New Research Head Prepared For The Future

IN THE NEWS

New Research Head Prepared for the Future Dr Lin is happy with the progress made to focus research at UST. "We need to reach a critical mass in each area, attracting talent from around the world, and especially China. Birds of a feather flock together-our excellence will attract the best people. "The quality of our students is extremely important. From first years to postgrads, they're the source of innovations and our hope for the future:' Though his t~at background is in science, Dr Lin's last position at National University of Singa~ pore was a joint appointment between the engineering and management faculties. "The School of Business and ManIf agement is a very important bridge to Hong Kong industry and business. Science has dramatically affected the management function. Today, business competes globally in, or through, technology:' "Technological advances change the complexion of our society. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences also has an impor~ tant role to play, helping us to plan for our future. "I strongly believe that the University's contributions will be based on the entire faculty. Now I need to meet them, to learn from them and about them. "HKUST's mission to aid the social and economic development of Hong Kong is admirable but our task should not be under-estimated;' Dr Lin said. "We will have to work hand-in-hand with the government and the business community to achieve this goal."

" I strongly believe the University's contributions will be based on the entire faculty. Now I need to meet them, to learn from them and about them.

r Otto.Lin is used to Hong Kong in transition. He arrived during the late 1940s as newcomers flooded in. Now, he has returned as Vice-President for Research and Development at HKUST, hoping to help Hong Kong compete in an even faster-changing world. After his early years in Hong Kong, Dr Lin took his first degree in Taiwan, then earned a PhD in chemistry from Columbia University. He worked in product and process R&D for the Du Pont Companyover 17 years, his work on polymer rheology contributing to the commercialization of Du Pont productl<, including industrial coatings and electronic cirwits. Dr Lin was enticed back to Taiwan in the 1980s to head the materials research lab at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), eventually serving two terms as president of the institute. A premier hi-tech institution, ITRI is credited as a key contributor to . Taiwan's recent economic success. He has a long association with the National Tsing Hua University, including periods as professor of polymer science and engineering management, and as dean of engineering. Excited to be back, Dr Lin has found a changed city. ''I'm an avid jogger;' he said. "After jogging along the waterfront at Tsimshatsui, I was amazed by the beauty of the new Hong Kong. It is so different, full of confidence and vitality:' The economic landscape has also changed. "Hong Kong has to find a new niche and upgrade its existing business portfolio;' he said. "Science and technology is key, through basic and applied scientific research, and the commercialization of technologies. "Science transcends boundaries, but technology is specific to a time and place. The apple falls from the tree in London and Hong Kong. That discovery may be exploited very differently in different . locations:' "We have to ensure that basic research is supported. Apart from its importance in understanding man and nature, it is one of the roots that feeds the tree of hi-tech industry. "Whilt we mustn't forget is that this tree has other roots-human resources, government policy, regional planning, infrastructure, social support and environment-that are also needed if the fruits, the hi-tech products and services, are to grow:'

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UST Hundreds.Join Lantau Millionshat does it take to get HKUST out of bed early on a Sunday morning? A good cause, apparently. The University has already filled its quota for the Community Chest's Walk for Millions. Nearly 400 staff and students have volunteered to walk 10 kilometers from Kwai Chung to Lantau via the Tsing Ma bridge early on Sunday, 11 May, raising over $100,000 in the process. The 275 available passes have all been taken, and over 100 names are on the waiting list. The Social Club is organizing the group application and is delighted with the response. "The first e-mail asking for applications was sent out on 25 February-every place was taken by 1 March;' explained Tony Lam (ETC). "We are still adding to the waiting list;' he said, "and we're hoping that our enthusiasm could win us more passes from the organizers:'

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GENESIS, 19 March 1997