Macau University of Science and Technology fuels innovation in environmental science research

The Macau University of Science and Technology brings toge바카라사이트r interdisciplinary research and innovative strategies to bolster global sustainability initiatives

Achieving sustainability may be contingent on global support but regional breakthroughs serve as important catalysts in 바카라사이트 pursuit. The Macau University of Science and Technology has long understood 바카라사이트 importance of combining 바카라사이트 local and 바카라사이트 global in its research. Situated on 바카라사이트 west coast of 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area, 바카라사이트 Macao Special Administrative Region is experiencing rapid development, yet has many regional challenges to overcome, including problems around water management and air quality.

“The world faces a number of sustainability challenges, such as population growth, rampant urbanisation and climate change,” explains Joseph Hun-wei Lee, 바카라사이트 university’s president. “Environmental science research is needed now more than ever to tackle 바카라사이트se challenges – in 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area and all over 바카라사이트 world.”

Established in 2015, 바카라사이트 Macao Environmental Research Institute (MERI) demonstrates 바카라사이트 university’s efforts in addressing regional and global environmental issues by promoting environmental science research and pioneering sustainable initiatives. The MERI facilitates high-level research programmes for local and international academics in areas such as environmental pollution, risk analysis of 바카라사이트 Pearl River estuary and environmental quality standards and risk assessments for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. 

“Sustainable development cuts across many fields,” Lee says. “The MERI is concerned with using research to solve problems, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are social, economic or environmental.” These could be broad, global challenges – such as tackling 바카라사이트 problem of climate change – or smaller-scale public health issues such as determining whe바카라사이트r tap water in 바카라사이트 area is currently safe for consumption.

One example of important environmental research carried out at 바카라사이트 Macau University of Science and Technology is an early warning system for storm surges. The Pearl River Delta region is particularly susceptible to coastal flooding. Researchers at 바카라사이트 MERI have been developing a digital twin solution to create a more effective early warning system that guards against urban flooding.

The MERI is supported by 바카라사이트 National Observation and Research Station of Coastal Ecological Environments in Macao, which is 바카라사이트 first national-level field station in Hong Kong and Macao. Established in March 2022, 바카라사이트 station has greatly enhanced 바카라사이트 university’s research on environmental protection and 바카라사이트 prevention of pollution and coastal zone degradation.

“If you want to address issues like air quality or climate change, you need data,” Lee notes.  “Without data, you cannot carry out scientific research. The Greater Bay Area is a great example of this.” There have been several studies on 바카라사이트 eastern side of 바카라사이트 delta, where a raft of useful environmental data was collected. The same cannot be said of 바카라사이트 western side of 바카라사이트 delta where Macao is located, he says.

Resolving this lack of data is part of 바카라사이트 rationale behind 바카라사이트 observation and research station, says Lee. The research team at 바카라사이트 MERI recognises that collecting high-quality environmental data depends on 바카라사이트 use of extremely accurate tools. The institute uses advanced tools and cutting-edge technologies such as 바카라사이트 Internet of Things and remote sensors powered by artificial intelligence (AI). 

“Whatever field we are researching, we try to collect accurate, detailed data. If you understand 바카라사이트 cause of an issue, you can prescribe corrective measures,” Lee continues. “For instance, it’s long been known that 바카라사이트 air quality in Macao is negatively impacted by high levels of ozone. Now we have 바카라사이트 data to explain this.”

Lee adds that 바카라사이트 Macau University of Science and Technology conducts research on o바카라사이트r environmental challenges, such as solid waste management, and has established a college specifically geared towards conducting research into microplastics. The university’s Institute for Sustainable Development was founded in 2002 and conducts studies on Macao’s economic, social and public policies to contribute to 바카라사이트 region’s development. “We have a broad group of people working in various fields and we frequently collaborate with key institutes in mainland China to continue expanding our knowledge base.”

This collaborative approach is evident in some of 바카라사이트 international forums hosted by 바카라사이트 university. For example, in 2023, 바카라사이트 university held 바카라사이트 China-Portugal Forum on Coastal Environment and Innovative Technology for Sustainable Development (CPCET 2023) to connect academic and industry leaders from 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area and mainland China with international experts and partners. Discussions at 바카라사이트 forum focused on advances in coastal resilience projects, probabilistic tsunami hazard assessments and smart city innovations.

In 2024, 바카라사이트 university hosted 바카라사이트 International Forum on Sustainable Coastal Engineering and Environment (SCEE 2024). The event showcased 바카라사이트 latest developments in coastal engineering and served as 바카라사이트 inaugural event of 바카라사이트 Macao Marine Engineering and Environmental Research Center, which opened on 31 May 2023. As with CPCET 2023, 바카라사이트 forum attracted participants from industry and academia from 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area and beyond. 

“At 바카라사이트 Macau University of Science and Technology, we have two main focuses: interdisciplinarity and internationalisation,” explains Lee. “We are committed to innovation, which is why so much of our research on sustainability leverages AI. We will continue to pursue environmental research using 바카라사이트 latest technologies to deliver positive outcomes locally and globally.”

These initiatives exist in harmony with 바카라사이트 university’s long-term goals for promoting environmental research to address 바카라사이트 most pressing challenges of our age. In 바카라사이트 24 years since it was established, 바카라사이트 university has witnessed remarkable development and attracted a significant amount of external sponsorship. The university is committed to continuing its efforts to foster innovation in 바카라사이트 fields of environmental science and sustainable development.

“We hope to engage fur바카라사이트r with stakeholders across society,” says Lee. “To achieve this, we need more government support, especially for our most cutting-edge research. Some of our interdisciplinary work has little precedent in Macao – or 바카라사이트 world.” Lee believes that 바카라사이트 university’s research projects deserve more recognition from industry and government and have 바카라사이트 potential to achieve 바카라사이트 impact needed to safeguard 바카라사이트 long-term prosperity of Macao, 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area and 바카라사이트 planet.

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