Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science (IDS) Celebrates Its Grand Opening of New Premises on October 29, 2024!
(Please enjoy the event highlight video to revisit the delightful moments on October 29, 2024!)
The Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science (IDS) is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its new office premises on October 29, 2024, marking a significant milestone as the Institute celebrates its third anniversary. The opening was officiated by distinguished guests, including President Zhang Xiang, the three donors from The Musketeers Education and Culture Charitable Foundation, Mr. Stanley Chu, Mr. Lawrence Fung, and Mr. KC Leong, Professor Max Shen, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), and Professor Yi Ma, Director of IDS, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Institute is celebrating this milestone with its faculty members, students, collaborators, and stakeholders on this momentous occasion.
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony Officiated by Our 6 Guests of Honour
Unique Role and Vision – New Establishment Moving Forward
IDS’s unique role as an independent, cross-disciplinary research institute sets it apart as a beacon of innovation and collaboration within HKU. With a focus on fundamental data science, Explainable AI, and Smart Societies, IDS drives impactful and transformative research initiatives that push the boundaries of knowledge and create a critical mass of expertise in data science.
Going forward, IDS will spare its efforts on interdisciplinary areas between AI and subjects that are yet to have created critical mass in the community. We would focus on topics including AI in humanity, AI in medicine, AI in cybersecurity, and more. We are delighted to announce the new establishment of the research centre called Interdisciplinary Dynamics: Ethics, AI, and Society (IDEAS). IDEAS is an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to exploring the ethical, legal, social, and governance aspects of AI.
Modern and Collaborative Environment
The grand opening of the new premises symbolizes IDS’s ambition for a bright future filled with groundbreaking achievements and collaborative endeavors. The modern and innovative workspace, namely the Innovation Hub, the Research Sandbox, and the HKU IDS Seminar Room, designed to foster openness and interaction, provides a dynamic environment for scholars, postgraduate research students, and researchers to engage in cutting-edge research and collaboration across disciplines.
Rapid Growth and Achievements
In the past three years, the Institute has seen rapid growth in talent recruitment, increasing the number of HKU100 scholars from six in 2022 to sixteen in 2024. IDS has also nurtured the next generation of researchers through its well-structured research postgraduate program. The Institute has become a pioneer for other research institutes within the University to follow, both in structure and management.
President’s Remarks
President Zhang Xiang said at the Grand Opening, “AI is not only for computer science engineering, and it is actually for everybody in the campus. We believe that if we can really impact many different disciplines, be it education, arts, science, medicine, law, and even more areas, just as what the Institute’s mission has stated, it will be the reason why HKU can stand out from all, tall and visible”, acknowledging how the Institute’s unique positioning is valuable in steering more cutting-edge, impactful research works. Prof Zhang also puts high hopes on the future development of the Institute, with the office premises expansion along its third year of establishment. The era of AI, as Prof Zhang concludes, renders a golden opportunity for humans to generate more creativity, rather than sticking to routine, mechanical chores. This “exciting, challenging” age that the University is embracing indeed highlights the significance of an even more well-rounded research environment that IDS is heading towards, providing positive reinforcement for the Institute to carry on its mission as the nexus of data science research for HKU and beyond.
Remarks from Vice President (Research)
Vice-President (Research), who was also the Founding Director to the Institute, Professor Max Shen, reiterated the aspirations of IDS to become a “world-leading research institute, first of the kind that will be innovative and pioneering in AI”, owing to the generous donation of the three Musketeers. Professor Shen adds, “Actually, I have had this [vision] in my dream, and it is now realizing, which makes me really happy.” Professor Shen addresses special thanks to the current Director of IDS, Professor Yi Ma, for his “endeavours of designing world-class graduate courses”, which will make “HKU IDS the role model for many of the data science institutes to learn and study.” Professor Shen stresses the importance of IDS as a distinctive establishment, “We want this Institute to be standing for a long time – just like leading labs in MIT and Stanford. With the backing of the new School of Computing and Data Science, [as well as other Faculties and Departments], I do think IDS will be the leading AI institute for all disciplines alike.”
Remarks from Our Benefactors
The Institute’s benefactors, the three Musketeers from The Musketeers Education and Culture Charitable Foundation, also graced the Ceremony. One of the Musketeers, Mr Ka-Chai Leong, remarks and acknowledges the University, and the team of IDS, for their dedication to “building talents, recruiting talents, growing talents, and connecting talents, for these are critical for competitiveness”, which makes the research community of the Institute standing strong and firm with its ever-expanding premises. Mr Leong, together with the other two Musketeers, expresses sincere wishes to the graduate students for their hard work towards research excellence. He emphasizes to all young faces on the spot to bear the thought of being united, connected at the hearts for their unique bonding because of IDS, “Our Foundation is looking forward to the one-heart （同心）that grows IDS into a talent hub in the East.”
Future Commitment and Global Impact
As IDS embarks on its journey towards further interdisciplinary research and talent development, the Institute remains committed to driving innovation and excellence in data science for the benefit of the community and beyond. With a strong foundation and a vision for sustained growth, IDS is poised to make significant contributions to the field of data science on a global scale.
More Information about the Grand Opening of HKU IDS Premises
English version, please browse: https://www.hku.hk/press/press-releases/detail/27841.html
Chinese version, please browse: https://www.hku.hk/press/press-releases/detail/c_27841.html