NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

HLMA Research Club: Mathematics is Key to Success in Many Fields

An online sharing session was organized by Hang Lung Mathematics Awards (HLMA) on Saturday, March 11, 2023 which featured Dr. Brian Chung, 2010 Silver Award winner and Ms. Dorothy Cheng, 2016 Bronze Award winner. The session was moderated by Professor Shing Yu Leung, Associate Dean of Science at HKUST and over 100 students signed up.

Brian pursued a Ph.D. in Mathematics and is now working in finance in the U.K. Dorothy is currently a Ph.D. student at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany. Despite taking very different paths, they both attribute their success to their solid foundation in mathematics.

Brian shared how participating in HLMA made him realize that there may be more than one answer to a mathematical problem and that exploring a topic may lead to more questions. The winners encouraged students to enjoy the learning opportunities, even if they don’t get all the answers. The research experience also helped Brian and Dorothy develop lifelong skills which are essential to their careers such as problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Both winners stressed the importance of approaching challenges with an open mind, which is instrumental to their current work and have helped them achieve success. They also emphasized the benefits of collaboration and sharing ideas, which can lead to breakthroughs.