CAS, CAE academicians deliver CityU Macau’s Master Lecture on health and AI to promote innovative education
The City University of Macau (CityU) held a high-end lecture as part of its Master Lecture Series at the Cultural Centre. The lecture featured esteemed speakers, including George Fu Gao, honorary doctor of CityU, academician of the Division of Life Sciences and Medical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and a research fellow at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Gao Wen, honorary doctor of CityU, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), IEEE & ACM Fellow, Boya Chair Professor at Peking University, and director of Peng Cheng Laboratory; and Quanshui Zheng, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), professor at International Graduate School of Tsinghua University, and founding dean of the X-Institute, Shenzhen. Together, they delivered scholarly speeches and engaged in thrilling dialogues on the topic of health and artificial intelligence (AI). Their profound insights broadened the academic perspectives of faculty and students, stimulating possibilities for the future development of health and AI.
During his speech titled AI, Drug Discovery, and Vaccine Design, Academician George Fu Gao took “crisis” as a starting point and emphasized that humanity is currently in the AI era, the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He highlighted that the key to transforming “crisis” into “chances” lies in seizing opportunities and pursuing scientific excellence. By harnessing the power of technology, he advocated for top-down development of the health industry.
As a prominent figure in life sciences, Academician George Fu Gao provided a comprehensive interpretation of health sciences, commonly referred to as “big health” in direct English translation. He employed three key terms “Universal,” “Delivery,” and “High-Tech” to elucidate the broad spectrum of the field. According to his explanation, this spectrum encompasses the universal applicability, practical implementation, and utilization of advanced technology. He placed an emphasis on the transformative impact of next-generation information technology in driving innovation and profound shift in the paradigm of scientific research. By combining findings such as AI-driven immunotherapy, drug discovery, and vaccine design, he presented the prospects and immense potential of AI in life sciences. Additionally, he called for scientific collaboration without borders, urging China to actively shoulder responsibilities and stand at the forefront of the scientific advancement. Through sincere international cooperation, he emphasized joint efforts in addressing global health challenges and contributing wisdom and strength to the well-being of humanity.
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Academician Gao Wen, in his speech titled Peng Cheng Mind Large Model Series and Open Source Ecology, proposed that open source and open access are fundamental for the development of the next generation of AI. He argued that it is essential to break through the key technologies for AI advancement in China and highlighted his team’s commitment to closely following the national strategic development. He emphasized his team’s dedication to advancing the Peng Cheng Mind Large Model Series and the Peng Cheng Cloud Brain Series to serve the research and application of AI in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area).
Academician Gao Wen emphasized his team’s commitment to using domestic computing power and technologies, which also provide strong support to universities, research institutions, and high-tech enterprises through their innovative capabilities and scientific strengths.
In the field of healthcare, traditional Chinese medicine, and health, Academician Gao Wen introduced the “BianQue” large model platform developed by a dedicated team at the Peng Cheng Laboratory. He expressed that this platform will provide support to the health industry, promoting the application of AI technology in the medical and health sectors. Furthermore, he envisioned the construction of large models for traditional Chinese medicine in the future and encouraged the audience to actively leverage AI to advance the development of health and medical care.
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In regard to fostering innovative talents, Academician Quanshui Zheng highlighted that the era of digital intelligence has raised higher standards and challenges for the education sector in his speech titled Personal Growth and Holistic Health. He emphasized that the core of education is to promote individual growth and discussed how the “intelligent society” may accelerate social stratification. He advocated for student-centered learning and an open and innovative talent cultivation model. Using examples such as the Tsien Excellence in Engineering Program (TEEP, also known as the Tsien Hsue-shen Elite Class in Mechanics) at Tsinghua University and the X-Institute, Shenzhen, he proposed that the self-driven curiosity and mentorship are indispensable in cultivating talented individuals. Innovative methods should be employed to help young people fully demonstrate their talents and potential.
Furthermore, Academician Quanshui Zheng emphasized the need for a transformation in educational traditions, breaking through constraints and achieving educational innovation that goes beyond campuses, disciplines, and cultures. This approach aims to cultivate more outstanding individuals with innovative thinking and practical abilities, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and the overall well-being of humanity.
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Rector Jun Liu presided over the panel discussion, joined by three academicians, Vice Rector Zhou Wanlei, and Professor Sun Pei from the Faculty of Health Sciences, to engage in a high-level dialogue on the development of health sciences and AI. Rector Jun Liu used the keywords “Discovery,” “Innovation,” and “Creativity” to summarize the insightful speeches given by the three academicians, highlighting their visionary prospects for the digital era from their academic perspectives. Vice Rector Zhou emphasized the unique advantage of CityU in seeking a different path for strategic development, particularly in integrating data science into various disciplines.
The faculty and students actively engaged in discussions with the scholars on topics such as career choices and challenges in the intelligent society, the international promotion of traditional Chinese medicine, and the relationship between vaccine administration and human development. Their insightful responses garnered enthusiastic applause from the audience. This high-level dialogue not only provided a platform for learning and exchange for the faculty and students but also delivered a remarkable intellectual and inspiring feast of wisdom.
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