IN HONG KONG, A NEW GENERATION OF FILIPINO SCIENTISTS CHARTS THEIR OWN PATH

From Hong Kong’s first biological anthropologist to a frontliner in post-typhoon response, meet four young scientists making a mark in their disciplines.

- By ANDREA PANALIGAN

Young scientists discuss their poster presentations.

Like most Filipinos overseas, one of the first things we did during the annual Hong Kong Laureate Forum was look for kababayans. Over 200 young scientists from around the world filled the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park that week in November, so we figured it was only a matter of time.

The forum, only in its second year, was designed to bring together renowned scientists with a new generation of innovators. Invited scientists are previous winners of the prestigious Shaw Prize, awarded to individuals who have achieved distinguished and significant advances in the disciplines of astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences.

“To have successful people (in the future), you need to have younger people who will be coming up,” said Timothy Tong Wai-cheung, professor and chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum. Contrary to most conferences, plenty of opportunities were given to attendees to network, directly ask questions, and even share dinner tables with the 12 esteemed guests, including the Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Reinhard Genzel.

Attendees varied from undergraduate students to postdocs pursuing further research. Also part of the four-day program was a dialogue between the laureates and secondary school students, who shared research of their own and toured the guests around the campus science lab. In the session, the laureates imparted sobering advice. “Problems appear more difficult than they really are,” said Professor Steven Balbus, awarded the Shaw Prize in Astronomy in 2013. “Educate yourself broadly,” added Professor John Peacock, winner of the same prize in 2014.