Science: Creating the Future 2

Referred to as the foundation of all sciences, mathematics has both abstract and practical aspects. In either aspect, it seeks the order in material world.

In this episode, Mr Denvid LAU, Professor from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering of City University of Hong Kong, is invited to introduce the mathematician Professor Ngai-ming MOK.

Professor MOK’s VMRT Theory is the simplest model for studying a certain spatial dimension. It has an important and seminal inspiration to future physics and mathematics. Apart from being a mathematician, Professor MOK is also a poet proficient in multiple languages. Not only do these two identities show no conflict, they are even complementing each other. Professor MOK explores the inner logic and abstract beauty of all things by drawing an analogy.

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“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” This famous quote of Newton means that scientists have passed on the torch of exploring the truth from generation to generation.

In this programme, four young scientists of Hong Kong were specially invited to introduce senior scientists in their respective research fields, as well as their major achievements. In this episode, Professor Kathy LUI from the Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is invited to introduce the innovative scientific research results of the molecular biologist Professor Dennis LO Yuk-ming, who is referred to as the “father” of Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT).

In the past, amniocentesis had to be performed for pregnant women in order to test whether the foetuses had genetic diseases. However, such an invasive diagnostic test might easily led to fetal injury or even miscarriages.

The researches of Professor Dennis LO Yuk-ming find that fetal DNA is present in the blood cells of pregnant women, which means that simply by taking blood samples from pregnant women, NIPT can test whether the foetuses have genetic diseases such as Down syndrome in a safe manner. After years of untiring researches and tests, this testing technology has been applied globally by more than 90 countries, benefitting more than 10 million pregnant women and babies every year.


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Mathematics is the foundation of science. It explores numbers, shapes and the inner structure of spaces. Computer science in a broad sense includes its theories, computer design, network communications, as well as AI application and other related sciences and technologies. It is closely related to the lives of modern people.

This year marks the ninth anniversary of the mega science event the “Future Science Prize”. The award ceremony will be held in Hong Kong again after the 2023 edition. The laureate of the Mathematics and Computer Science Prize this year is SUN Binyong, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics of Zhejiang University, who is only 48 years old.

“Groups” is an important milestone for modern mathematics research. Norwegian mathematician Sophus LIE discovered a special group from his research in functional equations 40 years ago. The group was named “Lie Group” and is widely applied in modern physics. Professor SUN carries on with the research on representation of Lie group, specifying the role of groups in linear space.

The Future Science Prize Award Ceremony will be held on 3 November this year at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Moreover, there will be a series of related activities such as popular science lectures, exhibition on the Prize and science symposiums for the public to better understand the develop...

Entering its ninth year, the Future Science Prize, an annual mega event for the scientific community, will be held in Hong Kong again this year.

ZHANG Tao, a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and LI Yadong, a professor at Tsinghua University, are jointly awarded the Physical Science Prize this year for their contribution to the research and development of Single-Atom Catalysis.

Catalysis is the use of catalysts to speed up chemical reactions. Professor ZHANG discovered the synthesis, characterisation, and catalytic properties of a single-atom Pt catalyst embedded in an FeOx substrate. Professor LI systematically advanced the deterministic and controlled synthesis of single-atom catalysts with structurally-defined morphology and coordination environment of the metal centre. Their research has important implications for future physical and biological research, and industrial manufacturing.


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The significance of science prizes lies not only in the recognition of the outstanding scientific research achievements of scientists, but also in the provision of a platform for mutual stimulation and inspiration, as well as promotion of the research achievements through popular science at all levels.

Entering its ninth year, the Future Science Prize, an annual mega event for the scientific community, will be held in Hong Kong again this year. DENG Hongkui, the Boya Chair Professor of Peking University and Leading Scientist of Changping Laboratory, is awarded the Life Science Prize this year. Professor DENG is dedicated to the research on stem cells and regenerative medicine. His “cell reprogramming” technology has pathbreaking implications for the treatment of chronic illnesses.


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