(Scroll down for the English version – U Talk | Eugene Ch'ng: Canvas to code, reality to AI metaverse)
庄以仁(Eugene Ch'ng)教授是谁?
As an artist, he paints colors on canvas, as a scientist, he blends digital science with culture and art, and as a science blogger, he talks to audiences about the concept of artificial intelligence and the metaverse.
What is his outlook now at UIC, as the Dean of the School of Culture and Creativity?
Zhuang Yiren
Beijing Normal Hong Kong Baptist University
Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Creativity
"Everything related to art and cultural heritage fascinates me because I feel like they define what it means to be human. ”
Born and raised in Penang, Malaysia, Professor Chong studied drawing at an early age and started programming at the age of 10. He still remembers the scene of passing by the store as a child. "There was an Apple computer in the store at the time, and I saw a 3D figure jumping on the screen, and I decided that I wanted to be able to animate in 3D. ”
Towards his goal, he studied 3D Design for the Built Environment and Computer Science during his undergraduate and postgraduate studies, and subsequently completed his PhD in Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Birmingham. With an interdisciplinary background and strong technical skills, he entered the world of Extended Reality (XR). Under the guidance of his mentor, he devoted himself to research related to archaeology and digital heritage, applying XR technology innovation to the restoration and maintenance of cultural heritage.
Professor Chong Yiren uses drones to photograph ancient buildings and record data
Talking about his research direction, he joked that it was the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" that made him curious about archaeology and heritage conservation, and after in-depth understanding, he found that this field is a perfect blend of culture, art and technology.
Today, Professor Zhuang is a distinguished scholar and recognized XR expert in the field of digital culture and heritage, working with teams on projects to digitize ancient artifacts and relics, including Bell Temple, Shidetang Xie Company, VR Sanjiangkou, and serving as the editor-in-chief of PRESENCE: Virtual and Augmented Reality, the oldest authoritative academic journal in the field of virtual reality at MIT Press.
Professor Zhuang Yiren participated in the digitalization project of STDTANG Xie Company
Looking back on his academic career, he says: "Everything related to art and cultural heritage fascinates me because I feel that they define what it means to be human. In my more than 20 years of academic career, I have never grown bored with them. I think I can contribute more to this area. ”
As he has been following the development of artificial intelligence, Professor Zhuang is no stranger to generative AI represented by OpenAI's products. As an artist and scientist, he also explores its application in artistic creation.
Professor Yiren Zhuang uses generative AI for procedural modeling
After about two years of practice, Professor Zhuang can now easily identify whether the content is produced by humans or artificial intelligence. He said that while AI can improve productivity, their output is always missing the most critical element. "[Their works] have no soul, they're just a collection of beautiful things. ”
In the face of the wave of artificial intelligence, he pointed out that liberal arts education is crucial to the cultivation of students' creativity. Only after having a sound personality and solid basic skills can students break through the limitations of artificial intelligence on imagination. "When you develop your own personality and have your own ideas, you can start to use artificial intelligence to make your creativity more productive. ”
"As our Provost Provost, Professor Anthony Chow, said, the 'humanities' in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Humanities, Mathematics) education is an important weight for balancing science and technology. He added.
After living in Ningbo for 10 years, Professor Zhuang chose to move to Zhuhai to start his liberal arts education journey at Beijing Normal University. For the planning of the School of Culture and Creativity, he hopes to meet the different needs of teachers and students, provide a broader platform and rich resources as much as possible, stimulate their potential, and actively adapt to the development trend of science and technology and the new social pattern.
Professor Yiren Chong at Beijing Normal Hong Kong Baptist University
"As a teacher, I look forward to passing on what I have learned to my students, especially in virtual reality and artificial intelligence. As the dean, I will use my network resources to create more learning opportunities for students and provide more space for teachers to develop," he said. "In the future, we may have more opportunities to collaborate with the industry, such as galleries, libraries, archives, museums, etc., and participate in more conferences and events. ”
Professor Yiren Chong at UIC in class
At the same time, he also looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation with other colleges in the school, learning from each other and exploring the infinite possibilities of academics.
For Professor Chong, taking up the position of Dean of the School of Culture and Creativity at UIC means a new challenge and a new mission, "but I am not afraid of the challenge. ”
He is full of ambition and is ready to lead the academy to the next peak.
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.