Empowering Academic Excellence and Future Leaders: HKIAS Senior Fellow Professor Dame Madeleine Atkins Inspires CityUHK Community
In a recent visit by Professor Dame Madeleine Atkins, HKIAS Senior Fellow and President-Emeritus of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study (HKIAS) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) hosted a week of high-level academic exchange and mentorship. As a distinguished leader in global higher education, Dame Madeleine’s week-long visit brought invaluable insights, fostering high-level academic exchange, empowering female faculty members, and providing strategic career mentorship to the next generation of scholars.
The academic itinerary commenced with Dame Madeleine, together with Professor Shuk Han Cheng, Executive Director of HKIAS, attending the Research Gala 2026 organized by the Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMS) of CityUHK. Dame Madeleine delivered an inspiring keynote speech titled “Measuring and Achieving Research Impact: changing contexts,” which illustrated how contemporary scientific inquiries can transcend traditional metrics to deliver tangible societal and economic benefits.
Co-organized by the Communications and Institutional Research Office (CIRO) and HKIAS, a highly anticipated, interactive workshop titled “Getting Noticed, Getting Networked” took place during the visit. This one-day event was co-led by Dame Madeleine and Professor Shirley Chong, Chief Communications and Global Affairs Officer, who served as the main distinguished speakers. Designed to elevate the research profiles of female junior academics, the workshop engaged participants in hands-on, video-recorded practice to master the art of the research pitch. Participants also learned to navigate media interviews with confidence and gained practical networking skills to build a powerful, authentic professional presence in a supportive environment. Adding rich institutional perspective to the workshop, Professor Kannie Chan, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), and Professor Vanessa Barrs, Dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, joined as guest speakers to share their extensive professional experiences navigating the modern media landscape. They offered invaluable, firsthand insights on managing high-profile media interviews and leveraging social media platforms to effectively amplify scientific research.
Dedicated to nurturing young talent, Dame Madeleine focused the latter part of her visit on student development. After meeting with Professor Kian-Lam Toh, Director of Student Development Services (SDS), and Ms. Steffi Lau, Associate Director of Career and Leadership Centre, SDS, she hosted a sharing session titled “Planning a Successful Career”. Attended by a diverse group of postgraduate students, undergraduates, and researchers, the sharing session addressed strategic approaches to career planning in a rapidly changing global landscape. Dame Madeleine examined the profound impact of AI and emerging technologies on career pathways, emphasizing the necessity of core skills such as AI literacy, critical thinking, adaptability, and global ethical awareness.
As a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Dame Madeleine Atkins’ visit epitomizes HKIAS’s dedication to bringing world-class expertise to CityUHK. Her profound dedication to mentorship, academic leadership, and international partnership continues to leave a lasting impact, inspiring both established faculty and aspiring scholars across the university community.