Public Talks on The Way of Calligraphy and Science: Historical Legacy and Contemporary Research Frontiers in Chinese Writing and Calligraphy successfully concluded

On 3 September 2026, HKUST’s School of Humanities and Social Science (SHSS) successfully hosted the public talks entitled “The Way of Calligraphy and Science: Historical Legacy and Contemporary Research Frontiers in Chinese Writing and Calligraphy” at the Tsang Shiu Tim Art Hall. The event brought together nearly 200 participants, including faculty and students from HKUST, local secondary schools, and members of the public, to explore Chinese writing and calligraphy through the complementary lenses of culture, history, cognitive science, and neuroscience. Prof. Andrew LI, Dean of Humanities and Social Science, welcomed all participants and discussed the significance of the event from the perspectives of calligraphy, arts, cognitive science, and neuroscience, highlighting the commitment of HKUST in integrating humanities and the science disciplines.

In the first talk, Prof. SU Shishu (Standing Committee Member of the 11th and 12th National Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the 7th President of the China Calligraphers Association, Adjunct Professor of HKUST SHSS) traced the development of Chinese characters and calligraphy across five millennia, highlighting their enduring role as the cultural foundation of Chinese civilization. Through an appreciation of major script styles and masterpieces by renowned calligraphers, he illustrated how calligraphy embodies aesthetic values, historical memory, moral cultivation, and cultural confidence. He also discussed contemporary scientific findings suggesting that handwriting and calligraphy can positively contribute to concentration, self-discipline, and cognitive and emotional well-being.

In the second talk, Prof. SIOK Wai Ting (Professor and Head of the Department of Language Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) presented research on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying Chinese reading and writing. Drawing on decades of findings from psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience, she explained how Chinese characters differ from alphabetic writing systems and how handwriting plays a critical role in literacy development. Her presentation also examined the relationship between orthographic awareness, reading ability, and digital technology use, offering valuable insights into the future of Chinese literacy and writing in the digital age.

Together, the two presentations demonstrated how traditional Chinese calligraphy remains highly relevant in contemporary society. The event provided a rare interdisciplinary dialogue that connected humanities scholarship with scientific research, fostering a deeper understanding of Chinese writing as both a cultural heritage and a cognitive process.

The School is particularly grateful for the support and encouragement of Prof. Harry SHUM, the HKUST Council Chairman, Prof. Charles NG, the Vice-President for Institutional Advancement, Dr SZE Chi Ching, President of the Hong Kong Branch of the China Calligraphers Association and Chairman of the Board of Hengtong Resources Group Limited, and Mr SU Chengbo, Director of the Beijing Su Shishu Chinese Character Art Museum, whose commitment to promoting cultural enrichment and interdisciplinary exchange helped make this event possible. Their support reflects the University’s dedication to integrating the humanities, arts, and sciences, while fostering meaningful engagement with Chinese culture and intellectual traditions.

The event forms part of SHSS’s ongoing efforts to advance dialogue between science, technology, humanities, and society, and contributes to HKUST’s mission of nurturing globally minded students with a strong appreciation of cultural heritage and humanistic values.

「書法與科學：中國書法文化的歷史傳承及當代前沿研究」公開講座圓滿舉行

2026年9月3日，香港科技大學人文社會科學學院（SHSS）於曾肇添展藝廳成功舉辦「書法與科學：中國書法文化的歷史傳承及當代前沿研究」公開講座。活動吸引近200名來自香港科技大學、中學界的師生，以及社會各界人士的積極參與。人文社會科學學院李平院長致歡迎辭，強調科大致力發展人文與科技的融合，從文化、歷史、認知科學及神經科學等多元角度探討中國書寫與書法藝術具有深遠價值與意義。

首場講座由十一、十二屆全國政協常委、第七屆中國書法家協會主席、香港科技大學人文社會科學學院兼任教授蘇士澍教授主講。蘇教授回顧漢字與書法跨越五千年的發展歷程，闡述其作為中華文明重要文化基石的歷史地位。透過賞析不同書體及歷代書法名作，他深入說明書法所承載的審美價值、歷史記憶、人文精神及文化自信。同時，他亦分享近年與書法相關的科研成果，指出書寫與書法練習有助提升專注力、自律精神、及認知能力與情緒健康。

第二場講座由香港理工大學語言科學及技術學系系主任蕭慧婷教授主講。蕭教授從認知科學、語言學及神經科學研究出發，介紹漢字閱讀與書寫背後的認知及神經機制，並分析漢字系統與拼音文字系統之間的差異。她進一步探討書寫訓練在識字與閱讀能力發展中的重要角色，以及正字法覺識、閱讀能力與數碼科技使用之間的關係，為理解數碼時代下中文讀寫能力的未來發展提供寶貴啟示。

兩位講者的分享充分展現了中國書法在當代社會的持續價值與現代意義。活動成功搭建了一個融合人文學科與科學研究的跨學科交流平台，引領與會者從文化傳承與科學探索兩個維度，重新認識漢字書寫及書法藝術作為文化遺產與認知活動的重要意涵。

學院衷心感謝香港科技大學校董會主席沈向洋教授、副校長（大學拓展）吳宏偉教授、中國書法家協會香港分會主席、恆通資源集團有限公司董事局主席施子清博士，以及北京蘇士澍漢字藝術博物館館長蘇塍博先生大力支持與鼓勵。他們一直致力推動文化素養培育及跨學科交流，為活動的順利舉行提供重要支持，亦充分體現大學推動人文、藝術與科學融合發展的願景，以及促進社會大眾深入認識中華文化與人文精神的承擔。

是次活動為人文社會科學學院推動科學、技術、人文與社會對話的重要項目之一，亦進一步體現香港科技大學致力培育具國際視野、兼具文化素養與人文關懷的教育使命。