The Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Macau hosted a compelling installment of its FST MO-HQ Distinguished Seminar Series on 9 January 2026 featuring Prof. Jie Zhang, Chair Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China and esteemed Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. His talk, “Intelligent Listening: Extending AI from Vision to Sound and Vibration Sensing,” offered a visionary exploration into one of AI’s most underappreciated frontiers — auditory and vibrational perception.

Prof. Zhang challenged the dominant paradigm in AI that prioritizes vision, arguing that true environmental understanding requires integrating sound and vibration sensing. He introduced a groundbreaking joint visual-seismic framework capable of detecting minute vibrations — even those as subtle as a pencil breaking — using broadband seismic sensors. This “superhuman hearing” system, powered by physics-based models and deep learning, enables real-time monitoring of infrastructure, transportation systems, and environmental processes, with profound implications for robotics, autonomous driving, and societal resilience.

The seminar attracted around 100 students from diverse academic backgrounds—including computer science, engineering, physics, and chemistry studies—as well as faculty and industry professionals. This interdisciplinary audience reflected the broad relevance of Prof. Zhang’s work. His ability to bridge geophysics, engineering, and machine learning underscored how cross-domain innovation can yield transformative solutions.

Hosted by Prof. Cheng-Zhong Xu, the seminar was both technically insightful and accessible. Prof. Zhang’s distinguished track record—founding five high-tech companies and receiving honors such as the EPA STAR Award and SEG Life Membership—lent authority to his forward-looking vision. The talk left attendees inspired by the potential of intelligent acoustic sensing to shape smarter, safer, and more sustainable futures.