Xplorer Symposia held at UM

The ‘Xplorer Symposia—Organelles: Structure, Function, and Disease’, organised by the New Cornerstone Science Foundation and co-organised by the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) of the University of Macau (UM), was held at UM. The event brought together 31 leading scholars from prestigious institutions around the world to explore the latest findings in organelle research. Among them was Randy Wayne Schekman, Nobel laureate and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

During the opening ceremony, Wei GE, vice rector of UM; Ge Liang, chair of the symposium and associate professor at Tsinghua University; and Qiu Chunhong, representative of the New Cornerstone Science Foundation, delivered welcome remarks. The three-day symposium featured five sessions, each covering a different topic: organelle structure and dynamics, membrane trafficking, organelle and metabolism, organelle and pathogen interaction, and organelle and signalling. A total of 31 presentations were given throughout these sessions by experts and scholars from renowned institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the Medical University of Innsbruck, Francis Crick Institute, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Zhejiang University, the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and UM.

At the symposium, Prof Schekman explained the origin and functions of extracellular vesicles, with particular focus on their role in regulating intracellular homeostasis and the latest advances in exosomes as key mediators of intercellular communication. Yu Li, professor at Tsinghua University, presented his research on the formation mechanism and pathological functions of autolamellosome, highlighting its critical role in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and combating aging-related diseases. Hesso Farhan, professor at the Medical University of Innsbruck, explained how mechanical forces influence the structure and function of ER and regulate intracellular protein homeostasis. He also presented his latest research on the role of ER protein IRE1 in cellular mechanosensing. Hu Junjie, researcher at the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported on the intracellular trafficking of the transmembrane receptor protein LEPROT within the Golgi apparatus. He also discussed the regulatory mechanisms that occur during this process, and the biological functions of the protein. Ma Liang, assistant professor at Zhejiang University, presented his research on how specific microRNAs (miRNAs) are first enriched in mitochondria before being sorted into exosomes, revealing a novel mechanism of intercellular communication.

The symposium also featured a poster session, which showcased 31 research projects from higher education institutions and research institutes around the world. Participating students and researchers presented their findings to attendees. Following evaluation by experts, the Best Poster Awards were presented to three young scholars: Huang Yixin from the University of Hong Kong, Xie Liming from UM, and Zheng Jianfei from Tsinghua University.

The symposium was co-chaired by Shen Hanming, associate dean of FHS; Bian Xin, researcher at Nankai University; and Zhao Yan, associate professor at Southern University of Science and Technology. With its rich programme, the symposium facilitated interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration and was well received by attendees.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61257/

UM students win first prize in Computing Track at Huawei ICT Competition Global Final

A student team from the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of the University of Macau (UM) won a first prize in the Practice Competition – Computing Track at the Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 Global Final. This is also UM’s best performance at the competition to date.

This year’s competition attracted over 210,000 students and faculty from more than 2,000 institutions in over 100 countries and regions. After progressing through national and regional competitions, 179 teams from 48 countries and regions advanced to the Global Final. The UM team comprised three undergraduate students from FST’s Department of Computer and Information Science: Tan Hongye, Lei Wai Hong, and Ho Ka Meng. Their exceptional technical and applied skills as well as strong teamwork earned them victories in the preliminary round in Macao, the Asia-Pacific Regional Final, and ultimately the Global Final.

This achievement not only marks the first time that a UM team has represented Macao in the Global Final of the competition and won a first prize in the Computing Track, but also highlights the strengths of Macao’s young people in cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61249/

UM receives 18 Science and Technology Awards

The University of Macau (UM) received a total of 29 awards at the awards ceremony of the 2024 Science and Technology Awards of the Macao SAR, which was held by the Macao SAR government today (28 May). The awards include 18 Science and Technology Awards and 11 Scientific and Technological R&D Awards for Postgraduates.

Out of the 22 Science and Technology Awards presented this year, UM claimed 18, accounting for over 80 per cent of the total number of awards. The university received 3 second prizes and 6 third prizes in the Natural Science Award category; 1 first prize, 3 second prizes, and 4 third prizes in the Technological Invention Award category; and 1 third prize in the Science and Technology Progress Award category. In addition, 11 UM doctoral students received the Scientific and Technological R&D Awards for Postgraduates.

Guests who attended the awards ceremony and presented the awards included: Sam Hou Fai, chief executive of the Macao SAR; Zheng Xincong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Liu Xianfa, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR; Tai Kin Ip, secretary for economy and finance of the Macao SAR; Guo Renzhong, member of the Project Advisory Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) of the Macao SAR and president of the Federation of Guangdong Academicians; Chiang Kin Seng, member of the Project Advisory Committee of FDCT; and Che Weng Keong, president of the Administrative Committee of FDCT.

In recent years, UM has actively optimised its ‘5-in-1’ research and innovation system. The university has focused on its research strengths to enhance its research capacity and has promoted the commercialisation of its research results. UM will further foster interdisciplinary collaboration, increase its research impact, and accelerate technological applications, thereby injecting innovative momentum into Macao’s economic diversification.

Details of the UM recipients of the Science and Technology Awards and their projects are as follows:

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61235/

Opening ceremony for Advanced Training Programme for Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine 2025 held at UM

The opening ceremony for the Advanced Training Programme for Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine 2025 was held at the University of Macau (UM) today (27 May). The programme is jointly organised by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC) of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) of the Macao SAR. It is presented by the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine at both UM and the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), in collaboration with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao (GMTCM). The programme aims to foster exchange and cooperation in Chinese medicine and promote the development and internationalisation of Chinese medicine technology.

Speaking at the event, Che Weng Keong, president of the Administrative Committee of FDCT, said that the launch of the training programme demonstrates Macao’s commitment to promoting the internationalisation of Chinese medicine. He added that Macao will continue to build on its strengths in research and technology to foster international exchange and cooperation in the field.

Guan Haibo, director of the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Division of CSTEC, said that CSTEC and FDCT are committed to establishing the training programme as an open platform that makes full use of shared resources and connections between industry and academia in the field of Chinese medicine in Macao, mainland China, countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Ge Wei, vice rector of UM, pointed out that UM, in recent years, has established a comprehensive research system and an industry-academia collaboration platform for the technological innovation and commercialisation of Chinese medicine. He added that the training programme aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the latest industry developments.

A total of 48 participants have enrolled on the training programme, including, for the first time, participants from Brazil and Portugal, alongside those from mainland China, Macao, and Southeast Asia. The teaching team includes experts from the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine at UM and MUST, the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau of the Macao SAR government, and the University of California in the US. The programme covers research on Chinese medicine mechanisms, cutting-edge R&D technologies, as well as global registration and regulatory policies. The participants will also visit UM, MUST, and GMTCM to gain a comprehensive understanding of innovations in Chinese medicine technology in Macao.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61229/

UM Faculty of Science and Technology graduates’ research excellence gains recognition from GBA industry representatives

The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of the University of Macau (UM) held the FST Graduation Award Ceremony & Project Exhibition 2025 on 23 May. The event showcased over 50 innovative research projects by FST graduates. Nearly 100 attendees visited the exhibition, including industry representatives from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, corporate executives, government officials, faculty members, and students. They also expressed recognition of the research excellence of UM students.

Speaking at the event, Xu Cheng-Zhong, dean of FST, said that the faculty is committed to promoting innovation and cultivating talent, and attaches great importance to interdisciplinary research. He noted that over the years, the Project Exhibition has transformed students’ research into practical applications and fostered cooperation between enterprises and Macao’s institutions. The faculty will continue to promote the commercialisation of research results while enhancing the effectiveness of industry-academia collaboration.

The exhibition showcased over 50 research projects by 42 undergraduate students and 21 master’s students across seven departments in FST, namely the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Computer and Information Science, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Department of Mathematics, Department of Physics and Chemistry, and Department of Ocean Science and Technology. The projects on display covered a variety of fields, including marine monitoring, computer graphics and visual computing, smart health monitoring, innovative architectural designs, wireless charging technology, and artificial intelligence.

During the ceremony, FST presented the Best Master’s Student Awards to master’s students who had demonstrated outstanding academic performance. The faculty also presented plaques and certificates of appreciation to its internship partners to acknowledge their continued support for FST’s internship programmes as well as their participation in the career and internship fair.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61223/

UM presents Teaching Excellence Award

At the Congregation 2025 held today (24 May), the University of Macau (UM) presented the Teaching Excellence Award for the 2024/2025 academic year to Katy Ieong Cheng Ho Weatherly, assistant professor in the Faculty of Education (FED), in recognition of her outstanding teaching performance.

Every year, the recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award is selected by a selection committee from nominees, who are faculty-level teaching award recipients, through a rigorous process. Selection criteria include the following: teaching philosophy, depth of knowledge in the subject area, outstanding communication skills and teaching effectiveness, outstanding contributions to the quality of curriculum development, the ability to promote student learning by stimulating and sustaining the intellectual development of students, innovative approach to teaching and learning, and leadership in promoting teaching excellence within and outside the university.

Prof Ho Weatherly felt honoured to receive the award and expressed her gratitude. She shared that the award is not only a recognition of her teaching efforts, but also a tribute to her students, whose curiosity, creativity, and perseverance continually inspire her. Their growth has given her a deeper understanding of the true essence of teaching. Prof Ho Weatherly also thanked her colleagues and mentors at UM for their support, which has helped her maintain her passion for teaching. She emphasised that for her, education is more than simply passing on knowledge; it is a transformative force that can change lives. She added that teaching is both her responsibility and her mission, and education has the power to spark students’ passion for learning and help them discover their boundless potential.

Prof Ho Weatherly joined UM in 2023 and is currently an assistant professor in FED. A passionate educator and talented musician, she obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Viola Performance from The Juilliard School in the US, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in Music and Music Education from Columbia University. Prof Ho Weatherly is adept at incorporating creative pedagogies, gamification, and reflective practices into her teaching. She has received numerous awards and scholarships, including the 2025 Outstanding Emerging Researcher Award from the Center for Music Education Research at the University of South Florida, the Junior Researcher Award from the National Association for Gifted Children in the US, and the Enid and Lester Morse Fellowship from Columbia University. Prof Ho Weatherly’s interdisciplinary research spans music, early childhood education, and teacher training. She is dedicated to inspiring students to realise their potential, enhancing their learning abilities and self-motivation, and empowering them to create their unique value and meaning in the world.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61215/

UM professor receives award from American Society of Criminology

Liu Jianhong, adjunct distinguished professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Macau (UM), has been honoured with the 2025 Thorsten Sellin & Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck Award by the American Society of Criminology (ASC) in recognition of his significant contributions to the fields of international and comparative criminology. The award not only celebrates Prof Liu’s academic achievements, but also highlights the significant influence of non-Western scholars in the field of international criminology.

In its congratulatory letter to Prof Liu, ASC stated that the Executive Board is deeply impressed by his academic excellence and highly recognised his ‘substantial contributions to advancing comparative criminology’. They also highlighted Prof Liu’s leadership as the founder of the Asian Criminological Society and the editor-in-chief of the Asian Journal of Criminology, where he has played a key role in promoting the development of criminology in Asia and globally.

Prof Liu joined UM in 2007. To promote the academic institutionalisation of criminology in Asia, he founded the Asian Criminological Society in 2009, with its headquarters at UM. The society has held 15 annual conferences, attracting scholars from Asia and around the world every year. In recent years, Prof Liu established the Centre for Empirical Legal Studies at UM’s Faculty of Law, which is committed to empowering legal research with artificial intelligence and big data technology at the methodological level.

Prof Liu has been the chairman of the Scientific Committee of the International Society of Criminology since 2014. The ‘Relationism Theory of Criminal Justice’ he proposed and developed is the only criminological theory from a non-Western country included in a widely adopted criminology textbook in the US. He has also proposed the ‘context-focused approach’ and pioneered the concept and paradigm of Asian criminology. Prof Liu has published more than 220 publications. In addition, he has received several prestigious international awards, including the 2016 Freda Adler Distinguished Scholar Award from ASC, and the 2018 G. O.W. Mueller Award for Distinguished Scholar from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS).

The Thorsten Sellin & Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck Award is a prestigious award presented by ASC and is awarded only to scholars who have made remarkable achievements in criminology outside the US. Prof Liu is the second Asian scholar to receive the award since its inception in 1974.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61207/

UM research team reveals cryogenic electron microscopy structure of supramolecular nanofibril assembled from TCM natural compound

A research team led by Song He, assistant professor in the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) at the University of Macau (UM), has revealed the high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of a supramolecular nanofibril assembled from a natural compound found in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The study revealed not only the structure’s unique antifungal activity, which is absent in its single-molecule state, but also its precision in disrupting Candida albicans (C. albicans), the pathogen responsible for vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). This offers a novel therapeutic strategy. The research has been published in the international journal Advanced Materials.

Supramolecular structures are ubiquitous in nature. Since Winston and Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA using X-ray diffraction in the 1950s, scientists have found that peptides and proteins (e.g. Aβ fibrils) can self-assemble into helical supramolecular structures that play a key role in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, TCM and natural product research has long lacked of high-resolution evidence of whether small-molecule active ingredients form functional supramolecular assemblies, and their self-assembly mechanisms. Conventional techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and low-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) lack the spatial resolution required to visualise atomic structures. Previous cryo-EM studies, which rely on molecular dynamics simulation, have also had difficulties in resolving the helical structure.

To overcome these limitations, Prof Song’s research team conducted research on Zingibroside R1 (ZR1), a saponin derived from Panax notoginseng. They discovered that, without exogenous additives, the TCM compound undergoes spontaneous self-assemble into a hydrogel through heating-cooling method. Using high-resolution cryo-EM, the team reconstructed a 3D map of the ZR1 nanofibrils at 2.5 Å resolution, revealing a left-handed, four-stranded helical structure. The high-resolution data revealed the precise hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions, as well as role of the supramolecular structure in antifungal activity: The ZR1 hydrogel disrupts the cell membrane integrity in C. albicans, leading to the leakage of intracellular contents.

This research was a collaborative project conducted by Prof Song’s research team and a research team led by Shi Junfeng, professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences at Hunan University. Prof Song’s team was responsible for structural analysis, and Prof Shi’s team was responsible for functional verification. Peng Mengyun, a PhD student at Hunan University, and Peng Qiwei, a postgraduate student at UM, are the co-first authors of this study. The research was funded by UM (File No: MYRG-GRG2024-00283-ICMS-UMDF and SRG2023-00054-ICMS), and the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao SAR (File No: 0068/2023/ITP2, 0007/2022/AKP, and 005/2023/SKL). The full text of the research article is available at: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adma.202503283.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61171/

UM holds 3rd Bauhinia Forum on Development of Computer Science

The 3rd Bauhinia Forum on Development of Computer Science was held at the University of Macau (UM) on 17 May, alongside a meeting of deans and department heads from renowned universities in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao regions. Themed ‘Trends in the Development of Computer Science in the AI Era’, the forum brought together over 30 academicians, deans, department heads, professors, and distinguished experts and scholars from top universities in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao to discuss the opportunities and challenges for computer science disciplines in the new era and explore further collaborative efforts to lead the development of computer science worldwide.

The forum, co-organised by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Tsinghua University and hosted by UM, was attended by scholars from Peking University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Xidian University, Nankai University, Sichuan University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, and Macau University of Science and Technology.

In his opening remarks, UM Rector Yonghua Song noted that since its inception, the Bauhinia Forum has become an important platform for exchanges and cooperation among computer science experts from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao. He highlighted how AI technologies are reshaping the world across various fields, including intelligent transportation, smart healthcare, intelligent manufacturing, and the digital economy. He also expressed hope that the forum would provide a clearer blueprint for the development of computer science.

In his speech, Wu Jianping, director of the Zhongguancun Laboratory, emphasised the importance of computer science education and research in driving social progress. He noted that the aim of the forum was to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, and expressed hope that it would stimulate innovative thinking and provide new impetus for social development.

The forum featured a rich programme of invited talks, roundtable discussions, and keynote speeches. These sessions covered topics such as the diverse development of computer science disciplines worldwide, the current landscape and development opportunities for AI technology in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, and its impact and transformation on various aspects of society. During the invited talks, Wu and Gao Wen, director of Pengcheng Laboratory, shared valuable insights and experiences on the development of computer science disciplines and the opportunities presented by the new generation of AI technologies. Their talks not only deepened attendees’ understanding of current technological trends but also provided valuable guidance for future research directions. In addition, Xu Cheng-Zhong, dean of UM’s Faculty of Science and Technology, gave an overview of the development of computer science and AI disciplines at UM, as well as plans for the Faculty of Information Science and Technology at the UM campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61167/

Students from UM Department of Communication tell Macao stories in graduation project

Fourth-year students from the Department of Communication of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Macau (UM) have launched their graduation project, UM Communicator. The Chinese-language magazine captures the narratives of 21 practitioners working in different industries in Macao, such as the care of abandoned animals, religious statue restoration, automotive repair, mortuary cosmetology, and the making of Chinese paper offerings. The digital edition of UM Communicator (in Chinese only) is now available on the official platform of the UM Department of Communication: https://online.fliphtml5.com/nuast/ohqs/.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/61154/