CityUHK X Sino Grand Challenges Scholars Program (CityUHK X Sino GCSP)

Overview

More than 120 U.S. engineering schools announced plans to educate a new generation of engineers expressly equipped to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing society in the 21st century. 14 Grand Challenges (GC) are identified through initiates including the White House Strategy for American Innovation, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges for Engineering, and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The GCs are a call to action and serve as a focal point for society's attention to opportunities and challenges affecting our quality of life.

The CityUHK X Sino GCSP is a combined curricular and extra-curricular elements to prepare students to be the future engineers and scientists that solves the 14 GCs facing the world in this century. The elements will be embedded into the curriculum so as to maximize the learning experience of students, through participation in research projects, Entrepreneurship schemes, interdisciplinary courses, service learning activities and overseas exchange program. The program was endorsed by the NAE in February 2009.

For further information about GCSP (NAE), please visit the website below:

NAE Grand Challenges Scholars Program

Grand Challenges for Engineering (Video)

Application
Program Requirements
Download Area

Application

Requirements

All CENG students are welcomed to apply for GCSP.
Students can work individually or in groups for the Summer Research Projects.
- Multi-disciplinary topics of the Summer Research projects are recommended.
- For students who work in groups, members from different CENG departments and different years are recommended.
- Students from different colleges are welcomed to join the Summer Research Projects.

Application Timeline

Stages	Requirements	Timeline
One	A Statement of Commitment (Not more than 1000 words) Identify the chosen Grand Challenge(s) and explain the vision. Explain how your portfolio will address the issue. A brief Research Proposal (Optional) Describe the research proposal and explain how it aligns with the selected Grand Challenge(s). A copy of transcript demonstrating CGPA 2.7 or above. At least one recommendation from your CENG faculty mentor^^.	November
Two	After receiving the conditional offers, applicants have to submit a detailed Research Proposal, a Curricular Plan and a Budget Plan (Optional) for the Summer Research Project** to the steering committee within two months. Offers to enter GCSP and/or the Summer Research Project will be announced in April.	March

Remark

* Applicants will receive a conditional offer once the application is accepted by the steering committee.

^ First year students can provide the transcript in Semester B, when the examination results are released.

^^ Students could invite a faculty member to be his/her mentor from the GCSP website (not inclusive). Students may approach the College (Email: ceng.office@cityu.edu.hk; Tel: 3442 4133) if they have difficulties finding a faculty mentor.

** Applicants who want to apply for the Summer Research Project subsidy are required to complete the Budget plan.

Program Requirements

Curricular Components

Components	Requirements
Research Experience	Complete EACH of the following: Perform a two-semester long Final Year Project (FYP) with the topic related to at least one of the 14 Grand Challenges and submit a final report and a poster; and Conduct a two-month summer research project* (minimum of 120 hours) with the theme related to one of the 14 Grand Challenges and submit a final report, a logbook and a poster. *Students who already have other equivalent research exposure could apply for exemption from the summer research project.
Interdisciplinary Curriculum	Complete at least 4 GE courses from an approved list: Courses need to demonstrate the interdisciplinary component (i.e. minimum one course each from Area 1, 2 and 3) and relationship with the chosen Grand Challenge(s).
Entrepreneurship	Complete the following: Participate in at least one business plan (e.g. HK Tech 300) / pitching competition and submit a reflective essay to articulate the linkage between the experience and the chosen Grand Challenge after completion of the competition.
Global Dimension	Complete ONE of the following activities: Overseas Student Exchange Program Overseas Internship Scheme (OIS) Cultural and Language Immersion Scheme (CALIS) Overseas Study Tours Overseas Summer School Overseas Competition And, submit a reflective essay to articulate the linkage between the global experience and the Grand Challenge.
Service Learning	Complete ONE of the following activities: Community Engagement Programme (CEP) Minimum of 30 hours of services Submit a report to the faculty mentor to reflect on the overall experience Servant Leadership Training Program (SLTP) Meet the requirements laid down by the SLTP Obtain endorsement on the completion of the program Engineers Without Borders Global Citizenship Program (EWB GCP) Meet the requirements laid down by the EWB GCP Obtain endorsement on the completion of the program Other service learning activities related to the 14 Grand Challenges Prior approval needs to be sought from the steering committee Minimum of 30 hours of services Submit a report to the faculty mentor to reflect on the overall experience

*Courses listed below are examples only. Please select the course(s) NOT offered by your home department. (Students may consult the committee for other choices outside the list).

Areas of Study	Subject Code	Subject Name
Area 1: Arts and Humanities	GE1102	Cinema: East and West
	GE1105	Chinese Music Appreciation
	GE1113	Visual Storytelling and Cultural Thinking
	GE1117	Music and Human Values – Philosophical Investigations
	GE1120	Thinking Philosophically: Bridging the Gap between Arts and Sciences
	GE1125	Architecture and Space in Chinese Culture
	GE1137	Movies and Psychology
	GE2105	Popular Culture
	GE2109	Love, Sex, and Relationships: Psychological Perspectives
	GE2120	Asian Values and Managerial Practices
	GE2128	The Sounds of the World’s Languages
	GE2129	Psychology for Young Professionals
	GE2134	Critical and Creative Thinking
Area 2: Study of Societies, Social and Business Organizations	GE1201	Information Management and its Social Impact
	GE1202	Managing Your Personal Finance
	GE1205	Green Economics
	GE1220	Enhancing Your Service Leadership for the 21st Century
	GE1222	Contemporary Accounting
	GE1223	Public Health Communication
	GE2204	Business Ethics and Society
	GE2211	Sexuality, Culture and Diversity
	GE2220	Sustainable Business: Doing Good Business While Doing Good
	GE2223	Interpersonal Skills and Positive Personal Development
	GE2227	Preservation and Revitalization of Buildings with Heritage Value inside City Environments
	GE2230	Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Global Business
	GE2231	Business, Media and Society
	GE2239	Food: Culture, Science and Society
	GE2256	Applications of Game Theory to Business
	GE2258	Introduction to Economics
	GE2260	Introduction to Finance
	GE3202	Citizen Journalism and Civil Society
Area 3: Science and Technology	GE1301	Climate Change and Extreme Weather
	GE1305	Foundation Physics
	GE1337	Urban Green City: Pollution and Solution
	GE1338	Imaging Strategies in Science and Technology
	GE1339	Wireless Connectivity in Modern Society
	GE1340	Materials, Civilization and Modern Development
	GE1341	Life and Health
	GE1342	Light: from Double Rainbows to Optical Fibers
	GE1350	Essential Mathematics in Daily Life
	GE1352	How Your Brain Works
	GE1354	Introduction to Electronic Design
	GE2301	Science and Technology: Fascinating Mechanical Engineering
	GE2303	Save the Earth: Sustainable Development
	GE2306	Energy and Technology
	GE2322	The Nobel Prize: A Discovery Approach to Human Greatness
	GE2324	The Art and Science of Data
	GE2329	Green Buildings: Discovery & Innovations
	GE2333	The Science of Cosmetics

Suggested Curricular Plan

Year of study	Suggested Curricular Plan
Year 2	Submit application in the first/second semester Successful candidates will receive conditional offer Take relevant Gateway Education courses in Areas 1-3 to fulfil “interdisciplinary curriculum” requirement Participate in service learning activities (if applicable) Submit Annual Progress Report
Year 2/3	Submit detailed Research Proposal and Curricular Plan to the assessment panel (Second semester of Year 2) Successful candidates will receive offer to GCSP Continue to take relevant Gateway Education courses in Areas 1-3 to fulfill “interdisciplinary curriculum” requirement Participate in entrepreneurship contests/competitions Participate in at least one cross cultural activity Participate in service learning activities Conduct the proposed 2-month summer research project during Year 2 or Year 3 summer. Submit Annual Progress Reports
Year 4	Complete Final Year Project (FYP) Complete any requirements of the 5 components which have not been fulfilled. Submit Annual Progress Report Notify committee about the completion of the program. Submit final portfolio and reflective essay to demonstrate how the learning and activities carried out in the five components relate to the selected Grand Challenge

Summer Research Project

Each GCSP scholar has to complete a two-month summer research project/equivalent research project in order to fulfil the component of “Research Experience”. It can be an individual or a group project.

Composition of Each Group Project

Maximum three students in each group.
Justifications for manpower needs have to be made by indicating workload of each member in the research proposal.
Each group can be comprised of students from different years, Departments, Schools/Colleges*.
The leader of each group must be a GCSP scholar.

Priority will be given to groups with more than 50% CENG students.

Budget

The College may provide subsidy to summer research project. Reimbursement after the successful completion of the project will apply.
Materials subsidy per group cap at HK$1,000 on reimbursement basis (Justifications have to be made).
Additional resources may be provided to overseas project.
- For overseas project in Chinese Mainland, 50% of the total travel expense or $2,000, whichever is lower may be subsidized on a case-by case basis.
- For overseas project in any other places, 50% of the total travel expense or $4,000, whichever is lower may be subsidized on a case-by case basis.

Selection Criteria

The originality of the Research Project.
The alignment between the Research Project and the 14 Grand Challenges.
Multi-discipline topics addressing the Grand Challenges are recommended.

Outcome of Each Project

Complete a minimum of 120 hours of research for each project.
Approved by one or more GCSP mentors.
Submit a final report, a poster and a log book for recording research progress to the Steering Committee by mid-September. 
*No allowance will be provided if students fail to submit a final report, a poster and a log book.
Selected projects will be presented in the Discovery and Innovation Gala.

Important Notes

GCSP scholars (Year 2 or above) have to submit a detailed proposal, a detailed curricular plan and/or a budget plan for the summer research project to the Steering Committee by early April.
Results for Stage Two application and summer research project subsidy will be announced in May.
The summer research project is expected to begin after the examination.
GCSP scholars have to contact their mentors before starting the research project, and should meet their mentors regularly during summer.

Curricular Components

Suggested Curricular Plan

Summer Research Project

Download Area

Summmer Research Project Final Report

Summer Research Project Logbook

Reflective Essay

Preliminary Research Proposal ( Stage One Application )

Application Form

Annual Progress Report

Five Curricular Components

Component	Description
Hands-on Project or Research Experience	Related to a Grand Challenge
Interdisciplinary Curriculum	A curriculum that complements engineering fundamentals with courses in other fields, preparing engineering students to work at the overlap with public policy, business, law, ethics, human behavior, risk, and the arts, as well as medicine and the sciences
Entrepreneurship	Preparing students to translate invention to innovation; to develop market ventures that scale to global solutions in the public interest
Global Dimension	Developing the students’ global perspective necessary to address challenges that are inherently global as well as to lead innovation in a global economy
Service Learning	Developing and deepening students’ social consciousness and their motivation to bring their technical expertise to bear on societal problems through mentored experiential learning with real clients

A well-connected program would be one where a single component can be linked to one or more of the other components; e.g., interning at an organization (Entrepreneurship) and/or performing research (Research experience) on global health or clean energy (Grand Challenge(s) / Service Learning).
Each GC scholar should select or be assigned a faculty mentor to monitor student progress and ensure thematic continuity and connectivity.

14 Grand Challenges

Sustainability Grand Challenge Theme

Health Grand Challenge Theme

Security Grand Challenge Theme

Joy of Living Grand Challenge Theme

The Steering Committee

Chairman

Name	Position Title & Department	Email	Tel. No.	Office
Professor Jian Lu	Dean College of Engineering		(852) 3442-4889	YEUNG-B6502

Program Director

Name	Position Title & Department	Email	Tel. No.	Office
Professor H P Chan, Andy	Associate Professor Department of Electrical Engineering		(852) 3442-8444	YEUNG-G6512

Deputy Program Director

Name	Position Title & Department	Email	Tel. No.	Office
Professor Chit Kit Siu	Associate Professor Department of Chemistry		(852) 3442-2272	YEUNG-P5105
Professor Minming Li	Associate Dean (Education) College of Computing		(852) 3442-9538	YEUNG-Y6316

Committee Member

Name	Position Title & Department	Tel. No.	Office
Professor Mei-yung Leung	Associate Professor Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering	(852) 3442-7142	YEUNG-B6426
Professor Jijian Xu	Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry	(852) 3442-4679	YEUNG-P5316
Professor Nan Guan	Professor Department of Computer Science	(852) 3442-7149	YEUNG-Y7719
Professor Raymond Wong	Professor Department of Computer Science	(852) 3442-8624	YEUNG-Y6319
Professor Yu Yang	Associate Professor Department of Data Science	(852) 3442-4035	LAU-16-277
Professor Xiangyu Zhao	Associate Professor Department of Data Science	(852) 3442-5242	LAU-16-282
Professor Albert Sung	Associate Professor Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-9373	YEUNG-G6354
Professor Chan Hung Shek	Professor Department of Materials Science and Engineering	(852) 3442-7798	BOC-R7175
Professor W C Ho, Daniel	Chair Professor of Applied Mathematics Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-8652	YEUNG-Y5134
Professor Wing Cheong Lo	Associate Professor Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-2578	YEUNG-Y5139
Professor Changhong Linghu	Presidential Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering	(852) 3442-2759	YEUNG-B6703
Professor Condon Lau	Associate Professor Department of Physics	(852) 3442-7882	YEUNG-G5140
Professor Xiaohan Du	Assistant Professor Department of Systems Engineering	(852) 3442-8306	YEUNG-P6616

Faculty Mentors

14 Grand Challenges

Sustainability Grand Challenge Theme

Grand Challenges	Name	Department	Email	Tel. No.	Office
1. Make solar energy economical	Professor Mei-yung Leung	Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering		(852) 3442-7142	YEUNG-B6426
	Professor Wing Shing Chan	Department of Electrical Engineering		(852) 3442-7804	YEUNG-G6360
	Professor Roy He	Department of Mathematics		(852) 3442-2964	YEUNG-Y5129
	Professor Ya Yan Lu	Department of Mathematics		(852) 3442-7436	YEUNG-Y5136
	Professor Yinghao Chu	Department of Systems Engineering		(852) 3442-4703	YEUNG-G6607
2. Provide energy from fusion	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
3. Develop carbon sequestration methods	Professor Chi Kit Siu, Andy	Department of Chemistry		(852) 3442-2272	YEUNG-P5105
3. Develop carbon sequestration methods	Professor Roy He	Department of Mathematics		(852) 3442-2964	YEUNG-Y5129
4. Manage the Nitrogen Cycle	Professor Roy He	Department of Mathematics		(852) 3442-2964	YEUNG-Y5129
5. Provide access to clean water	Professor Ting Hsuan Chen, Cecil	Department of Biomedical Engineering		(852) 3442-4114	YEUNG-P6415

Health Grand Challenge Theme

Grand Challenges	Name	Department	Tel. no.	Office
6. Advance health informatics	Professor Minming Li	Department of Computer Science	(852) 3442-9538	YEUNG-Y6316
	Professor Shuaicheng Li	Department of Computer Science	(852) 3442-9412	YEUNG-G6520
	Professor Arindam Basu	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-6077	YEUNG-G6410
	Professor Ho Man Chan, Rosa	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-7651	YEUNG-G6356
	Professor Wing Shing Chan	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-7804	YEUNG-G6360
	Professor Wing Cheong Lo	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-2578	YEUNG-Y5139
	Professor Weiyin Ma	Department of Mechanical Engineering	(852) 3442-9548	YEUNG-G6717
7. Engineer better medicines	Professor Ting Hsuan Chen, Cecil	Department of Biomedical Engineering	(852) 3442-4114	YEUNG-P6415
	Professor Hongyan Sun	Department of Chemistry	(852) 3442-9537	YEUNG-P5317
	Professor Ho Man Chan, Rosa	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-7651	YEUNG-G6356
	Professor Wing Cheong Lo	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-2578	YEUNG-Y5139
8. Reverse-engineer the brain	Professor Antoni B Chan	Department of Computer Science	(852) 3442-6509	YEUNG-G7311
	Professor Arindam Basu	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-6077	YEUNG-G6410
	Professor Ho Man Chan, Rosa	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-7651	YEUNG-G6356
	Professor Roy He	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-2964	YEUNG-Y5129
	Professor Hongyu Liu	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-7155	YEUNG-Y5133

Security Grand Challenge Theme

Grand Challenges	Name	Department	Email	Tel. no.	Office
9. Prevent nuclear terror	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
10. Secure cyberspace	Professor Gerhard Petrus Hancke	Department of Computer Science		(852) 3442-9341	YEUNG-G7307
11. Restore and improve urban infrastructure	Professor Mei-yung Leung	Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering		(852) 3442-7142	YEUNG-B6426
11. Restore and improve urban infrastructure	Professor Cheng Liu	Department of Systems Engineering		(852) 3442-8431	YEUNG-Y6618

Joy of Living Grand Challenge Theme

Grand Challenges	Name	Department	Tel. no.	Office
12. Enhance virtual reality	Professor Arindam Basu	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-6077	YEUNG-G6410
	Professor Ho Man Chan, Rosa	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-7651	YEUNG-G6356
	Professor Roy He	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-2964	YEUNG-Y5129
	Professor Hongyu Liu	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-7155	YEUNG-Y5133
	Professor Xiaosheng Zhuang	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-5942	YEUNG-Y5105
	Professor Weiyin Ma	Department of Mechanical Engineering	(852) 3442-9548	YEUNG-G6717
13. Advance personalized learning	Professor Minming Li	Department of Computer Science	(852) 3442-9538	YEUNG-Y6316
	Professor Shuaicheng Li	Department of Computer Science	(852) 3442-9412	YEUNG-G6520
	Professor Ho Man Chan, Rosa	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-7651	YEUNG-G6356
	Professor Roy He	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-2964	YEUNG-Y5129
	Professor Hongyu Liu	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-7155	YEUNG-Y5133
14. Engineer the tools of scientific discovery	Professor Ting Hsuan Chen, Cecil	Department of Biomedical Engineering	(852) 3442-4114	YEUNG-P6415
	Professor Chi Kit Siu, Andy	Department of Chemistry	(852) 3442-2272	YEUNG-P5105
	Professor Hongyan Sun	Department of Chemistry	(852) 3442-9537	YEUNG- P5317
	Professor Arindam Basu	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-6077	YEUNG-G6410
	Professor Hau Ping Andy Chan	Department of Electrical Engineering	(852) 3442-8444	YEUNG-G6512
	Professor Roy He	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-2964	YEUNG-Y5129
	Professor Hongyu Liu	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-7155	YEUNG-Y5133
	Professor Wing Cheong Lo	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-2578	YEUNG-Y5139
	Professor Xiaosheng Zhuang	Department of Mathematics	(852) 3442-5942	YEUNG-Y5105
	Professor Xiaoyan Zhong	Department of Materials Science and Engineering	(852) 3442-6850	BOC-R7124
	Professor Xiaohan Du	Department of Systems Engineering	(852) 3442-8306	YEUNG-P6616

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