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Month: November 2024

École Polytechnique – Columbia University Global Dual Degree in Engineering welcomes first students

Posted on by Editorial Team

École Polytechnique, France’s leading engineering institution, and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University have officially welcomed the first cohort of students for their Global Dual Degree in Engineering, a joint Bachelor’s and Master’s program. This inaugural group consists of 13 students, with 62% being women and 69% international students, hailing from countries such as Montenegro, India, Uzbekistan, Greece, the US, and Switzerland. This program offers students a unique opportunity to gain a global perspective on science and global engineering education while fostering a diverse, international learning environment.

The global dual degree, taught entirely in English, provides students with the opportunity to study at École Polytechnique in France for 3 years and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University in the United States for 18 months, allowing them to benefit from the expertise and resources of both institutions. Graduates will pioneer novel solutions in a range of fields, including sustainability, resource management and climate change. This academic experience not only provides a well-rounded educational experience, but also broadens cultural horizons, preparing students for success in an increasingly interconnected world.

École Polytechnique’s Bachelor Program allows students to customise their academic journey according to their professional goals with double-track options: Mathematics and Economics, Mathematics and Computer Science or Mathematics and Physics. Whilst the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University offers the choice of nine Master’s programs according to the double track chosen for their Bachelor’s degree.

Promotion to Columbia’s Master’s degree programs will be decided by the Student Progression Committee.

“École Polytechnique and Columbia University, both part of the Alliance Program, have a long history of collaboration. They have joined forced to make students from both institutions ready to address the world’s most urgent challenges,” said Chrystelle Legrand, Bachelor Program Director.

For further information about the Global Dual Degree in Engineering, please visit: here

Universitas Sumatera Utara’s disaster preparedness initiative in Simamora

Posted on by Tabitha Riyani Simbolon

Dolok Sanggul,rnHumbang Hasundutan – Still recovering from the trauma of a recentrnhydrometeorological disaster, the village of Simamora is courageously taking arnstep forward. An innovative initiative led by the Lembaga Pengabdianrnkepada Masyarakat Universitas Sumatera Utara (LPPM USU) has brought renewed hope to therncommunity with a program aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness throughrndisaster mitigation exercises.

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The disaster mitigation exercise program took place onrnSaturday, July 6, 2024, at SD Negeri 175794 Silangkubuk, involving bothrnacademics and villagers. Led by Dra. Fatma Wardy Lubis, M.A., the communityrnservice team developed a series of simple actions to be used in case of floodsrnor landslides.

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“We want the children not only to recover from trauma butrnalso to gain basic skills to protect themselves and their families,” Fatmarnexplained.

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The drills consist of eight easy-to-follow movements: fourrnfor flood preparedness and four others for landslide preparedness. More thanrnjust a physical activity, these movements are designed to instill the memory ofrnessential emergency steps to be taken in the event of a disaster. By combiningrnphysical movement with mental awareness, the program aims to build community resilience.rnThe success of this disaster preparedness exercise is expected to mark thernbeginning of a disaster resilient village, with plans to make it a regularrnactivity in schools. The exercises will also be made available through videorntutorials on social media.

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“This exercise is very fun. Now I know how to protectrnmyself in case of a flood,” said one enthusiastic student.

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In addition to the drills, the program includesrnpost-disaster trauma counseling, disaster simulation training, and the broadrndissemination of information through social media. University students activelyrnparticipate in the initiative, from planning the program and creatingrnpromotional materials like flyers and banners to guiding children in therndrills, especially at the elementary school level. For the students, thisrnexperience provides a valuable opportunity to interact directly with therncommunity, understand their challenges, and develop social and leadershiprnskills. By involving students, the program not only benefits the villagers but alsorninspires young people to become agents of change.

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“This program has given me the opportunity to gainrnvaluable insights into the importance of teamwork and the potential to makernpositive contributions to society,” said Daffa, one of the participating students.

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Finally, thisrnprogram is anticipated to equip Simamora residents with the knowledge andrnpractical skills needed to face disasters with confidence, empowering them tornprotect their families and strengthen their community’s resilience for years torncome.

Will Japan’s merging universities emerge triumphant?

Posted on by Rohan Mehra

It’s hard to find an article about social or economic matters in Japan that doesn’t draw attention to its now infamous aging population. And this one is no different. The country’s declining birthrate reduces domestic enrolment in universities, so the tertiary education sector must innovate in order to remain competitive, with mergers being one option.

According to Yushi Inaba, an Associate Professor of Management at the International Christian University, the proportion of the population at enrolment age halved over the last quarter century. In a 2020 paper, Inaba puts mergers as one of five key ‘survival strategies’ common to Japanese universities and, of around 30 that took place between 2002 and 2013, identified downsizing, expansion, and restructuring and diversification as the three main strategic goals behind them.

Downsizing can be seen as a cost saving measure from the perspective of the university or it’s governing body. Just a few years ago, two public universities in Osaka merged at the request of their respective governing authorities. Osaka Prefecture University (OPU), owned by the prefectural government, and Osaka City University (OCU), owned by the City of Osaka, became Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU).

“The main reason was cost reduction, by means of reducing administrative and capital overheads, and areas of overlap. Around 10 years ago, the Japan Innovation Party running both the city and prefecture thought they didn’t need two separate universities, so chose to merge them,” says Professor Masahide Takahashi, Vice Dean of the School of Engineering and advisor to the president.

“At first, both universities rejected the idea, each is very independent and has their own unique culture and history, but we had no choice. So as discussions began, we had to find advantages to the situation, and officially merged three years ago.”

Thanks to the merger, OMU is now the biggest public university in Japan, and third biggest among the national and public universities. This increase in size was one of the selling points the committee in charge used to appease some of the stronger dissenting voices amongst the faculty. As OPU and OCU specialised differently, OPU on agriculture and veterinary sciences and OCU on medicine, natural sciences and humanities, some areas merged with relative ease. However, both universities had strong engineering faculties with large facilities across Osaka, but the merger demanded unity.

Read the full article on QS Insights Magazine.

Literaku, an app developed by Universitas Sumatera Utara students to support literacy in visually impaired

Posted on by Jemima Frieda Lumbantobing

Literaku USU is a voice-based application created specifically for people who are visually impaired, aiming to support education for the visually impaired, particularly in literacy. This application was developed as part of the 2021 Student Creativity Program (PKM) by a group of Computer Science students from the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology at Universitas Sumatera Utara.

Farhan Doli Fadhiil Siagian and his team were inspired to create this application based on direct research with a foundation for the visually impaired in Medan, North Sumatra, named Yayasan Pendidikan Tuna Netra (YAPENTRA). The group’s research revealed that literacy rates among the visually impaired were extremely low due to various limitations, which became a motivation for Farhan and his team to create something beneficial and find ways to support literacy and education quality for the visually impaired.

The Literaku application incorporates Natural Language Processing (NLP) features to search for reading materials, read content, and explain activities through voice commands. It is a voice-based application where users can submit voice inputs and receive responses in audio form. To input voice and give commands, users simply swipe left or right on the screen until the application signals it is ready to receive voice commands. Users are advised to use earphones and be in a quiet environment to ensure that the application can receive voice input clearly. One of Literaku’s key strengths is that it is built using Google Cloud APIs for cloud computing technology. Additionally, Literaku can read various digital formats, including PDF. Released at the end of 2022, the Literaku application is now available for download on the Play Store. 

Currently, the Literaku startup is still active and remains in the maintenance phase. The developers hope that Literaku will receive greater attention from the public, especially the government, to reach more people who need this application. Unfortunately, up to now, Literaku has only received recognition within the university environment

UTAR’s Lake 5 transformed into a hub for sustainable aquaculture

Posted on by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) is committed to sustainability, aligning its efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They aim to help young people and local communities gain skills for sustainable food production and environmental conservation. A recent project at UTAR is transforming Lake 5, located at their Kampar campus, into a fish farm to address food security issues and environmental threats, such as water pollution and rising production costs in aquaculture. This project is a collaborative effort between UTAR’s Faculty of Science and PNT Gading Enterprise, with the goal of promoting sustainable fish farming.

The project uses natural water bodies, such as old ponds and lakes left over from Kampar’s tin-mining days. These ponds, now unused, can support sustainable fish farming. The researchers of UTAR Faculty of Science (FSc) Assoc Prof Dr Wong Wey Lim, Ts Dr Teoh Chaiw Yee, and Dr Ooi Ai Lin are currently in the progress of revitalising abandoned ponds and lakes around
Kampar.

Dr. Wong, the aquaculture project leader, explains that if left untended, these lakes would lose their natural ecosystems, dry up, and be useless for agriculture. Transforming Lake 5 helps prevent these environmental losses, providing high-quality proteins sustainably. Previously, UTAR converted another lake, Lake K11, into a model site for educational and community purposes, showing how abandoned water bodies can be revived for sustainable
use.

In this project, the team converted Lake 5 into a fish farm with industry partner PNT Gading Enterprise, marking UTAR’s first university-industry collaboration for aquaculture. PNT Gading Enterprise manages the pond’s upkeep and fish cultivation, while UTAR’s research team monitors lake conditions, providing guidance to ensure sustainable practices. The lake is used to raise freshwater fish like Milkfish, Patin, and Carps. They
use the lake’s natural resources—water, space, and nutrients—to support a balanced
ecosystem where fish can thrive without extra nutrients that harm water quality.

Dr. Wong’s team integrates the lake’s microorganisms, like plankton, as a natural food source for the fish, which also helps reduce excess nutrients in the water, keeping the ecosystem healthy. Beyond being a fish farm, Lake 5 serves as a research hub where UTAR students gain hands-on experience in sustainable aquaculture, water management, and ecosystem balance. Students monitor water quality and fish health, analyzing data for research on aquaculture and food security.

However, managing a natural fish farm has challenges, especially during Malaysia’s rainy seasons, which can disrupt feeding and lower water quality by introducing sediments and pollutants into the lake. Prolonged rain affects water’s dissolved oxygen, pH, and nutrient balance, adding stress
to the fish.

This project not only supports food sustainability but also enhances UTAR’s goal of using natural resources responsibly. Lake 5’s transformation was part of a Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP), reflecting the Malaysian community’s commitment to sustainable practices. The Lake 5 project is a big step in UTAR’s mission to unite academic knowledge and industry expertise for a sustainable future, ensuring food security and protecting
natural resources for future generations.

NTU partners with Namibia and Harvard to combat tuberculosis with Acer Foundation’s support

Posted on by National Taiwan University

Professor Hsien-Ho Lin, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at National Taiwan University’s College of Public Health, is leading a collaborative tuberculosis prevention project with the University of Namibia, Namibia’s Ministry of Health, and Harvard Medical School. The project, aimed at reducing the spread and economic burden of tuberculosis (TB), has received generous support from the Acer Foundation, which donated 300 tablets to assist with economic burden surveys and enhance local public health strategies, aligning with the goals of University Social Responsibility (USR).

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s most serious infectious diseases, particularly in developing countries. While effective drug treatment can cure nearly 100% of cases, failure to diagnose and treat the disease in time can lead to a 50% mortality rate within three years. Namibia, classified by the World Health Organization as a high TB burden country, ranks ninth globally in TB incidence, with approximately 460 cases per 100,000 people annually—a rate 16 times higher than that of Taiwan.

The international team is currently working on the project “Hotspots, Hospitals, and Households: Enhanced Case Finding of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Namibia” (H3TB). This initiative focuses on proactive TB screening among household contacts of drug-resistant TB patients, hospital visitors, and members of community hotspot areas, aiming to identify and treat cases early, break transmission chains, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce the economic burden on affected families.

To assess the economic impact of proactive TB screening, the team will conduct a household TB burden survey to determine whether the intervention reduces the incidence of catastrophic economic hardship. In Namibia, where transportation is often difficult, these tablets with communication capabilities will greatly improve the efficiency of the survey and are expected to enhance TB control efforts.

On August 23, 2024, Acer Foundation CEO Jensen Kuo and Acer\’s Director of Tablet Computing, Chiang-Tsun Chen, visited NTU, where they were hosted by Dean Shou-Hsia Cheng and Director Lin. The meeting deepened mutual understanding and provided an opportunity for the Acer Foundation to learn more about the importance of public health and global health initiatives, with discussions on future collaborative opportunities.

The Acer Foundation’s commitment to social responsibility and significant contributions to global health and sustainable development goals are deeply appreciated. This partnership has opened new avenues for dialogue, and both parties look forward to further interdisciplinary collaboration and research.

Leveraging machine learning to find promising compositions for sodium-ion batteries

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Sodium-containing transition-metal layered oxides are promising electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries, a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, the vast number of possible elemental compositions for their electrodes makes identifying optimal compositions challenging. In a recent study, researchers from Japan leveraged extensive experimental data and machine learning to predict the optimal composition of sodium-ion batteries. Their approach could help reduce time and resources needed during exploratory research, speeding up the transition to renewable energy.

Energy storage is an essential part of many rapidly growing sustainable technologies, including electric cars and renewable energy generation. Although lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dominate the current market, lithium is a relatively scarce and expensive element, creating both economic and supply stability challenges. Accordingly, researchers all over the world are experimenting with new types of batteries made from more abundant
materials.

Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries which use sodium ions as energy carriers present a promising alternative to LIBs owing to the abundance of sodium, their higher safety, and potentially lower cost. In particular, sodium-containing transition-metal layered oxides (NaMeO2) are powerful materials for the positive electrode of Na-ion batteries, offering
exceptional energy density and capacity. However, for multi-element layered oxides composed of several transition metals, the sheer number of possible combinations makes finding the optimal composition both complex and time-consuming. Even minor changes in the selection and proportion of transition metals can bring about marked changes in crystal morphology and affect battery performance.

Now, in a recent study, a research team led by Professor Shinichi Komaba, along with Ms. Saaya Sekine and Dr. Tomooki Hosaka from Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, and from Chalmers University of Technology, and Professor Masanobu Nakayama from Nagoya Institute of Technology, leveraged machine learning to streamline the search for promising compositions. The findings of their study were received on September 05, 2024, with uncorrected proofs and published online in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A on November 06, 2024, after
proofreading. This research study is supported by funding agencies JST-CREST, DX-GEM, and JST-GteX.

The team sought to automate the screening of elemental compositions in various NaMeO2 O3-type materials. To this end, they first assembled a database of 100 samples from O3-type sodium half-cells with 68 different compositions, gathered over the course of 11 years by Komaba’s group. “The database included the composition of NaMeO2 samples, with Me being a transition metal like Mn, Ti, Zn, Ni, Zn, Fe, and Sn, among others, as well as the upper and lower voltage limits of charge-discharge tests, initial discharge capacity, average discharge voltage, and capacity retention after 20 cycles,” explains Komaba.

The researchers then used this database to train a model incorporating several machine learning algorithms, as well as Bayesian optimization, to perform an efficient search. The goal of this model was to learn how properties like operating voltage, capacity retention (lifetime), and energy density are related to the composition of NaMeO2 layered
oxides, and to predict the optimal ratio of elements needed to achieve a desired balance between these properties.

After analyzing the results, the team found that the model predicted Na[Mn0.36Ni0.44Ti0.15Fe0.05]O2 to be the optimal composition to achieve the highest energy density, which is one of the most important characteristics in electrode materials. To verify the accuracy of the model’s prediction, they synthesized samples with this composition and assembled standard coin cells to run charge-discharge tests.

The measured values were, for the most part, consistent with the predicted ones, highlighting the accuracy of the model and its potential for exploring new battery materials. “The approach established in our study offers an efficient method to identify promising compositions from a wide range of potential candidates,” remarks Komaba, “Moreover, this methodology is extendable to more complex material systems, such as quinary transition metal oxides.”

Using machine learning to identify promising research avenues is a growing trend in materials science, as it can help scientists greatly reduce the number of experiments and time required for screening new materials. The strategy presented in this study could accelerate the development of next-generation batteries, which have the potential to
revolutionize energy storage technologies across the board. This includes not only renewable energy generation and electric or hybrid vehicles but also consumer electronics such as laptops and smartphones. Moreover, successful applications of machine learning in battery research can serve as a template for material development in other fields, potentially accelerating innovation across the broader materials science landscape.

“The number of experiments can be reduced by using machine learning, which brings us one step closer to speeding up and lowering the cost of materials development. Furthermore, as the performance of electrode materials for Na-ion batteries continues to improve, it is expected that high-capacity and long-life batteries will become available at lower cost in the future,” concludes Komaba.

 

49 EdUHK scholars named world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University

Posted on by eduhk

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) is excited to share that 49 of its scholars have been listed among the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists in the 2024 rankings published by Stanford University. This marks an increase from 38 scholars last year, reflecting the global recognition of its academic excellence and impactful research.

Our scholars span a wide range of subject disciplines within and beyond Education, totaling 17 different fields. The latest rankings not only underscore the University’s established leadership in Education but also reflect our ongoing efforts to build capacity in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing, Environmental Sciences, and Languages & Linguistics.

Through our Education Futures interdisciplinary approach, EdUHK aims to maximise the impact and reach of its scholars’ research and innovations. Recent advancements in our research infrastructure include the launch of two new university-level research facilities, the University Research Facility of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (UDSAI) and the University Research Facility of Human Behavioural Neuroscience (UHBN), both established in 2023. These state-of-the-art technological platforms have been created to support our researchers in interdisciplinary research.

To further strengthen our specialised research programmes, nine multidisciplinary strategic research clusters have been formed since 2021/22. With support from the University, these clusters target tackling significant real world issues, extending their impact to diverse beneficiaries and contributing to the University’s overall research excellence.

In addition, EdUHK has made significant strides in knowledge transfer, achieving 32 prestigious international innovation awards in 2024. The University’s patent portfolio encompasses diverse fields such as EdTech, HealthTech, microelectronics, AI models, and neurosciences. These innovations offer practical, affordable and sustainable solutions that address societal needs.

At EdUHK, our researchers are dedicated to addressing real world challenges and making a positive impact on society. The University values diverse research outputs including journal papers, books and creative works, as well as knowledge transfer activities and contributions to policy formation, scholarship of teaching and learning and educational innovation. We are also deeply committed to quality education and teacher education, emphasising the importance of enhancing educational standards.

The Stanford research team compiles the ranking list based on career-long citation impact and single-year citation impact of top scientists in various fields with data updated to the end of 2023. The result reflects the global influence of EdUHK scholars across a wide range of research fields.

Thammasat University promotes adolescent well-being, easing the teenage burden

Posted on by Editorial Team

Universities have a responsibility beyond academics to support the overall well-being of their students. By creating supportive environments and mechanisms that foster well-being, institutions can help address the challenges and anxieties faced by young generations.

To address the growing mental health concerns among students, Thammasat University has launched the “Thammasat Well Being Center.” This initiative includes monitoring student well-being, with data revealing that one in three students experience stress and are at risk of depression during exams, particularly first-year students. The center offers proactive support through the ‘TU Future Wellness’ app, integrated into the university’s Super App, TU GREATS, providing convenient access to physical and mental health services. Additionally, a Health Profile database will be created to track the overall well-being of the Thammasat community.

Thammasat Well Being Center is the central hub for comprehensive health services, divided into the following areas:

1. Physical health care, which includes the presence of nursing staff at the center, as well as the support of physicians for specific cases. Additionally, a Virtual Clinic service is provided in collaboration with Thammasat University Hospital, enabling students and staff to consult with doctors online. This service is available to all students and personnel at Tha Prachan, Rangsit, Lampang, and Pattaya campuses.

2. Mental health care, with the assessment and screening through the TU Future Wellness application, as well as having a psychologist stationed at the center. Students can make appointments from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. During off-hours, an outsourced team will be available to provide telephone support. All staff members will be part of a network of Thammasat University alumni, and in urgent cases, there will be a rapid response unit ready to provide immediate assistance.

As the working world demands skills that extend beyond classroom knowledge, the Thammasat University Cooperative Education and Employment Center, or TUCEEC, has been established to prepare and enhance students’ real-world work capabilities, as well as to develop new skills for alumni.

Thammasat University aims to support its graduates in securing employment at a rate of 100%. Consequently, the university has established the TUCEEC to connect Thammasat with the business and industrial sectors. This initiative will oversee job matching, up-skilling, and re-skilling, and importantly, it will create a “Data Center” through an application that will compile students’ information and competencies in a portfolio format for employers to review. Simultaneously, it will also include data from various companies that are hiring, offering internships, and outlining other requirements for students to consider.