Mok Chit Hun, Janice, a 2024/2025 undergraduate graduate from the Department of Physics and Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), University of Macau (UM), has been awarded the Dean’s Honor List for Final Year Projects as the top student in her department for her outstanding final year project. This achievement not only recognizes her academic accomplishments over the past four years but also highlights her potential and determination on her academic journey.
Taking UM as the starting point
From a young age, Janice developed a strong interest in physics, especially theoretical physics. After learning about UM’s curriculum, she found that the integration of applied physics and chemistry was more closely aligned with real-world applications and could directly serve societal needs. Her decision to attend UM was influenced by an open day event she attended earlier. “I visited the colleges and campus facilities, and I found the environment at UM very appealing. The dormitories were spacious and well-equipped, leaving a deep impression on me. UM offers excellent faculty, abundant resources, and an international teaching environment—these were all important reasons why I chose UM.”
Academic and Campus Life
Janice describes her academic life at UM as highly fulfilling. From freshman year to senior year, every professor she encountered taught with great dedication—not just reading from textbooks, but explaining concepts clearly and systematically, which greatly benefited her. Besides classroom learning, Janice also placed great emphasis on gaining practical experience. In her first year, she joined Prof Hongchao Liu’s lab and began participating in research work. “This opportunity was rare and allowed me to get involved in scientific research early on, learning how to conduct experiments, analyze data, and read academic papers.” Under Prof Liu’s mentorship, she won the first prize in the 2024 National Physics Experiment Competition for University Students—a testament to her strong research foundation and hands-on capabilities. Regarding life in residential college, she noted that the college facilities were comprehensive and conducive to focused study: “There are music rooms, gyms, dining halls, and other amenities. Plus, the residential colleges frequently host holiday events, which made me feel the warmth of home.”
Aim: Scientific Research
When asked about the prospects of applied physics in Macau, Janice expressed optimism about the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. She said, “Applied physics is widely used in areas such as materials design and optoelectronic technology. I believe I can find a suitable place for myself in the Greater Bay Area in the future.” Currently, she has decided to continue her studies at UM by pursuing a doctoral degree, aiming to eventually work in academia as a researcher and educator in physics.
Challenges in Learning and Growth
Her final year project was titled “Impact of Refractive Media on Ghost Imaging.” She explained that ghost imaging is a special imaging technique that uses a single-pixel detector along with pattern projection to reconstruct images. It offers advantages such as strong resistance to interference and low equipment costs, making it suitable for imaging in underwater or obstructed environments. Her choice of this topic stemmed from her interest in optics and astronomy, as well as its integration of programming, mathematics, and experimentation. Janice admitted that one of the biggest challenges when starting her research was her lack of knowledge in MATLAB programming. “At the time, I couldn’t write code at all and couldn’t understand others’ programmes.” She chose to confront the problem head-on, learning while working in the lab and improving her skills through specific tasks. “This ability to learn independently has helped me immensely, and it taught me that research isn’t just about acquiring knowledge—it’s also about problem-solving.” Additionally, faced with a large volume of academic literature, she gradually mastered methods to quickly extract key information and learned how to apply theoretical knowledge to actual research.
Independent Exploration and Broadened Horizons
Janice believes that UM gives students a great deal of freedom and encourages active exploration. “UM provides rich resources and opportunities, but it’s up to the students to seek them out—for example, participating in competitions, volunteering, or international exchange programs.” She once participated in the Buddy Programme organized by her residential college, where she, as a local student, assisted international exchange students from India and Russia in adapting to campus life. This cross-cultural experience broadened her horizons and deepened her understanding of multiculturalism. Through comprehensive development, independent exploration, and hands-on practice, Janice’s success is not only the result of her personal efforts but also the supportive learning environment provided by UM. Looking ahead, she will continue bravely on her path toward realizing her research dreams and contribute more to the field of physics.
澳門大學科技學院物理及化學系2024/2025本科畢業生莫喆暄(Janice)憑藉其出色的畢業設計項目,榮獲「畢業設計院長榮譽榜」中物理及化學系最優秀獎。這不僅是對她四年來學習成果的肯定,也展現了她在科研道路上的潛力與決心。
以澳大為大學起點
莫喆暄自小對物理產生濃厚興趣,尤其偏愛理論物理。在了解澳大課程後,她發現應用物理與化學結合的專業更貼近實際應用,能直接服務社會需求。而她選擇澳大,源於早年參加的一次開放日活動。「當時參觀了書院和校園設施,感覺澳大環境非常吸引人,宿舍寬敞、配套齊全,給我留下了深刻印象。澳大擁有良好的師資、豐富的資源和國際化的教學環境,這些都是我選擇澳大很重要的原因。」
大學的學習與生活體驗
莫喆暄形容自己在澳大的學習生活非常充實。從大一到大四,她遇到的每一位教授都非常用心授課,不照本宣科,而是用清晰有條理的方式講解知識,令她受益匪淺。除了課堂學習,莫喆暄也非常重視實踐經驗。她在大一時便跟隨劉宏超教授進入實驗室,參與研究工作。「這個機會非常難得,讓我在早期就能接觸科研,學習如何做實驗、分析數據,以及閱讀論文。」在劉教授的悉心指導下,她更於2024年中國大學生物理實驗競賽總決賽中榮獲一等獎,展現了扎實的科研素養與實作能力。宿舍生活方面,她表示書院的設施齊全,有助於專注學習,她說:「音樂房、健身室、飯堂等一應俱全,而且書院經常舉辦節日活動,讓我感受到家的溫暖。」
以科研為目標
談及應用物理專業在澳門的前景,莫喆暄坦言她看好粵港澳大灣區的發展,她表示「應用物理在材料設計、光電技術等方面都有廣泛應用,我相信未來在大灣區能找到適合自己的位置。」她目前已決定繼續留校攻讀博士學位,目標是未來能在高校任教,從事物理相關的研究與教學工作。
學習與成長中的挑戰
莫喆暄的畢業設計題目為《Impact of Refractive Media on Ghost Imaging》。她解釋鬼成像是一種特殊的成像技術,利用單像素探測器配合圖案投影重建圖像,具有抗干擾能力強、設備成本低等優勢,適用於水下或遮擋環境下的成像需求。選擇這個題目的原因是出於對光學與天文學的興趣,也是因為該課題融合了編程、數學與實驗。莫喆暄坦承,剛開始進行研究時,最大的困難是不懂MatLab編程。「當時完全不會寫程式,也看不懂別人的代碼。」她選擇直接面對問題,在實驗室中邊做邊學,透過具體任務提升技能。「這種自主學習能力對我幫助很大,也讓我明白科研不僅僅是掌握知識,更是解決問題的能力。」此外,面對大量的論文資料,她也逐漸掌握了快速提取關鍵資訊的方法,並學會如何將理論知識應用於實際研究中。
自主探索、開拓視野
莫喆暄認為澳大給予學生極大的自由度,鼓勵主動探索。「學校提供了豐富的資源和機會,但需要自己去發掘,比如參加比賽、義工活動或國際交流。」她曾參與書院舉辦的Buddy計劃,作為本地生協助來自印度和俄羅斯的國際交換生適應校園生活。這種跨文化交流讓莫喆暄開闊眼界,也增進了她對多元文化的理解。透過全面發展、自主探索與實踐,莫喆暄的成功不僅是個人努力的結果,也得益於澳大所提供的良好學習環境與支持。未來,她將繼續在追求科研夢想的路上勇敢前行,為物理領域貢獻更多力量。