School of Energy and Environment,
City University of Hong Kong
I feel greatly honored to write a short message to congratulate SEE on its 15th anniversary. The School was founded in 2009 following the vision of the then President, Prof. Way Kuo, to meet the challenge of the two most important subjects that the world faces: energy and environment.
On the education side, we established the first Bachelor of Engineering in Energy Science and Engineering in Hong Kong that is accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. The objective is to nurture future engineers who can have a holistic perspective in tackling the pressing issues of renewable energies, energy efficiency and conservation, climate change and environmental protection. Many of the graduates from this programme have already contributed substantially to these problems and some have also become Chartered engineers.
Because we have always recruited faculty of very high caliber, currently with over 30 members, our research programmes, focusing on advancing our knowledge in energy, environment and sustainability, have also flourished. I am really glad to see that the research funding support for our faculty has increased substantially and many of our faculty are top researchers in their respective fields.
Looking forward, with global warming making its ever-increasing impacts throughout the world, academics must help address the three aspects related to climate change: science, mitigation (carbon reduction) and adaptation (risk and resilience), which fit perfectly into the expertise of the SEE faculty. I am therefore fully confident that in the next 15 years, SEE will continue to be a leading international academic unit in these areas.
School of Energy and Environment,
City University of Hong Kong
It is wonderful to add to the School of Energy and Environment’s celebrations. I first visited the School in 2012 and joined it more formally a year later. It was a period of great excitement as new office and laboratory spaces were developed. The growing number of faculty members formulated imaginative research plans, with many successful in gaining research grants. These were exciting beginnings to a School that continues to contribute so much.
School of Energy and Environment,
City University of Hong Kong
Congrats SEE on your 15th Anniversary. I am humbled to have served as the second Dean of SEE. Thanks to our colleagues and the support of the University, SEE had tremendous growth in terms of number of students and programs, faculty and staff size, laboratory and office space, and our grants, especially in industrially related funding during this period.
I always promoted “SEE” as Sustainability, Energy, and Environment. Although our name remains as SEE, it is all about sustainability, which resonates with the newly established IMPACT ranking of the Times Higher Education. SEE has undoubtedly made lots of contributions to CityU THES IMPACT ranking, much of which owe to our unique combination of Energy and Environment. Our success builds on the interdisciplinary nature to include policies and business, in addition to science and technology. This reminds me that the New York Times has a section of “Energy and Environment” under its “Business” section. Also, many world-leading universities from Columbia to Yale have combined Energy and Environment in their programs. We are leading a global trend.
SEE achievements are not just about numbers and rankings. We have garnered a unique “brand” in higher education in HK and our graduates are “industry ready”, thanks to our special curricula. Industries and HK Government found SEE the venue to recruit and consult on talents and policies in "SEE". Our alumni, conversant confidently in both technical and social aspects, will be some of the best ambassadors of SEE/CityU in the years to come. We are proud to train graduates with a broader view beyond science and technology and be compassionate global citizens who care about the needs of people, especially those who are less privileged.
Fifteen years is not a short time. In human time scale, we are in adolescence. We are dynamic, creative, willing to take (or not even knowing about) risks, perhaps naughty and not adhering to what our parents want, but with lots of energy and passion to explore and venture into something new, and to make a difference to society and its people. Our future is for us to shape, but we need to firmly adhere to the principle that we are here to benefit people and their habitat, which is what impact is all about.
May I wish SEE another vibrant and fruitful 15 years.
Greetings from Saudi Arabia
School of Energy and Environment,
City University of Hong Kong
First of all, my heartfelt congratulations to faculty members, staff, students, and alumni on the 15th Anniversary of the School.
I joined the School relatively recently and have enjoyed my time with colleagues, students, alumni, and friends. The School of Energy and Environment has had a unique mission from the very beginning. Our founding Dean and his successor have done an excellent job leading the School from its inception to its current prominent position as one of the leading schools in the world. I am proud of the achievements our School has made in the fields of energy conversion, storage, and management; marine, water, and wastewater treatment; climate change and air quality control; solid waste and valorization; biorefinery; and environmental, societal, and governance issues. More than half of our faculty members have been recognized as the top 2% most influential scientists globally, according to an analysis by Stanford based on metrics from Scopus. For the internal ranking based on ten KPIs, our School has been steadily climbing each year toward excellence.
We have every reason to feel happy and to celebrate our 15th Anniversary. I am pleased to see the steady growth of our undergraduate, taught postgraduate, and PhD programs. For a relatively small School, we manage four major undergraduate programs and three minor programs. We also launched a flagship program (INSPIRE). The three streams of our taught postgraduate program are ready to meet the ever-increasing demand for advanced education in energy and the environment. The large number of research projects and funding ensures robust support for our PhD program. This success is not possible without the dedicated hard work of our colleagues and staff. It is also due to the collaboration with our colleagues from other academic units at CityU. Our industrial network and alumni around the globe have made great contributions to our School by donating scholarships, giving guest lectures, and providing opportunities for our students and recent graduates.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for building the School and especially for your support during my deanship. Looking ahead, I am confident that the School of Energy and Environment will continue to build on this remarkable legacy of achievement. By remaining at the forefront of innovation, empowering future changemakers, and amplifying its global influence, the School is poised to make an even more profound and lasting impact in the decades to come.
Cheers!
School of Energy and Environment and Chair Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,
Department of Chemistry,
Director of State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution,
City University of Hong Kong
I am filled with immense pride and gratitude to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) and its accomplishments with our students, alumni, staff, partners and supporters. Over the past 15 years, our commitment to high quality education as well as excellent and impactful research has remained steadfast. In 2025, we will launch a new undergraduate programme, the Bachelor of Science in Environment and Sustainable Business (BScESB), underscoring our dedication to nurture future leaders in the field of ESG (i.e., Environmental-Social-Governance).
We will also kick start our flagship programme called INSPIRE (i.e., International Sustainability Programme for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship) in September 2025, aiming to provide exemplary students with a comprehensive and globally focused education in energy and environmental engineering. As an extension of our existing BEng Programme, INSPIRE will incorporate enhanced overseas study experiences in top universities, internship opportunities, research components, mentorship support and entrepreneurial training. Hopefully, this new programme will attract more elite students to join our education programme, and will cultivate a globally-minded community of young leaders dedicated to addressing pressing environmental challenges.
Our emphasis on international collaboration and student development has been a cornerstone of our success. Our School have also recently recruited two Distinguished Visiting Professors, namely Professor James Durrant, FRS, from Imperial College London, and Professor Elise Sunderland from Harvard University. They will provide opportunities for our PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to collaborate with them and work in their laboratories, enriching their learning experience and propelling us to new heights of knowledge advancement and scientific discovery.
In terms of our research excellence, I am particularly proud of our faculty members' achievements, with 20 individuals recognized among the Top 2% Most Cited Researchers worldwide (by the Stanford-Elsevier Indicators). Their outstanding achievements in research and innovation, which are highlighted by numerous patents, highly cited papers, and prestigious awards, exemplify our collective pursuit of knowledge and innovation for supporting sustainable development.
Looking ahead, we are poised to welcome more international students, expand exchange opportunities for our local students, and forge new partnerships with industry and leading institutions in the region and beyond. By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that nurtures creativity and collaboration, we are paving the way for a future where sustainability and environmental stewardship are at the forefront of our endeavours.
To all who have contributed to the success of the SEE, I extend my deepest gratitude. Your unwavering support and dedication have been instrumental in shaping SEE into the beacon of excellence it is today.
As we commemorate this milestone anniversary, let us reaffirm our commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
With heartfelt gratitude and best wishes for the continued success of SEE!