CUHK
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Professor Wu Yilin, Professor in the Department of Physics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has been awarded the Xplorer Prize 2023 in the field of advanced interdisciplinary studies, one of two scholars from Hong Kong to be awarded the prize.

Professor Wu’s research interests focus on the physics of living matter and quantitative biology, including biological self-organisation, collective behaviour and bacterial motility. The research that has received the award focuses on the self-organisation and emergent mechanics of living active matter. Professor Wu aims to establish a series of novel physical mechanisms for spatiotemporal ordering in living matter, and to discover design principles of autonomous living materials with emerging mechanical functionalities for biomedicine and soft robotics.

CUHK’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sham Mai-har, said, “I sincerely congratulate Professor Wu on his exceptional interdisciplinary research being acknowledged with the Xplorer Prize 2023. The Xplorer Prize inspires young scientists to pursue innovative research that leads the way in advancing science and technology in the nation. Research and Innovation is one of the key areas highlighted in the CUHK Strategic Plan 2021-2025. The University will continue to support our research teams in their pursuit of excellence. We aim to cultivate scientific and technological talent that contributes substantially to the development of Hong Kong’s and the Mainland’s scientific and technological efforts.”

Professor Wu said, “With support from the Xplorer Prize, we will seek to understand one of mysteries of life: how order spontaneously emerges in living systems. I am grateful to my lab members present and past for their bravery in crossing the boundaries of disciplines and joining my effort. We have also been fortunate to benefit from the inclusive and supportive academic culture of CUHK.”