Chair's Welcome
The Department of Geography at HKBU is a long-established and highly reputed academic institution in Hong Kong. The Department traces its origins to the History and Geography Department established in 1960. It is now one of the three departments that constitute the Academy of Geography, Sociology, and International Studies (GSIS) under the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). The Department is expanding and now comprises 18 full‑time academic and teaching staff.
The Department is proud of its research excellence. Our research thrives on four fronts: (1) Energy, sustainability, and resource management; (2) Geoanalytics, GIS, and remote sensing; (3) Physical landscape and environmental change; and (4) Urban and regional studies. The Department boasts a strong record in securing research grants. Currently, 13 of our 15 academic staff serve as principal investigators (PIs) on at least one General Research Fund (GRF) or Early Career Scheme (ECS) project, while 5 are PIs on one or more National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) grants. Noteworthy recent successes include a HK$5.7 million Research Impact Fund for an interdisciplinary investigation into the role of big data analytics in advancing smart low-carbon cities, and a HK$3.5 million Young Collaborative Research Grant aimed at optimizing land arrangements to mitigate urban warming, air pollution, and human exposure. In the 2026/27 GRF and ECS exercise, a record‑breaking ten geography colleagues were awarded grants.
The Department provides comprehensive geographical education at all academic levels (BSSc, MSSc, MPhil and PhD). Geography distinguishes itself by its integrated approach to studying the interactions between people and their physical and social environments. Our undergraduate curriculum gives students rigorous training in geographical theories, methodologies, and technologies while fostering an understanding of the spatial order and interdependence of the world’s peoples and regions. Our postgraduate research programmes currently enroll over 50 MPhil and PhD students—the largest cohort in the faculty. Our postgraduate research students have received many awards at both the faculty and university levels. In 2025, the Department launched our first taught master’s programme on Smart, Resilient, and Sustainable Cities. The programme aims to nurture future urban leaders who will shape the cities of tomorrow.
The Department positions itself as a leading geographical research and education institution in the Greater Bay Area—a dynamic mega-region known globally for its innovation, vibrancy and competitiveness. In 2025, it became a founding member of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance for Geography Education. In December 2026, the First Annual Conference will be held at Hong Kong Baptist University.
I hope you will learn more about our achievements, aspirations, and activities from our website. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to know more.
Kevin Lo
Department Chair and Associate Professor of Geography
July 2026