Professor Kwan Mei-po, Head of Chung Chi College, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Geography and Resource Management, and Director of the Institute of Space and Earth Information Science at CUHK, has been elected as a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries, in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements and contributions to promoting science in the developing world. Among the new Fellows this year, she is the only one from Hong Kong.
Professor Kwan applies cutting-edge geographic information science and remote sensing methodologies to address pressing health, transport, environmental and social challenges in urban settings. Her pioneering work has led to the identification of two major conceptual breakthroughs – the Uncertain Geographic Context Problem (UGCoP) and the Neighbourhood Effect Averaging Problem (NEAP) – which challenge traditional residence-based approaches to neighbourhood effect research and have driven a paradigm shift toward mobility-based environmental exposure assessment. Professor Kwan is also a trailblazer in the use of real-time GPS tracking and mobile sensing technologies to collect high-resolution, individual-level data, significantly reducing exposure measurement errors associated with the UGCoP and the NEAP. Her work has inspired much new mobility-based research on smart cities, sustainable development, and environmental health. Her prolific academic output includes more than 570 publications, encompassing journal articles, books and book chapters.
中大崇基學院院長、太空與地球信息科學研究所所長兼卓敏地理與資源管理學教授關美寶教授，獲選為世界科學院院士 ，以表彰她在推動發展中國家科學進步方面的卓越貢獻。關教授是今年新當選的院士中唯一來自香港的學者。
關教授運用前沿地理信息科學和遙感方法，應對城市的健康、交通、環境及社會等重大挑戰。她發現了「不確定地理情境問題」（UGCoP）及「鄰域效應平均化問題」（NEAP），對過往以居住地為基礎的環境暴露評估方法提出質疑，推動環境暴露評估範式轉型為基於個體流動性的新範式。此外，關教授透過實時移動感應和GPS追蹤技術，收集高解析度的個體層級數據，大幅減少了與 UGCoP 和 NEAP 相關的暴露測量誤差。她的研究啟發了許多基於個體流動性的智慧城市、可持續發展和環境健康的新研究。她的學術成果豐碩，發表超過 570 篇著作，包括期刊論文、書籍及章節。
Congratulation our MSc students Cai Meilan, Li Yan, Ying Yuhang and Zhang Letian for awarded the Scholarship of MSc in Environmental Information, Health and Public Management (2025-26) by Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
https://twas.org/article/twas-elects-2026-class-fellows#10 Professor Mei-Po Kwan has been elected as a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for her outstanding contributions to advancing science in developing countries. This year, 63 new Fellows from 26 countries were elected. Professor Kwan is the only Fellow from Hong Kong and the only Chinese scholar elected in the division of Economic & Social Sciences and Humanities & Arts. The election of the new Fellows will be effective starting on 1 January 2026. Founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the developing world, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) is a global science academy dedicated to promoting scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in developing countries. Elected Fellows represent the world’s distinguished scientists in various disciplines, including many academicians of various national academies of sciences and Nobel laureates. Professor Kwan’s election as a TWAS Fellow represents the international recognition of her academic achievements and contributions to promoting science in developing countries.
The recent 2025 Policy Address mentioned that over HK$100 million funding is allocated to support projects of local universities in aerospace science and technology. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has been awarded HK$18.99 million through the “Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology” to support its pioneering carbon satellite research project. This funding underscores CUHK’s prominent role in driving innovation in aerospace technology and contributing to the development of smart city.
The awarded project is titled “Integration of Carbon Satellite Remote Sensing and Modeling for High Accuracy Greenhouse Gas Monitoring and Source Identification”. Professor Kwan Mei-po, the project coordinator, Director of Institute of Space and Earth Information Science at CUHK, and Choh-Ming Li Professor of Geography and Resource Management, said: “We are delighted that the government strongly supports aerospace technology. CUHK has long been committed to this field, and this funding enables us to advance cutting-edge satellite environmental research in Hong Kong. By establishing a high-performance satellite data hub, we will lay a crucial scientific foundation for climate action, urban innovation, and disaster response. It also marks an important step toward global sustainable development.”
近日發表的2025年《施政報告》提出設立超過一億港元的專項基金，支持本地大學開展航天科技研發。香港中文大學（中大）獲「創新及科技支援計劃特別徵集（航天科技）」撥款1,899萬港元，用以支持其碳衞星研究項目，標誌著中大在航天科技及智慧城市建設的領導地位。
研究項目名為「集成碳衛星遙感與建模的高精度溫室氣體監測與源識別系統研究」。項目統籌人、中大太空與地球信息科學研究所所長兼卓敏地理與資源管理學教授關美寶教授表示：「很高興政府大力支持航天科技研發。中大一直致力於相關研究，這筆撥款讓我們能夠在香港推動衞星環境研究的前沿發展。透過建立一個高效能的衞星數據中心，我們將為氣候行動、城市創新及災害應對奠定重要科研基礎，同時亦是邁向全球可持續發展的重要一步。」
Dr Feng Fei, Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, led a delegation comprising members of the People’s Government of Hainan Province, Wenchang International Aerospace City Administration and Hainan Satellite Data and Application Research Center to The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) today (11 September). The delegation met with Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President; Professor Sham Mai-har, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research); Professor Kwan Mei-po, Head of Chung Chi College and Director of the Institute of Space and Earth Information Science (ISEIS); Professor Anthony Fung Ying-him, Dean of Social Science; Professor Jiang Liwen, Acting Dean of Science and representatives from CUHK. During the visit, the two parties exchanged views on cooperation and innovation in the space industry. CUHK and Hainan Satellite Data and Application Research Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly establish an international cooperation model of “R&D in Hainan + Promotion in Hong Kong”, aiming to build an international satellite data hub, foster cross-border cooperation and develop an integrated platform that connects industry, academia, research and application.
海南省委書記馮飛博士今天（9月11日）率領海南省人民政府、文昌國際航天城管理局及海南衞星數據與應用研究中心代表團訪問香港中文大學（中大），與中大校長盧煜明教授、副校長岑美霞教授、崇基學院院長兼太空與地球信息科學硏究所（太空所）所長關美寶教授、社會科學院院長馮應謙教授，以及理學院署理院長姜里文教授等會面。雙方就航天產業合作與創新發展等議題交流意見。期間，中大與海南衞星數據與應用研究中心簽署合作備忘錄，攜手構建「海南研發+香港推廣」的國際合作模式，打造國際衞星數據樞紐、跨境合作橋樑及產學研用一體化平台。
The project is led by Principal Coordinator Prof. Mei-Po Kwan, in collaboration with Deputy Principal Coordinator Prof. Peifeng Ma. It aims to conduct interdisciplinary research on next-generation carbon satellite remote sensing and chemical modelling to monitor greenhouse gas concentrations and track carbon sources at the global and hotspot scales. The project will serve research areas such as carbon neutrality, smart cities, natural disaster monitoring, and sustainable development.
The invention “Vehicle-Kilometrage Estimation Using Remote Sensing Data and Deep Learning,” led by Prof. Mei-Po Kwan, won a Bronze Medal at the 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions. The project utilizes satellite remote sensing technologies to perform periodic wide-area traffic flow monitoring on urban roads. It develops advanced deep learning models to provide more comprehensive vehicle-kilometrage estimates. Prof. Kwan and her team showcased their success in knowledge transfer, translating research and innovation into tangible benefits and outcomes.
由關美寶教授領導的創新發明「基於遙感資料和深度學習技術的車輛里程估算」 在第50屆「日內瓦國際發明展」榮獲銅牌獎項。該計畫將利用衛星遙感技術對城市道路的車流量進行週期性的廣域監測，並建立先進的深度學習模型以提供更全面的車輛里程估計。此計畫成果可以為交通規劃與管理提供更全面和科學的資訊化支援。關教授及其團隊展現了其在知識轉移方面的卓越成就，積極推動將研究成果及創新思維轉化至實際應用，造福社會。
Recently, the " Laboratory of Geospatial Intelligence" platform project, led by Professor Mei-Po Kwan from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has successfully secured RMB 6 million in funding through the "1+1+1" scheme jointly supported by the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, CUHK-Shenzhen, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
In this project, Professor Kwan will collaborate with Professor Ruizhi Chen (Co-PI) from CUHK-Shenzhen to develop advanced artificial intelligence technologies and geographic information systems. By leveraging multidisciplinary innovation, the team aims to build a comprehensive geospatial digital twin platform. This initiative represents the first platform project funded under the "1+1+1" scheme, marking a significant step forward in cross-regional collaboration between CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen in the fields of geospatial information technology and artificial intelligence.
近日，由香港中文大學關美寶教授領導的「地理空間智慧實驗室」平台建設項目，成功獲得廣東省科學技術廳、香港中文大學（深圳）及香港中文大學「1+1+1」計劃聯合資助，總資助金額達600萬元。
在本計畫中，關美寶教授將聯合香港中文大學（深圳）陳銳志教授（CO-PI），共同開發先進的人工智慧技術和地理資訊系統。透過整合多學科的創新力量，團隊計畫建立一個全面的地理數位孿生平台。這是「1+1+1」計畫的首個平台資助項目，標誌著香港中文的大學和香港中文大學（深圳）在地理資訊科技和人工智慧領域的跨區域合作邁出了重要一步。
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Institute of Space and Earth Information Science at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have conducted a groundbreaking air quality study in mainland China. This study revealed for the first time that the mortality rate due to air pollution arising from national dietary changes is twice as high among people in agricultural areas of mainland China as in more developed coastal regions. This discovery highlights the growing health and environmental inequity between these regions. The research results have been published in the international journal Communications Earth & Environment.
香港中文大學（中大）地球與環境科學系和太空與地球信息科學研究所於中國內地進行一項開創性空氣研究，發現由國民飲食習慣改變引起的空氣污染而致的死亡率，在中國内地農業地區是發達沿海地區的兩倍，突顯不同地區之間日趨嚴重的健康和環境不平等。研究成果已發表在國際期刊《Communications Earth & Environment》。