On October 15, 2025, the GUIA Lecture Series, hosted by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (IAS) of the University of Macau, was successfully held in the Lobby of the Cultural Building ( E34). The lecture featured Prof. Jason Ho, Associate Professor at the School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture and Urban Design at the RMIT University in Australia, and PhD supervisor at the Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London, as the speaker. The topic was “Observation, Discovery, and Action”.
Professor Jason Ho began by briefly introducing the San Mei On Community Co-creation and Mutual-Aid Project, which he led in the Edf. San Mei On in Macau. Using this as a starting point, he introduced the Mapping Workshop he founded. He shared in detail his deep observations from urban village renovations, market vendors, and field investigations in various locations. Through these actions, he illustrated that mapping is a process from “observation” to “discovery”. Observation is for the purpose of discovery, and when conscious action is taken regarding “certain problems” after discovery, it constitutes an act of design. Professor Ho emphasized the importance of empathy and compassion in design. He stressed that the power of design lies in carefully observing every ordinary individual, their families, communities, and the successes or failures they experience in their daily interactions. Design, he argued, is about bringing resources to those who lack the capacity to access them.
Following the lecture, Professor Jianhua Xu from the University of Macau’s Faculty of Social Sciences and “Sister Hong” Feng Jiaoxiong, a resident of the San Mei On Building for more than twenty years, shared the positive changes brought to the community by the San Mei On Community Co-creation and Mutual Aid Project. Using this real-life case from a Macau community, they demonstrated the power of design and humanistic care, which deeply moved the attending students. The lecture attracted over seventy teachers and students. During the Q&A session, attendees participated actively, engaging in enthusiastic discussions about the challenges encountered during field observation.
The distinct “Guia Lecture” series is highly positioned to provide a global platform for interdisciplinary, high-quality academic discourse. It leverages Chinese Confucianism to expand Macao’s global culture, fostering cultural exchange among diverse cultures in Macau, China, and beyond. The IAS will continue to host high-quality academic lectures, providing more opportunities for Macau’s academia and society, deepening academic exchanges, and broadening knowledge horizons.
