Conference Website

http://ias.ust.hk/events/202601em/

Overview

The IAS International Conference on Energy Materials chaired by Sir Anthony K. Cheetham will be held over five days (January 19-23, 2026) and aims to bring together twelve world-renowned plenary speakers with leading regional scientists working in the field.

Topics covered will include Perovskite and other photo-voltaic materials, thermoelectrics and piezoelectrics, batteries, fuel cells and quantum materials, porous solids for hydrogen storage or CO₂ capture.  Computation and materials property prediction, as well as advanced methods of characterization will also be covered.

The majority of talks will be by invitation only, but poster contributions from younger scientists will be welcomed.

The list of Plenary Speakers: http://ias.ust.hk/events/202601em/speakers.php

Organizers

Honorary Chair

• Sir Anthony K. CHEETHAM, University of California, Santa Barbara
  (IAS Senior Visiting Fellow) 

Local Organizers

• Qing CHEN, HKUST

• Jonathan Eugene HALPERT, HKUST

• Yen-Hung LIN, HKUST

• Haipeng LU, HKUST

• Ding PAN, HKUST

• Ian Duncan WILLIAMS, HKUST

Enquiries

For further enquiries, please contact the conference secretariat at ias2026em@ust.hk.

Website

http://http://ias.ust.hk/events/202512ufsai
 

Overview

The Focused Program will catalyze advancements in ultrafast spectroscopy by integrating it with artificial intelligence (AI) and building a vibrant research community across Mainland China and Hong Kong. It aims to foster collaboration among leading institutions—including Tsinghua University, The Hong Kong University, University of Science and Technology of China, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Tongji University, Fudan University, and East China Normal University—to drive interdisciplinary research; advance knowledge of how these technologies can revolutionize fields like chemistry, materials science, energy, physics, and life sciences; and promote innovative methodologies for groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs and applications.

Organizers

• Tengteng CHEN (Chair)
  HKUST

• Zhedong ZHANG
  City University of Hong Kong

• Mingfei ZHOU
  Fudan University

Co-sponsors

• Shanghai-Hong Kong University Alliance

• Su Expedite Co. Ltd. 

• School of Science, HKUST 

• Department of Chemistry, HKUST

Enquiries

For further enquiries, please contact the program secretariat at ias2025ufsai@ust.hk.

Abstract

The search for axion dark matter is rapidly expanding, with new experiments deploying quantum sensing techniques to reach unprecedented precision. However, many works disagree over whether one needs to account for the quantum nature of the axion itself. In this talk, the speaker will resolve these issues by analyzing a fully quantized model of axion detection. He will show that the axion can easily evolve into a quantum state with no classical analogue, but that the intrinsically quantum effects of these states are strongly suppressed in the detector, and in practice unobservable. Similarly, the speaker will show how the effects of an axion "background corrected propagator", said to be inherently quantum, can also be derived classically. Thus, counterintuitively, the classical field approximation works even when the axion field's state is far from classical.


About the Speaker

Dr. Kevin ZHOU is a postdoc at UC Berkeley interested in new precision experiments to search for physics beyond the Standard Model, with a focus on ultralight dark matter. Previously, he received his PhD from Stanford and studied at Oxford, Cambridge, and MIT.


About the Center for Fundamental Physics

For more information, please refer to https://cfp.hkust.edu.hk/.


For Attendees' Attention

Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Program Website

http://ias.ust.hk/events/202601stand/

Overview

Synaptic transmission plays an important role in neuronal communication in the brain and is relevant to most neurological diseases and mental illness. This Symposium will focus on synaptic transmission and the synaptic origins of neurological disease. It will create a dynamic forum to discuss and advance our understanding of synaptic transmission and neurological diseases. In particular, the Symposium will focus the following topics:

(1) How does synaptic vesicles regulate synaptic transmission in the presynaptic terminal?
(2) How does synaptic organization relate to synaptic transmission?
(3) What is the synaptic pathophysiology associated with neurological disease, and how could these pathophysiology of neurological diseases be corrected?

Many international and local speakers will give in-depth presentations about synaptic transmission and neurological diseases. This Symposium will thus advance our understanding about synaptic transmission and neurological diseases.

Organizers

• Guoqiang BI, University of Science and Technology of China

• Geoffrey LAU, City University of Hong Kong

• Sukho LEE, Seoul National University

• Hyokeun PARK, HKUST

• Jun XIA, HKUST (GZ)

Co-sponsors

• K. C. Wong Education Foundation

• Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong

• Division of Life Science, HKUST

• School of Science, HKUST

• SKL of Nervous System Disorders, HKUST

Enquiries

For further enquiries, please contact the program secretariat at ias2026stand@ust.hk.

The psychiatric nurse will provide a preliminary understanding of mental health knowledge and dispel some myths about mental wellness.

Date: January 2026
Time: TBC
Venue: Zoom
Registration: via Qualtrics 
Speakers: psychiatric nurse
Quota: unlimited
Remarks: This is an identical training workshop offered in January 2025. Existing Peer Companions are welcome to join for a refresher on skills.

Join us for a fun themed PC get-together to unwind! Each PC can bring up to two HKUST friends, so feel free to spread the love and joy and socialize together! 

Theme: To be confirmed
Date: 24 Feb 2026 (Tue)
Time: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Venue: TBC
Registration: to be done via Qualtrics in January 2026
Remarks:
1. Only PC can view and register to this event. PC should indicate the no. of friend(s) who are coming with through the RSVP and share the event details with them
2. Only PC and their invited friends are welcome.