Research Overview

Smart City

"Smart City" is a multidisciplinary research objective that uses technology to develop
innovative solutions to address urban development in ways that are climate sensitive,
environmentally sustainable, and maintain a high quality of life.

SCM faculty research engages the smart city through urban media and environmental art, as
well as in research on the social and environmental impact of digital technologies.

Digital Society

"Digital Society" seeks to "understand the relationship between technology and society" in
a context where digital technologies are having a transformative impact on the way we live.

SCM faculty research fosters digital accessibility for all members of the community, explores
the impact of computational algorithms and applications on society, and transforms the
ways in which we engage with computational technology through physical computing.

Brain

"Brain" is an interdisciplinary field that explores the ways in which the human brain and the
computer can model one another, and seeks to develop new forms of interaction between
the human brain and the computer in order to realize the full potential of human-computer
interface.

SCM faculty research develops and applies brain-computer interface in art and design.

Matter

"Matter" consists in "the interdisciplinary study of matter in its various forms." The
objective is to integrate science, engineering, and technology towards the common
endeavor of developing practical applications for new materials.

SCM faculty research focuses upon the innovation and use of smart materials in creative
practice.

One Health

With globalization and the spread of human beings into every corner of the world, human
health and animal health have become interdependent. "One Health" research at CityU
consists of "interdisciplinary, problem-based research collaborations" that take a holistic
approach to public health within the overall environmental ecosystem.

SCM faculty are engaged in research collaborations with the College of Veterinary Medicine
and Life Sciences on the development of digital applications in animal health.

Animation

Tamas Waliczky, Max Hattler, Eddie Leung

SCM has a strong tradition in both mainstream and independent animation. Faculty have expertise in visual effects and have developed a strong research culture in the theory and practice of abstract animation.

Film, Video, & Photography

Linda Lai, Zheng Bo, Phoebe Mann, Ip Yuk Yiu, Leung Chi Wo Warren, Elke Reinhuber, Phil Shek, Louisa Wei, Stanley Kwan, Hui Nga Shu Rita, Charles Chan, Adam Tam

SCM has a strong tradition in the practice of photography, especially in the expanded field of mixed media installation. Equally important is creative practice in independent and experimental film making and video art, which intersects with new media art and installation.

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HCI & Computer Graphics

Hongbo Fu, Manfred Lau, Can Liu, Kening Zhu, Alvaro Cassinelli

SCM has developed into a leading Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Computer Graphics research center in the region. SCM faculty and a cluster of postgraduate students research novel human-machine interfaces including single-digit mobile screen interaction techniques, interactive technologies for the elderly and disabled, child-friendly interfaces, voice-based interfaces, and innovative forms of AR and VR interactivity, while computer graphics research focuses on 2D to 3D content creation tools and 3D modelling and fabrication. 

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Media Theory & Cultural Studies

Richard Allen, Chris Wagner, Yuk Hui, Hector Rodriguez, Olli Tapio Leino, Louisa Wei, Linda Lai, Damien Charrieras

In support of the practice-based orientation of the School, faculty research widely in the fields of media and cultural studies using both humanities and social sciences approaches. Research areas include, the philosophy and cultures of technology, film studies, game studies, social media, law and media, and the sociology of everyday life, with a significant emphasis on Chinese and Hong Kong media and cultures.

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New Media Art & Installation

Maurice Benayoun, Tamas Waliczky, Scott Hessels, Ip Yuk Yiu, Hector Rodriguez, Daniel Howe, Miu-Ling Lam, Alvaro Cassinelli, Tobias Klein, Leung Chi Wo Warren, Linda Lai, PerMagnus Lindborg, Ryo Ikeshiro, Koala Yip.

New Media Art and Installation lies at the core of SCM’s faculty practice intersecting technological innovation with artistic creativity to create prize winning work that is at the leading edge of contemporary new media art practice. Faculty engage interactive and immersive art, brain-computer interface, computer graphic art, fog projection, software art, sound art, mixed media art, AR and VR installation, data visualization and sonification, and 3D printing craftmanship, and multimedia performance among other activities.  
 

Physical Computing & Fabrication

Kenning Zhu, Alvaro Cassinelli, Can Liu, Tobias Klein, Daniel Howe, Ray LC

Physical computing—the making of smart objects in art and design—is assuming increasing importance as our researches extend the boundaries of what constitutes art and challenge the distinctions between art and design objects. Our faculty are engaged in the creation of a multiplicity of experimental objects from smart screen displays, robotic sculptures, and spatially interacting physical computing systems, to wearables and prosthetic devices. Research on Digital fabrication involves 3D printing inspired by traditions of decorative art, the physical transformation of 3D substrates, and laser printing.
 

Playable Media

Ryan Lam, Dick Thung, Olli Tapio Leino, Chris Wagner, Jussi Holopainen

Faculty are engaged in a wide range of playable media and game design research which is supported by sustained inquiry into the existential conditions of game play and well as social science research into the value and satisfaction derived by gameplayers from gaming.
 

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Socially & Ecologically Engaged Art

Phoebe Man, Zheng Bo, Linda Lai, Elke Reinhuber, Daniel Howe

Faculty of the School engage in a very wide variety of socially engaged art practice, ranging from participatory art installations involving victims of domestic and sexual abuse to interventionist software which challenges the web-based data collection practices of advertizers. Eco-art based research practice is of growing importance to SCM among both faculty and research students, and it forms part of a research and teaching collaboration with the Shared Campus Initiative (https://shared-campus.com/)

Software Art, Machine Learning & AI

Daniel Howe, Hector Rodriguez, Miu Ling Lam, Alvaro Cassinelli

Software art practices engage both image-based media and natural language processing and our faculty are actively engaged in the development and deployment of AI and Machine Learning protocols in the creation of new media and software art. Often works using machine learning are used to reflect upon the uses and abuses of machine learning in society as whole and thus are linked to forms of social engagement. In this connection, SCM is hosting the second of a Bi-Annual conference Art Machines 2: International Symposium on Machine Learning and Art (https://www.cityu.edu.hk/artmachines2/)

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Sound Art

PerMagnus Lindborg, Ryo Ikeshiro, Charles Chan

Sound cuts across a range of research and curriculum practices at SCM. Research is conducted in sound perception in multi-modal environments, environmental data sonification, multi-channel sound installation and projection, interactive sound installation, electronic music, and in musique concrète and field recording.