Overall View of Research Activities

Geography is a very promising field of study. It distinguishes itself by its integrated approach to the investigation of interactions between people and their physical and social environments. Geographic knowledge has been proven to have valuable practical applications for several aspects of mankind's development. The Geography Department at HKBU emphasizes quality research, which is closely tied to the two undergraduate teaching programmes: the BSSc (Hons) in Geography Programme, and the BSSc (Hons) in China Studies-Geography Option Programme. Faculty members carry out their research on major socio-economic and environment-related issues confronting Hong Kong and Mainland China, focusing on the rapid spatial transformations unfolding in the region within recent decades. In addition, there are two research centres housed within the Department: the Hong Kong Energy Studies Centre (HKESC) and the Centre for China Urban and Regional Studies (CURS). Both the HKESC and CURS are very active in promoting collaborative research locally and internationally.

Faculty members in the Department have good track records in securing research grants from diverse sources, including the CERG, administered by the Research Grant Council. Currently, the Department has 4 CERG supported projects with total funding exceeding HK$ 2 million. In addition, there are 4 CERG fundable but not funded projects supported by the Faculty Research Grant (FRG) of the University, with each having received a startup grant of HK$150,000. There are, of course, numerous other FRG projects funded by the University. The HKESC obtains sponsorship mainly from the private sector (energy firms) to support its activities and research on energy issues in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The CURS was established in 2001 with a major donation from the Heung To Education Fund. This centre conducts high quality research into China's urban and regional development and promotes academic exchange between researchers in this field. The CURS has maintained very close link with the Urban China Research Network (UCRN) of the State University of New York at Albany. Together, CURS and the UCRN have jointly organized several very successful workshops and conferences on China's urban development. Furthermore, the scope of research by faculty members is expanding. Many of our faculty members are engaged in collaborative research with scholars or institutions from around the world, including Canada, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, and Mainland China. To conclude, the Department is committed to upholding the values of geographic education and to promote the application of geographic theories and techniques to solve real world problems, explicit in the motto of the Department: "Balancing Theories and Practices; Promoting Scholarly Interaction; and Achieving Academic Excellence."