethora of learning opportunities outside the classroom such as workshops, mentorship programmes, case competitions, and internship opportunities and exchange opportunities as well. Financial technology is an area that intrigues me as I wish to start a company providing financial technology solutions in Indonesia at a later stage of my career and I’ve been given numerous opportunities to explore this here.”

“I’ve learned a great deal from joining these events. Workshops conducted by seasoned executives have offered me insights into learning more about the stakeholders in different industries and other events have enlightened me in terms of career development,” Cornelius said, adding that his two internships matched through CUHK were eye-opening since he was able to apply theoretical knowledge to real life situations across sectors and reaffirm finance as his preferred career choice.

A worthwhile once-in-a-lifetime journey

He remains as hungry to learn as ever while his growth mindset developed at CUHK has made him become more resilient when facing setbacks.

“I used to get mad in high school whenever I came second. However, in CUHK, you’re surrounded by brilliant students who are a lot smarter than you and this really forces you to think of ways to up your game such as becoming more efficient,” he said.

“My experience here has certainly helped me develop. Regardless of what the future holds, I will forever reminisce on it as one that has unquestionably helped transform my life

Controlling electric double layer dynamics for next generation batteries

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Researchers achieve carrier modulation and improved switching response speed control in these batteries

Development of all-solid-state batteries is crucial to achieve carbon neutrality. However, their high surface resistance causes these batteries to have low output, limiting their applications. To this end, researchers have employed a novel technique to investigate and modulate electric double layer dynamics at the solid/solid electrolyte interface. The researchers demonstrate unprecedented control of response speed by over two orders of magnitude, a major steppingstone towards realization of commercial all-solid-state batteries.

In our quest for clean energy and carbon neutrality, all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASS-LIBs) offer considerable promise. ASS-LIBs are expected to be used in a wide range of applications including electric vehicles (EVs). However, commercial application of these batteries is currently facing a bottleneck—their output is reduced owing to their high surface resistance. Moreover, the exact mechanism of this surface resistance is hitherto unknown. Researchers have alluded it to a phenomenon called the “electric double layer” (or EDL) effect seen in colloidal substances (which are microscopic dispersions of one kind of particle in another substance). The EDL effect occurs when colloidal particles gain negative electric charge by adsorbing the negatively charged ions of the dispersion medium on their surface. “This occurs at the solid/solid electrolyte interface, posing a problem in all-solid-state lithium batteries,” explains Dr. Tohru Higuchi, Associate Professor at Tokyo University of Science (TUS). Dr. Higuchi, along with colleagues Dr. Makoto Takayanagi from TUS, and Dr. Takashi Tsuchiya and Dr. Kazuya Terabe from National Institute for Materials Science in Japan, has devised a novel technique to quantitatively evaluate the EDL effect at the solid/solid electrolyte interface.

An article detailing their technique was made available online on 8 February 2023 and was published in Volume 31 of Materials Today Physics. The researchers employed an all-solid-state hydrogen-terminated diamond (H-diamond)-based EDL transistor (EDLT) to conduct Hall measurements and pulse response measurements that determined EDL charging characteristics. By inserting a nanometer-thick lithium niobate or lithium phosphate interlayer between the H-diamond and lithium solid electrolyte, the team could investigate the electrical response of the EDL effect at the interface between these two layers. The electrolyte’s composition did, indeed, influence the EDL effect in a small region around the electrode interface. The EDL effect was reduced when a certain electrolyte was introduced as an interlayer between the electrode/solid electrolyte interface. EDL capacitance for the lithium phosphate/H-diamond interface was much higher compared to the lithium niobate/H-diamond interface.

Their article also explains how they improved the switching response time for charging ASS-EDLs. “The EDL has been shown to influence switching properties, so we considered that the switching response time for charging ASS-EDLs could be greatly improved by controlling the capacitance of the EDL. We used the non-ion-permeable property of diamond in the electron layer of the field-effect transistor and combined it with various lithium conductors,” Dr. Higuchi narrates.

The interlayer accelerated and decelerated the EDL charging speed. The electrical response time of the EDLT was highly variable—it ranged from about 60 milliseconds (low speed switching for lithium phosphate/H-diamond interface) to about 230 microseconds (high speed switching for lithium niobate/H-diamond interface). The team, however, exhibited control over the EDL charging speed for over two orders of magnitude.

In summary, the researchers were able to achieve carrier modulation in all-solid-state devices and improved their charging characteristics. “These results from our research on the lithium-ion conductive layer are important for improving the interface resistance and may lead to the realization of all solid-state batteries with excellent charge-discharge characteristics in the future”, notes an optimistic Dr. Higuchi.

Taken together, this is a major stepping stone towards controlling the interface resistance of ASS-LIBs that catalyzes their feasibility for many applications. It will also help design better solid-electrolyte-based devices, a class of gadgets which also includes neuromorphic devices.

 

 

Aiming for 1,500 inbound students, AGE UNAIR empowers faculties

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Through Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) encourages students to experience an international environment by inviting international students to participate in programs of UNAIR. AGE offers five programs: AMERTA (Academic Mobility Exchange for Undergraduate and Master at Airlangga ), LINGUA ( Learning Indonesian Language at Airlangga University ), IN-HERIT ( Indonesian Heritage Course ), SURA-BALI ( Summer in Surabaya and Bali ), and the Tailor Made Program.

AMERTA is a student exchange program for international students to study for one to two semesters at UNAIR. AMERTA has two implementation periods, Fall: August – December, and Spring: January – June.

IN-HERIT and SURA-BALI are short courses of seven to ten days. IN-HERIT, in collaboration with Sebelas Maret University, is held for international students to explore Indonesian heritage. SURA-BALI, in collaboration with Petra Christian University and Udayana University, invites international students to study sociopreneurship in Surabaya and Bali.

Intensification of international activities 

Director of Airlangga Global Engagement Iman Harymawan Ph D explained that AGE is focusing on intensifying international activities of faculties at UNAIR. It is different from the previous year when AGE ran the program with the support of the existing faculties. Iman said that AGE is now empowering faculties.

Iman said that there are faculties with advanced international activities, such as Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Economics and Business, and Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.

“There are programs that are already running too. But maybe we can push it further,” he said.

Iman said in January 2023, Universitas Airlangga had accepted international students from Federation University Australia and Griffith University. The event took place at Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, and Faculty of Public Health. With Airlangga Global Engagement’s efforts, Iman has set a target to bring in 1,500 international students in 2023.

Apart from the AMERTA program, registration for international programs is no longer through AGE but instead following the program. Iman explained that AGE now does not run a program.

“SURA-BALI is a collaboration with either FISIP or FKM. Then there is IN-HERIT program with Faculty of Vocational Studies. So we only supported the program, ” he said.

HKAPA Open Day attracted about 7,000 visitors

Posted on by Communications Office

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) held its annual Open Day today. The event drew about 7,000 visitors to the Main Campus in Wanchai and the Bėthanie Landmark Heritage Campus in Pokfulam.

Professor Gillian Choa, Director of the Academy remarks, “In this annual community event, I am so pleased that members of the public joined us to experience a day full of fun and excitement. Visitors did not only indulge in the charms of performing arts, but also be inspired by the work of our students for the six Schools.”

During the day, more than a hundred of activities were presented including Chinese opera excerpt performances, dance performances, concerts of Chinese and Western music, musical and drama excerpt performances, with interactive activities such as experiential classes and demonstrations. Visitors also enjoyed guided tours to experience performing arts and technology, in addition to exhibitions and visits to backstage with specially-designed displays of sets, props, costumes and stage effects.

The Alumni Association also invited renowned alumni Mak Tin-shu, Amos Why, Kearen Pang Sau-wai, Sunny Chan Wing-san, Ho Cheuk-tin and Louis Cheung Kai-chung to share their insights in a sharing session titled “Elite Alumni Sharing Session – Hong Kong Films, What’s Next?” The session was well-received by the public.

Tropics meet the Arctic in UNESCO online learning project

Posted on by eduhk

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has teamed up with the University of Lapland in Finland to develop digital pedagogy, through the UNITWIN/UNESCO Network.

Innovation in communications has rapidly changed global society in recent decades. We now live in a post-industrial information age, characterised by ubiquitous and globalised usage of digital technologies. As well as for global communication, these technologies can also be used for effective learning and teaching. “The speed of change means there’s a need to educate university students and the future workforce on global issues of media education, from intercultural and multilingual perspectives. Educators also need to acquire competence in digital pedagogy, as well as an understanding of the basic mechanisms of online learning and the ability to assess and support their development,” says Professor John Lee Chi Kin, Vice President (Academic) and Provost, who is also Project Investigator for EdUHK, and UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning.

To meet this need, EdUHK and the University of Lapland have initiated a project to develop online teaching, in the context of global media education. The partnership came about through UNITWIN/UNESCO, which promotes teacher education practices including long-distance education. The project’s aim is to develop a joint study course and online education teaching methods in the field. The project began in Autumn 2021, with academics working together to design course content and a pedagogical model. Students from the two universities have since joined in three online sessions on intercultural communication, basic concepts of artificial intelligence literacy, and media education practices in Finland. “In the planned course, students examine and discuss digital pedagogy, and topics such as the various forms of media – from television and newspapers to social media, what people do with it, the effects of the media on people’s activities, and how media is used positively and negatively, all with different perspectives from around the globe,” says Dr Satu-Maarit Korte, principal investigator from the University of Lapland. Dr Korte recently visited the Tai Po campus to work on course design with EdUHK academics, including Dr Wang Lixun of the Department of Linguistics and Modern Language Studies. “Strengthening the digi-pedagogical competence of education students can strengthen their coping skills in future, enhance the spread of good practices and advance equality in education. While the University of Lapland is providing expertise and learning and teaching in global media studies, EdUHK is doing likewise in artificial intelligence literacy and intercultural communication in the digital age,” says Dr Wang.

Following the launch of the joint course, it will be offered online to Master’s and Doctoral students of both universities as an elective. EdUHK will also offer a non-credit bearing course on AI literacy, which will be open to bachelor’s and master’s-level students at the University of Lapland.

Dal researchers’ chance discovery could help extend battery life

Posted on by Editorial Team

It happens far too often: you plug your laptop in and walk away only to return hours or days later to find it has lost some of its charge despite sitting idle and unused.

The phenomenon — called self-discharge — has frustrated users and industry alike, and puzzled manufacturers trying to determine why lithium-ion battery cells tend to lose some of their charge over time.

A researcher at Dalhousie University has identified a surprisingly common culprit that, if replaced, could address an enduring problem for the industry.

“In commercial battery cells there is tape — like Scotch tape — that holds the electrodes together and there is a chemical decomposition of this tape, which creates a molecule that leads to the self-discharge,” says Michael Metzger, an assistant professor and the Herzberg-Dahn chair and in the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science.

“In our laboratory we do many highly complex experiments to improve batteries, but this time we discovered a very simple thing It’s a very simple thing — it is in every plastic bottle and no one would have thought that this has such a huge impact on how the lithium-ion cells degrade.”

Read the two studies, here and here, published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society

An unexpected discovery

Dr. Metzger and his colleagues wanted to understand why lithium-ion battery cells self-discharge. As part of their research, they opened several cells after exposing them to different temperatures.

They were stunned to see that the electrolyte solution in the cell was bright red, something they had never seen before.

They then began exploring the cause, placing cells with common electrolyte solution into ovens at four different temperatures. One at 25 C remained clear, while the sample at 55 C was light brown and the highest one at 70C was blood red. They did a chemical analysis and looked at the chemical composition of the electrolyte.

That’s when they found that the polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, in the tape decomposes and creates the molecule that leads to the self-discharge. The molecule is called a redox shuttle because it can travel to the positive side of the electrode, then to the negative side and then back to the positive side. So, it shuttles between the electrodes and that creates the self-discharge, just like lithium is supposed to do. The problem is that the shuttle molecule is doing it all the time in the background, even when no lithium is supposed to move when the battery just sitting there.

“It’s something we never expected because no one looks at these inactive components, these tapes and plastic foils in the battery cell but it really needs to be considered if you want to limit side reactions in the battery cell,” he says of the tape made from PET, a strong, lightweight plastic used widely in packaging and pop bottles.

Recommended reading: Battery pioneers charge up with $6M NSERC Alliance Grant, the largest grant of its kind ever at Dal

Commercially relevant

The researchers outlined their findings in two new papers and are catching the attention of industrial heavyweights seeking ways to improve their batteries’ performance.

Dr. Metzger recently visited a company in the States that relies on dependable, long-lasting batteries, and was asked about the tape issue after hearing about Dr. Metzger’s novel discovery.

“The self-discharge is a super important metric for them,” says Dr. Metzger. “One of the engineers said, ‘I heard you guys found out something is wrong with PET tape.’ So, I explained to him that it’s causing this self-discharge and asked him, ‘What are you using in your cells?’ He said, ‘PET tape.'”

The information could lead to a fix that might involve replacing the PET tape with a more stable material that won’t degrade.

“It’s a commercially relevant discovery. It’s a small thing but it can definitely help improve battery cells,” he says.

American University of Sharjah to showcase climate credentials

Posted on by Amy Robinson

American University of Sharjah (AUS) is preparing for an exciting few months ahead as it readies itself for COP28, having been named as a member of the COP28 University Taskforce by the UAE Special Climate Envoy to COP28. Being part of the taskforce will allow AUS representatives, including staff, faculty, students and alumni to participate in key debates on climate change. With world leaders and global scientific experts attending COP28 to discuss how climate change can best be addressed, it is an honor for AUS to be a part of a taskforce that is having such a direct and positive impact on some of the world’s greatest challenges.

COP28 will be held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023. With a reputation as one of the region’s most sustainable universities, AUS is well-placed to contribute expertise at COP, an international climate conference held each year by the United Nations. AUS has been ranked by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) as one of the top five institutions worldwide for community engagement in sustainability, according to AASHE’s 2022 Sustainable Campus Index. In addition, AUS was the first university in the MENA region to achieve an AASHE STARS sustainability ranking. The university was the first in the UAE to begin to ban all single-use plastics on campus, and in 2021 announced its Climate Action Plan, which aligns the university’s sustainability efforts with the UAE’S Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.

COP28 provides a unique opportunity for AUS to showcase its sustainability achievements and disseminate the climate-related research breakthroughs of its faculty. Such achievements are wide and varied and include increased efficiency of hydrogen production (an alternative fuel source) through femtosecond laser technology; using AI to make solar energy capture more effective; and investigating how traditional building techniques can reduce air conditioning use in hot climates, among many others.

The community is invited to learn more about AUS’ climate change research and sustainability achievements in the run-up to COP28 through the university’s newly launched Climate Coffee podcast. Experts from science, business, government and the NGO-sector are invited to take part in the podcast, sharing their insights into how all sectors of society can better work together to address and mitigate climate change, from the smallest individual actions, through to intergovernmental agreements. Rose Armour, Head of Sustainability at AUS, and Dr. Jeannette Vinke, AUS Chief Operating Officer, both passionate about sustainability and the changing climate, use the first episode to educate listeners about the history of COP and what we might expect from this year’s event.

The university has also launched a COP28 Speaker Series, bringing climate action experts from around the world to the AUS campus to share their views and experience on specific issues related to climate change. The first speaker was Muwaffaq Al Khedery, a renowned Climate Change Advisor at GHD Group Abu Dhabi, who  discussed his work on carbon emissions modeling and shared insights into challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The next speaker in the series will be Dr. Claire Williams Bridgwater, a research professor at American University, Washington, DC, who teaches atmospheric biology, science diplomacy and environmental sciences and whose most recent studies examined environmental peacebuilding in the world’s most fragile states.

“Climate change will impact the future of our students regardless of where they are located in the world or what industry they work in. Understanding climate change–not just from a scientific perspective but also its geopolitical ramifications, is therefore essential to any young person’s education. As future leaders it is important that our students are aware of the many complex issues surrounding climate action and have the skills and confidence needed to ensure the organizations or industries in which they will work are best equipped to deal with the challenges climate change presents, and ultimately act in a way that is beneficial for our planet. There is no better way to learn about climate action than by taking part in COP. This is a great opportunity for our students, and all our community, to make a difference on a global stage,” said Armour.

AUS has launched a dedicated web page for the community to stay up-to-date about all its COP28 initiatives and learn more about how the university has become a global sustainability leader. This page also houses the new Coffee Climate podcast: https://www.aus.edu/cop28.

ITS partners with Singapore in INOVASI collaboration to drive innovation

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) is one of the four top universities in Indonesia, known for its remarkable commitment to research and academic programs. This recognition is reinforced by its collaboration with Indonesia Nanyang International University Singapore Institute of Research for Sustainability and Innovation (INOVASI), which was initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore.

ITS, together with ITB, UI, UGM, and NTU, is engaged in a reciprocal collaboration focused on education, research, and community services. The project involves joint research, researcher exchanges, joint supervision for Master’s and PhD programs, and joint publications. According to Bambang Pramujati, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Rector IV for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Alumni at ITS, this partnership has already produced flagship projects such as the renewable energy living lab and eco-campus.

The partnership agreement between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) and NTU was signed in Jakarta on December 14, 2022. Additionally, Kemendikbudristek signed a partnership with the Indonesia Endowment Funds for Education (LPDP) to fund the Indonesia NTU Singapore Institute of Research for Sustainability and Innovation (INSPIRASI).

ITS’ appointment as one of the top universities in Indonesia is a testament to its active contribution to research and innovation on a global scale. As a governing board of the Eastern Part of Indonesia University Network (UPI-Unet), ITS is also expected to collaborate with other universities in the network for future projects, further bolstering collective efforts to promote innovation and research in Indonesia.

The collaboration is expected to proceed smoothly, with anticipated benefits realized as intended. Optimism abounds that this will enhance ITS’ reputation domestically and internationally and contribute to positive impacts on society.

Chula researchers receive international awards

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Congratulations to all Chulalongkorn University researchers for receiving awards from international stages.

The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), hosted an official recognition event for Thai innovators and researchers on December 14, 2022. Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, M.D., Ph.D., the Permanent Secretary for MHESI, presided over the ceremony and presented outstanding recognition certificates to Thai inventors and researchers who received international awards.

On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pannee Cheewinsiriwat, Assistant Vice President for Research Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, presented flower bouquets to Chulalongkorn University professors and researchers who have conducted exceptional research and enhanced the university’s reputation at the international level through competitions in foreign countries, including three inventions recognized at the Seoul International Invention Fair 2022 (SIIF 2022), which was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea:

• “Peta Gold Whitening Serum”, Gold prize, created by Prof. Dr. Nongnuj Muangsin and members of the Faculty of Science.

• “Truly Noninvasive Sweat Glucose Sensor for Diabetic Prone Person”, Silver award, invented by Dr. Nadnudda Rodthongkham and members of the Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University.

• “CoModule: Assembling the Toy Structures to Inspire Preschool Children”, Silver award, created by Asst. Prof. Pornthep Lerttevasiri and his team from the Faculty of Education. The team has also received a Gold Medal for this project from Kaohsiung International Invention & Design EXPO (KIDE 2022).

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/106389/

SMU School of Social Sciences Kimin Eom named as APS Rising Star

Posted on by corinnekang

Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Social Sciences (SOSS) Assistant Professor Kimin Eom has received the Association for Psychological Science (APS) Rising Star designation.

The APS Rising Star designation is presented to outstanding APS Members in the earliest stages of their research career post-PhD. Drawing its name from an Observer editorial series that featured exemplars of the exciting work being done by the field’s newest researchers, this designation recognises researchers whose innovative work has already advanced the field and signals great potential for their continued contributions.

Asst Prof Eom’s primary research examines prosociality, broadly defined – why people behave in ways that benefit others, society, and the globe. In particular, he examines this topic within the context of social and global challenges that threaten society’s sustainability, such as climate change and pandemics.

How he got this achievement

When asked why he thought he has been named as a Rising Star, he said, “My research on culture and sustainability played an important role, I believe. There is a significant body of research on the psychology of sustainability behaviour, but still a dearth of research has considered culture and diversity. Given the global nature of sustainability problems, this is a serious limitation. My research has addressed this gap by examining diverse forms of culture, such as nationality, social class, and religion, to understand how people with different cultural backgrounds respond to sustainability problems and what similarly and differently motivates their sustainability related actions.”

How his research impacts society and its implications

In general, as a scholar, Asst Prof Eom pursues fundamental questions about human psychology (e.g., what motivates human action, how culture shapes human psychology, how others influence our behaviour) but pay close attention and care about the contexts where he addresses those questions. He tries to test theoretically novel ideas in contexts of important and timely social issues. By doing so, his research aims to advance psychological theory while offering practical insights (for interventions, policy making, marketing, etc.) for positive social change.

He further elaborated, “regarding my research on culture and sustainability, policies and interventions are commonly built on implicit assumptions about the ways in which behaviour operates. Importantly, my research has identified cultural differences in determinants of pro-environmental motivation and behaviour. These findings inform what psychological factors can be targeted for different cultural groups. These findings also suggest that we need to apply different assumptions when approaching people with different backgrounds, which should be informed by data and research.”

Other research areas he is working on

Recently, he has actively worked on research on social norms: How people perceive and respond to social norms and their implications for positive attitudes and behaviour change. According to Asst Prof Eom, norms can be powerful tools to be leveraged for behaviour change across various domains at the workplace, school or cultural settings.

Moving forward, he says “I would like to continue to develop and expand my research on culture, norms, and sustainability and offer new knowledge and insights towards greater sustainability and collective well-being.”