Latest news with #HongKongBaptistUniversity
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
HKBU develops new catalytic membrane that boosts efficiency of cleaning wastewater using oxygen
HONG KONG, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has developed a novel catalytic membrane that can substantially boost the efficiency of cleaning wastewater using a modified advanced oxidation process (AOP). The invention contributes to the effort of tackling environmental pollution problems by offering a safer, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for wastewater treatment. The research findings have been published in the international academic journal Advanced Functional Materials. Novel technology targeting phenolic pollutants Water pollution is a pressing environmental issue. Phenolic compounds are a major group of pollutants that pose a significant threat to the world's potable water supply. They are widely present in industrial effluents, agricultural runoff and municipal wastewater. They can persist in the environment for long periods, accumulate in living organisms and pose significant risks to human health and water quality. Traditional methods for removing phenolic pollutants often require hazardous chemicals or energy-intensive processes. AOPs have been increasingly recognised and developed over the past few decades to remove pollutants from water. They are a set of chemical treatment methods which activate oxidants into reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can be used to break down pollutants in wastewater. Among these ROS, singlet oxygen (1O2) is particularly effective in targeting phenolic compounds. More efficient in generating ROS However, existing methods to generate ROS usually require strong oxidants and energy inputs as catalysts, which can be costly and environmentally unfriendly. Moreover, traditional AOP systems face two significant challenges: the inefficient transfer of molecular oxygen (O2) in water due to its low solubility, and the difficulty in getting pollutants to interact with the catalyst surface due to the surrounding water film as a barrier. In response to these issues, a research team led by Professor Zhao Jun, Associate Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU, has developed a novel catalytic membrane named "NGCF-OV". It is made from a composite material that combines two advanced materials, N-doped reduced graphene oxide and cobalt ferrite. This membrane offers a promising solution for AOP and addresses the challenge of efficiently activating molecular oxygen to become 1O2. Proven efficacy in degrading bisphenol A The NGCF-OV membrane contains unique sites (asymmetric Co-OV-Fe sites) that can adjust the bond length of O2, i.e., the distance between the centres of the two oxygen atoms that are bonded together, and thus facilitate faster and more efficient electron transfer. As a result, 1O2 can be produced without the need for other catalytic agents and external energy inputs. Additionally, the membrane also features graphitic nitrogen sites that trap pollutants close to the membrane's surface. The distance between the pollutants and the 1O2 molecules generated is therefore significantly reduced, overcoming the water film barrier issue with reaction efficiency greatly improved. The NGCF-OV membrane demonstrated superior efficiency in generating and utilising 1O2 for pollutant degradation. Test results show that this novel technology can completely degrade bisphenol A, a common and harmful pollutant, in just 86 milliseconds (one thousandth of a second), outperforming many existing cleanup methods. More sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment Professor Zhao said: "This research marks a significant advancement in the field of water treatment and represents a promising strategy for addressing environmental pollution. By effectively integrating the processes of O2 activation and pollutant degradation within a single membrane, this technology offers a more sustainable and efficient approach to treating contaminated water. "The ability to generate reactive oxygen species without external energy inputs makes this membrane particularly suitable for emergency pollution remediation and everyday water treatment applications," he added. Application of the NGCF-OV membrane is not limited to the degradation of a specific pollutant like bisphenol A. Instead, its catalytic properties can be harnessed for the degradation of a variety of organic pollutants in wastewater, such as antibiotics, pesticides, dyes, etc. It paves the way for more advanced practical pollution remediation technologies and contributes to the broader goal of protecting public health and preserving the environment. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hong Kong Baptist University Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School Students Earn Honorable Mention in Asia Pacific in the Otis Made to Move Communities™ Challenge
- School awarded HK$58,000 grant to advance STEM programming HONG KONG, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of students from Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School has received an honorable mention, securing the third place in the Otis Asia Pacific region in the Otis Made to Move Communities student challenge, a competition in which students apply principles of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to propose solutions to real-world urban mobility issues. Over the last several months, the students, with the guidance of Otis volunteer mentors, designed solutions leveraging AI technology aimed at enabling more inclusive mobility in their communities, and presented their ideas to Otis judges from the Otis Asia Pacific region. Otis is the world's leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company. Their solution of using AI to assist visually impaired residents in navigating more easily on a minibus received an honorable mention in the region, and earned the school a HK$58,000 grant to advance STEM programming. "We are deeply grateful to Otis for providing this invaluable opportunity through the Made to Move Communities program. Our students have had an incredible experience learning from the Otis mentors and applying their STEM knowledge to tackle real-world mobility challenges. The third-place finish in the Asia Pacific regional competition shows their dedication and innovation, as they worked tirelessly to develop an AI-powered solution enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in urban transportation," said Acting Deputy Principal cum Director of International Division, Ms Jacqui Koo. "This recognition not only validates their hard work but also inspires them to continue exploring STEM fields and making a positive impact in their community. The HK$58,000 grant accompanying this achievement will be instrumental in advancing our STEM programmes, enabling further investment in resources and experiences that nurture the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators. As a school that advocates and encourages students to embrace the spirit of "Strive for Excellence, Dare to Challenge," we are thrilled to see them engage so passionately and look forward to building on this success in future competitions." "I would like to congratulate the Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School on their impressive achievement," said Michael Lee, SVP of Service, Otis Greater China, and Managing Director of Otis Hong Kong, Macau & Taiwan. "This is the fifth year for HMT to join the MTMC challenge. I am always inspired by the creativity, commitment, and skill demonstrated by the student team. We hope that this experience has sparked a passion in them and other students in the program to continue exploring STEM fields. At the same time, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Otis volunteers for their great support of the program."
Business Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
In GE2025, podcasts have emerged as a potent tool for politicians to engage voters
[SINGAPORE] The popularity of video podcasts in this year's general election suggests a shift in how potential candidates engage with voters – rather than relying on polished images and soundbites, they are playing directly to voters' desire for longer, more nuanced conversations. Over the past year, Singapore politicians have made significant appearances on local independent podcasts, such as Yah Lah But, Political Prude and The Daily Ketchup. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's interview on the latter has racked up more than 263,000 views on YouTube since its release in January. The top comment, with 980-odd likes, expressed disbelief that the prime minister would ever be on such a medium. Indeed, the rising use of podcasts for political communication stands in contrast to Singapore's past generations of leaders – who mainly engaged in the suit-and-tie style of mainstream media interviews. But PM Wong and his peers have had to adapt to the new digital reality, where even just being on social media is not enough. Young voters don't just want catchy TikTok videos nor filtered Instagram posts. They want to hear politicians in their own words, with all the stumbles, awkward pauses and colloquialisms. Podcasts 'enable authentic engagement, bridging the gap between political elites and an increasingly critical public', noted Professor Kenneth Paul Tan of the Hong Kong Baptist University in a recent research paper. They 'have emerged as a particularly influential medium in Singapore, combining intimacy, light-heartedness, and accessibility to engage a digitally savvy audience effectively', he said. The medium is not just for establishment leaders, but also for opposition figures. For instance, Yah Lah But's interview with Workers' Party candidate Harpreet Singh Nehal gained 82,000 YouTube views – widening his reach well beyond traditional news consumers. There is also a growing pool of podcasts that look into wider political issues, such as Teh Tarik with Walid, which has covered a range of topics from public housing to climate advocacy. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Conversation, rather than one-sided content, is gaining political currency. In an interview, American writer Tope Folarin contextualises the rise of podcasts as 'a response to our collective dissatisfaction with passivity, which is the primary way that many of us receive information now' – be it Netflix or doomscrolling. Podcasts are a fresh alternative. '(As) ideas whiz back and forth between the participants, as those participants contradict themselves and double back and occasionally struggle to express themselves… you might feel implicated in the conversation, and you might feel a desire to contend with your own views,' he said. The strong para-social element of podcasts makes them the perfect tool for political communication. In the 2024 US election, Donald Trump appeared on 14 podcasts, amassing 68.7 million YouTube views. Platforms such as The Joe Rogan Experience allowed him to reach out to his target audience of young, disillusioned voters. This makes it clear that podcasts have a big pitfall: just because they feel more authentic, doesn't mean they actually provide better information. Rogan infamously did not challenge Trump's repeated lies on the show, and arguably deepened the spread of misinformation. The failure to uphold rigorous questioning – even if the format is more candid – can be disastrous. Unlike the US, the podcasting scene in Singapore is still fairly young, and there is plenty of potential for podcasts to lead the way as a tool for informing the electorate on key policy issues. But listeners will also need a discerning ear.
Business Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
In GE2025, podcasts emerge as a potent tool for politicians to engage voters
[SINGAPORE] The popularity of video podcasts in this year's general election suggests a shift in how potential candidates engage with voters – rather than relying on polished images and soundbites, they are playing directly to voters' desire for longer, more nuanced conversations. Over the past year, Singapore politicians have made significant appearances on local independent podcasts, such as Yah Lah But, Political Prude and The Daily Ketchup. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's interview on the latter has racked up more than 263,000 views on YouTube since its release in January. The top comment, with 980-odd likes, expressed disbelief that the prime minister would ever be on such a medium. Indeed, the rising use of podcasts for political communication stands in contrast to Singapore's past generations of leaders – who mainly engaged in the suit-and-tie style of mainstream media interviews. But PM Wong and his peers have had to adapt to the new digital reality, where even just being on social media is not enough. Young voters don't just want catchy TikTok videos nor filtered Instagram posts. They want to hear politicians in their own words, with all the stumbles, awkward pauses and colloquialisms. Podcasts 'enable authentic engagement, bridging the gap between political elites and an increasingly critical public', noted Professor Kenneth Paul Tan of the Hong Kong Baptist University in a recent research paper. They 'have emerged as a particularly influential medium in Singapore, combining intimacy, light-heartedness, and accessibility to engage a digitally savvy audience effectively', he said. The medium is not just for establishment leaders, but also for opposition figures. For instance, Yah Lah But's interview with Workers' Party candidate Harpreet Singh Nehal gained 82,000 YouTube views – widening his reach well beyond traditional news consumers. There is also a growing pool of podcasts that look into wider political issues, such as Teh Tarik with Walid, which has covered a range of topics from public housing to climate advocacy. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Conversation, rather than one-sided content, is gaining political currency. In an interview, American writer Tope Folarin contextualises the rise of podcasts as 'a response to our collective dissatisfaction with passivity, which is the primary way that many of us receive information now' – be it Netflix or doomscrolling. Podcasts are a fresh alternative. '(As) ideas whiz back and forth between the participants, as those participants contradict themselves and double back and occasionally struggle to express themselves… you might feel implicated in the conversation, and you might feel a desire to contend with your own views,' he said. The strong para-social element of podcasts makes them the perfect tool for political communication. In the 2024 US election, Donald Trump appeared on 14 podcasts, amassing 68.7 million YouTube views. Platforms such as The Joe Rogan Experience allowed him to reach out to his target audience of young, disillusioned voters. This makes it clear that podcasts have a big pitfall: just because they feel more authentic, doesn't mean they actually provide better information. Rogan infamously did not challenge Trump's repeated lies on the show, and arguably deepened the spread of misinformation. The failure to uphold rigorous questioning – even if the format is more candid – can be disastrous. Unlike the US, the podcasting scene in Singapore is still fairly young, and there is plenty of potential for podcasts to lead the way as a tool for informing the electorate on key policy issues. But listeners will also need a discerning ear.
