(Scroll down for the English version – U Talk | Eugene Ch'ng: Canvas to code, reality to AI metaverse)
莊以仁（Eugene Ch'ng）教授是誰？
作為一名藝術家，他在畫布上描繪出缤紛色彩；作為一名科學家，他将數字科學與文化藝術完美融合；作為一名科普部落客，他就人工智能和元宇宙的概念與觀衆侃侃而談。
如今在北師港浸大（UIC），作為文化與創意學院的院長，他有何展望？
莊以仁
北師港浸大
文化與創意學院院長
“與藝術和文化遺産相關的一切都讓我心馳神往，因為我覺得它們定義了什麼是人類。”
莊以仁教授出生和成長于馬來西亞槟城，自幼學習繪畫，十歲時就開始接觸程式設計。回憶起幼年經過商店的一幕，他仍記憶猶新。“當時店裡有一台蘋果電腦，我看到有一個三維小人在螢幕上跳動，那時我就下定決心，我要成為能做出三維動畫的人。”
向目标進發，莊教授在大學和研究所學生期間先後攻讀了建築環境的三維設計專業和計算機科學專業的課程，随後取得了伯明翰大學電子、電氣和計算機工程專業的博士學位。帶着跨學科背景和過硬的技術實力，他進入了擴充現實（Extended Reality，XR）的世界。在導師的帶領下，他投身于與考古學和數字遺産相關的研究，将XR技術創新應用到文化遺産的修複與維護中。
莊以仁教授使用無人機拍攝古建築并記錄資料
談及研究方向，他笑言，是《奪寶奇兵》這部電影讓他對考古和遺産保護産生了好奇，在深入了解後，他發現這個領域是文化、藝術與科技完美交融的典範。
如今，莊教授已成為數字文化與遺産領域的傑出學者和公認的XR技術專家，與多個團隊合作完成了包括貝爾神廟、世德堂謝公司、“VR三江口”等古文物和遺迹數字化項目，并擔任麻省理工學院出版社虛拟現實領域曆史最悠久的權威學術期刊PRESENCE: Virtual and Augmented Reality（《存在-虛拟和增強現實》）主編。
莊以仁教授參與的世德堂謝公司數字化項目
回顧學術生涯，他感慨道：“與藝術和文化遺産相關的一切都讓我心馳神往，因為我覺得它們定義了什麼是人類。在我20多年的學術生涯裡，我從未對它們感到厭倦。我想，我還可以為這個領域作更多貢獻。”
由于一直跟進人工智能的發展動态，莊教授對以OpenAI旗下産品為代表的生成式人工智能并不陌生。作為一名藝術家和科學家，他還探索了其在藝術創作中的應用。
莊以仁教授利用生成式AI進行程式式模組化
經過兩年左右的實踐，莊教授現在可以輕松辨認出内容的産出者是人類還是人工智能。他表示，盡管人工智能可以提高生産力，但它們的産出總是缺少最關鍵的要素。“（它們的作品）沒有靈魂，那隻是美麗事物的堆砌。”
面對人工智能浪潮的來襲，他指出，博雅教育對學生創造力的培養至關重要。在具備健全人格和紮實基本功後，學生才能突破人工智能對想象力的局限。“當你發展出自己的個性，擁有自己的創意時，你可以開始借助人工智能，讓你的創造力更有成效。”
“正如我們的常務副校長周蔭強教授所言，STEAM（科學、技術、工程、人文、數學）教育方式中的‘人文’是平衡科學與技術發展的重要砝碼。”他補充道。
在甯波生活10年後，莊教授選擇來到珠海，在北師港浸大開啟他的博雅教育之旅。對于文化與創意學院的規劃，他希望能滿足師生的不同需求，盡可能提供更廣闊的平台和豐富的資源，激發他們的潛能，主動适應科技發展态勢和社會新格局。
莊以仁教授在北師港浸大
“作為老師，我期待着将我的所學所長對學生傾囊相授，特别是虛拟現實和人工智能方面的知識。作為院長，我将利用我的人脈資源，為學子們創造更多學習機會，為老師們提供更充分的發展空間，”他說。“未來，我們可能迎來更多與業界合作的機會，比如與畫廊、圖書館、檔案館、博物館等，并參加更多的會議和活動。”
莊以仁教授在北師港浸大課堂
同時，他還期待能與學校内其他學院進行更多的交流與合作，互相學習，共同探讨學術的無限可能。
對莊以仁教授而言，擔任北師港浸大文化與創意學院院長一職意味着新的挑戰和新的使命，“但我不畏挑戰。”
他躊躇滿志，準備帶領學院攀登下一個高峰。
U Talk | Eugene Ch’ng: Canvas to code, reality to AI metaverse
Before reading the story, you may have met Prof Eugene Ch'ng on social media. As an artist, scientist as well as a vlogger, he cuts obscure ideas about metaverse and artificial intelligence into digestible pieces for his audience while displaying a fantasy world with his brush and imagination. Now, taking on a new role at UIC as the Dean of the School of Culture and Creativity (SCC), what are his visions and actions for the School?
When art meets computer science
Prof Ch'ng's love for art and computer science is rooted in childhood. Growing up in Penang, Malaysia, he started painting in an early age. One day, while passing by a shop with his brother, he saw a 3D figure moving on the screen of an Apple computer, and his flames for programming were lit. He went on to study 3D Design for the Built Environment and Computer Science at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and completed his PhD in Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Birmingham during his ten years studying and working in the UK.
With help from his supervisor, he entered the field of digital culture and heritage, where the two are beautifully woven together. Talking about the choice of his research direction, he smiled and said: “The reason is quite simple. Because I watched Indiana Jones when I was younger, and I was intrigued by the archaeologist’s intelligence.”
With endless passion and continuous efforts, he is now a distinguished scholar in the interdisciplinary domain of digital culture and heritage and a recognised expert in XR technologies. He has collaborated with teams on digitisation projects of ancient cultural heritage, including the Temple of Bel, Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, and the VR Sanjiangkou Site. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief for PRESENCE: Virtual and Augmented Reality at MIT Press, the longest-standing journal for virtual reality.
“Anything to do with art, culture and heritage is worth pursuing, because they define what it is to be a human,” said Prof Ch’ng. “I have chased after them for 20 years, and I'm never sick of it. I think I have a lot more to contribute.”
When AI meets liberal arts education
Having closely followed the development of AI, Prof Ch'ng is no stranger to it. He has applied the generative AI, including OpenAI’s products to art creation. After experimenting with it for around two years, he can easily identify its outputs. Although it could be efficient and productive, he still finds something important missing from its works.
“The more you use AI, the more you become sensitive to what AI-generated images look like,” he said. “There’s no soul. It's just a conglomeration of an average of all of the most beautiful things that you've seen in the world.”
Faced with the expansion of AI, he pointed out that liberal arts education is crucial to protect students' creativity. It cultivates talents to be a whole person with the ability to adapt to the fast-changing world with resilience and contribute to the world in the long term.
He said after going through liberal arts education and traditional training, a basic foundation will be laid solidly, and “as you become creative with your own personality, you can start using AI to make your creativity more productive.”
“The ‘arts’ of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) style of education can balance science and technology as our Provost Prof Patrick Chau had mentioned,” he added.
When I meet SCC
After living in Ningbo for 10 years, Prof Ch’ng came to Zhuhai and embarked on his journey of liberal arts education at UIC. Thanks to the supportive staff and leaders, working at UIC has been quite a pleasure for him, he said.
Regarding his plan for SCC, he hoped to be a builder, providing more platforms and resources for students and staff, catering to different needs, and helping them unleash their potential when facing prospective technological revolutions.
“As a teacher, I hope to teach them everything I know in XR and AI for they are part of the future trend. As a Dean, I am going to bring in my networks and allow students to have their chances, just like how Birmingham University gave me a chance,” he said. “I think I should give back, and I am here to empower the students and also the staff members.”
“In the future, there will be more opportunities to work with industry, with galleries, libraries, archives, museums, conferences, events, and so on.”
He also looked forward to more communication and cooperation with other UIC Faculties and Schools to explore more possibilities and learn from each other.
Taking the role as the Dean of SCC at UIC brings new challenges and opportunities to Prof Ch’ng. “But as it is, I’m not afraid of challenges,” he said. He is ready to muster his strength and his team to pave the way for the School’s growth and innovation.