On September 10, the ninth session of the “IAS X Interdisciplinary Academic Party,” organized by the Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (IAS) at the University of Macau, was successfully held in the lobby of the Cultural Building. The theme of this session was “Harmony in Disciplines for a Connected Future.” The event featured Prof. Frederick Lau, Emeritus Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and former Chair and Professor of Music at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, together with Prof. Katrine K. Wong, Associate Professor in the Department of English and Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning Enhancement at the University of Macau.
The session opened with a captivating erhu performance by Dr. Matthew Haywood, Lecturer in Ethnomusicology at the Macau University of Science and Technology. Prof. Lau explored music as a powerful cultural practice that both reflects and shapes social and political life. He emphasized that music transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries, creating spaces for empathy, negotiation, and dialogue. Drawing on cross-cultural examples, he illustrated how music functions not only as an aesthetic expression but also as a medium through which issues of identity, belonging, and authority are negotiated.
Prof. Wong then shared her personal journey as a long-standing member of a choi. She introduced her choir’s experiences and repertoire and emphasized that music-making is not merely an artistic expression but also a compelling metaphor for interdisciplinary engagement—where diverse voices converge in harmony to create outcomes greater than the sum of their parts.
During the Q&A session, participants asked diverse questions ranging from the links between music and data science, the role of Chinese music in reflecting society, and strategies for integrating arts into education, to broader topics such as AI-generated music and the value of interdisciplinarity. The dialogue revealed the dynamic interplay between disciplines and inspired participants to consider new approaches to learning and research.
To conclude the event, Prof. Wong delivered a moving performance of opera, accompanied by Dr. Peggy Lau, Resident Fellow at Moon Chun Memorial College. The performance offered a fitting finale that seamlessly combined scholarship with artistry, leaving the audience with a memorable impression.
The IAS Interdisciplinary Academic Party series continues to serve as a platform that fosters academic interaction, promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration, and encourages innovative exploration at IAS.
