Inspired by the legacy of the Nobel Prize
Programme Overview:
A signature annual event that brings together HKU scholars and students, inspired by the legacy of the Nobel Prize. This week features inspiring talks, interactive sessions, and opportunities to engage with outstanding researchers across the fields of Physics, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences. Participants will also have the chance to compete for limited seats to visit Stockholm for a direct dialogue with Nobel Laureates for the upcoming years.
Discover 5 Advanced Academic Topics in:
- Metal-Organic Frameworks
- Cancer Heterogeneity Analysis
- Quantum Physics
- Optical Pulses & Science of Light
- Material Science
Exclusive Member Privilege: we invite our members to join this series of workshops FREE of charge, while applications from non-member students are still acceptable.
Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 1
Lecture Title: Metal-Organic Frameworks and Beyond
Date: November 10, 2025 (Monday)
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Hong Kong Time)
Speaker: Professor LEE Seungkyu (Assistant Professor of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong)
Abstract:
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi for their pioneering contributions to the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). This lecture will trace the historical evolution of MOFs and highlight how each of the three laureates shaped the field. The fundamental concepts, synthetic strategies, and key properties of MOFs will be discussed, followed by an overview of their progression from academic discovery to industrial application. The lecture will conclude with perspectives on future directions in MOF research. Special emphasis will be placed on the work of Prof. Omar Yaghi, who served as the PhD supervisor of Prof. Seungkyu Lee. Personal stories, his scientific philosophy, and collaborative research between Prof. Yaghi and Prof. Lee will also be shared.
Speaker’s Profile:
Professor Lee Seungkyu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, and an HKU-100 Scholar at The University of Hong Kong. He received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, under the supervision of Professor Omar M. Yaghi, where he published a first-author paper in Science on the design and synthesis of new metal–organic frameworks. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research with Professor Chad A. Mirkin at Northwestern University, during which he authored a first-author paper in Nature on advanced nanomaterials. Professor Lee’s research focuses on the design, synthesis, and structural elucidation of porous crystalline materials for energy-related applications. His scientific excellence has been recognized through multiple honors, including the International Institute for Nanotechnology Outstanding Research Award (2020).
Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 2
Lecture Title: Unlocking Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Cancer Using Single-cell Analysis
Date: November 11, 2025 (Tuesday)
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Hong Kong Time)
Speaker: Professor Alice WONG (Chair Professor of School of Biological Sciences; Associate Vice-President (Research), Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong)
Abstract:
Tumour metastasis represents a major clinical challenge, and understanding the underlying mechanisms is therefore obviously important. In all cancer types, intratumor heterogeneity, the coexistence of different subpopulations of cancer cells in a tumour, has a profound impact on tumour progression and therapeutic resistance. While genetic heterogeneity is well defined, little is known about the effect of phenotypic heterogeneity in driving the clinical progression of the tumour. Professor Wong and her team have successfully developed an isogenic ovarian cancer model with different metastatic properties to overcome the limitations of current approaches on the lack of a tightly controlled, representative cell model and enable a robust framework to unravel key molecules mediating metastasis. In the lecture, Professor Wong will present her recent work that reveals unprecedented mechanistic insights into the growth advantage and immune cross-talks brought about by tumour heterogeneity leading to metastatic success. These results have great translational implications in effective cancer treatment.
Speaker’s Profile:
Professor Alice Wong is internationally renowned for her work in signal transduction in cancer, focusing on cell adhesion molecules that are vital for physiological processes, which, when deregulated, contribute to cancer progression. She has made numerous groundbreaking contributions with significant translational applications, supported by innovation and technology awards. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. Her numerous prestigious awards also include the Women in Cancer Research – Brigid G. Leventhal Scholar Award, AACR Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology Young Investigator Award, HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award, Croucher Senior Research Fellowship, and she currently holds the RGC Senior Research Fellowship.
Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 3
Lecture Title: The Strangeness of Quantum Physics
Date: November 12, 2025 (Wednesday)
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Hong Kong Time)
Speaker: Professor Shizhong ZHANG (Professor of Department of Physics; Associate Head of Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong)
Abstract:
It is now well established that our world is governed by quantum mechanics, which describes not only the microscopic world of atoms and molecules but also macroscopic objects like metals and superconductors. It underpins the modern semiconductor industry, and it is fair to say that much of what we enjoy today relies at some level on quantum mechanics. However, quantum mechanics is a very strange theory that deviates in significant ways from our classical conception of the world. In this talk, Professor Zhang will explain the basics of quantum mechanics and highlight some oddities of quantum mechanics. Certain macroscopic phenomena, such as superconductivity and superfluidity, that rely on quantum mechanics in a fundamental way, will also be discussed.
Speaker’s Profile:
Professor Shizhong Zhang works on the general area of low temperature physics, particularly those related to the laser-cooled atoms and molecules. He is interested in quantum mean-body physics for which the interaction between constitutive ingredients fundamentally changes the properties of the system from that of a single atom. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University and his PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is currently a professor of physics at the University of Hong Kong.
Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 4
Lecture Title: Insights into Material Behavior at the Electronic and Atomic Scales
Date: November 13, 2025 (Thursday)
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Hong Kong Time)
Speaker: Prof. Yue Chen (Associate Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong)
Abstract:
New materials are fundamental to many cutting-edge technologies. Understanding their behaviors is essential for enhancing their performance. By examining materials at the electronic level, we can gain a deeper understanding of various properties, including electrical, chemical, optical, and mechanical characteristics. Once the electronic structure is known, the interactions between atoms can also be directly calculated. In this presentation, we will discuss different types of materials and their key intrinsic mechanisms, focusing on the role of electron mechanics.
Speaker’s Profile:
Prof. Chen is an elected Fellow of UK’s Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed journal publications and presented invited papers around the globe. He studied at Oxford University and Beihang University and received his PhD degree in 2010. After completing his postdoctoral training at Columbia University in the City of New York, he joined the University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor in 2014, being promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. His research focuses on materials physics for electrical and thermal transport, including electronic structures and lattice dynamics.
Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 5
Lecture Title: Advances in Optics: Empowering Communication and Imaging Technologies
Date: November 14, 2025 (Friday)
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Hong Kong Time)
Speaker: Prof. Kenneth K. Y. Wong (Professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong)
Abstract:
Optics is the essential driver of advancements in optical communications and imaging, enabling faster data transfer and high-resolution visualization that are vital for modern technology and healthcare. For example, the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics recognized Donna Strickland for her pioneering work on chirped pulse amplification, which revolutionized laser technology. Additionally, Charles Kao was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2009 for his groundbreaking contributions to optical fiber technology. These achievements highlight the transformative influence of light-based innovations in information transfer and imaging systems. Continued research in optics is poised to further enhance communication networks and medical diagnostics, underscoring their central role in scientific and technological progress.
Speaker’s Profile:
Kenneth K. Y. Wong is a professor and former Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. He has received numerous awards, including the Best Teacher Award (2005-06), Outstanding Young Researcher (2008-09), and Outstanding Research Student Supervisor (2018-19). He is an Associate Editor of Optica and has served on the Publications Committee of SPIE, as well as an editor for IEEE Photonics Technology Letters and Optics Express. A senior IEEE member and recent SPIE and Optica Fellow, he also co-taught a course at MIT during the 2009-10 academic year and is the former Chair of the IEEE Hong Kong Section.
Programme Details:
- Programme Period: 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14, November 2025
- Class Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Hong Kong Time)
- Targeted Audience: S.3-5 / Grade 9-11 / Year 10-12 students
- Programme Fee: HKD100 (Academy Members will be granted full scholarship to join this webinar series)
- Application Fee: HKD60 (Non-refundable)
- Delivery Mode of Programme: Online via Zoom
- Programme Code:
- ACT260503A – Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 1
- ACT260503B – Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 2
- ACT260503C – Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 3
- ACT260503D – Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 4
- ACT260503E – Nobel Science Week Workshop Series 5
- Application Deadline: November 6, 2025 (Thursday), 15:00 HKT
*Students are welcome to join one or more webinar series sessions depending on individual needs and interests.
Application and Registration:
- Register an account through https://actstudentapp.hku.hk/student and log into the application system after receiving the email activation link. If you already have an account, you can log in directly.
- Select “Apply Now” under “2026 Application”.
- Fill in your personal information and academic profile.
- Go to “Programme Selection” to add programme “ACT260503A/B/C/D/E”.
- Upload scanned copies of the required supporting documents and other application materials.
- Click “Confirm & Submit”.
For further details, please refer to the Application Guide.
*Disclaimer: Programme contents and formats are subject to change. The programme is subject to cancellation if there are insufficient applications. Programme fees and application fees are non-refundable.