Prof. WONG Siu-lun, Alan (Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong)

CRISPR has revolutionised our ability to rewrite life's blueprint, yet natural CRISPR tools still face limitations in precision and efficiency. This lecture traces the evolution of CRISPR tools—from the early gene scissors to refined base editors—and shows how scientists have tackled key bottlenecks along the way. The spotlight then turns to artificial intelligence, which is transforming CRISPR tool design: predicting editing outcomes, optimising guide RNAs and editing systems. We will explore how the emerging "AI designs, CRISPR executes" paradigm is accelerating applications in precision medicine and gene therapy, ushering in a new era of rewriting life's blueprint.

Language: Cantonese

Prof. CHOW Cheuk-lun (Associate Professor, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong. Member of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences)

This talk begins with the basic science of fire, helping students understand how fires develop and why they can become dangerous. It then looks at examples from the past to show how real events have changed our understanding of building safety and driven the development of fire engineering. Today, buildings are increasingly adopting greener, more energy-efficient and renewable technologies. While these innovations offer important environmental benefits, they can also introduce fire-safety challenges that were less common in traditional buildings. Moving from the lessons from past fires and finally to emerging risks in sustainable design, the talk asks a forward-looking question: as buildings become greener and more complex, how can we make sure they remain safe?

Language: Cantonese

Prof. TSO Chi-Yan, Edwin (Chair Professor of Energy and Sustainability, Associate Dean (Internationalization and Outreach), School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong)

With rapid economic development, the energy consumption of air-conditioning systems has become a growing global concern—particularly in Hong Kong, where the hot and humid subtropical climate further intensifies cooling demand. The research and development of green building technologies to enhance air-conditioning energy efficiency therefore plays a critical role in addressing climate change and the global energy crisis.

This talk is going to introduce an innovative cooling technology that harnesses the universe as a natural heat sink to cool buildings on Earth, offering a new paradigm for building energy conservation. This technology reflects nearly all incoming solar radiation while emitting mid-infrared thermal radiation to cold outer space, achieving an "electricity-free" cooling effect. By reducing the cooling load of air-conditioning systems, it enables substantial energy savings and carbon emission reductions. Beyond lowering energy demand, this approach provides transformative solutions for sustainable buildings and contributes meaningfully to the global pursuit of carbon neutrality.

Language: Cantonese

Prof. LI Hua-bai (Associate Professor, Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Globally, the Universe is expanding. Yet locally, the opposite can happen: matter gathers together to form structures such as stars and black holes. We ourselves are products of this second process, one of the greatest mysteries in modern astrophysics. Today, scientists believe that star formation is governed by a delicate interplay between gravity, turbulence, and magnetic fields. This lecture will describe this fascinating picture using only concepts from high-school physics.

Language: Putonghua, supplemented by English