Research Niches
We are a group of “caring researchers” who strive to conduct theoretically sound and socially useful research and care for young people, the middle-aged, older adults; people with health problems; ethnic minorities; communities upholding local traditions; and many other subgroups that need more attention. Our shared mission is to create actionable knowledge, cope with challenges, and drive transformation through action. In this connection, the specific research topics we work on include youth studies, health of the elderly and ethnic minorities, cultural heritage and cultural preservation, digital technology and society, time-honoured business, sustainability, and so on.
In general, four research niches can be identified: Youth studies, Cultural heritage, arts and museum studies, Health, ageing and wellbeing, Community-based Business and entrepreneurship, Globalization, migration and sustainability.
1. Youth Studies
Researchers in this niche area examine the relationship between self-identity and life experience of young people, youth engagement with esports, social movements, gambling, social media, and other popular issues. Their research findings lay a solid foundation for designing action plans to help some young people establish a positive and responsible lifestyle.
Associated Faculty
| Prof. CHEUNG, Yuet-Wah Research Interests Medical sociology; Crime and Deviance; Drug Policy; Social Problem; Youth |
Dr. MAN, Pui-Kwan Mikayla Research Interests Sociology of Deviance; Addictive Behaviors; Migration; Ethnic Minorities and Entrepreneurship; Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods |
Dr. LAM, Gigi Research Interests Marriage; Fertility; Migration; Mortality; Population Policy; Mental Health Policy |
| Dr. TSANG, Chung-Kin Research Interests Cultural Sociology; Cultural Studies; Economic Culture; Youth Discourses; Urban Studies; Popular Culture and Media Studies |
2. Cultural Heritage, Arts and Museum Studies
This niche area comprises colleagues who have a common goal of exploring the diverse ways of presenting, promoting, and preserving culture and arts in local communities, museums, and many other sociocultural settings. The ongoing projects include the Yulan virtual museum of Chaozhou people in Hong Kong, mobile 3D scanning technology and preservation of memories, the new making of Maritime Silk Road heritage, agricultural heritage, urban religion and transnational Chinese Buddhist organizations, and many others.
Associated Faculty
| Prof. CHAN, Ching Selina Research Interests Cultural Heritage and Collective Memories; Food and Identities; Religion and Intangible Cultural Heritage; Kinship, Lineage and Colonialism |
Prof. HUI, Yew-Foong Research Interests Chinese Diaspora; Southeast Asia Studies; Heritage Studies; Disruptive Technology and Society; Religion and Community |
Prof. CHAN, Lai-Pik Libby |
| Dr. CAI, Shengdan Research Interests Digital Heritage; Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality; Memory Studies; Museum Studies |
Dr. HUANG, Yunjing Research Interests Museum Studies; Archival Studies; Participatory Museum and Public Engagement; Performing Arts Archives and Theatre Heritage |
Dr. HUANG, Weishan Research Interests Sociology of Religion; Religion in the City; Online Religion; Global Sociology; International Migration and Mobility; Urban Sociology |
| Dr. KE, Pingchuan Patrick Research Interests Digital Media Art and Technology; Human-computer Interaction; Virtual & Augmented Reality; Game Design; Digital Exhibition Design; Interdisciplinary Design |
Dr. MAK, Sau-Wa Research Interests Platform Economy and Agricultural Heritage Conservation; Critical Heritage Studies; Critical Food and Science Studies; Digital Citizenship and Social Media; Family, Health and Well-being |
Dr. NG, Ni Na Camellia Research Interests Chinese Art History; Collecting and Collection; Cross-culture Studies; Chinese Digital Art; Curation; Museum Studies |
| Dr. SHIM, Hyeseung Research Interests Digital Heritage; Virtual Museum; Human-Computer, Human-AI Interaction; World Heritage; Cultural Tourism |
Dr. SHUM, Hoi Ki Holy Research Interests Digital Technology and Art; Moralities of Technologies and Media Use; Creative Industries and Labour; Cultural Policies; Postcolonialism |
Dr. TSANG, Chung-Kin Research Interests Cultural Sociology; Cultural Studies; Economic Culture; Youth Discourses; Urban Studies; Popular Culture and Media Studies |
| Dr. XIE, Jieyi Research Interests Critical Heritage Studies; Critical Discourse Analysis; Silk Roads Research |
Ms. ZHANG, Xinzhou Research Interests Extended Reality (XR); Spatial Design and Art; Digital Cultural Heritage Preservation; Human–Computer Interaction (HCI); Brain–Computer Interface (BCI); Internet of Things (IoT) |
3. Health, Ageing and Wellbeing
Colleagues in this niche area tend to use a comprehensive perspective to investigate social, cultural, political, and economic factors related to health and ageing. They pay more attention to the social construction of diseases and health and to the well-being of sick people, older people, people who suffer from drug addiction, gambling-related problems, and gaming disorder.
Associated Faculty
| Prof. CHEUNG, Yuet-Wah Research Interests Medical sociology; Crime and Deviance; Drug Policy; Social Problem; Youth |
Prof. LAI, Gina Research Interests Social Networks; Mental Health; Social Stratification |
Dr. LAM, Gigi Research Interests Marriage; Fertility; Migration; Mortality; Population Policy; Mental Health Policy |
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Dr. LAU, Pui-Yan Flora |
Dr. MAK, Sau-Wa Research Interests Platform Economy and Agricultural Heritage Conservation; Critical Heritage Studies; Critical Food and Science Studies; Digital Citizenship and Social Media; Family, Health and Well-being |
Dr. XIE, Jieyi Research Interests Critical Heritage Studies; Critical Discourse Analysis; Silk Roads Research |
4. Community-based Business and Entrepreneurship
Members of this niche area view economic activities and business organizations as part of a sociocultural process. We explore how and why some business enterprises and entrepreneurial activities are shaped by cultural institutions, social forces, technology advancements, and long-established traditions. The case studies include Hong Kong style Tea Café (Cha chaan teng), time-honoured business (laozihao), Pakistani entrepreneurship, workplace culture of media companies, and many others.
Associated Faculty
| Prof. CHAN, Ching Selina Research Interests Cultural Heritage and Collective Memories; Food and Identities; Religion and Intangible Cultural Heritage; Kinship, Lineage and Colonialism |
Prof. CHAN, Lai-Pik Libby Research Interests |
Dr. GAO, Chong Research Interests Sociology of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship; Time-honoured Business (laozihao); Community Economy; Socioeconomic Transformation of South China; Food and Society |
| Dr. MAN, Pui-Kwan Mikayla Research Interests Sociology of Deviance; Addictive Behaviors; Migration; Ethnic Minorities and Entrepreneurship; Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods |
Dr. NG, Ni Na Camellia Research Interests Chinese Art History; Collecting and Collection; Cross-culture Studies; Chinese Digital Art; Curation; Museum Studies |
Dr. SHUM, Hoi Ki Holy Research Interests Digital Technology and Art; Moralities of Technologies and Media Use; Creative Industries and Labour; Cultural Policies; Postcolonialism |
| Dr. TSANG, Chung-Kin Research Interests Cultural Sociology; Cultural Studies; Economic Culture; Youth Discourses; Urban Studies; Popular Culture and Media Studies |
5. Globalization, Migration and Sustainability
Colleagues in this niche area use sociological and anthropological lenses to explore the interdependence between local communities and global force, as well as the diverse and transformative impacts of the flows of people, knowledge, money, and goods. The case studies include asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong, knowledge of mushroom cultivation and sustainability practices, transnational Chinese Buddhist organizations, the global expansion of esports, and many others.
Associated Faculty
| Dr. HUANG, Weishan Research Interests Sociology of Religion; Religion in the City; Online Religion; Global Sociology; International Migration and Mobility; Urban Sociology |
Dr. LAM, Gigi Research Interests Marriage; Fertility; Migration; Mortality; Population Policy; Mental Health Policy |
Dr. LAU, Pui-Yan Flora Research Interests Sociology of Health; Gender; Ethnic Minorities; Forced Migration; Self and Identity; Death and Illness; Education and Employment; Interdisciplinary Research |
| Dr. MAK, Sau-Wa Research Interests Platform Economy and Agricultural Heritage Conservation; Critical Heritage Studies; Critical Food and Science Studies; Digital Citizenship and Social Media; Family, Health and Well-being |
Dr. MAN, Pui-Kwan Mikayla Research Interests Sociology of Deviance; Addictive Behaviors; Migration; Ethnic Minorities and Entrepreneurship; Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods |