HKUST Annual Report 2023-2024

32 Lab to Market Spotlight on Taiping War and Literary Transformation The Collapse of Heaven (Harvard University Press 2024), authored by Prof. JIN Huan (Humanities), focuses on Chinese literature through the lens of the Taiping War (1851–1864). Prof. Jin examines the literary and cultural transformations that occurred from the 1850s to the 1880s, making a significant contribution to Chinese studies and offering an important comparative perspective on the global 19th century. Bringing Scientific Approach to Hot Topic of Depopulation Prof. Stuart GIETEL-BASTEN (Social Science and Public Policy) co-guest edited a special issue of the Vienna Yearbook of Population Research (2023) on “The Causes and Consequences of Depopulation”, the first such volume on this increasingly important topic. While population decline issues are the subject of much popular discussion, the volume introduces a more evidence-based, scientific approach into the discourse. Smart Food Printing Serves Up Novel Way to Personalized Nutrition A 3D + AI food printing project, led by postgraduate research students under the guidance of Prof. Mitch LI Guijun (Integrative Systems and Design), has set out to revolutionize personalized nutrition using the team’s patented smart 3D printing and multi- level cooking technology. The innovative approach can provide on-demand meals and food by-products, targeting groups such as elderly individuals, patients, children with special diets, and athletes. The team’s start-up, Elevatefoods, is now aiming to commercialize the technology.