FST Team Achieved Outstanding Results at International Collegiate Programming Contest Asia Region

The student team from the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at the University of Macau (UM) competed in the 49th Annual International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) Asia Regional Contest (Shenyang Site), also known as the “Huawei Cup,” in 2024. They competed against 320 teams comprising over 900 university students from prestigious institutions across China, including Peking University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Fudan University. With an outstanding performance, the UM team emerged victorious, earning a bronze medal, making them the only university from Macau to receive an award.

The team representing the university consisted of Xiaojian Zhong, Chi Tou Leong, and Chun Ioi Chan. The contest required each team to solve approximately ten challenging programming problems within five hours, aiming to cultivate innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills under pressure. Under the meticulous guidance of Professors Xiaowei WU, Ye WANG, Leong Hou U and  PhD students Haolong LI and Zehan LIN from the Department of Computer and Information Science, the team showcased exceptional programming skills, innovative thinking, and seamless teamwork, earning unanimous recognition from the judges. Following their bronze medal win in the 48th contest last year, this marks UM’s second accolade in the competition, highlighting the prowess and technical innovation capabilities of UM students in information science.

Renowned as the “Olympics of Computing,” the ACM-ICPC (Association for Computing Machinery – International Collegiate Programming Contest)  is one of the most influential programming contests for university students worldwide. This latest achievement not only affirms the unwavering efforts and academic excellence of UM students but also underscores the quality of education and success in talent development at the Faculty of Science and Technology. In the future, the faculty will continue to encourage and support more students in participating in national and international competitions, broadening their horizons, stimulating their potential, and enhancing their competitiveness and spirit of innovation.

List of previous winners: https://www.cis.um.edu.mo/icpc.html

UM Multiple Teams Excel at the Huawei ICT Competition Macao Region

In the 2024 Huawei ICT Competition Macao Region, three student teams from the Department of Computer and Information Science (CIS), Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), University of Macau (UM) achieved remarkable success, winning multiple awards including first and second prizes in the Computing Track and a second prize in the Cloud Track. UM teams stood out among numerous participants with their exceptional technical skills and teamwork, earning unanimous recognition from the judges. The team that clinched the first prize will represent Macao in the Asia-Pacific ICT Competition, competing for the highest honor in the global Huawei ICT Competition.

Themed “Connect, Glory, Future” with the slogan “I. C. The Future,” the competition aims to provide a global platform for university students to engage in international contests and broaden their horizons, while enhancing their knowledge and practical abilities in information and communication technology (ICT). The team members Tan hongye, Lei Wai Hong, and Ho Ka Meng won the first prize in the Computing Track. Another student team, Zhang Rongiia and Liu Kejia, secured the second prize in the Computing Track, while the third UM team, comprising Zheng Jinyang, Zhong Yuzhang, and Tang Zheng Kai, received the second prize in the Cloud Track.

The Huawei ICT Competition is co-organized by Huawei Macao, the Macao Science and Technology Association, and the Macao Productivity and Technology Transfer Center. The event consists of national, regional, and global stages, with the Macao Regional Competition featuring two tracks: Cloud and Computing, which include both written tests and practical experiments. Since its inception in 2020, the competition has been held for four consecutive years in Macao, attracting over 3,200 participants. This year’s competition saw enthusiastic participation from nearly 800 students, with 72 university students and 36 secondary school students emerging as top performers.

The accolades received by multiple UM teams reflect the high level of professional knowledge and technical proficiency of UM students, as recognized and praised by the judges. It also highlights the university’s relentless efforts and significant achievements in cultivating high-tech talent. In the future, FST will continue to encourage students to participate in more professional competitions to expand their perspectives and thinking, not only injecting new momentum into Macao’s technological development but also nurturing more competitive and innovative professionals for the country.

The annual meeting of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Working Group to Investigate Climate Change and Global Trends of Phytoplankton in the Oceans (IOC WG TrendsPO) recently held its annual meeting at University of Macau and Sun Yat-sen University Zhuhai Campus. This conference brought together top scientists from 18 countries across Asia, North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Africa, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing marine ecosystems. This conference not only fostered collaboration among research institutions worldwide, but also delved into how interdisciplinary cooperation can address the complex issues of global ocean conservation and climate change. The discussions held during this meeting are significant for advancing global marine ecological protection and responding to climate change.

During the meeting, experts engaged in thorough and productive discussions on a range of ocean-related topics , including qualitative and quantitative indicators of phytoplankton responses to ecosystem changes, the impact of human activities on phytoplankton ecology, and the effects of long-term climate change on red tides. Furthermore, the meeting delved into using molecular diversity data to predict phytoplankton changes and provided forward-looking analyses on the future development direction of the global ocean observing system.

The IOC WG TrendsPO consists of scientists from 18 countries spanning Asia, North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. Established at the IOC 49^th Executive Council in Paris in June 2016, the group focuses on exploring the intricate relationship between climate change and phytoplankton trends. Prof. Jie XU from the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Macau and Prof. Jacob Carstensen from Aarhus University are currently co-chair of the IOC WG TrendsPO.

A team of students from the Department of Physics and Chemistry (DPC) at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), University of Macau (UM), has excelled in the final of the “10th China Undergraduate Physics Experiment Competition (Innovation)” with their innovative experimental work titled “Electromagnetic Induction Emission Tutorial Video,” earning them a national first prize. This competition gathered 2,755 teams from 667 universities across the country, with only approximately the top 20% of teams advancing to the finals. In the final, the UM student team competed against 584 teams from 280 universities, receiving high praise from the judges for their outstanding project and performance, thereby standing out among numerous entries. FST will encourage students to participate in more national and international competitions in the future to broaden their horizons and cultivate more competitive and innovative professionals for society.

The competition aims to promote reform in physics experiment teaching, facilitate the exchange and cooperation of teaching experiences between universities, stimulate students’ interest in physics, and identify and nurture talents with international competitiveness. The final included multiple segments such as project presentations, report speeches, and judge Q&A sessions. Under the guidance of DPC professors Hongchao Liu and Hui Pan, team members Xinqi Li, Chuqi Tang, Chit Hun Mok, Chi Chon Lam, and Mingyu Chan stood out with their solid physics foundation, outstanding innovative thinking, teamwork skills, and rigorous scientific spirit. Their experimental projects covered a wide range of areas from basic physical experiments to cutting-edge technologies, possessing not only significant academic value but also potential application prospects.

The China Undergraduate Physics Experiment Competition has been held since 2010 and is a highly recognized and widely participated national-level event, providing students with a broad platform for learning and exchange. This competition was held at Beihang University and was co-organized by the Physics Discipline Group of the National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center Joint Conference, the Chinese Society for College Experimental Physics Teaching, the University Physics Curriculum Teaching Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education, and the Physics Teaching Committee of the Chinese Physical Society. Since its launch in August, the team received strong support from DPC. The team leaders and advisors closely monitored each team’s progress, providing robust support and joint guidance. In the future, UM will continue to stimulate students’ innovation and practical abilities through diversified platforms, continuously optimizing talent cultivation models and providing students with broader learning and development platforms.