Dr Albert KO

BSc, MSc, MPhil, PhD, MHKIE

Director of Gallant Ho Experiential Learning Centre

Head of Student Development Programme, CEDARS

Deputy Master of Chi Sun College

The University of Hong Kong

 

Awards and Achievement

2007 Top Outstanding Young Persons Award – Junior Chamber of Commerce

2008 Young Engineer of the Year Award Grand Prize – HK Institution of Engineers

2008 HK Outstanding Volunteer Award – HK Agency for Volunteer Services

2010 Hong Kong Humanity Award – HK Red Cross

2010 愛心獎 – HK & Macau Taiwanese Charity Fund

2011 全球熱愛生命獎 – Chou, Tai-Kuan Foundation

 

Albert is a professional engineer specialized in artificial intelligence and robotic systems. His research interest includes robot-assisted search and rescue systems, emergency engineering, appropriate technologies for humanitarian relief, and emergency water and sanitation systems.

Outside the laboratory, Albert is an experienced humanitarian relief worker. He was the first Hong Kong engineer to join Medecins Sans Frontiers’ field missions since 2000. He volunteered in South Sudan during the civil war, Uzbekistan during 911, Indonesia during the South Asia Tsunami, Pakistan during the Kashmir earthquake, and Sichuan during the Wenchuan earthquake. Albert also served as board members and advisors for major international relief organizations, including MSF and Red Cross. Throughout his career, Albert travelled to over 100 cities in 25 countries.

 

In 2006, he cycled 2000 km alone across the Qinghai-Tibet plateau to raise $200,000 for an international relief organization. Prior to the Sichuan Earthquake, Albert organized the first “Emergency Engineering” course in 2006 with HK Institution of Engineers to prepare young engineers for demanding emergency relief operations. Some of the participants later contributed to the relief work in Sichuan. “Advanced Emergency Engineering” was organized the following year.

Albert is keen in promoting volunteerism and global citizenship to younger generations. He joined CEDARS in 2009 and shared his extensive NGO network and relief experience to support service-learning activities in HKU. He is concurrently holding three positions in HKU. All are related to student development and social engagement.