香港大學工程學院率領學生團隊在倫敦
「全球重大挑戰峰會」競賽贏得全球第二

香港大學（港大）工程學院率領的學生團隊於9月13日在倫敦舉行的「2019全球重大挑戰峰會」學生競賽（Global Grand Challenges Summit）中，以一個由人工智能驅動、自動收集水上塑膠廢料的機械人系統「ClearBot」，在全球十五支隊伍中脫穎而出，贏得全球第二名。

「全球重大挑戰峰會」由美國國家工程院、英國皇家工程院及中國工程院協辦，是兩年一度的國際活動，讓世界級領袖、工程師、研究人員和企業家聚首，為構建人類未來分享發明和看法，今年是第四屆舉行。「全球重大挑戰峰會」最重要的環節之一是學生競賽，今年的主題包括「人工智能及其他轉型技術會讓人類變得更好嗎？」及「我們能否支撐100億人口？」。各團隊需要提出一個創新的方法來應對與主題相關的全球挑戰題目。

港大團隊由電機電子工程系的蘇國希博士帶領，「ClearBot」率先在2019年6月由香港工程科學院（HKAES）舉辦的初賽中，在五所本地大學的團隊中贏得第一名晉身全球賽。港大團隊得到譚榮芬創科翼及何耀棣體驗學習基金支持，隊員包括本科生胡中瑜（計算機科學）、Utkarsh Goel（工學學士（計算機科學））、Ahmed Abbas Alvi（工學學士（機械工程））、馬佳成（理學士（精算學））及Sidhant Gupta（工學學士（計算機工程））。團隊其後吸納了香港科技大學學生Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy及香港城市大學學生葉蔓儀組成香港聯合團隊，於本月隨中國代表團參加於倫敦舉行的「2019全球重大挑戰峰會」學生競賽。

「ClearBot」是一個跨學科的解決方案，以可持續及社區為中心，旨在利用科技和社區的力量來解決海洋廢塑料問題。為了開發快速及準確的模型，團隊曾前往印尼巴里島，與當地的海洋清潔者會面，收集意見。

港大工程學院院長趙汝恒教授對團隊的佳績感到欣喜，他指出：「港大工程一直注重學生的全人發展，鼓勵學生透過實戰的機會豐富經驗及培育他們的國際視野。我們喜見學生在是次比賽中取得佳績，是次團隊充分反映團結就是力量的重要性。」

港大工程學院譚榮芬創科翼總監崔俊傑博士表示：「我們一直強調體驗式學習，今次比賽對學生來說絕對是一次非凡的學習經歷。在此特別感謝我們的捐贈者，包括譚榮芬先生及太太，以及校友對我們一直的支持。」

香港工程科學院程伯中教授對學生團隊取得佳績感到鼓舞：「香港工程科學院一直致力推動各工程專業的卓越發展以貢獻社會，並積極參與教育及培訓工程師。今次的學生團隊來自不同的大學，他們能代表中國參與這個重要的國際性比賽並突圍而出，我們為他們的努力感到自豪。」

有關 "ClearBot"詳情, 請瀏覽: http://innowing.hk/clearbot/ 。

有關「2019全球重大挑戰峰會」，可瀏覽各工程院網站：
https://www.raeng.org.uk/ggcs2019
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/14500/31530.aspx

傳媒查詢：
香港大學工程學院
電機電子工程系蘇國希博士 (電郵:hso@eee.hku.hk) 或
李美珊女士 (電話：3917 8519; 電郵：leecelia@hku.hk)

HKU Engineering-led student team wins 1st runner-up at
Global Grand Challenges Summit 2019 in London

A student team led by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) was awarded 1st runner-up at the Student Competition of 2019 Global Grand Challenges Summit (GGCS) in London on September 13, 2019, where 15 student teams from around the world competed on solutions that address the worlds' grand challenges in engineering.

The Hong Kong team won the competition with "ClearBot", an AI-powered, autonomous plastic-collecting robotic solution that took aim at the global ocean plastic epidemic.

The 2019 Global Grand Challenges Summit, co-hosted by the US National Academy of Engineering, the UK Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering is the 4th in a series of biennial international event where world leaders, engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs convene to share their views and innovations to sustain our future world. An important part of the GGCS is its Student Competition, where the best young engineering students from around the world address the questions "Can we sustain 10 billion people?" and "Will AI and other transformational technologies change humanity for the better?" with innovative solutions.

The HKU team first won the local competition organised by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES) among five universities from Hong Kong in June 2019 with an early prototype of "ClearBot". The HKU team, comprised of Angel Woo Chung-yu (BEng(CompSc)) , Utkarsh Goel (BEng(CompSc)), Ahmed Abbas Alvi (BEng(ME)), Ma Jiacheng (BSc(ActuarSc)) and Sidhant Gupta (BEng(CE)), was coached by Dr. Hayden Kwok-Hay So of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HKU through the support of the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing and the Gallant Ho Experiential Learning Fund. Upon winning the local competition, the HKU team was joined by Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Theresa Yip Man Yee from the City University of Hong Kong to form a Joint University Team of Hong Kong under the direction of Dr. So to compete as one of the China teams on the world stage.

The award-winning project, "ClearBot", represents a truly multi-disciplinary solution that puts heavy emphasis on the relationship between technology and the people who are most affected by this plastic epidemic. From the initial experiential learning trip to Bali, to the open-source software/hardware development model, the development of "ClearBot" remains hinged on the belief that real-world impact can only be achieved by engaging the target communities at every step.

HKU Dean of Engineering Professor Christopher Chao was delighted about the remarkable performance of the team. He said: "At HKU Engineering, we focus in nurturing students with an all-rounded development. Students are encouraged to acquire hands-on experience and equip themselves with a global outlook. We are delighted to see our students' achievements and growth in the international competition. The team truly demonstrated the power of collective wisdom."

Dr. Kit Chui, Director of Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing, said: "We emphasise on student experiential learning. It is definitely a remarkable experience for our students. We would also like to thank our donors, including Mr. and Mrs. Tam Wing Fan and our alumni for their supports throughout the project."

Professor Ching Pak Chung, President of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES), said: "HKAES strives to pursue, encourage and maintain excellence in the entire field of engineering to useful purpose in order to promote the advancement of the science, art and practice of engineering for the benefit of the public. We always fosters education and training of engineers. The student team had joined forces from various universities in Hong Kong and representing China in the national competition. We are proud to see their outstanding achievements in the GGCS 2019 Student Competition."

For more details about "ClearBot", please visit http://innowing.hk/clearbot/.

Background of GGCS 2019 can be found on the websites:
https://www.raeng.org.uk/ggcs2019
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/14500/31530.aspx

For media enquiries, please contact:
Dr. Hayden Kwok-Hay So, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Email: hso@eee.hku.hk)
Ms. Celia Lee, Faculty of Engineering, HKU (Tel: 3917 8519; Email: leecelia@hku.hk)