The First-ever Recipient of the New Zealand Chinese Youth Scientist Award

Dr Ray Zhong is the first awardee of the New Zealand Chinese Youth Scientist Award 2017. He is a lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Auckland, New Zealand where he moved to after obtaining his PhD from the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, HKU in 2013.

“This award is not only for myself, but for all young scientists. I am particularly grateful to my doctoral degree supervisor Professor George G.Q. Huang, Head of Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at HKU, for teaching me the right attitude towards research: perseverance and diligence; as well as my Master degree supervisor at Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University for his research enlightenment.”

Dr Zhong is also appreciative of his father, a peasant in Jiangxi province, for his limitless care and unique way of passing his own knowledge to his son, which led Dr Zhong to become a researcher at a world-renowned university. "This award is truly a gift for my father, who has passed away but I still feel his influence every day."

The New Zealand Chinese Youth Scientist Award (NZCYSA) is managed by the New Zealand Chinese Scientists Association (NZCSA). It was founded with the support of the Chinese and New Zealand governments. The main purposes of this award are to recognise and encourage young Chinese scientists who have made significant contributions, or have demonstrated great potential in advancing research and commercialisation, promoted science and technology, and published in top quality journals and conferences.