Newsletter No. 531

納米速印奪創科奧斯卡 Invention Oscar for Nano 3D Printing 機械與自動化工程學系陳世祈教授及其團隊研 發的「數碼全息納米3D打印機」榮獲有「創科 界奧斯卡」之稱的「全球百大科技研發獎」。打 印機突破傳統三維打印機單焦點低精度的局 限,採用前沿的數字全息雷射掃描及光束整形 技術,以多焦點高速掃描,打印精度達納米級 別,有助研發高端納米科技、先進材料、微支架 及藥物傳輸技術。新技術可以在三維空間隨機 掃描,移動至任何一點打印懸垂結構,毋須額外 支撐。採組裝設計的打印機更設雙光子顯微成 像功能,能準確刺激生物,如小鼠和斑馬魚大腦 中多個神經元,裨益醫學和生物研究。 Prof. Chen Shih-chi and his team at the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering have been presented the influential 2018 R&D 100 Award, famously hailed ‘The Oscar of Invention’ for developing the Digital Holography-based 3D Nano-Builder. Pushing the envelope of single-point scanning in traditional 3D printing, the Nano-Builder employs revolutionary random-access scanning that allows tens of laser foci to simultaneously write structures at high speed. The nano-prototyping is most suited for applications in research and development, such as printing photonic, robotic, metamaterials, micro-scaffolds and drug delivery devices. As the focal point can be moved to anywhere in space, complex overhanging structures can be printed without supporting structures. Moreover, the modular design of the Nano-Builder enables its turning into a two-photon excitation microscope, whose femtosecond lasers can stimulate cells, such as that in mouse brains or zebrafish, with precision and accelerate discoveries in medicine and science. 破解植物液泡起源 Plant Vacuole Biogenesis Unravelled 生命科學學院卓敏生命科學教授姜里文教授帶領的港日美三地科研 團隊,在探索植物主要細胞器—液泡起源方面取得重大突破。團隊 利用世界領先的三維電子斷層掃描技術,以納米分辨率揭示液泡乃由 多囊泡體融合衍生而來,過程中多種蛋白參與融合。研究將重寫教科 書中有關植物液泡的概念,並為提升農作物抗逆能力和抵抗病原體 感染,以及用植物液泡生產藥用蛋白提出新見。 A research team led by Prof. Jiang Liwen, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Life Sciences has made a major breakthrough in revealing the molecular mechanisms of vacuole formation in plants. Taking advantage of cutting-edge 3D electron tomography at nanometre resolution, the team comprised of researchers from Hong Kong, Japan and the US discovered that vacuoles are mainly derived from the fusion and maturation of multivesicular bodies, which involve multiple regulated consequent fusions. This revolutionary finding redefines the concept of plant vacuole nature and formation in textbook, and is set to throw light on ways to improve crop quality to overcome environmental stress and pathogen infection, and the manipulation of vacuoles in plant bioreactor for pharmaceutical proteins. 流感檢測無難度 A No-frills Tool for Flu Diagnosis 十二位工商管理、工程、生物醫學及生命科學本 科生組成的基因工程隊伍,憑研發流感快速測 試系統,在美國波士頓舉行的國際遺傳工程機 器設計世界賽中榮獲金獎,為中大在該比賽第 七度奪金。系統利用流感病毒的核糖核酸檢測 和辨別其類型,半小時內即知結果。市民只需智 能手機、小巧探測儀和配件,便可自行檢測是否 染上流感,及時求醫。 A genetic engineering team of 12 undergraduate students of business administration, engineering, biomedical sciences and life sciences took home a Gold medal at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) 2018 Giant Jamboree held in Boston, US with a novel rapid influenza diagnostic tool, the seventh time a CUHK team has won gold in the premier synthetic biology competition. The tool detects and distinguishes the flu virus’s type by detecting its RNA target sequence and takes only around 30 minutes for the results. Together with a smart phone, people can use the small and light detector on their own to detect whether they catch flu. 書屋伴成長 Paradise for Little Readers 中大建築學院Peter W. Ferretto教授與廣州大 學建築與城市規劃學院蔡凌教授率領研究團 隊,策劃和興建「高步書屋」,歷時兩年,書屋去 年12月於中國湖南省高步村開幕。團隊期望項 目能保存當地侗族社會傳統建築的特色和活化 內地農村社區。為培養當地小朋友的閱讀興趣, 書屋設計亦增添互動元素。  The Gaobu Book House, a collaborative project masterminded by Prof. Peter W. Ferretto of the School of Architecture at CUHK and Prof. Cai Ling of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Guangzhou University was opened at Gaobu village of the Hunan Province in December last year. Spending two years planning and developing the Book House, the research team hopes to preserve the Dong ethnic group’s traditional architectural design and re-energize the rural community through the initiative. By building interactive elements into the design, it also hopes to stimulate children’s interest in reading. 讓城市呼吸 Let the City Breathe 建築學院、未來城市研究所以及環境、能源及可持續發展研究所合辦 的第三十四屆國際低能耗建築及城市設計會議於2018年12月10至12 日在中大舉行,為該會首度在港舉辦的國際會議。是次會議以聯合國 政府間氣候變化專門委員會倡議之「活在兩度以內—智慧與健康的 建築及城市設計」為題,廣邀三百名來自全球的業界人士、學者和研 究員探討如何透過環保建築和節能設計應對氣候變化和城市氣候, 達至永續發展。 The School of Architecture, The Institute of Future Cities and Institute of Energy, Environment and Sustainability jointly played host to the 34th International Conference on Passive and Low-Energy Architecture and Urban Design, the first being held in Hong Kong from 10 to 12 December 2018. Themed ‘Smart and Healthy Within the Two-Degree Limit’ as advocated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the conference drew over 300 industry practitioners, experts and researchers from around the world to explore how green building and low-energy design can mitigate climate change and urban climate and engender a sustainable environment. 04 # 5 3 1 | 1 9 . 0 1 . 2 0 1 9

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