Research Highlights

Prof Richard M. Walker, Head of the Department of Government and International Affairs and Lee Shau Kee Foundation Chair Professor of Public Administration at Lingnan University, has been given the prestigious Routledge Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM) in recognition of his sustained dedication and outstanding contributions to the field. Prof Walker is the first scholar in HKSAR to receive this honour, bringing distinction to Hong Kong's academic community and emphasising Lingnan University's international leadership in the discipline.

The Department of Psychology at Lingnan University hosted an academic symposium on campus yesterday, 13 April, titled “Navigating the Work-Family Interface in the Digital Era: Challenges and Strategies”. Around 40 local and international psychology scholars gathered to examine how contemporary work practices in the digital era influence mental health, job performance, and family life, and to present their latest research findings along with practical strategies to build resilience.

To enhance the business acumen and practical experience of students from Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area (GBA) tertiary institutions, the Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies (HKIBS) at Lingnan University organised the third Business Case Competition (LUBCC) 2026. The Final Presentation Day and Award Presentation Ceremony were successfully held yesterday (12 April). This year’s competition expanded for the first time to include five GBA universities: Shenzhen University, Jinan University, Foshan University, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, and Guangdong University of Technology. The first-prize teams were Lingnan University and Foshan University.

Lingnan University today, 13 April, hosted its University Assembly with guest of honour Prof Arieh Warshel, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2013 and widely recognised as one of the founding figures of computational chemistry. In his lecture Electrostatic Basis of Biological Actions, Prof Warshel shared insights from his decades of research and presented an integrated account of his life’s work, from fundamental physical principles and the laws governing electrons to the construction of the “microscopic world” of biological systems. He further extended this framework to the study and application of biomolecules, and highlighted the role of computational tools and artificial intelligence in advancing medical and pharmaceutical research.

In response to the global demand for clean energy transition, tandem solar cells are recognised as a crucial next-generation technology that will significantly improve solar power efficiency. Scholars from Lingnan University’s Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies (WJYSIS) and their collaborators have innovatively developed a novel interfacial structure, which substantially reduces energy loss and successfully overcomes the current limitations of perovskite solar cells in voltage, further improving the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity. Their findings, published in the top-tier international journal Nature Communications, affirm Lingnan University’s research capabilities in the fields of renewable energy materials and photovoltaic technology.

Asian turtles face a severe conservation crisis caused by illegal poaching and the wildlife trade. Supported by Ocean Park and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, Lingnan University is hosting the inaugural International Conference on Integrated Conservation of Asian Turtles (ICAT) from today, 27 March, through 30 March 2026. The conference, attended by 180 leading scholars, scientists, zookeepers, veterinarians, policymakers, educators, and other experts from 19 countries and regions will examine the latest research findings and practical conservation, as well as strategies to combat the illegal poaching of Asian turtles, and enhance protection for endangered species.

- Extraction of key behavioral elements from videos - Robustness against variations in action speed and duration - Selected for Oral Presentation (acceptance rate: 0.74%) at CVPR, the top computer vision conference

The Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) held a conferment ceremony today, 25 March, to officially appoint Prof Eugene Tyrtyshnikov, distinguished mathematician, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Professor and Chairman at Lomonosov Moscow State University, as a Lingnan Fellow, recognising his outstanding academic achievements in computational mathematics and numerical analysis, as well as the significant societal impact of his work.

A research team from CityUHK, in collaboration with researchers from the Chinese Mainland, has found that LCMs from household electronics and e-waste can bioaccumulate in marine life, including the endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises. These compounds can penetrate the blood–brain barrier and accumulate in brain tissue, raising concerns about potential risks to the nervous system and other organs.

From royal armouries to international exhibitions, koftgari reflects a metalworking tradition shaped by conquest, courtly patronage, and shifting markets. Across Persia and South Asia, artisans inlaid steel with gold and silver, turning arms and regalia into symbols of power, protection, and prestige. Explore the craft across changing political landscapes as its patronage and purpose evolved.

The Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) hosted a conferment ceremony today, 10 March, to honour Prof Guillermo Sapiro, Augustine Family Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University and Distinguished Engineer at Apple, Inc. He was formally appointed a Lingnan Fellow in recognition of his remarkable academic achievements and significant contributions in the field.

A research team at CityUHK has discovered for the first time that the naturally occurring porous ceramic structure within sea urchin spines possesses an unexpected capability for mechanoelectrical perception.

Home ownership remains one of the most important decisions in life. A study conducted by Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies examined intergenerational housing support from the perspective of parents. The results show that only about one in four (26%) surveyed parents plan to provide financial assistance to their children for home purchase, 37 per cent believe that subsidising children’s property purchase is not their responsibility, and nearly seven in ten (67%) believe the government should provide more subsidised housing to help the younger generation achieve home ownership. The study, Housing opportunities and family reciprocity: intergenerational support for young people and the role of housing and welfare policy in Hong Kong, was published in the latest issue of the internationally recognised Journal of Social Policy.

From apostolic legend to colonial revival, the Santhome Cathedral Basilica stands at the crossroads of faith, history, and architecture. Built over a site associated with Saint Thomas — the Apostle of the East — it layers early Christian memory, maritime exchange, and neo-Gothic ambition into a living shrine.

As the Year of the Horse approaches, Prof Cai Zongqi, Director of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies and Lee Wing Tat Chair Professor of Chinese Literature of Lingnan University, and Mr Jerry Wang Junzhe, Research Officer of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies, offer a detailed interpretation of the Horse zodiac sign from the cultural perspectives of customs, classical texts, history, management, and literature, and link this explanation to contemporary Chinese New Year greetings.

How do online and offline narratives—from political speeches to news coverage to social media talk— make and unmake a democracy?

In recent years, marathons and ultradistance endurance events have grown in popularity, and are widely regarded as beneficial to both physical and mental health. A recent study conducted by the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University shows that individual personality traits play an important role in the psychological well-being derived from exercise. Contrary to common belief, individuals with higher levels of extraversion did not show a significant increase in subjective well-being as their participation in ultradistance endurance events increased. In fact, those more open to the experience were also more likely to translate such demanding trials into improved overall well-being. These findings offer new insights to people choosing exercise and activities that best suit their personalities.

More than 190 students from 13 local secondary schools will take part in a year-long programme to gain hands-on experience in preparing an extremely rare whale specimen for public exhibitions scheduled for 2027. The Environment and Conservation Fund “Sea” Through Cetacean: STEAM Student Ambassador Programme & Cetacean Conservation Exhibition, organised by the Division of Science of Lingnan University in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Cetacea Research Institute, and Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, was officially launched on 1 February 2026. This initiative builds on the rare stranding of a Longman’s beaked whale in Hong Kong in 2024, providing students with a unique opportunity to assist in the preparation of skeletal specimens of one of the world’s most mysterious marine mammal species. The project also promotes cetacean conservation and will educate the public in key marine environmental issues, including plastic pollution in the oceans.

Researchers at the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) have developed a data-driven machine learning model for financial asset pricing, leveraging AI to enhance both the predictive accuracy and interpretability of portfolio construction. Designed to be clearer and more efficient than traditional methods, the “P-Trees” model enables investors to make better-informed decisions by simplifying complex market data. The study was published in the Journal of Financial Economics, a top-tier publication in the field.

As global demand for EVs and renewable energy surges, establishing sustainable practices in lithium-ion battery production, recycling, and disposal has become critical. A collaborative study co-led by a young professor in the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) presents a promising roadmap for this transition. The study was published in Nature Communications.

On 11 January 2026, Lingnan University’s Department of Psychology and the Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Society of Sport & Exercise Psychology (HKSSEP), hosted a seminar titled "The Importance of Sports and Exercise Psychology in Modern Tertiary Education". The seminar attracted approximately 60 attendees, including students from psychology and sports-related programmes, as well as members of the general public who are interested in the subject of sport and exercise psychology.

Lingnan University welcomed a delegation from the University Grants Committee (UGC) on its Tuen Mun campus on 8 January, and presented its latest developments as a research-oriented liberal arts university comprehensive in arts and sciences. The delegation toured Lingnan’s latest teaching facilities and viewed their research, speaking at length with senior management, academic staff, and students.

From nomadic looms to global collectors, Afghan war rugs chart the region’s turbulent history through an age-old weaving tradition. Incorporating weapons, maps, and political imagery into familiar motifs, these rugs reflect shifting political realities, the ingenuity of Baloch weavers, and the influence of a rapidly commercialised market.

In many organisations, significant hierarchical gaps exist within work teams, raising the question of how frontline employees can strive for greater opportunities for upward mobility in their careers. A recent study by the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University finds that employees who proactively seek work resources in their jobs, are willing to learn, and at the same time possess higher emotional intelligence, have significantly higher job performance and work engagement. The research team points out that these strategies help employees create more favourable conditions for long-term career development in complex workplace environments. The research findings have been published in top-tier international academic journal Journal of Business and Psychology.

In order to understand Hong Kong citizens' views on the development of gerontechnology, Lingnan University recently held a public opinion survey. The results show that gerontechnology products related to healthcare and exercise are of the greatest interest to the public, although about 60 per cent of respondents find the cost of such products prohibitively high, which presents a barrier to purchase. At the same time, over 90 per cent hope that the government will increase support for elderly service organisations to adopt gerontechnology, and for research and development. This would stimulate growth and the silver economy, ultimately benefiting more older adults and caregivers.

In today’s highly competitive society, many parents insist their children learn more and learn faster in order to “win at the starting line”. A recent study by the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University examining the relationship between stress and creativity has found that different types of stress, such as competition, noise, confined environments, and engaging in challenging tasks, may actually reduce children’s creative performance, but adolescents and adults tend to show more innovative ability under moderate competitive pressure. The research findings have been published in top-tier international academic journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, and provide important insights in workplace management strategies, and for the education sector and creative industries.

From Jesuit apothecaries in Goa to royal treasuries in Europe, Goa stones were sought-after remedies and status objects in the seventeenth century. Discover how these artificial bezoars were made, traded, and treasured across continents.

Known as chattra, koda, godugu, sesath and hti in several Indian, Sri Lankan and Burmese languages, the ceremonial parasol has remained a symbol of divinity and political authority across South and Southeast Asia. Discover some of its earliest depictions and read about its making and use today.

On November 17th, Lingnan University’s Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) and The University of Sydney’s Educational Innovation (EI) Team co-hosted a pivotal seminar titled “The Transformation of Global Higher Education Learning Pedagogies: Harnessing the Innovation and Technology Revolution”. With an attendance of approximately 300 participants, both in person and online, the event highlighted the urgency to rethink and revolutionise educational practices to adapt to the AI era.