The Council of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has approved the appointment of Professor Chunshan Song as Dean of the Faculty of Science for five years from mid-July 2020. The University expresses its deep gratitude to Professor Zuowei Xie, the Interim Dean and Professor Henry Wong, the outgoing Dean, for their long-standing commitment to the Faculty and devotion in promoting science education. The University is also thankful to Professor Wong for his continuing service to CUHK as Head of New Asia College.
The University Council has also approved the re-appointment of Professor Fong Wing-ping as Head of Chung Chi College for a further period of three years from 1 August 2020, and the appointment of Professor Leung Yiu-kin Freedom, as Head of Shaw College for an initial period of four years from 1 July 2020, succeeding Professor Andrew C.F. Chan. The University is deeply grateful to Professor Chan, who has served as College Head for 10 years, for his dedicated service and significant contributions over the years.
Professor Chunshan Song Appointed Dean of Science
Before joining CUHK, Professor Chunshan Song was a Distinguished Professor of Fuel Science, a Professor of Chemical Engineering and the Director of the EMS Energy Institute at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) in the US. He was also the founding Director of the University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research consisting of 15 major research universities which has been funded by the US Department of Energy. He received his PhD in Applied Chemistry in 1989 and his MS in Applied Chemistry in 1986 from Osaka University, Japan, and his BS in Chemical Engineering in 1982 from Dalian University of Technology, China. He held a visiting professorship at Imperial College London, University of Paris VI, Tsinghua University, Dalian University of Technology, and as an honorary professor at Tianjin University.
His research focuses on the catalysis and chemistry of energy and fuels including catalysis and adsorption for clean energy, sustainable development involving adsorptive CO2 separation and catalytic CO2 conversion to chemicals and fuels, shape-selective catalysis for synthesis of chemicals, adsorptive and catalytic hydrocarbon processing and energy conversion for clean fuels, and the synthesis and application of novel nano-porous materials. He has authored or co-authored over 300 papers in refereed journals and 14 edited books, and is an inventor of 8 patents.
His original and innovative research contributions to catalysis, adsorption, CO2 capture and conversion, and energy and clean fuels research have been widely recognised through many awards and honours. These include the George A. Olah Award and the Henry H. Storch Award from the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Distinguished Researcher Award from ACS Energy & Fuels Division, the Faculty Scholar Medal from Penn State, and being made a Distinguished Fulbright Scholar from the US-UK Fulbright Commission. He was also named as an ACS Fellow.
Professor Song said, "I am delighted to be joining CUHK Faculty of Science, where we have such outstanding colleagues and students. I am eager to begin advancing our teaching and research to a higher level with the support and collaborative efforts of all Faculty members, and serving society through science."