Academicians Campus Tour: Professor C.C. Chan Sparks Students' Passion for Energy Innovation at St. Stephen's Girls' College

2025-11-20

On the afternoon of November 19, The Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians (GBAAA) extended its "Academicians Campus Tour" initiative to St. Stephen's Girls' College. The event featured a special guest—Professor C.C. Chan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Distinguished Chair Professor of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Honorary Professor of The University of Hong Kong, and Founder and Rotating President of the World Electric Vehicle Association. Professor Chan visited the campus to share his interdisciplinary research journey with over 300 teachers and students, delivering a talk titled "Aspiring High, Scaling New Heights—The New Journey of Energy and Electric Vehicle Revolutions." He provided an in-depth analysis of cutting-edge trends in the energy and electric vehicle revolutions, while also passing on the scientific spirit and the ethos of innovation.

Professor C.C. Chan at St. Stephen's Girls' College

Professor Chan began by reflecting on his academic journey through a collection of precious historical photographs. He shared with students the perseverance and passion behind scientific exploration, emphasising the importance of lifelong learning for researchers. Taking "Scientific Iteration and the Evolution of Human Civilisation" as a starting point, he illustrated the progressive development from agricultural to industrial and then to digital economies through vivid examples. He elucidated the iterative logic of science—"bold hypothesis → validation → theory → practice → theory → practice"—highlighting the need for continuous questioning and reshaping. He explained that science is about truth and laws, driven by the question "Why?" . A scientist’s mission is to explore the laws of nature for the benefit of all humanity. Engineering, on the other hand, combines science, technology, and management, requiring the integration of government, industry, academia, research, application, and finance to bring projects to fruition—it answers the question "How?". When discussing new quality productive forces, Professor Chan explained in simple terms that it involves replacing the "old three highs"—high input, high consumption, and high emissions—with the "new three highs": high technology, high efficiency, and high quality. He also shared his "Four Elements of Success"—goal, courage, method, and condition—encouraging students to cultivate critical thinking and independent reasoning, and to boldly explore uncharted territories in science.

Q&A Session

The lecture was lively and engaging, addressing topics that included the synergy between AI and renewable energy, innovations in electric vehicles, and how young people can contribute to a green future. Professor Chan listened attentively to the students' questions and, drawing from his experience in cross-institutional research and international collaboration, broke down complex concepts into easily understandable language. He emphasised the belief that "While science itself is borderless, scientists are citizens of their nations," encouraging students to build a solid foundation, broaden their horizons, and seek innovative directions at the intersection of science and society.

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About the GBAAA "Academicians Campus Tour" Initiative

As a pivotal platform for nurturing innovation and technology talents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, GBAAA launched the "Academicians Campus Tour" initiative this year. The program invites academicians from both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering to visit campuses, delivering scientific knowledge and promoting the spirit of science among youth through thematic lectures and face-to-face exchanges. The "Academicians Campus Tour" not only allows students to experience the charisma of top-tier scientists up close but also provides them with deeper insights into the nation's latest achievements in fundamental sciences, engineering technologies, life and medical sciences, and sustainable urban development. This initiative helps broaden their horizons in cutting-edge technology, strengthen their confidence in innovation, and cultivates a new generation of talent to support Hong Kong’s vision of becoming an international innovation and technology centre.