Professor Hui Su, Chair Professor and Global STEM Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and founder and chairwoman of Stellerus Technology Co., Ltd., was interviewed by China Daily's "Time Dialogue." The report is as follows:

At the forefront of atmospheric science and satellite remote sensing, Professor Hui Su is driving significant advances in climate research. With a passionate pursuit of science, "Time Dialogue" (Junior Scoop) student reporter Firman Ma Yinan engaged in an insightful conversation with Professor Hui Su from HKUST’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Professor Su reflected on her early inspiration in meteorology and her scientific journey pursuing dreams at NASA. In the current era of booming artificial intelligence, she offered a professional perspective on how AI technology is reshaping weather and climate forecasting. She also candidly shared the challenges and breakthroughs faced by female researchers in the male-dominated scientific field. This intergenerational exchange of ideas not only conveyed deep scientific knowledge but also opened a fascinating window to the cutting edge and future landscape of science.

Professor Hui Su is a professor in HKUST’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, specializing in atmospheric science and satellite remote sensing. She has a strong academic background in meteorology and participated in multiple key satellite launch missions at NASA. Professor Su is committed to advancing climate change research and actively advocates for science education and public communication to enhance awareness of the importance of atmospheric science. Her research not only provides valuable data support to the scientific community but also promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, highlighting the critical role of science in addressing global challenges.

Career Journey and Achievements

In today’s world, climate change has become one of the major challenges facing humanity, and atmospheric science combined with satellite remote sensing technology is a key tool for understanding and addressing this challenge. Professor Hui Su believes that atmospheric science is not just dry data and complex models, but a window of wisdom that reveals the environment we live in and the natural phenomena around us. Through satellite remote sensing, Professor Su is able to observe atmospheric changes from a fresh perspective, capturing subtle yet important climate signals. When Firman Ma asked Professor Su how she entered this field, she shared her rich experience working at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In her recollection, at NASA she not only participated in satellite launches but also experienced the endless fascination of scientific exploration.

All of this stemmed from her love of science and curiosity about the unknown world. Throughout the process of overcoming challenges, she not only deepened her understanding of meteorology but also cultivated innovative thinking and the ability to solve complex problems. Professor Su’s achievements are reflected not only in her personal career development but also in driving innovation and progress in the entire field. By participating in key meteorological satellite missions, she has made important contributions to global climate monitoring and forecasting, highlighting the critical role of science in addressing global challenges. When asked about the greatest challenges and gains during her time at NASA, she said: “I feel the excitement of space missions always makes me very inspired. The biggest challenge was the complexity and the innovation we always need to strive for, so that actually takes a lot of effort, and sometimes missions won't be successful at the first try.”

Hong Kong Aerospace: A New Starting Point with Unlimited Potential

In Professor Hui Su’s view, the future blueprint of Hong Kong’s aerospace industry is gradually unfolding. Leveraging its unique geopolitical advantage as a bridge between China and the world, combined with government resource allocation and policy support in the aerospace sector, Hong Kong is rapidly emerging as a key hub for global aerospace technology development. With the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) at the forefront, a series of groundbreaking collaborative projects are taking root: from joint greenhouse gas monitoring satellite programs with the Chinese mainland to deep involvement in China’s lunar exploration program through the development of lunar robots. These achievements not only demonstrate Hong Kong’s aerospace research strength but also mark its solid step into a new journey of deep space exploration.

Professor Su emphasizes that Hong Kong’s aerospace industry possesses both cutting-edge scientific innovation and immense potential for industrial upgrading. As the collaboration mechanism among industry, academia, and research deepens, this fertile ground will nurture more innovation-driven enterprises centered on satellite technology, gradually building a complete ecosystem covering scientific research, technology transfer, and industrial application. She encourages Hong Kong’s youth to solidify their professional foundations with an open and innovative mindset, boldly stand at the forefront of aerospace technology, and jointly write a brilliant chapter for Hong Kong’s aerospace cause. This will help Hong Kong carve a distinctive Eastern imprint on the international aerospace map. Looking ahead, this international metropolis will, with its open and inclusive innovation DNA and strong technological foundation, continue to contribute “Chinese wisdom” to the global aerospace endeavor.

“I feel Hong Kong is in this very unique position of connecting China with the rest of the world, and also the Hong Kong government actually puts a lot of effort and also investment into growing our space industry. We are particularly promoting collaborations between Hong Kong scientists and engineers with the Chinese mainland's space institutes.”

Professor Hui Su pointed out that Hong Kong, leveraging its unique advantage of “connecting China and the world,” plays a bridging role in the aerospace field. On one hand, it promotes mature aerospace technologies from the Chinese mainland to the international stage; on the other hand, it introduces cutting-edge global concepts to accelerate the practical application of scientific research outcomes. She looks forward to Hong Kong further optimizing its innovation ecosystem, attracting more top-tier resources, and building an aerospace technology cluster with international influence, thereby demonstrating its unique value in the global aerospace industry.

Insights on Pursuing Scientific Dreams

Professor Hui Su deeply understands the importance of scientific research in today’s society, especially in the context of addressing climate change and environmental crises. She is committed to helping the public realize that science is not merely about technological progress but is closely connected to our daily lives and influences the ecosystems we live in. She actively participates in science communication with the goal of inspiring greater awareness of environmental protection and encouraging people to recognise the fragility and value of ecosystems.

For young people aspiring to work in atmospheric science and aerospace, Professor Su also shares her valuable advice, encouraging them to bravely pursue their dreams and actively explore this field full of challenges and opportunities:

“The important thing is to have big dreams. Because when I came to Hong Kong, I never thought I was going to launch a satellite here with my colleagues. So I feel having this big dream, having a big vision, and being very passionate — that's the first thing. And the second is that if you want to get into the space industry, of course you need to get solid training in science, technology, engineering, and math, the STEM field. And the other thing is, like I mentioned earlier, to be persistent and persevere. And when there are any feedback problems, don't give up and just stick to what you pursue, and eventually you will succeed.”