NEWS
From December 4th to 7th, 2024, the 2nd Youth Innovation Forum on Digital Earth was successfully held in Hong Kong, China. Embracing the theme “Digital Technology Innovation Driving Sustainable Development”, this Forum gathered nearly 500 delegates from 18 countries and regions, including government officials, experts from universities and institutes, educationists, industry representatives and students. It presented a state-of-the-art platform for young researchers in the relevant fields of Digital Earth, fostering seamless integration between academia and industry and facilitating vibrant exchanges of ideas.
The Forum was organized by the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), supported by the China Association of Young Scientists and Technologists and the World Association of Young Scientists (WAYS), and co-hosted by International Society for Digital Earth - Young Scientist Innovation Network (ISDE-YSIN), Institute of Space and Earth Information Science (ISEIS) of CUHK and Hong Kong Young Scientist Association (HKYSA).
Opening Ceremony
Guests attending the event included Prof. Dong Sun, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry in the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China; Prof. Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Ms. Cheng Wu, Deputy Director of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs in the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Prof. Jianya Gong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Mr. Fengyu Wang, Executive Director of the China National Space Administration International Satellite Data and Application Cooperation Center; Prof. Michael F. Goodchild, Member of the US National Academy of Sciences; Mr. Kenneth Chen Wei-on, Vice-President (Administration) of CUHK; Prof. Changlin Wang, Secretary General of the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE); Prof. Kwan Mei-Po, Director of Institute of Space and Earth Information Science (ISEIS) at CUHK; Legislative Council member Mr. Duncan Chiu; Mr. Wai-man Cheung, Head of the Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department in the HKSAR government; Dr. Barbara Kwok Pik-lin, Honorary Fellow of CUHK; and Prof. Min Chen, Chair of the International Society for Digital Earth - Young Scientist Innovation Network (ISDE-YSIN). Almost 500 guests and experts from institutions and organizations, such as the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Harvard University, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Wuhan University, the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, engaged in dynamic discussions.
At the Forum opening ceremony on December 5th, Dr. Alessandro Annoni, the President of ISDE, delivered video opening remarks. In the remarks, he described the Forum as a vital opportunity for the next generation of scientists and innovators to share their visions, collaborate, and drive the digital revolution forward. He extended a warm welcome to the young scientists, encouraging them to embrace the spirit of creativity, innovation, collaboration, and commitment in pursuit of the shared Digital Earth vision.
ISDE President Dr. Alessandro Annoni delivered video opening remarks
Prof. Sun said in his speech: “In recent years, the HKSAR government has supported local universities in conducting space-related education and research, and achieved notable results. The successful launch of the CUHK satellite is one of such landmark achievements. In this year’s Policy Address, we also announced the establishment of a new research centre under the InnoHK research cluster to participate in the Chang’e 8 China lunar exploration mission. We are confident that the new research centre will further enhance our local capabilities in space science and technology, and foster the next generation of aerospace-related talent.”
Prof. Tuan said in his speech: “CUHK celebrated the launch of its first remote sensing satellite this year, and introduced a collaborative double major programme in Aerospace Science and Earth Informatics with CUHK-Shenzhen this academic year. This demonstrates our commitment to advancing scientific research and modernising national science and technology. ISEIS will closely cooperate with the CNSA Satellite Data and Application International Cooperation Council to harness its research expertise and powerful connections with mainland and international partners that will advance aerospace technology development.”
Prof. Michael F. Goodchild, Member of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS), delivered a captivating keynote on the theme of “Digital Earth as a Digital Twin”. His speech was equally phenomenal, recapping the journey of Digital Earth, pointing out that Digital Earth is a form of Digital Twin, and addressing the remaining ethical issues in the field.
Prof. Michael F. Goodchild delivered a keynote
The plaque for the International Satellite Data and Application Cooperation Council Unit was also unveiled at the opening ceremony. CUHK celebrated the launch of the first remote sensing satellite this year and introduced a collaborative double major programme in Aerospace Science and Earth Informatics with CUHK-Shenzhen.
Plaque unveiling of the International Satellite Data and Application Cooperation Council Unit
The Hong Kong Youth Aerospace Innovation Alliance was also initiated to be established during the event. The alliance aims to promote innovation and collaboration among young talents in the field of aerospace, serving Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in areas such as disaster prevention and mitigation, carbon neutrality and sustainable development. It seeks to open a new chapter for Hong Kong in the aerospace industry, technology, talent cultivation, and international cooperation and applications.
To advocate the establishment of the Hong Kong Youth Aerospace Innovation Alliance
In total, 152 abstracts were submitted to the Forum, and 132 oral presentations were made in 20 parallel sessions. The parallel sessions covered 17 topics, including Digital Earth in Support of Urban Sustainable Development, Smart Transportation for Disaster Emergency, Geospatial Optimization, 3D Digital Modeling for Culture Heritage, and others.
To recognize and reward outstanding young scientists in the Digital Earth research field who take proactive and creative approaches in proposing influential concepts and innovative technologies with societal and environmental impacts, the ISDE Young Scientist Award 2024 was conferred upon Dr. Rui Zhu, Senior Scientist of the Institute of High Performance Computing, A*STAR, Singapore, and Prof. Wei Zhi from the Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, China. The ISDE Excellent Paper Award 2024 was bestowed on four promising authors.
The ISDE - Young Scientist Innovation Network (ISDE-YSIN) was launched on May 26, 2023 with the aim of empowering young scientists in the field of Digital Earth. The Network serves to promote crucial concepts and innovative technologies related to Digital Earth, while also making contributions to the global sustainable development. The Network organizes the conference series Youth Innovation Forum on Digital Earth annually, and the ISDE Lecture on the Digital Earth Youth Innovation with the objective of building a youth-driven academic sharing and collaborative platform with international influence.
The Youth Innovation Forum on Digital Earth, hosted by ISDE - Young Scientist Innovation Network, is an annual conference serving as a vibrant hub for free communication and deeper collaborations among young scientists in the Digital Earth field. The 1st Youth Innovation Forum on Digital Earth with the theme of “Digital Earth in Support of Global Sustainable Development” was held on August 21-23, 2023 in Beijing, China, attracting more than 160 participants from 13 countries, including Algeria, Austria, Bolivia, Germany, Hungary, etc.
