2011 EDITION

For her work on light-emitting
materials and innovative ways
of capturing solar energy
In recent years, chemists have also focused their research
on physio-chemical transformations triggered by light to
better understand this phenomenon and to take advantage
of light-molecule interactions. The idea is to design electronic
“communication” pathways by constructing nanometric
complexes using organic molecules, which when brought into
the presence of metal atoms, assemble themselves into organometallic
molecular structures.
In molecular electronics, Professor Yam has also tested the
capacity of organic and organometallic systems to transfer or
process information. Her work shows that these molecules
can serve as molecular junctions because they act like electric
wires.
From Oil Spills to Medicine
The photoactive materials developed by Professor Yam have
far more applications than just solar energy. Many technologies
we use daily rely on photoactive materials, such as
organic light-emitting diode displays (OLED). The discovery
and development of materials for efficient white organic lightemitting
diodes (WOLEDs) will also have a huge impact to
meet the challenge towards the launching of a more efficient
solid-state lighting system as lighting currently takes up about
19 % of the global power. Yet, biology is probably one of its
most spectacular fields of application. By emitting light when
exposed to oil or heavy metal ions, for example, these materials
could be used to detect environmental hazards such as
an oil spill or radioactive contamination. In healthcare, photoactive
materials could also serve as chemosensors, detecting
glucose in the blood of diabetics or the presence of malignant
cells.
The Youngest Member of the
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Professor Yam received her bachelor’s and PhD degrees from
the University of Hong Kong. She taught at City Polytechnic
of Hong Kong before joining the University of Hong Kong as
a faculty member. She has served as the Chair Professor of
Chemistry since 1999 and headed the chemistry department
for the two terms from 2000 to 2005.
At age 38, she was the youngest member ever elected to the
Chinese Academy of Sciences. She is also a Fellow of TWAS,
the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, and
was awarded the State Natural Science Award and the RSC
Centenary Medal.
VIVIAN WINg-
WAH YAM
IN HER OWN
WORDS
NO gENDER DIFFERENCE
IN SCIENCE
“I do not think there is a difference between
men and women in terms of their intellectual
ability and research capabilities. As
long as one has the passion, dedication
and determination to pursue research
wholeheartedly, one can excel regardless
of one’s gender or background.”
She concedes, however, that women
may still feel discouraged about pursuing
science. “Many young women are still
worried about the barriers they might face
in their careers posed by possible gender
stigmas. This is particularly prevalent in
Asian countries, and even in major modernised
cities like Hong Kong, albeit globalised,
where conventional or even biased
Chinese values still prevail.”
CHEMISTS ARE ARTISTS
Professor Vivian Wing-Wah Yam describes
the boundless possibilities of chemistry and
the beauty of this discipline. “One of the
beauties of chemistry is the ability to create
new molecules and chemical species. I
have always associated chemists with
artists, creating new things with innovative
ideas,” affirms Professor Yam. She
also points out the interdisciplinarity of
research which can lie at the crossroads
of chemistry, physics and engineering
to respond to energy and environmental
challenges, or at the junction of chemistry
and medicine for the development of new
biomedical applications.
ENERgY, THE CHALLENgE
OF THE CENTURY
Alternative sources of clean, renewable
energy, are a top priority because they
are linked to several other key issues like
water scarcity, global warming and climate
change. “There are many challenges facing
our planet today, including food and healthcare.
However, I believe energy is the most
urgent challenge because once it is solved,
it will have a positive impact on the others,
since they are all interconnected in one way
or another. Everything is linked to our everincreasing
demand for energy!”