Newsletter No. 466

4 466 • 4.11.2015 知識轉移近觀 Fine Specimens of Knowledge Transfer 特寫 Feature 知 識轉移近年已發展為本地及海外高等教育界不可或缺 的使命。中文大學向來致力於服務社群，一直不遺餘力 結合學術與民眾，互協互利。2009年設立的知識轉移項目基金 （KPF），鼓勵教研人員將知識和創見應用於不同範疇，造福 社會。 基金至今已撥款逾三千二百萬港元，資助一百三十個項目，讓 超過二百名不同學科教研人員，轉移其所知所長，貢獻本港 社會。負責管理基金的研究及知識轉移服務處副處長 蔡錦昌  博士，對獲資助項目種類之多與影響之深廣，感受殊深。他說： 「這些項目包括培訓教師如何教授有學習和社交障礙的學生； 開發中草藥藥用價值及用藥安全網上資料庫；開展公眾健康教 育活動，喚起對老年疾病的關注；以及開發智能手機程式，方便 以粵語為母語者辨識普通話與粵語的差別。」 本業還是旁騖？ 對於一些教學人員來說，走進社區本就順理成章。人類學系 譚少薇 教授說，參與社區工作是自然不過的，人類學研究必須 「入世」，才能有全盤和到位的了解。她開展的KPF項目旨在加 深人們對香港少數族裔的認識，除為大學生舉辦一系列的培訓 工作坊，到中學主持研討會，又為公眾編製資料套。 藥劑學院 李詠恩 教授面對研究與社區工作，本就分配時間猶豫 不決。不過，她始終以服務社會為己任。最近獲基金支持的項 目，目標是加強大家對心房顫動早期檢測的認識。這種異常的 心律，會增加中風的風險。李教授採取主動，舉辦講座及工作 坊，又開設網上資訊平台，向長者及其照顧者介紹相關知識。 現在，李教授已可平衡研究和社區工作，兩者更產生了協同效 應。KPF項目讓她獲得第一手資料，應用於論文和申請其他資 助上；而她為學生設計的外展服務計劃，亦成為教學的延伸。 意外收穫 有着同樣體會和得着的，是建築學院的 田恒德 教授。他構思了 一項創新的社區參與和賦能項目─「妙想氈開」，落區在西營 盤及天水圍實行，旨在凝聚居民的社區歸屬感。項目團隊教導 參加活動的中學生攝錄採訪，為自己的社區製作錄像，通過放 映會、聚會及社交媒體，策動居民重塑社區的特色，共同構思如 何利用區內的公共空間。項目的成果引發田恒德教授開展相關 研究，更獲優質教育基金撥款支持。KPF項目不但為教學法開 闢新徑，也造就了新課程的開設。 蔡博士表示，由於社區項目多屬跨學科性質，意味項目負責 人須跟其他學科的教研人員合作，像是李詠恩教授便聯同心 臟科的同事推廣長者健康教育；田恒德教授的項目所應用的 多媒體表達法，也有賴新聞與傳播學者及專業人士的協助。 心理學系 陳瑞燕 教授與一位音樂家合辦「互動傳情音樂 會」，結合臨床心理學和音樂，特別構思一套節目，引導自 閉症兒童藉著欣賞音樂表達自己，也讓公眾人士參與，以 了解自閉兒童及成年的特殊需要。就像其他中大學者般， 陳教授不滿足於站在台上講學，而是希望「觸動大眾的 心靈」。 把珍貴時間用於實驗室或診所，收穫豈不更大嗎？投放於社區 服務值得嗎？矯形外科及創傷學系 梁國穗 教授認為是值得的。 脆性骨折常見於長者，隨着人口老化，預計病例將不斷上升。身 為此方面的專家，梁教授發現治本之法，首要是投放時間教育 大眾如何「防跌」。他的KPF項目，就是通過講座、風險評估及 專業培訓，進一步加強公眾對肌肉減少症（由年老而導致肌肉 質量和力量減少）及脆性骨折的關注。梁教授推動這些社區項 目，經常要犧牲周末和公眾假期，不過，服務社會的熱誠是他的 動力，而他也堅信在KPF支持下，能更有效益把其專業知識轉 移至社區，造福人群。 第七個年度 KPF已踏入第七個年度，新一輪撥款申請亦已開始，截止日 期是12月初。有意申請可參與11月13日中午在鄭裕彤樓5號 演講廳舉行的交流會，詳情請閱 www.orkts.cuhk.edu.hk / knowledge-transfer-initiatives/funding-schemes#kpf 。 K nowledge transfer has in recent years emerged as an integral mission of higher education. Always committed to serving the community and a pioneer in knowledge transfer, CUHK has long dedicated efforts and resources to bring gown and town together in mutually beneficial ways. The Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (KPF) was set up in 2009 to encourage faculty members to be personally involved in applying their knowledge and ideas in projects that are visible and beneficial to the community. Thus far, the fund has supported 130 projects with a total funding of over HK$32 million. It has enabled more than 200 CUHK researchers of all academic disciplines to transfer their research expertise to the Hong Kong society in ways that are immediately noticeable and beneficial. Dr. Tony Tsoi , Associate Director of the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services which administers the fund, was impressed with the variety of projects and the level of impact generated. He said, ‘Past projects include training teachers to work with students with learning and social difficulties, developing an online system to provide health and safety information related to Chinese herbal medicine, launching public education campaigns to heighten the awareness of different ageing-related diseases, and developing a smartphone app to sharpen Cantonese speakers’ perceptual distinction between Putonghua and Cantonese.’ Attraction or Distraction? For some academics, walking into the community is second nature to what they are already doing. Prof. Maria Tam of the Department of Anthropology said that her involvement in community work had come to her very naturally, because anthropology required researchers to be ‘in the world’ in order to have a holistic and emic understanding of it. Her KPF projects set out to promote greater understanding of some of the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. She had conducted a series of training workshops for university students and seminars in secondary schools, and compiled an information kit for the public. Prof. Vivian Lee of the School of Pharmacy was initially in two minds about sharing time between pharmacological research and community work. But she was always driven by a sense of mission to serve the community. Her most recent project funded by KPF sought to promote greater awareness and early detection of atrial fibrillation that may increase the risk of stroke. Her project reached out to the senior citizens and their caretakers by means of lectures, workshops and an online platform.   Professor Lee now finds balance and synergy between her research and community work. Her KPF project provided much useful data she could use in her publications and applications for other research grants. And the outreach programme she designed for her students has become an extension of her classroom. Rewards Unforeseen Prof. Hendrik Tieben of the School of Architecture also found he had gained from the KPF experience in terms of teaching and grant applications. His ‘Magic Carpet’ project is a novel approach to community participation and empowerment. This outreach project, implemented in Sai Ying Pun and Tin Shui Wai, aimed to cultivate a sense of belonging for residents in the two communities. Teenagers from local high schools were trained to create video interviews about their neighbourhood and used screenings, gatherings and social media to engage residents to restore the identity and reshape the public space in their respective communities. The project results have informed Professor Tieben’s further research and won him support from the Quality Education Fund. The KPF project has also opened up new pedagogic possibilities resulting in new degree courses. Dr. Tsoi said that the multidisciplinary nature of many community projects would often put the project leaders into collaborations with their colleagues or researchers from other fields. Professor Lee had collaborated with a cardiologist in her education of the elderly, whereas Professor Tieben’s multi-media method had made collaborations with journalism experts and professionals necessary. Prof. Agnes Chan of the Department of Psychology worked with a musician in developing the ‘interactive concert for autism’, combining clinical psychology and music to develop a cost-effective programme to teach children with autism to better express themselves through music appreciation. Her project also provided an opportunity for the general public to understand the special needs of children and adults with such trait. Like many CUHK scholars, Professor Chan is not contented with only speaking from the lectern but wishes to ‘move the heart of society’ in the capacity of a scholar. Is it worthwhile to invest in the community so many precious hours which might otherwise be more gainfully spent in the lab or the clinic? Prof. Leung Kwok-sui of the Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology thought it is. Professor Leung is a specialized clinician in fragility fracture, a common problem among the elderly. He found that with the ever increasing number of cases, a more effective way to help the ageing population is to invest time in educating the community on how to prevent ‘falling’ in the first place. Through talks, risk assessments and professional training, his KPF project provided more support to inform the community of the risks of sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass and strength) and fragility fracture. Professor Leung’s involvement in community projects often required him to work on weekends and public holidays. But he was fueled by passion and a firm belief that more good can be done by transferring his expertise on a scale that is enabled further by the KPF. Season 7 The KPF has entered its seventh season. Call for applications has already begun and the deadline is early December. An information session for potential applicants is scheduled at noon on November 13 at LT5 of Cheng Yu Tung Building. More information may be found in www.orkts.cuhk.edu.hk/ knowledge-transfer-initiatives/funding-schemes#kpf . 蔡錦昌博士 Dr. Tony Tsoi