Introduction

The Department of Biology, now the Programme of Biology, was established in 1963, and is one of the oldest departments in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. It has always been our goal to promote the advancement of teaching and research in this multifaceted science and to contribute to our understanding of the events of life. We have been generating and transferring knowledge in biological sciences, cultivating future biologists and training all-round citizens for our society.

Programmes of Studies in Biology

Our teaching programmes include both undergraduate (BSc) and postgraduate (MPhil and PhD) degrees, designed with the aim of training our students to have fundamental and excellent knowledge of modern biological sciences. With our comprehensive curriculum and broad training encompassing a variety of fields within the biological sciences, our graduates are well-prepared for various careers including appointment as teachers, principals or professors within the local or overseas education sector, and as research, technical or administrative staff in tertiary institutions, the government and business sectors.

Major research themes in Biology

Both basic and applied studies are emphasized. Examples of our research fields include biomedical science, developmental biology & physiology, plant & agricultural science and marine & environmental science. We are the first BioScience Department (now Programme) awarded an Area of Excellence from the University Grants Committee, The Hong Kong SAR Government.

Area of Excellence (AoE) Research Programmes

The Areas of Excellence funding programme was developed to encourage University Grants Committee (UGC) funded institutions to build upon their existing strengths and nurture them into Areas of Excellence, or world-class research programmes. The University Grants Committee announced on 20 September 1999 its choice of three research institutes to receive funding in the first round of its new Areas of Excellence initiative. The Plant and Fungal Biotechnology Programme of the Department of Biology is among the three selected projects and is said by Dr Alice Lam, former UGC chairperson, to "have demonstrated a clear potential to be recognized internationally as of equal status to their peers".

AoE Plant and Fungal Biotechnology
In response to the ever-increasing demand in global food supply, the mission of this AoE is to generate high-valued agricultural and health products, invent and transfer new technologies and produce human capital in the field of biotechnology, for the nutritional and health well-being of Hong Kong and beyond.

AoE Marine Biotechnology
This AoE proposal on marine biotechnology is intended to provide high-quality food, nutritional and medicinal products through biotechnological research and techniques, and is rated to be among the top ten AoE proposals in the second round of AoE initiatives.