UM scholar gives talk on how iron affects anti-cancer effects of vitamin C

The University of Macau (UM) today (14 March) held a talk titled ‘Iron: The Troublemaker of Vitamin C in Cancer Therapy’ as the 11^th talk of the UM Scholar Research Forum. Chen Xiuping, professor in the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, was the speaker. The talk attracted many UM faculty members and students, as well as teachers and students from secondary schools who joined the event through the internet. According to Prof Chen, vitamin C is a natural and promising anti-cancer drug as it has few toxic and side effects. It helps to absorb iron, an essential trace element for humans that was recently found to induce non-apoptotic cell death—ferroptosis, which is also considered a new anti-cancer strategy. However, his research team found that iron can significantly interfere with and reverse the anti-cancer effect of vitamin C. During the talk, Prof Chen discussed how iron becomes the troublemaker of vitamin C’s anti-cancer effect and the challenges it brings to anti-cancer research.

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/55286/

Guangzhou Association for Science and Technology’s leading party members’ group secretary visits UM to promote cooperation in technological innovation between Guangzhou and Macao

A delegation led by Xu Liu, secretary of the leading party members’ group of the Guangzhou Association for Science and Technology and vice president of the association, recently visited the University of Macau (UM) to learn more about its research results and development. The delegation was warmly received by UM Rector Yonghua Song and Vice Rector Ge Wei. During the visit, Song told the guests about UM’s unique status in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and expressed hope to increase cooperation and exchanges in technological innovation between Guangzhou and Macao. Members of the delegation spoke highly of UM’s research development and expressed hope to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in science education, science and technology, and humanities between the two places. They visited UM’s State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, and 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/55278/

UM DBA students join field trip to Hainan province

The University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Business Administration (FBA) recently arranged for 41 students in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Programme to visit Hainan province. During the four-day trip, which was part of the compulsory course ‘Residential Workshop I’ in the programme, the students learned more about the history and the latest policy development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, as well as the successful business models of well-known enterprises in Hainan. They visited Hainan University, the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Hainan Yedao (Group) Co Ltd, Haikoku International Duty Free City, and Zhonghe Group. The enterprises and organisations in Hainan expressed hope to continue their collaborations with relevant programmes of UM to promote industry-academia collaboration.

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/55277/

UM rector gives speech on carbon neutrality in smart city development at World Engineering Day forum

Yonghua Song, a member of the Standing Committee of the China Association for Science and Technology and rector of the University of Macau (UM), recently gave a keynote speech titled ‘Building Carbon-neutral Energy Systems for Sustainable Smart Cities through International/Institutional Cooperation’ at an international forum with the theme ‘Engineering the Cities of the Future’ in Spain. In the speech, he used Macao as an example to discuss the characteristics and development trends of urban energy consumption and carbon emission structure.

Held in Madrid, Spain, the forum was part of the celebration activities for the World Engineering Day 2023. This year’s event was chaired by José Vieira, president of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations. A number of guests delivered keynote speeches at the event, including Yonghua Song, rector of UM; José Trigueros Rodrigo, president of the Institute of Engineering of Spain (Instituto de la Ingeniería de España); Fernando de Almeida Santos, president of the Order of Engineers in Portugal (Ordem dos Engenheiros); Salvador Landeros, president of the Pan American Union of Engineering Organizations (Unión Panamericana de Asociaciones de Ingenieros); Ralph Appel, president of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations; and Papias Kazawadi, president of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations. The guests exchanged ideas and had in-depth discussions on topics such as strengthening international exchange and cooperation in engineering, promoting the involvement of international engineering organisations in global governance, and engineering the cities for the future.

At the forum, Song first discussed the current state of global carbon emissions and the prospect of carbon neutrality from a macro perspective. According to him, cities are the main battleground for achieving the carbon neutrality target, and that global carbon emissions mainly come from the energy sector. He highlighted the technical principles and development trends of energy systems for smart cities, and used Macao as an example to analyse the characteristics and development trends of urban energy consumption and carbon emission structure, as well as explored several smart technical paths to achieve carbon neutrality in urban energy systems. Song also emphasised that UM plays an important role in bridging the gap between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in strengthening technical cooperation on carbon neutrality, adding that while achieving carbon neutrality requires the concerted efforts of all human beings, the role of engineers is indispensable.

The World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) was established in 1968 under the initiative and support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with its headquarters in Paris. After more than 50 years of development, members of the organisation cover more than 100 countries and relevant international organisations. In 1981, the China Association for Science and Technology officially joined this organisation representing China. At the initiative of WFEO, UNESCO designated 4 March each year as the World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (‘World Engineering Day’) in 2019 to raise public awareness of the important role of engineering and engineers in sustainable 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/55256/

Delegation from Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation visits Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine

A delegation led by Wang Lifeng, member of the leading Party members’ group of the Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation and director of food and drug safety of Shenzhen, recently visited the University of Macau (UM) to learn more about the operation and development of the Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine, UM. The delegation was warmly received by UM Vice Rector Ge Wei and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences Director Chen Xin. During the meeting, Li Shaoping, deputy director of UM’s State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines and director of the Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine, told the guests about the operation of the centre. Both parties exchanged ideas on research innovation, the establishment of quality standards for Chinese medicine, talent development, and the connections among organisations dedicated to the testing of Chinese medicine in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Both parties also expressed hope to strengthen cooperation in these areas. After the meeting, Wang presented a new book for the popularisation of Chinese medicine published by the Shenzhen Institute for Drug Control to the centre.

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/55255/

UM wireless charging system receives 1st prize of sci-tech achievement award among projects from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao

An efficient and adaptable wireless charging system developed by a research team at the University of Macau (UM) recently received a first prize of the Science and Technology Achievement Award, the highest award in this category, in the 2022 Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao science and technology project review activity.

The activity was co-organised by Shenzhen Computer Users Association, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao talent exchange and qualification recognition committee, and the Shenzhen committee for the evaluation of technological achievements in electronic information technology. After an evaluation process involving experts from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao, 17 research projects were awarded and the UM project titled ‘Efficient and Adaptable Wireless Charging System – Building an Era of Low-Carbon Travel and Efficient Property Management’ received a first prize of the Science and Technology Achievement Award. The award is not only a recognition of the strength of the UM research team, but also an affirmation of the contributions of UM and Macao to technological innovation and sustainable development.

The system was developed by Associate Professor Lam Chi Seng, Professor Mak Pui In, and Chair Professor Rui Martins in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the Faculty of Science and Technology, the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, and the Institute of Microelectronics. Popularising electric vehicles in China is crucial to achieving the national ‘Dual Carbon’ goals. For this reason, the project aims to develop an efficient and adaptable wireless charging system that can easily adapt to the charging specifications of different vehicles and allow users to charge their vehicles without stopping. This technology can also be applied in the fields of property management and industrial automation, such as powering inspection and service robots for smart property management as well as automatic guided vehicles in smart warehouses. It can supply electricity 24 hours a day to support wireless power supply and Internet of Things application and can greatly improve work efficiency.

In addition, Sun Nan, a member of the leading Party members’ group of the Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology, also awarded the Shenzhen Computer Science and Technology Contribution Medal of the second grade to Prof Lam, the principle investigator of the project. Lam says that the project is a major achievement of UM in research and innovation, adding that the research results will help promote the technological development and economic transformation of Macao and even the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

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/55252/

UM, ZJU offer ‘2+4’dual degree programme to nurture professionals in clinical medicine

Over the years, the University of Macau (UM) has launched various dual degree programmes with well-known universities in China and overseas to cultivate outstanding students. Among them, the ‘2+4’ bachelor’s degree programme in biomedical sciences and clinical medicine jointly offered by UM and Zhejiang University (ZJU) allows students with a passion in medicine to enroll in the clinical medicine programme at ZJU’s School of Medicine. Graduates of this joint programme will receive a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from UM and a bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine from ZJU.

ZJU is a world-renowned university in mainland China with a top-tier clinical medicine programme offered by its School of Medicine. The programme attracts top students from China and abroad every year. Under this ‘2+4’ programme jointly offered by UM and ZJU, students will first study the basics of biomedical sciences at UM for two years. Those who have met the selection criteria will be recommended for the admission to ZJU’s School of Medicine, where they will continue their education in basic and clinical medicine and receive clinical training for another four years.

Nazaré Alva Galang Cabarrabang is the first student enrolling into this ‘2+4’ programme. After completing the required courses and training at UM, she headed to ZJU to pursue studies and training in clinical medicine. According to her, the courses at UM offered her many opportunities to engage in research and reinforce her theoretical knowledge, which laid a solid academic foundation for her studies at ZJU. Cabarrabang adds that her current life at ZJU is very fulfilling. In addition to taking courses in the classroom, she also joins practical sessions as an intern in hospitals where she accompanies doctors on ward rounds, examines patients, and compiles medical records. The doctors are always patient in guiding her and sharing their insights and experiences with her, helping her to apply her clinical knowledge.

According to the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Education of China, the ‘2+4’ programme is only open to Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and international students currently studying at UM. It provides an opportunity for them to study clinical medicine at a top university in China, which also helps Macao increase the pool of medical talent and accumulate experience, so as to enhance the overall strength of Macao’s health care system.

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/55240/