Opening Ceremony of the 9th Cross-Strait Acoustic Conference Adding Momentum to Development of Acoustic Science and Continuous Improvement of Acoustic Technology

Jointly held by the Macau Institution of Acoustic and the Macau Environmental Research Institute of Macau University of Science and Technology, co-organized by Shanghai Acoustical Society, Hong Kong Institute of Acoustic, Taiwan Chinese Acoustical Association, Taiwan Society of Sound and Vibration, and Shanghai Zhangkuisheng Acoustic Engineering Consultant Company, the 9th Cross-Strait Acoustic Conference (previously known as Cross-Strait Acoustic Technology Conference) opened in Room N101, Library Building, Macau University of Science and Technology, on August 11. Featuring the theme of “Urban Sound Pollution and Man-made Changes to Soundscape”, the Conference would facilitate extensive exchanges and discussions among the participants on the various experience and research findings in relation to the addressed theme. The Conference was able to have the honor of inviting guests across different regions to give keynote speeches and make available an exhibition to display acoustics-related products, which is bound to add momentum to the development of the acoustic science and the continuous improvement of professional technology and quality of the professionals.

The Conference had the honor of inviting Director of Macau Environmental Research Institute of Macau University of Science and Technology, Professor Wang Zhi Shi, to give a keynote speech titled “Characterization of Urban Landscape and Soundscape of Macau”, discussing and exchanging ideas with the participant experts and professionals. The Conference had 30 papers presented by speakers from Shanghai, Shenzhen, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and other areas, addressing such topics as “law and regulation of urban noises”, “sound quality design of concert halls”, “urban sound environment”, “urban sound and health”, “sound-absorbing and sound-eliminating materials”, “shake behaviors of structures”, “noise analysis”, and “mapping of noises”; for the purpose of enabling the participants to obtain a deeper understanding of the industry-related products, the Conference also made happen an exhibition of relevant products by several representative firms of the industry in relation to “noise-absorbing and noise-eliminating materials”, “noise eliminators”, and “shock absorbers”. On the second day of the Conference, the event went in the form of a close meeting, making it easier for the speakers and participants to engage in further exchanges and sharing of their academic research findings, professional technology, and industrial experience.

Mr Daniel Hung, Director of Macao Institute of Acoustic, gave a welcome speech at the Opening Ceremony, noting that Macau has had a fast development since its return to the motherland, the Macau S.A.R. Government has been making efforts to transform Macau into a world leisure and tourism center, and as the densest region of the world in terms of population, along with the speedy expansion of its infrastructure and increasing intensity of transportation, Macau could not avoid itself from urban noise pollution; ensuring the environment to be quiet is not the only approach toward building a leisure and tourism city, measures could also be taken to manually design and develop the soundscape of the city so as to elevate the city’s taste to a higher level, urban development in the future is full of challenges, in particular, the central government’s granting Macau the authority of governing customary waters and the S.A.R.’s development of new reclamation grounds would make ready favorable conditions for land reclamation in the future, and would also present new opportunities for the local acoustics industry, the architecture industry, and the environmental professionals. He further made a point of the developmental philosophy of the newly established Macau Institute of Acoustic, holding that the Institute would interact closely with the advancing of the time, uphold closely the codes and purposes of the Institute, pay close attention to the interest and benefits of its members, elevate the professional standard of Macau’s acoustics, move forward and participate in work that contributes to the societal development, continue to reinforce communication with the government, and contribute professional suggestions in relation to Macau’s development of laws on “Prevention and Control of Urban Noises” and other surrounding work with respect to perfection of relevant laws; to achieve these goals, the Institute would also enhance its tie and professional exchanges with the surrounding regions, particularly the neighboring areas.

Chair Professor Pang Su Seng, Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology addressed the Opening Ceremony, giving out congratulations on the successful opening of the Conference and warm welcome to the participant scholars and guests. He noted that with only sixteen years since its inception, M.U.S.T. has already grown into the largest-scale comprehensive university of Macau, as well as the youngest Top 50 University across the two straits; M.U.S.T. makes exponential efforts in implementing the policy of attaching equal importance to both teaching and research, promotes internationalization and industrialization of research findings, and seizes tight three keys, “innovation, quality, and effects”, in conducting education so as to foster more high-quality talents that are equipped with both innovative spirits and applicative capabilities and love both the motherland and Macau, and therefore provide better services for the society. The Macau Environmental Research Institute of Macau University of Science and Technology mainly conducts research in relation to sustainable development strategies of Macau and counseling work in relation to assessment of environmental pollution; the integrated development of industry, education, and research has rightly been one crucial area of the Institute’s strategic development.

Other officiating guests that attended the opening ceremony of the Conference include Professor Kou Kun Pang from Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of Macau; Senior Lecturer Emil Ip from University of St. Joseph, Mr. Poon Lock Kee from Macau Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Chamber of Commerce, Doctor Wong Seng Fat from the Macau Institution of Engineers, Vice chairman Mao Dong Xing from Shanghai Acoustical Society, Director Rong-Juin Shyu from Taiwan Chinese Society of Sound and Vibration, Director Huang Shih-Pin from Taiwan Acoustical Association, President Grace Kwok from Hong Kong Institute of Acoustic, and General manager Song Yong Min from Shanghai Zhangkuisheng Acoustic Engineering Consultant Company.