HKBU showcases excellence in art-tech, space exploration and other scientific frontiers at InnoCarnival

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)’s excellence in art-tech, initiatives in space exploration, and achievements at other frontiers of science is being showcased at the InnoCarnival 2022, held from 22 to 30 October at the Hong Kong Science Park.

Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the Hong Kong SAR, the InnoCarnival promotes Innovation and Technology (I&T) culture in the community, with this year’s theme being “Innovation & Technology empower our dreams”. At its pavilion at the Carnival, HKBU presents a wide range of interactive and attractive activities, demonstrations and exhibits, and shares with the public its multiple attainments in cutting-edge and innovative scientific research.

The opening ceremony of the InnoCarnival held yesterday (22 October) was officiated by Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government. Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; and Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government visited HKBU’s pavilion on the first day of the Carnival. Mr Paul Poon, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court; Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rick Wong, Interim Provost, Ms Christine Chow, Vice-President (Administration) and Secretary; and Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer of HKBU shared with the Government representatives the University’s scientific research achievements.

Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (front row, 3rd left); and Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (front row, 1st right) of the HKSAR Government visit HKBU’s pavilion to enjoy a creative art performance presented jointly by HKBU musicians and AI artists.

Models of the Landing Chair for spacecraft Shenzhou series for which an HKBU scholar played a key role in its design.

Innovative injector for outer space applications designed for the subcutaneous Injection of novel aptamer drug for alleviating microgravity-induced bone loss.

Artwork from the Interactive Panorama of Horses designed by HKBU artist.

Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (9th left); and Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (7th left) of the HKSAR Government visit HKBU’s pavilion with the company of Mr Paul Poon, Deputy Chairman of the Council and the Court (5th left); Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor (8th right), Professor Rick Wong, Interim Provost (6th right), Ms Christine Chow, Vice-President (Administration) and Secretary (5th right); and Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer (3rd left) and other HKBU representatives.

Exhibits feature HKBU’s contributions to space exploration

The official launch of the recruitment of payload specialists in the Hong Kong SAR for the first time is recognition of the city’s ongoing contributions to the nation’s space programme. At the InnoCarnival, HKBU displays the fruits of a number of projects in support of the programme. They include the Landing Chair for spacecraft Shenzhou series for which an HKBU scholar played a key role in its design. The Landing Chair is one of the key tools used by the astronauts while landing on Earth from space flight missions, providing immediate support to their conditions of musculoskeletal system deterioration during the landing.

Another HKBU-led initiative that supports space missions is the development of a novel aptamer drug for alleviating microgravity-induced bone loss in astronauts during deep space exploration. This drug can tackle bone formation reduction induced by weightlessness and increased stiffness of carotid arteries encountered by astronauts. A cross-disciplinary team at HKBU is also working on a subcutaneous injector design for outer space applications, with a needle-free design that, together with the novel aptamer drug, can protect astronauts against bone loss in microgravity as well as reduce the amount of junk in space.

Pioneering projects offer innovative art experience

The creative arts and art-tech development are another strategic focus of HKBU. At the Carnival, the University presents its pioneering projects in these areas which offer an innovative, immersive art experience. Visitors can enjoy artwork from the Interactive Panorama of Horses, a special commission for the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s opening exhibition “Grand Gallop: Art and Culture of the Horse”; performance created by AI artists under the research project Building Platform Technologies for Symbiotic Creativity in Hong Kong; the novel concert ARIA under the Space to Breathe project that combines vocal performances, installation art and big data to explore the air we breathe and the environmental impact of pollution; and Project Labyrinth, a video-meets-video game production that reflects on a world that faces obliteration.

HKBU scholars will deliver three online seminars during the Carnival with topics spanning subjects such as how to use digital tools for English language learning, Chinese medicine treatment for long-COVID, and an online interactive map presenting the history and stories about the World War Two Battle of Hong Kong.

HKBU welcomes members of the public visiting its pavilion (D11) at InnoCarnival 2022 and joining the inspiring seminars. For more information, please visit the website http://innocarnival.hk/