Recent Activities
Last update: 2/3/2017
2017.3.1
Areas of Excellence Scheme 2016/17 (Seventh Round) Funding - Center for Genomic Studies on Plant-Environment Interaction for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
Participating UGC-funded Universities: CUHK, HKBU,HKU, HKUST
Approved Budget $ 81.156 million
Project coordinator: Professor Hon-Ming Lam (CUHK)
Wen Wei Po: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2017/03/01/HK1703010041.htm
Sing Tao Daily: http://std.stheadline.com/daily/news-content.php?id=1557276&target=2
Ta Kung Pao: http://www.takungpao.com.hk/finance/text/2017/0301/63409.html
2017.1.25
Visit of Deputy Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Prof. Tan Tieniu (3rd from left), Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and former Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited the Chinese University of Hong Kongand State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology (SKLABT). Prof. Zhang Jianhua, Director of SKLABT (2nd from right), Prof. Lam Hon Ming, Deputy Director of SKLABT (1st from right), Prof. Jiang Liwen (2nd from left), Professor of SKLABT.
2016.8.4
Research Achievement of Areas of Excellence Scheme: Center for Plant and Agricultural Biotechnology funded by the RGC
Project coordinator: Professor Samuel Sai-ming Sun
Project No.: AoE/B-07/99
2016.6.23
Interview by Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre
Prof. Zhang Jianhua, Director of State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology (2nd from left) was interviewed by Dr. Zou Chonghua (2nd from right), Divisional Head of Academic and Training, Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre
Prof. Zhang Jianhua showed Dr. Zou and his colleague the facilities in State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology
2016.5.21
Inauguration of the Joint Research Facilities (Experimental Field Station) between The CUHK Partner SKL of Agriobiotechnology and The CAU Center for Agricultural Water Research in China
On May 21, 2016, the inauguration of the Joint Research Facilities (Experimental Field Station) between the CUHK Partner SKL of Agrobiotechnology and the Center for Agricultural Water Research in China of China Agricultural University (CAU), was successfully held at the CAU Shiyang Experiment Field Station at Wuwei, Gansu Province. The establishment of this joint research facilities will provide a shared research platform to carry out frontier innovative research on water management and water-saving in agriculture. Based on sophisticated numerical simulation and field observations, we will carry out in-depth systemic research on drought tolerance, water-saving irrigation, high efficiency water use and quality response, etc. We also plan to organize exchange activities and training workshops for technology transfer and to serve the community. This marks the scientific collaboration between China Agricultural University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong towards a new level.
The opening ceremony was officiated by Prof. SC Kang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Center for Agricultural Water Research in China of CAU, Professor JH Zhang, Director of the Partner State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology of CUHK, together with the guests of honor Mr. LH Xing, Secretary for Science and Technology Bureau of Wuwei City and Mr TZ Zhang, Chief Engineer of Water Affairs Bureau of Wuwei City. Other participating guests including Prof. HJ Cai, Director of China Research Institute of Water Saving in Arid Regions of the Northwestern University of Agricultural Forestry, Prof. Q Zou, Deputy Director of the CAU China Agricultural Water Research Center, Prof ZM Ma, Vice-President of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Gansu Province, Prof. WX Yang, Director of Institute of Wheat Research of Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Gansu Province, Prof. HP Lu, Director of the Institute of Potato Research, Prof. ZJ Guo, Deputy Director of the Institute of Plant Protection Research, Prof. Q Cai of Gansu Agricultural University, Prof. TS Du, Deputy Director of the Center for Agricultural Water Research in China of CAU and 40 delegates who accepted the invitation to attend the opening ceremony.
In the inauguration ceremony speech of Prof. Kang, he fondly reviewed the 20-year deep collaboration history with Prof Zhang and his research team of the Chinese University of Hong Kong team. Prof. Kang expressed his gratitude for Prof. Zhang’s enthusiastic guidance and generous help for more than a dozen of visiting researchers who had received hands-on training in CUHK. This long-term partnership, has significantly enhanced the academic level of scientific research personnel, and promoted the development and technological advancement of efficient water use in agriculture. The establishment of this joint water-saving agriculture experimental station pledge to attain high synergy for setting up a good platform at Shiyang River Experimental Station, to encourage interdisciplinary research and innovation, while pursuing international excellence for the development of water-saving agriculture research benefiting the people living in the arid area of China, Asia and beyond. Then, Prof. Zhang, on behalf of the Chinese University of Hong Kong expressed his appreciation to the guests and government officials from the China Agricultural University, Wuwei City Science and Technology Bureau and Waters Department for joining the opening ceremony. Afterwards, he briefly addressed the attendee the achievements and development of the Partner SKL of Agrobiotechnology of CUHK. Working in partnership with CAU, the research team plan to tackle scientific questions on water conservation, irrigation efficiency, and water saving with an ultimate goal to contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture. Prof. Zhang believes that a meticulous designed field trial evaluation is essential for the verification of isolated genes with plant drought and salt tolerance activity. The Hexi Corridor arid climate with scarce rainfall, has a unique niche for carrying out large scale land to provide field experiment for our crop drought and salinity stress research. This joint experimental station can provide a platform for us to integrate innovative pioneer research insights with enhanced capacity for carrying out large scale research activities. This joint endeavor will work on a complementary approach promoting scientific and technological advancement facilitating the sustainable development in arid area.
The government officials Mr. LH Xing, Secretary for Science and Technology Bureau of Wuwei City, Mr TZ Zhang, Chief Engineer Water Affairs Bureau of Wuwei City congratulated both parties for the establishment of the joint field station and expressed their shared vision for the development of efficient water use technology in arid area while committing their assurance and support for the impending development of the joint field station.
From the left: Mr TZ Zhang, Chief Engineer Water Affairs Bureau of Wuwei City, Professor JH Zhang, Director of the Partner State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology of CUHK, Prof. SC Kang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Center for Agricultural Water Research in China of CAU and Mr. LH Xing, Secretary for Science and Technology Bureau of Wuwei City
Representatives from Academic Institutions and Government Authorities joined the Inauguration Opening Ceremony
2016.04
Public talks: Yen Kwo Yung Lecture in Life Sciences
Speaker: Prof. Sun Sai Ming
2016.3.22
Press Conference: CUHK Prof. Hon-Ming Lam Uncovers Structure and Functions of the Rice YchF-type G Protein for The First Time
New Findings Help Improve Plants’ Defense Response and Stress Tolerance
Professor Kam-Bo WONG, Director, School of Life Sciences, CUHK (3rd right), Professor Lam (4th right) and his research team.
Youtube video on OsYchF1 project broadcasted by RGC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tGUQc4cGOE&feature=youtu.be
2016.3.15
Seminar: Comparative study of changes in sterol profiles in soybean and cowpea in response to NaCl-induced salinity
Prof. Ndiko Ludidi
Professor in Plant Biotechnology
Department of Biotechnology
University of the West Cape
2016.3.8
Research Progress cum Academic Committee Meeting
The Progress Report cum Academic Committee (AC) Meeting was successfully held on Mar 8, 2016 at Cho Yiu Hall of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Six world renowned overseas members of the academic committee, had accepted our invitation to join the meeting including, the Convenor of the AC Committee, Prof. Junyi Gai (Academician, CAE, Chinese Society of Soybean Research, Former President of Nanjing Agricultural University); Prof. Lizhe An (VP of Lanzhou University); Prof. W. J. Davies (Distinguished Professor of Lancaster University); Prof. Zhizhong Gong (Dean, College of Biological Sciences, CAU); Prof. Minghong Gu (Director, Jiangsu Province Key Lab of Plant Genomics, Former President of the Yangzhou University) and Prof. Anthony HC Huang (Professor of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, University of California, Riverside).
The Opening Ceremony of the meeting was officiated by the PVC of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof.TF Fok, who welcomed all participants at his opening remarks. The academic meeting was then chaired by the AC Convenor, Prof. JY Gai.
First of all, JH Zhang and Prof. HM Lam delivered two presentations showcased the scientific progress and achievements of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and the SKL Centre for Soybean Research, respectively. Then, there were another two presentations on the strategic research projects namely "Crop improvement through agrobiotechnology" and "Cell Biology Research at SKL", led by Prof. Samuel SM Sun and Prof. LW Jiang, respectively. Ample discussion sessions were provided to facilitate in-depth discussion and high-level academic exchange. To update the AC members with the innovative undertakings of the team, three of the new SKL members, Prof. TF Chan, Prof. SL Zhong and Prof. HL Hui, explicated their latest achievement in their presentations on "Application of optical mapping in plant genome research”, "Epigenome reprograming and plant development” and "The biogenesis, evolution and regulation of microRNAs in animals", respectively.
The meeting was followed by an official luncheon, which was hosted by the Associate Vice-President of CUHK, Prof. SY Wong, who presented the souvenirs to the participating overseas AC members at the Dragon Lounge.
From the left: Prof. HM Lam (Deputy SKL Director), Prof. Anthony HC Huang, Prof. JH Zhang (SKL Director), Prof. SSM Sun (Master of SHHO College and former SKL Director), Prof. TF Fok (PVC of CUHK), Prof. JY Gai (Convenor of the AC Committee), Prof. WJ Davies, Prof. MH Gu, Prof. LZ An, Prof. ZZ Gong.
2016.3.4
Outgoing visit: Visited to Jiangnan University
Prof. Lam Hon Ming visited Faculty of Business of Jiangnan Univeristy and delivered a seminar
http://202.195.144.11/Detail.asp?ID=1609
Prof. Fung Ming Chiu (5th from right) visited Faculty of Pharmacy of Jiangnan Univeristy and delivered a seminar on topic “From basic science to drug discovery"
http://sps.jiangnan.edu.cn/xyxw/100521.shtml