Introduction
We are living in a transformative time driven by technology, while also facing imperative global grand challenges that closely affect the life of every one of us, for examples, climate change, energy problem, sustainable city development, and health and wellbeing of both individuals and the society as a whole. In the Department of Physics at HKBU, our research and education programs center around the great opportunities offered by these grand challenges. And we see scientific research and technology innovation are the key for seeking solutions to tackle these grand challenges.
The Physics Department advances basic science and innovative technology by conducting both fundamental and applied research. Our cutting-edge, world-class research efforts are in two major areas: (1) Advanced Materials, and (2) Biophysics & Complex Systems. Our faculty members publish research findings in top journals, e.g., Science, Nature Physics, Nature Chemistry, Advanced Materials, PNAS, and Phys Rev Lett. And the Department is also highly adept in translating research findings into patents, inventions and start-up companies. Three multi-departmental and interdisciplinary institutes and research centres are being led by faculty members in the physics department. These include: Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Institute for Computational and Theoretical Studies (ICTS), and Research Centre of Excellence for Organic Electronics. Our research programme is vibrant and has successfully trained highly competitive postgraduate students with career paths in science, technology and broad disciplines that require quantitative and analytical skills.
Our undergraduate programme educates students with knowledge and skills of both basic science and innovative technology, which enables them to solve problems in the contemporary world. Starting in the academic year (AY) 22-23, the Department will offer a revised BSc programme titled BSc (Hons) in Green Energy and Smart Technology (GEST), which will replace the current BSc (Hons) programme in Physics and Green Energy. All incoming Year-1 students from AY22-23 and onward will be able to select GEST as one of the majors offered by the Faculty of Science. In the taught Master programme, we offer a 1-year MSc programme in Green Technology (Energy). There are close interactions between teachers and students throughout classroom, labs, and independent projects. Both BSc and MSc programmes offer foundational and practical training for tackling the global energy challenges, aiming to nurture young professionals that can develop and implement green and smart technology-driven approaches for the rapidly growing demand of the society in smart and net-zero carbon city development. With in-depth knowledge and skills in green energy generation, smart energy storage and distribution, carbon audit, energy audit and energy management, graduates can secure jobs in the energy, environmental, education, and government sectors.
Brief history
The department started as Department of Mathematics and Physics in 1956 and was privately funded. In 1970, the two disciplines became independent and Department of Physics was formally established. The university, then as Hong Kong Baptist College, was fully funded by the Hong Kong government in 1983. Research in the department becomes more active when in 1990s the Hong Kong government began to increase research funding in tertiary institute. This coincides with the renaming of the university as Hong Kong Baptist University in 1994.
Size and scale
The Department has about 15 faculty members and around 100 students.
Teaching programmes
- BSc (Hons) in Green Energy and Smart Technology
- BSc (Hons) in Physics and Green Energy (no longer admit new students)
- MSc in Green Technology (Energy)
- Research-based MPhil and PhD programmes
In the long-cherished tradition of the University and the modest size of the Department, the student-staff relationship is exceptionally close. We have regular visits from alumni. In 2009 the Physics Alumni Association was formed to foster closer tie with our alumni and also enable the Department to have a formal basis to keep in contact with our alumni.