Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1997

Research News RGC Research Grants for 1997-98 A total of 132 research proposals submitted by academic and research staff of the University have succeedein obtaining earmarked grants totalling HK$72,331,980 from the Research Grants Council (RGC) this year. Last year's figures were 108 projects and HK$64,903,000 . The University also received adirect grant of $17.9 million to finance small projects. For 1997-98, the government has made available $423 million to eight UGC-funde tertiary institutions for research purposes: $75 million for direct allocation to the institutions to finance small projects; $24 million to support new initiatives aimed at encouragingroup research and strengthening the research base of these institutions; and $324 million for selected research proposals submitted by the academic and research personnel in the institutions. The 132 CUHK projects selected for support fal into four subject disciplines: biology and medicine (45); engineering (40); physical sciences (18); and the humanities, ocial sciences and business studies (29). Four More CUHK Research Projects Rated Excellent In the recent assessment exercise conducted by the Research Grants Council on research projects completed by the UGC-funde tertiary institutions, 10 were rated 'excellent' . Among the 10 are the following four projects undertaken by CUHK staff members: • Marital Adjustment, Parent-Child Relations and the Psychological Well-being of Midlife Married Adults in Hong Kong Researcher: Prof. Daniel T. L Shek, Department of Social Work • Reading Comprehension in Chinese Researcher: Prof. Chen Hsuan Chih, Department of Psychology • Studies of Structure, Dynamics and Kinetics of Polyelectrolyte Gel Researcher: Prof. Wu Chi, Department of Chemistry • A Pilot Study of Computerized Database of the Excavated Wood/Bamboo and Silk Scripts of China Researchers: Prof. Jao Tsung-I and Dr. Chen Fong Ching, Institute of Chinese Studies To date, the University lays claim to 19 'excellent ' projects among the 42 so rated by the RGC. HK$20 million Research Grants for 17 Projects Seventeen research grants totalling HK$20,564,994 from various local and overseas sponsors were also recorded during the period April to October 1997. Sponsors Amount Awarded ( H K $ ) Number of P r o j e c t s Industrial Support Fund 12,126,960 5 Health Services Research Committee 3,910,194 6 Occupational Safety and Health Council 500,00 1 Ho Sin-hang Education Endowment Fund 250,00 1 S.K. Ye Medical Foundation 1,369,840 1 AO/ASIF Research Commission, Switzerland 620,00 1 New Zealand Dairy Board 1,500,000 1 Merck Sharp & Dohme Pharmaceutical s 288,00 1 Highlights of RGC-funded Projects To generate more interest in the University's research activities, the Chinese U n i v e r s i t yB u l l e t i n continues to bring to readers highlights of research projects supported by earmarked research grants of the Research Grants Council. The B u l l e t i n has worked closely with the principal investigators of four projects to explain their research objectives, procedures ， and achievements in terms comprehensibl e to the lay person. The four reports can be found on pages 20-35.