HK researcher wins national accolade

A Hong Kong polymer material expert from the city’s science and technology university received a top national science award on Monday, the first such win for a Hong Kong-scientist-led project in cooperation with mainland researchers.

The first-class State Natural Science Award (SNSA) for 2017 went to Tang Benzhong, 61, chair professor of the Department of Chemistry at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The result was announced at the National Conference on Science and Technology Awards at the Great Hall of the People on Monday.

Tang won the award for his research on aggregation-induced emission (AIE). Based on the spectral data and other results he developed the concept of AIE, which offered a new platform for development of advanced functional materials.

His work was cited for its potential for applications in medicine and other scientific fields.

The last time a Hong Kong scientist won an award of comparable stature was in 2007 when Professor Che Chiming from Department of Chemistry at the University of Hong Kong won the First Class Prize of the SNSAs for 2006.

In the current year Hong Kong scientists have won six national awards, including a second-class State Technological Invention Award and three second-class State Scientific and Technological Progress Awards.

Meeting the media, Tang said the study of AIE totally changed the theory of traditional luminescence material. It has broad prospects in theory and practice.

Born in Qianjiang City at Hubei province, Tang went to Japan for graduate studies in polymer chemistry at Kyoto University and obtained a PhD in 1988.

In July 1994 he joined the Department of Chemistry at HKUST — when the university was just three years old. His research interests include polymer chemistry and materials science. He is currently the Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Professor of Science.

Organized by the State Council, the SNSAs are regarded as the country’s most prestigious awards in the field of natural science, which aim to reward individuals and organizations for academic excellence in basic and applied research in natural science.

The study of AIE (aggregation-induced emission) totally changed the theory of traditional luminescence material. It has broad prospects in theory and practice.”

Tang Benzhong, chair professor of the Department of Chemistry at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology