Delegation from China Association for International Exchange of Personnel visits UM

A delegation led by Xia Bing, deputy director of the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel, visited the University of Macau (UM) and was warmly received by UM Vice Rector Ge Wei. At the University Gallery, Ge introduced to the delegation UM’s history and research layout. He added that as an international public comprehensive university, UM is committed to leveraging its advantages and producing more research outcomes to help Macao promote economic diversification and integrate into national development. Xia spoke highly of UM’s achievements in recent years and said that the university has nurtured many innovative talent with global perspectives. He also expressed hope that both parties will strengthen the exchanges and cooperation in the field of international talent.

The delegation visited the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, and the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City. They also held a meeting with representatives from various departments of UM to discuss topics such as enhancing the role of international talent and building a talent hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Xia encouraged UM to nurture more talent for the development of the Greater Bay Area as well as the development and prosperity of the country and 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/57628/

UM exhibition on French Impressionism to showcase 130 masterpieces

The opening ceremony of the exhibition titled ‘With The Sunshine, Across The Sea: From French Impressionism to Landscape Paintings of Macao’ will be held on Friday 2 February at 4:00pm in the exhibition hall on the first floor of the Museum of Art of the University of Macau (UM). The exhibition will feature works by masters such as Théodore Géricault, Claude Monet, and Gustave Courbet. A talk titled ‘Scenery Under the Visions of West and East’ will also be held on the same day. Interested individuals are welcome to attend.

The exhibition will showcase nearly 130 masterpieces, including oil paintings created in Normandy in France by more than ten famous Western artists, such as Théodore Géricault, Claude Monet, and Gustave Courbet, as well as photographs by their contemporaries. With an innovative curatorial approach, the exhibition aims to offer a visual feast to Macao audience. In addition, another section of the exhibition will feature neo-impressionist paintings by the 20th-century French painter André Hambourg, and landscape paintings by Macao-based Chinese and Western artists such as George Smirnoff, Luís Luciano Demée, and Kwok Se, who drew inspiration from the convergence of cultures.

After the ceremony, Li Jun, head of the Department of Arts and Design of UM’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities, will give a talk titled ‘Scenery Under the Visions of West and East’ at 4:30pm in the Auditorium of UM library (E2-G012). Taking the exhibited works as examples, Prof Li will explain how the contrasting mediums of water and oil undergo a magical chemical reaction and give rise to a harmonious effect similar to the convergence of Eastern and Western cultures in Macao. This will guide the audience to appreciate the uniqueness and aesthetics inherent in French impressionist paintings and Macao landscape paintings. The talk will be conducted in Mandarin, and registration is available at https://umac.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6KF3xsxxDm5H13w.

The exhibition is organised by the Museum of Art of UM, curated by the Department of Arts and Design of UM and the UM library, and co-organised by L’association Peindre en Normandie, Les Franciscaines in Deauville, and Ardi Photographies, with the support of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and the Macao Museum of Arts. The exhibition will be open until 5 May 2024. The Museum of Art of UM is located on the first and second floor of the UM Wu Yee Sun Library (E2) and is open from 10:00am to 7:00pm daily, including public holidays (except the first three days of the Chinese New Year). Admission to the exhibition and the talk is free. For more information on both events, please visit the website of UM’s Museum of Art at https://library.um.edu.mo/museum/en/.

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/57624/

UM, Dalian University of Technology sign cooperation agreements

A delegation led by Luo Zhongxuan, vice president of Dalian University of Technology, visited the University of Macau (UM) and was warmly received by UM Rector Yonghua Song and Vice Rector Michael Hui. On behalf of their respective universities, Luo and Hui signed a memorandum of understanding on educational and scientific cooperation and a student exchange agreement. Adhering to the principles of mutual benefit, mutual promotion, and common development, the two universities will strengthen their exchanges and cooperation to establish a long-term friendship and partnership and promote cooperation in academic exchange, talent cultivation, and student exchange. During the visit, the delegation also visited the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and the Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, and spoke highly of UM’s research development.

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/57618/

UM research team discovers chemical defence system in traditional Chinese medicine Panax notoginseng

A research team led by Wan Jianbo, professor at the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine of the University of Macau (UM), in collaboration with research teams from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Southwest Forestry University, has made a groundbreaking discovery in the plant chemical defence of traditional Chinese medicine Sanqi (Panax notoginseng). The study unveiled a two-component chemical defence system in Panax notoginseng mediated by chloroplast-localised β-glucosidase and 20(S)-protopanaxadiol ginsenosides, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of how Panax species defend against pathogens and provide valuable insights for the development of sustainable botanical pesticides. The research results have been published in the internationally renowned journal Nature Communications.

Plants produce secondary metabolites as a response to various environmental threats, enabling them to adapt and play a crucial role in chemical defence. The research originated from unexpected findings during a quality control study of Panax notoginseng leaves. After meticulous investigations, the research team unveiled a two-component chemical defence system in Panax notoginseng leaves. The system comprises a chloroplast-localised β-glucosidase, PnGH1, and its substrates, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol ginsenosides. The β-glucosidase and its substrates are spatially separated in cells under physiological conditions. Ginsenoside hydrolysis is activated only when exoenzymes produced by pathogenic fungi disrupt the plant’s chloroplast. The activation of PnGH1-mediated hydrolysis produces a series of less-polar ginsenosides through selective hydrolysis of outer glucose at the C-3 site. These newly formed ginsenosides exhibit a broader spectrum and more potent antifungal activity. The researchers also found a similar two-component chemical defence system in other Panax species, such as ginseng (P. ginseng), and American ginseng (P. quinquefolium). These findings shed light on the development of botanical pesticides and are hoped to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides in the cultivation of Panax species, thus contributing to the advancement of research in traditional Chinese medicine and the sustainable development of the industry.

The corresponding authors of the study are Wan Jianbo; Shi Shepo, researcher from the School of Chinese Materia Medica at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; and He Xiahong, professor at Southwest Forestry University. The co-first authors are Ma Lijuan, postdoctoral researcher at UM, and Liu Xiao, associate researcher at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The research project was supported by UM (File no: MYRG2022-00020-ICMS), the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao SAR (File no: 0052/2022/A1 and 005/2023/SKL), the Open Research Project Program of the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine at UM (File no: SKL-QRCM-OP23012), the Open Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines (File no: GTZK202203), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (File no: CARS-21), and the Major Science and Technology Project of Yunnan (File no: 202204BI090003 and No. 202205AF150018). The full version of the research article can be viewed at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-44854-7.

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/57611/

Delegation from Nanjing University visits UM

Tan Tieniu, secretary of the Party Committee of Nanjing University, led a delegation to visit the University of Macau (UM) and was warmly received by UM Rector Yonghua Song and Vice Rector Ge Wei. The two parties held in-depth discussions on strengthening cooperation between the two universities. Song said that UM is committed to nurturing more talent who love the country and Macao and producing more high-quality research outcomes, thereby helping Macao promote economic diversification and integrate into national development. He added that UM and Nanjing University are strategic partners, and the relevant collaboration includes the establishment of the Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance, the launch of the dual bachelor’s degree programme in computer science and applied physics and chemistry, student exchange programmes and the Ten Thousand Talents Program. Song also expressed hope that the two universities will continue to work together to make more contributions to the development of higher education in the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In addition, the delegation from Nanjing University visited the University Gallery and the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City.

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/57610/

UM organises science activity for secondary students to enhance their laboratory skills

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) of the University of Macau (UM) organised the 7th instalment of its science popularisation activity ‘The Pursuit of Research’ for local secondary school students. The activity provided an opportunity for students to conduct health science-related experiments, allowing them to experience the fun of scientific research and enhance their practical laboratory skills.

Under the guidance of Lei Chon Lok, assistant professor at FHS and other FHS members, a total of 50 students from Chan Sui Ki Perpetual Help College, Hou Kong Middle School, Escola Estrela do Mar, Escola Secundária Luso-Chinesa de Luís Gonzaga Gomes, Zheng Guanying Official School and Colégio Diocesano de São José—3 Escola participated in the activity. Each student individually conducted several experiments about biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical technology and bioinformatics. The experiments enabled them to grasp the related scientific theories, acquire practical laboratory skills, and understand the practical significance of health sciences in real life. The students also attended an admission talk to learn about FHS’s programmes, faculty, research achievements, teaching facilities and developments.

Sun Weng Yan, a teacher from Colégio Diocesano de São José—3 Escola, agreed that the activity broadened students’ scientific horizons. She said that the hands-on experiments enhanced students’ understanding and acquisition of learned knowledge, while also increasing their interest in scientific research. Students were also given an opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience and develop their proficiency in laboratory skills.

Leong Weng Yin, a student from Chan Sui Ki Perpetual Help College, expressed appreciation for the activity, which allowed him to acquire new skills. He acknowledged his initial shortcomings during the experiments, under the careful guidance of the faculty members, he successfully mastered the basic techniques and produced pills.

Yip Wa Huen, a student from Escola Estrela do Mar with a keen interest in biomedicine, expressed that the activity enabled her to experience university life in advance and gain a better understanding of UM’s state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and resources. Furthermore, she believed that advanced facilities play an important role in researchers’ work, adding that she hoped to become a researcher herself.

In addition to ‘The Pursuit of Research’ series, FHS regularly organises various science popularisation activities for local secondary school students, including science talks, the Health Sciences Summer Camp, and a one-day camp for students in the Principals’ Recommended Admission Scheme. These activities aim to foster students’ interest in science, expand their horizons and stimulate their curiosity in science. Committed to the sustainable development of scientific research, FHS is dedicated to promoting science education and fostering a strong integration of science and education, thus contributing to the cultivation of scientific research talent.

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/57608/

UM Students’ Union inaugurates new leadership

The University of Macau (UM) Students’ Union held an inauguration ceremony for the 26th leadership of the union and its affiliated organisations. The ceremony was witnessed by representatives of various local organisations, chambers of commerce, and student unions of different higher education institutions. In his speech, UM Rector Yonghua Song acknowledged the accomplishments of the previous leadership and expressed gratitude for their services and contributions. He expressed hope that the new leadership and the affiliated organisations will further enhance their support for UM students. He also encouraged students to continuously improve their abilities and sense of responsibility, and to make more contributions to both Macao society and the country.

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/57597/

UM students launch new book, showcasing human and cultural landscape in Macao

Students from the Department of Communication at the University of Macau (UM) held a book launch event for their capstone graduation project titled City Walk in Macau (Communicator 2024). Through this publication, the students aimed to challenge traditional learning approaches and mindsets, thus promoting strolling as an effective way to study the city of Macao and drawing attention to the act of walking in cities.

City Walk in Macau consists of 20 articles divided into five sections: Livelihood, Intoxication, Roots, Culture, and Corner. Through interviews with ordinary citizens, experts and scholars, as well as in-depth readings and analysis of old newspapers and historical documents, the students present articles that unveil stories about the industry, entertainment industry, Southeast Asian Chinese community, culture, and Ká Hó village in Macao, all through the lens of five distinct walking paths.

Elory Kuang, editor and student from the Department of Communication, highlighted that this year’s publication differs from the previous magazine format as it is presented as a portable book. The book includes sketches of landscapes and traces of street corners, allowing readers to carry it while exploring the city—a symbol of ‘city in the book’. UM alumnus Danny Su expressed his intention to visit the routes detailed in the book.

Starting from February, City Walk in Macau will be distributed to different libraries in Macao. Interested individuals are welcome to borrow the book. The electronic version can be viewed at https://online.fliphtml5.com/nflqs/abhx/.

Communicator is the capstone graduation project for fourth-year students of the Department of Communication in UM’s Faculty of Social Sciences. Since its inception in 2001, a total of 22 issues have been published. The publication explores various social and cultural issues in Macao, reflecting students’ observations, understanding, and affection for 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/57590/

UM Rector Yonghua Song receives Medal of Merit – Education from Macao SAR Government

The Macao SAR Government today (19 December) held the 2023 Decorations, Medals and Certificates of Merit Awards Ceremony, where Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng presented awards to the recipients. Yonghua Song, rector of the University of Macau (UM), was awarded the Medal of Merit – Education in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the education sector.

Song expressed gratitude to the Macao SAR Government for acknowledging his contributions, adding that the Medal of Merit is an honour for UM as a whole. Thanks to the support of the country, the SAR Government and all sectors of society, as well as the concerted efforts of all UM students and faculty, the university has achieved satisfactory results in talent cultivation, research innovation, and other areas in recent years. UM will continue to adhere to its development direction of ‘being firmly rooted in Macao, jointly developing the Greater Bay Area, integrating with the nation, and going global’. It will actively support the strategies of the SAR Government and nurture high-calibre talent for Macao, particularly in fields such as healthcare, high technology, modern finance, culture and tourism, and MICE. Furthermore, the university will produce more research outcomes and foster their commercialisation, thus making more contributions to society across various aspects.

Song currently serves as the ninth rector of UM. He is also a chair professor in electrical engineering at UM and the director of the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City.

Among Song’s achievements, he has made systematic and innovative contributions to the safe and efficient operation of low carbon power systems. He has received many national and international awards and honours in recognition of his internationally acclaimed accomplishments. Song was elected a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK), a member of the Academia Europaea, and a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He was also awarded DSc by Brunel University, Honorary DEng by the University of Bath, and Honorary DSc by the University of Edinburgh. He won a second prize of the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award and the prize for Scientific and Technological Progress from the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation in 2020, the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize in 2022, and the Third National Innovation Excellence Award in 2023.

With extensive leadership experience at overseas and Chinese universities, Song has held positions such as pro-vice-chancellor at Brunel University, pro-vice-chancellor at the University of Liverpool, assistant president at Tsinghua University, and executive vice president at Zhejiang University. Since assuming the role of rector at UM in 2018, Song has overseen the moderate expansion of the university, leading to continuous improvements in teaching quality and significant advancements in international reputation. UM has consistently improved its rankings in both the Times Higher Education (THE) and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for six consecutive years, with the university being ranked 193rd and 254th respectively in 2024 and making its debut among the top 200 and top 300 universities worldwide. The university now holds a leading position among higher education institutions in Macao and ranks among the top 20 in the Greater China region.

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/57564/

Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences gives talk at UM on impact of X-ray on human civilisation

As part of the University Lecture Series, the University of Macau (UM) held a talk titled ‘Veritas, Innovation, Civilization & Progress’ today (19 January). Zhang Ze, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University, and expert in crystal structure in materials science, was the speaker. The talk was well attended by students and faculty of UM and local secondary schools, as well as members of the public.

Speaking at the event, UM Rector Yonghua Song said that Prof Zhang has trained many science and technology talent for China and has achieved systematic and innovative research results on the relationships between material properties and microstructures. He has also received many awards for his research breakthroughs in the fields of nanomaterials, optoelectronic materials, and energy materials.

During the talk, Prof Zhang discussed the impact of X-rays on the progress of human civilisation from 1895 to the present day. He pointed out that technological innovation is the fundamental and driving force of the progress of human civilisation. Prof Zhang then presented the research findings in the field of X-ray, including the one that was first awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. He also shared his perspectives and breakthroughs in interdisciplinary research. In addition, Prof Zhang encouraged the audience to be innovative and highlighted the role of teachers in conveying knowledge, stimulating students to think, seek the truth, and develop sound values. He also engaged in the Q&A and discussion session with the audience.

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/57563/