On August 4, 2023, the National Key Research and Development Programme titled “Data fusion and dynamic cognition technology and platform for urban public services ” (Project No: 2019YFB2102100), led by Professor Xu Cheng-Zhong, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at the University of Macau (UM) and the Chief Scientist of the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City (SKL-IoTSC), successfully passed　the comprehensive performance evaluation conducted by the Industrial Development Promotion Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China in Hangzhou.

The project is centered around the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart city technologies to enhance urban public services. Its primary objectives include developing efficient cognitive technologies and a unified platforms that dynamically adapt to urban environments. By engaging in real-time data collection and collaborative perception of diverse data sources in cities, the project aims to foster knowledge association and promote the dynamic growth of urban perception data. This includes the extraction of various urban scene patterns, enhancing situation awareness, and leveraging efficient and low-consumption computing platforms. To achieve these goals, the project introduces the concept of urban knowledge association and environmental perception. Additionally, it creates the LibCity urban dynamic cognition algorithm library and establishes a cloud-edge integrated urban brain open platform, specifically tailored for small and medium-sized cities. The practical application of the project’s achievements is demonstrated across four key scenarios: urban transportation, large-scale events, smart tourism, and public facilities. The implementations and trials take place in several medium-sized cities and districts, including Haikou, Jiashan, Mengzi, Jiujiang, Jiaxing, and Qiantang in Hangzhou. The expert reviewers have highly praised the project’s outcomes and advancements, recognizing its significant contributions to the domain of IoT, smart cities, and urban public services.

The project was jointly completed by 10 organizations, including Alibaba Cloud Co., Ltd., University of Macau (Zhuhai Research Institute), Zhejiang Lab, South China University of Technology, Beihang University, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of CAS, Hangzhou Dianzi University, China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, Beijing Amap Technology, and Zhongjing Hengji. It should be the very first national key R&D programme undertaken by a scholar from the western coast of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the project leader and chief scientist. Song Yonghua, Rector of UM, the Director of the Advisory Committee and the Director of SKL-IoTSC, remarked that the successful completion of the project marked a new milestone in the research of the university and State Key Laboratory in the field of smart cities.

Dr. Li LIU, a Ph.D. graduate of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Macau (UM), has won the 2022 Ph.D. Thesis Talk Award from the Transportation Electrification Community (TEC) which a well-known association under the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Dr. Liu’s research focus on the quality control of electrical energy in electrified railway power supply systems, and his innovative solutions distinguished him from doctoral candidates from around the world. He is the only doctoral student in Macau to receive this prestigious award.

The IEEE TEC is a renowned international professional academic organization that promotes the development of transportation electrification technology. The TEC holds an annual Ph.D. Thesis Talk competition to provide an international platform for all Ph.D. researchers in the field of Transportation Electrification to present their project — both in academia and industry. The winner(s) will receive a certificate and a premium cash award from the association. It requires participants to summarize their research results within three minutes. Dr. Liu’s research proposed innovative solutions to the quality control of electrical energy in electrified railway power supply systems from a topological and control method perspective. With the guidances of his supervisors, Prof. Ningyi DAI and Prof. Keng Weng LAO from the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. During his Ph.D. studies, Dr. Liu published three SCI Q1 journal as the first author and was granted a Chinese invention patent.

The competition aims to recognize outstanding doctoral students and their research in the field of transportation electrification, and to promote global academic exchange and technological innovation. Dr. Liu’s achievement not only represents the academic level and teaching quality of the University of Macau’s has received international recognition, but it also sets an example and inspires more students in Macau to pursue further studies. UM has always been committed to cultivating high-quality talents with international vision and innovative ability. Dr. Liu’s award reflects the university’s efforts and achievements in the field of transportation electrification. It is wished that more students from Macau will step onto the international stage of technological innovation in the future and contribute to the scientific and technological progress of Macau and the country.

The 6th Asia-Oceania Group on Earth Observations (AOGEO) Workshop was recently held successfully at the University of Macau (UM). Over 80 representatives from 18 countries, including Japan, Australia, Nepal, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, attended the event, with over 6,700 participants joining online. The conference was organized by the National Remote Sensing Center of China and the AOGEO, co-sponsored by UM and Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS), and live-streamed on the online platforms of the Journal of Remote Sensing and the International Journal of Remote Sensing. The theme of the workshop is “Demand-driven Innovation of Earth Observation Application Technology,” aiming to promote regional collaboration in the Asia Oceania region and to deepen the integration of Earth observation innovation with regional social development.

Zhao Jing, Director of the National Remote Sensing Center of China, Cheng-Zhong XU, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology of UM, representatives of the GEO Secretariat, and three co-chairs of the GEO delivered the opening speeches. Zhao Jing shared AOGEO’s contributions in Earth observation applications, talent cultivation, and enhancing the Earth observation capabilities in developing countries. She also emphasized that the workshop provided an important platform for exchanging and sharing Earth observation data in the Asia Pacific region, promoting technical cooperation and sharing of achievements among countries, international organizations, and institutions. She expressed her hope that the construction of Earth observation capabilities in the Asia Pacific region could be further promoted in the near future, and that effective communication channels would be established for young scholars in the region.

The international workshop offered a deep discussion regarding typical issues, focusing on the three sub-regional comprehensive research demonstration areas of the Himalayas, the Mekong River Basin and the Pacific Island countries, the formulation of the third decade strategic plan of the Earth Observation Program, and the global ecological environment. Carry out in-depth exchanges and discussions on important topics such as environmental monitoring and mapping, earth observation data sharing and knowledge base, application and capacity building oriented to regional needs. The closing ceremony of the workshop also successfully released the “Declaration of the 6th Asia Oceania GEO Symposium,” advocating for continued deepening of regional cooperation, continuous strengthening of Earth observation data and knowledge sharing, increasing participation of various sectors, especially young scholars, in the GEO program, building an innovative cross-disciplinary, cross-industry collaboration ecosystem, empowering the development of developing countries, and promoting regional balanced development.

As a co-organiser for the first time, UM aims to strengthen intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms and to promote technical cooperation, and share Earth observation resources and facilities within Asian region.  By using Earth observation technology to solve practical problems and applying it to key areas of social and economic development, UM hopes to contribute to the response to the challenges of sustainable development, global warming, and major disasters.

A delegation led by Prof. Raymond Kai-Yu TONG, a AIMBE fellow and Chairman of Department of Biomedical Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), recently visited the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Macau (UM-FST/ECE) to understand the academic achievements of the University of Macau in the field of biomedical engineering. They also exchanged views on the current situation and future development of the industry in the two regions. This exchange helps to strengthen the connection and cooperation between different universities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, providing opportunities and platforms for the development of biomedical engineering in the Greater Bay Area.

The delegation first visited ECE, where they were warmly welcomed by Prof. Man-Chung WONG, the department head of ECE, who also shared the history and future development direction of the department. Prof Tang also introduced CUHK Biomedical Engineering, focusing on teaching, talent cultivation, and research achievements. Both sides had a lively discussion on the above topics, and representatives from both universities expressed that they had gained a lot.

Members of the delegation also visited UM’s State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City, State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences and various ECE laboratories. This visit strengthens the talent exchanges, teaching and scientific research collaborations in biomedical engineering in Guandong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The CUHK delegation also included Profs. Charles Hing Chiu CHANG, Zhaoli GAO, Megan Yi Ping HO, Martin Wing Cheung MAK, Chuanbin MAO, Scott Wu YUAN, and Renjie ZHOU. Profs. Ruey-Song HUANG, Peng Un MAK, Seng Peng MOK, Mang I VAI, Feng WAN and Technician Pedro Antonio MOU from UM-FST/ECE also participated in the reception and exchange.

The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of the University of Macau (UM) held a two-day strategic planning meeting today (2 & 3 June) to explore the future development of the faculty and formulate corresponding development strategies. Over forty professors participated in the meeting to brainstorm innovative ideas and suggestions in order to seize development opportunities and planning a better future for the faculty.

During the meeting, Prof Cheng-Zhong XU, Dean of FST, stated that in the face of the globalization of Artificial Intelligence, the future of FST will face a more intense and complex competitive environment. Therefore, it is necessary to have clear development strategies and plans in order to stand out in the fierce competition. The faculty management and numerous professors conducted in-depth discussions and explorations on various strategic issues, including the faculty’s development goals, strategic planning, research focus, the launch and admissions of new programmes, talent cultivation, and international development, offering valuable opinions and suggestions.

During their visit to Guangzhou, the faculty representatives also visited cutting-edge technology institutions, including the National Supercomputer Centre located on the campus of Sun Yat-sen University and Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) New Energy Automobile Company, to gain a better understanding of industry and cutting-edge technology development. These visits not only stimulated innovative thinking but also benefited scientific research and teaching. The cutting-edge technologies were also integrated into the development strategy of the faculty.

As one of China’s leading high-performance computing research institutions, the supercomputing center’s supercomputing performance ranks among the top in the world. The visit and exchange at the Supercomputing Center will help the faculty better seize opportunities and improve its competitiveness. Additionally, GAC New Energy Automobile Company is a new energy automobile company under Guangzhou Automobile Group and is one of the leading enterprises in China’s new energy automobile industry. The professors of the faculty can gain a better understanding of the latest developments and applications of new energy vehicle technology and incorporate this information into the curriculum and research projects, helping students understand the future development trends of the new energy automobile industry.

The Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Macau (UM) has continued its exchange programme with Tsinghua University for the second year, welcoming three outstanding undergraduate students to come to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for exchange for one semester. With the addition of these three students to the seven students who participated in the programme last year, a total of ten Tsinghua University students have now chosen UM as their exchange destination. The two universities will deepen their cooperations and work together to cultivate more innovative, creative talents who have strong senses of affection for home countries and global perspectives.

Except for experiencing UM’s unique residential college system  and multicultural environment in UM, the three exchange students also worked on research projects and engaged in discussions with Professors at the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City (SKL-IOTSC). One of the exchange students, Sun Yingcong, said, “In the past, most of the classes were conducted only in Chinese. UM’s English teaching style has enhanced my listening, writing, and speaking skills comprehensively. In addition, UM’s learning environment is more international, and there are more opportunities to participate in international conferences where speakers are well-respected scholars in their respective fields, such as 2023 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) President & CEO, which is very impressive.”

The guidance of UM professors also greatly benefited Zheng Jiajun, he said, “The knowledge gained in class stimulated many of my ideas. After one-on-one guidance of professor, I became more confident and more capable of executing these ideas and research projects. I have also reached a decision to transform these ideas into research outputs.” Another exchange student, Sun Xiaoyu, shared, “Working on experiments in the laboratory and receiving guidance from professors allowed me to have a refreshing experience. I am impressed that professors in UM are patient and meticulous, guiding me step-by-step on how to connect wires and help me to reduce potential errors. This greatly enhanced my accuracy and patience. Living in UM also allowed me to experience life more fully and able to take on different challenges.”

In addition to this exchange programme, UM will continue to carry out flexible and diverse cooperation with Tsinghua University, with the aim of providing students with more comprehensive and diverse exchange opportunities in the future. The two universities will work together to contribute to the development of higher education in the country, leveraging each other’s strengths.

Prof Changfeng Gui joined the University of Macau (UM) in 2023 as the Chair Professor and the Head of the Department of Mathematics in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST). He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Peking University and earned a PhD degree in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota in 1991. Prof Gui is currently a fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) and has received several remarkable awards, including the Research Achievement Award of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS); the André Aisenstadt Prize in Mathematics from the Centre de Recherches Mathématiques; IEEE Best Paper Award, and the Overseas Cooperation Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). His main research interests are nonlinear partial differential equations, applied mathematics, and image analysis and processing. Prof Gui believes that partial differential equations are an essential branch of mathematics and a critical tool in many engineering and scientific fields, such as mechanical engineering and geophysics.

How to study partial differential equations

Partial differential equations are widely used to describe changes and movements in physical phenomena. Prof Gui shared the example of the rate of change of a phenomenon, which is itself a differential, and explained that the study of such phenomena unavoidably involves partial differential equations. Many physical problems remain unsolved, and the solutions to most problems cannot be clearly indicated in formulas. Prof Gui explained that typically there are two methods for studying the corresponding partial differential equations of these problems: one is to study some qualitative characteristics of the problem, such as its symmetry, monotonicity, and asymptotic expansion, even if it is difficult to clearly exhibit the solution of the problem in formulas; the other is to calculate the numerical solution of the equation and study the theoretical problems related to the numerical solution, such as whether there is a reasonable numerical solution and whether the solution is accurate. The study of partial differential equations is therefore very important.

The reasons for choosing this research direction

Prof Gui chose partial differential equations as his research direction due to his passion for mathematical analysis. He shared that he particularly enjoyed the course of mathematical analysis during his undergraduate studies, which included courses requiring a deeper understanding than calculus, such as real analysis and functional analysis. This further sparked his enthusiasm for the “analysis” branch in Mathematics, and the core method of partial differential equations is “analysis”, which integrates ideas from other branches of Mathematics such as geometry and topology and occupies a central position in the field of mathematics. During his doctoral studies in the United States, Prof Gui had more opportunities to interact with renowned scholars in this field. “Because I had interactions with these masters during my studies, I naturally focused on partial differential equations as my research direction.” Currently, Professor Gui’s research focuses mainly on the theory of nonlinear partial differential equations, which includes two special directions: one is the study of a class of best inequalities closely related to physics and geometry, especially on high-dimensional spheres; and the other is a special type of nonlinear equation related to phase transitions in material science, which has important theoretical and practical applications and has been a problem that Prof Gui has been studying for many years. In terms of the application of partial differential equations, Prof Gui focuses on the application of Mathematics in image processing. By designing well-functioning algorithms and utilizing computer processing, he hopes to solve problems in medical imaging and scientific detection while also establishing a solid mathematical theory.

The reasons for choosing the UM

Regarding his decision to join UM, Prof Gui expressed his desire to return to China to further participate in Mathematics teaching and research. “UM provides me with the opportunity to continue my research in a new and dynamic environment with highly motivated students.” He says. As the Head of the Department of Mathematics, Prof Gui hopes that his joining will help to further enhance the research level and atmosphere of the entire mathematics department and lead the department to achieve more and better mathematical results.

Useful advices for students

Regarding young students who interested in pursuing Mathematics research, Prof Gui advises, “It is crucial to establish a solid foundation in Mathematics, while not limit yourself to a narrow field. Student needs to explore and understand various branches of Mathematics.” Regarding Mathematics research, Prof Gui hopes that students should not be too hasty in seeking results after conducting the research projects and should not rush in papers publication. They would not be able to explore the potential of Mathematics or the joy and satisfaction of learning, and they would lose the motivation to study Mathematics if they only pursue the quantity of papers and ignore the pursuit of quality. Prof Gui also suggested that as a student of Mathematics, it is necessary to possess a strong foundation in fundamental mathematical knowledge and techniques, as well as adopting a multidimensional approach to problem-solving and seek out methods for resolving mathematical difficulties. Regardless of focusing on Applied or Theoretical Mathematics, it is only through the cultivation of these skills that student can achieve fruitful results in mathematical research.