Media

The Pressure Paradox

Stress can motivate us to action, but it can also have a negative impact on our well-being. Factor in COVID-19, geopolitical events and the constant presence of technology – on top of personal issues – and it seems increasingly difficult to find peace of mind. HKU scholars have been exploring the positive and negative effects of stress in the workplace, in childhood and in reaction to external events like pandemics, while also identifying ways to build resilience to...

Pros and Cons of Work Stress

Research on anxiety has only recently focussed on the workplace. One of the instigators behind this is Dr Bonnie Hayden Cheng, who looks at the ‘bright and dark’ sides of anxiety at work, which can motivate us to get more done but also feed into worry or negative rumination that undermines productivity.

Let It Go

Ruminating excessively on the negative aspects of your life or condition is a well-known feature of depression. But research from the Department of Psychiatry has found that ruminating about external stressors, such as COVID-19 and other societal events, can also tip people into an unhealthy state of mind.

Surviving the Pressures of Childhood

Academic demands, unfair treatment by parents and teachers, and negative body images can contribute to stress and poor mental health in childhood. Dr Lee Juyeon of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration has examined the impact of these factors on Korean children and is exploring how child well-being can be cultivated.

Help Is at Hand

Poor mental health is a growing problem globally. Psychologist Dr Christian Shaunlyn Chan proposes a simple and accessible solution: go back to the basics to ease stress, improve well-being, and reduce the growing burden on health services.

AbundANTS

A first-of-its-kind census into the distribution of abundance and biomass of ants on Earth has yielded surprising results and underlined the massive role these tiny insects play in the earth’s well-being.

HKU Scientists Discover Deafness Master Genes

Two master genes related to congenital deafness have been uncovered by an international team of scientists led by Professor Kathryn Cheah.

China’s Pollution Successes

China launched its war on pollution a decade ago. Research by Dr He Guojun of the HKU Business School has shown that it is saving lives and reducing pollution across the country. His research has also demonstrated how citizen watchdogs can improve the results further.

Less Pain, More Gain

Study shows artificial intelligence (AI) can help automate the design of artificial teeth accurately and efficiently, meaning less time and discomfort for the patient and less expense too.

An Historian Who Looks to the Future

How might future historians access the digital archives of today when they are produced using a variety of hardware and software? And what should go into those archives? Digital historian Dr Javier Cha is trying to figure this out.

Golden Oldies

Reforestation has been identified as an important tool to mitigate climate change, but a new study suggests that priority should be given, not only to planting new trees but also to conserving the older trees in the upper forest canopy for their exceptional drought tolerance and carbon storage capacity.

The Distance between Us

Working or learning from home became the new norm during COVID and is a practice favoured by many since, but new research indicates that collaborating at geographical distance can adversely affect learning and productivity.