The ‘First Clare Hall, University of Cambridge – University of Macau Forum 2025,’ co-hosted by the University of Macau (UM) and Clare Hall of the University of Cambridge, was successfully held from 31 March to 1 April at UM. The theme of the forum was ‘Interdisciplinary Approaches to Advancing Sustainable Development: Innovative Solutions to Global Challenges’. During the event, UM and Clare Hall renewed their cooperation agreement on the Cambridge Clare Hall Visiting Fellowship Programme, which aims to deepen interdisciplinary collaboration in the humanities, social sciences, and technology.
In his opening remarks, UM Rector, Professor Yonghua Song, highlighted the fruitful partnership between UM and Clare Hall since the inception of the Cambridge Clare Hall Visiting Fellowship Programme in 2006, which has enabled 23 UM scholars to engage in academic exchange at Cambridge. He emphasised that interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation are pivotal to promoting sustainable development in the face of global challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity. He also expressed hope that the forum would serve as a bridge for East-West academic dialogue. Professor Alan Short, president of Clare Hall, noted that the forum, as the first interdisciplinary event jointly hosted by the two universities, was a continuation of their long-term partnership and reflected the importance of integrating diverse perspectives and breaking down disciplinary boundaries. He also highlighted that future efforts will focus on collaborative innovation in areas such as sustainable development and artificial intelligence to address global challenges.
In addition, UM and Cambridge renewed their cooperation agreement on the Cambridge Clare Hall Visiting Fellowship Programme to promote joint research projects and enhance talent cultivation and collaborative innovation in scientific research. The renewal of the agreement marks a higher level of cooperation between the two universities.
The forum featured two plenary sessions and three parallel sessions, covering a diverse range of topics, including Sustainable Architecture and Smart Cities, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Social Sciences and Education, and Chinese Studies. Over 20 scholars from the University of Macau, Cambridge University, and Chongqing University showcased their cutting-edge research, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.
The first plenary session explored low-carbon technologies and ecological restoration strategies. During this session, Professor Alan Short suggested that sustainable architecture needs to incorporate climate-adaptive materials and international cooperation to accelerate the low-carbon transition. Rector Yonghua Song highlighted how extreme climate events strain urban energy systems and proposed optimising virtual energy storage and air conditioning systems in the Greater Bay Area to mitigate the vicious cycle between heatwaves and energy consumption. He also advocated the integration of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to drive interdisciplinary innovation. Professor Baizhan Li, professor in the School of Civil Engineering at Chongqing University and a visiting fellow at Clare Hall, noted that the energy consumption of air-conditioning systems has increased due to climate change, adding that his team has developed ‘climate-responsive building designs’ and established national standards to promote energy-efficient projects in the Yangtze River region. Professor Maggie Fu, professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at UM and a visiting fellow at Clare Hall, analysed smart city policies and provided empirical evidence that urban digitalisation drives corporate green innovation. She also called for collaboration among governments, businesses, and universities to promote sustainable transitions. The forum attracted the participation of UM students and faculty, fostering dynamic discussions.
On 1 April, scholars from Clare Hall visited Lui Che Woo College, where they were warmly welcomed by the College Master, Professor Desmond Lam. During the visit, the scholars engaged in in-depth discussions with the college’s students, exploring their learning and living experiences in a residential college setting. Accompanied by a student ambassador, the scholars toured campus landmarks such as the University Gallery and the Wu Yee Sun Library, fully immersing themselves in the academic atmosphere of the campus. While visiting the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City (SKL-IoTSC), Professor Hongxun Hui introduced the lab’s research focuses and latest achievements. The visit also featured the alumni meeting, where faculty members from the UM who had participated in Clare Hall’s Visiting Fellow Programme joined the scholars from Clare Hall. During the meeting, Professor Alan Short provided an overview of Clare Hall’s recent developments, and the alumni took the opportunity to exchange academic insights.
Since establishing their partnership through the Cambridge Clare Hall Visiting Fellowship Programme in 2006, UM and Clare Hall have made remarkable progress in talent exchange and interdisciplinary research. This event aimed to further deepen the academic interactions between the two institutions, with the hope of strengthening regular academic exchange and collaboration, thereby creating more opportunities for academic breakthroughs and innovation for both parties.
