The Hong Kong Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (HKIAA) will hold its Inauguration Ceremony on Monday, 3 November 2025. Members of the media are cordially invited to attend and cover the event, which will include a plaque-unveiling ceremony and group photo with distinguished guests and speakers.
Event Details:
- Date: Monday, 3 November 2025
- Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 am (Inauguration Ceremony starts at 9:00 am)
- Venue: CBA Lecture Theatre, G/F, Chow Yei Ching Building, The University of Hong Kong
Guests:
- Professor Xiang ZHANG, President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Hong Kong
- Professor Dong SUN, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry
- Professor Reinhard GENZEL, Laureate of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics
- Professor Michael PERRYMAN, Laureate of the 2022 Shaw Prize in Astronomy
- Professor Matthew BAILES, Laureate of the 2023 Shaw Prize in Astronomy
- Professor Yipeng JING, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Professor Shengcai SHI, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Purple Mountain Observatory
- Professor Bing ZHANG, Founding Director, Hong Kong Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics and Chair Professor of Astrophysics, Department of Physics, The University of Hong Kong
More than 30 distinguished guests and 20 HKIAA members will attend the ceremony.
For details of the programme, please refer to the event rundown below:
Inauguration Ceremony Programme
09:00 – 9:05 am Opening and Guest Introduction
09:05 – 9:10 am Inauguration Address by Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong
09:10 – 9:20 am HKIAA Introductory Address by Professor Bing Zhang, Founding Director of HKIAA and Chair Professor of Astrophysics, the Department of Physics, The University of Hong Kong
09:20 – 9:25 am Congratulatory Address by Professor Dong Sun, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry
09:25 – 9:30 am Congratulatory Address by Professor Yipeng Jing
09:30 – 9:35 am Congratulatory Address by Professor Shengcai Shi
09:35 – 9:40 am Congratulatory Address by Professor Matthew Bailes
09:40 – 9:45 am Plaque-Unveiling Ceremony, Officiated by President and Vice-Chancellor Xiang Zhang, joined by Professor Matthew Bailes, Professor Yipeng Jing, Professor Shengcai Shi, Professor Dong Sun and Professor Bing Zhang.
09:45 – 9:50 am Photo-Taking Session
09:50 – 10:00 am Video Messages by Distinguished Guests
10:00 – 10:30 am Coffee Break
For media enquiries, please contact HKU Faculty of Science (tel: 852-3917 4948/ 3917 5286; email: caseyto@hku.hk / cindycst@hku.hk ).
