ABOUT US
Dean's Message
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Faculty of Science, I would like to welcome you to our web site. On these pages, you will get a glimpse of the research, teaching, and service activities taking place in the Faculty. As of 2007, the Faculty is home to over 130 professorial and academic staff, 1500 undergraduate students and 800 post-graduate students. Our facilities spread across the main campus in the Chong Yuet Ming Physics and Chemistry Buildings, James Hsioung Lee Science Building, Run Run Shaw Building, and the Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building. We also administer an off-campus research centre, the Swire Institute of Marine Science.
The Faculty of Science has undergone major improvements in both research and teaching in recent years. In many areas of mathematical, physical, and biological sciences, our research performance is world competitive. With the Centenary Recruitment Plan, we expect to recruit aggressively world wide to enhance both the quantity and quality of our teaching staff. In July 2007, a new School of Biological Sciences has been formed and curricula in biological sciences have been updated to match the best in the world. In addition to traditional science subjects such as mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry and biology, we also offer interdisciplinary programs in earth sciences, ecology & biodiversity, material science, astronomy, food and nutritional science, risk management, etc. to meet the needs of the modern society. A program in actuarial science leading to professional qualification is also available.
Our goal is to prepare a new generation of young scientists for the technical and social needs of the 21st century. In addition to classroom and laboratory teaching, the Faculty of Science is engaging our students in experiential learning through research participation both in the laboratory and in the field. Science education at HKU is not just to provide a vocational training, but to help our students learn how to learn, to solve real-life problems, and to be able to adjust to the technical development of a rapidly-changing world. Many of the current scientific and technological problems require multi-disciplinary training and we are constantly updating our curriculum to reflect the broadening spectrum of science.
The 2007 academic year represents the first year of common entry to the Faculty, where students have increased flexibility in choosing their majors without having to pre-commit to a specific program prior to admission. The reform has proven to be extremely popular, with over 1600 JUPAS students choosing HKU Science as their Band A choice of university study in the final stage.
For prospective students and alumni, I invite you to visit us at
the HKU. My staff and I would be happy to show you the achievements
of the University. If you have any question or suggestion, we are
here to listen to you and to serve you better. Most important of all,
I hope that our constant efforts will make you proud of being a graduate
of this Faculty and of the University.
Sun Kwok
Dean of Science and Chair Professor of Physics