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HKBU promotes health and well-being at Global Sustainable Development Congress

30 Jun 2025

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Professor Martin Wong, Provost (4th left), Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research & Development) (4th right), and other HKBU representatives participate in the Global Sustainable Development Congress 2025.

 

The growing need to address environmental challenges and foster global sustainability prompted a four-day international summit, bringing together over 5,000 academics and specialists to address sustainable health, drive new alliances and create positive action for a more sustainable future.

Held from 16 to 19 June in Istanbul, Turkey, the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2025 was co-hosted by Turkey’s Council of Higher Education and convened by Times Higher Education (THE). As the event’s Global Health Innovation Partner and sponsor of the Health and Well-being Track, HKBU presented its comprehensive and transdisciplinary approach to health and wellness. 

Professor Martin Wong, Provost of HKBU, highlighted the University’s research strength in driving technological innovations for global health. He said: “By integrating advanced AI methodologies with clinical, pharmaceutical and social science expertise, we are optimising diagnostics, accelerating drug discovery and enhancing surgical assistance. This interdisciplinary approach reinforces Hong Kong’s reputation as a global hub for cutting-edge research and higher education.”

Meanwhile, Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research & Development), remarked that Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to lead East-West integration in digital health and systems medicine. He said, “HKBU combines the rigour of life sciences with robust Chinese Medicine research, underpinned by advanced data analytics. This powerful synergy enables us to tackle complex health disparities at biological, social, and environmental levels, and build resilient, equitable health systems to meet future global challenges.”

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HKBU’s “Well-being Zone” showcases the “Exercise is medicine” approach to holistic well-being through experiential sessions like Tai Chi, Baduanjin, and Mindfulness Karate.

 

At the Summit, HKBU introduced a new initiative, namely the 6,000-square-foot "Well-being Zone", a space specially designed to promote health and wellness. It provided the participants with interactive experiences and insightful presentations ranging from mindfulness exercises, digital well-being research, as well as talks on global health trends, mental well-being and the applications of Chinese medicine and AI in healthcare.

In collaboration with Elsevier, HKBU launched the report Evolving Legacy: Decoding the Scientific Trajectory of Chinese Medicine at the Summit, which examines the development and evolving research landscape of Chinese Medicine and its growing influence on modern healthcare.

The University’s contributions at GSDC showcased its commitment to addressing pressing global sustainability challenges through cutting-edge research. Driven by its overarching research cluster in Health and Drug Discovery, HKBU is set to leverage sustainability and transdisciplinary research to advance sustainable development at a strategic level.

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(From left) Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research & Development) of HKBU, Professor Michael Heinrich, Professor of Pharmacognosy of University College London, and Professor Christy Cheung, Director of Research Office of HKBU, discuss the social and environmental impacts on health and wellbeing.