Hong Kong Stories - Inventors in Hong Kong：The “Foolish” Physicist

Professor Chu Ming-chung, from the Physics Department at Chinese University, has been passionate about astronomy since secondary school. Later, he developed a fascination for astrophysics and particle physics, striving to uncover the mysteries of the universe.

In 2003, Prof. Chu collaborated with teams from other universities to conduct the neutrino oscillation experiment at the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. In 2014, he led a team to participate in the ATLAS experiment under the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. The ATLAS experiment is an international joint research project. In 2012 ATLAS discovered the Higgs Boson, also known as the "God Particle," which is considered as one of the greatest scientific discoveries of all time. The opportunity to participate in the ATLAS experiment has significantly elevated Hong Kong's position in scientific research.

Some may consider Professor Chu's research projects "foolish" due to their limited interest and abstract nature, which may seem to have little practical use. However, he still devotes his life to exploring the mysteries of the universe.

In the 1980s, Chu Ming-chung pursued his studies in the United States. In 1995, he made what seemed like a foolish decision to return to Hong Kong to teach physics. His goal was to educate the "foolish" students of Hong Kong and promote the development of basic science education in the city.

What is Professor Chu's vision of the scientific spirit? How does he view the science education and promotion in Hong Kong? Does he believe that Hong Kong can cultivate more local scientists in the future?