2019 Australia China Alumni Award for Research & Science

This award recognises alumni who have contributed to the development of research and science which has made a significant impact on the Australia-China community.

All nominees are expected to have advanced current knowledge in a particular field, through significant research or scientific work in an academic, corporate or technological setting.

A nominee’s achievements can span all fields of study and work (for example, sciences, technology, medicine, or academic research).

To view the finalists of other categories, please click HERE

UTS

UniMel

La Trobe

WINNER

Dr Yi Ji has been working in area of interactive art and personalized interaction design more than twelve years. In 2015, he obtained his doctorate degree in human computer interaction design at University of Technology Sydney. He have been committed to promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia. He is a board member of Australia China Science and Technology Association committee. In 2014, he was named as 100 Young Innovative Leader of Chinese by the Hong Kong Dragon Foundation.

Dr Yi Ji has many international invention patents and host national research project. One of his projects has been selected in the Australian Millennium Project. As an international new media artist and curator, his works have been exhibited in many countries and international conference including Sydney international design festival top conference SIGGRAPH 2018. Additionally, as an international curator, he has planned a number of international new media exhibitions, including: Microsoft Interactive Art Exhibition, OZ CHI multimedia exhibition, Chinese and Western Digital Art dialogue exhibition, and Seventh Space Interactive Art Exhibition.

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University of Melbourne alumna Kate Smith is a water and energy management specialist whose research has been used to remove arsenic from groundwater in rural Shanxi and informed the design of the water system in Xiong’An New Area, Beijing.

Dr Kate Smith recently beat thousands of Chinese and international students to claim Tsinghua University’s Top Grade Scholarship while completing her Doctor of Philosophy, Environmental Science and Engineering in Beijing. The award recognized her outstanding research, academic publications and community service in China, including working with migrant families, disabled children and contaminated rural water supplies.

Fluent in four languages and the author of two books, one in Chinese, Dr Smith has published eight SCI papers as first author. In July this year, she qualified in a global competition of young scientists to attend a gathering with 39 Nobel Laureates in Germany. Dr Smith’s most recent book was published in September this year by the International Water Association.

Kate has demonstrated leadership in the area of cross-cultural engagement and understanding between Australia and China, including as Vice President of the University of Melbourne Beijing Alumni Association and as founder of the International Student Ambassador Program at the School of Environment, Tsinghua University.

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Prof. Paul Siu Fai YIP

Professor Paul Siu Fai YIP is the Chair Professor (Population Health) at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration and the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He is also the Foundation Director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, HKU. His research interests include suicide prevention, population health, poverty alleviation, biostatistics and demographic studies. He has more than 600 scientific publications with more than 43,000 citations.

He served as the Vice-President of the IASP (2008-2014) and the Secretary-General of the Asian Population Association (2015-2018). He has worked with World Health Organization in promoting suicide prevention. He holds various positions in the Hong Kong community, including the Chair of the research committee of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong and a strategic partner for suicide prevention with many governments and NGOs in this region. Yip’s many prizes and awards for his achievements and contributions include the Stengel Research Award from the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP) in 2011; the Outstanding Researcher Award, outstanding supervisor award and knowledge exchange award from HKU in 2009, 2011, 2018; and the Distinguished Alumni Award from La Trobe University in 2008, for outstanding contributions. Prof. Yip has received the Medal of Honour from the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2017, for his dedicated public and community service, particularly his contributions to the prevention of student suicide.

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