News
2024 Laureate of the prestigious Bank of China (BoC) Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP)
Professor Cong WANG, Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Computer Science, has been recognised for his pioneering work in developing innovative data and AI security technologies. His research focuses on safeguarding private data while unlocking the potential of data value in FinTech ecosystems. Prof. WANG’s contributions include the development of encrypted databases, privacy-preserving data analytics platforms, and AI security systems, which have significantly enhanced the integrity and robustness of AI operations in the financial sector. His work ensures that data security is integral to system design, paving the way for the next generation of smart FinTech applications.
Honorable Mention Award at the ACM International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction (MobileHCI’24)
Prof Weitao Xu, together with CS PhD graduate Dr Di Duan and former CS Research Assistant Mr Aochen Jiao, have been awarded the Honorable Mention Award at the ACM International Conference on Mobile Human-Computer Interaction (MobileHCI’24). Their paper titled “Medusa3D The Watchful Eye Freezing Illegitimate Users in Virtual Reality Interactions”, was recognized at the conference held from 30 September to 3 October 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
The team addresses the limitations in current VR user authentication systems, which often rely on cumbersome password-based or static biometric methods that are susceptible to shoulder surfing attacks. Their innovative solution, Medusa3D, introduces a challenge-response authentication system based on reflexive eye responses. These responses are involuntary and effortless, providing a secure and user-friendly method for authentication.
NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund
Prof Hou, Junhui David has been honored with the prestigious NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund (国家自然科学基金委员会 - 优秀青年科学基金项目) in recognition of his contributions to the field of multi-dimensional visual information reconstruction and analysis, encompassing advancements in light field, hyperspectral imaging, and 3D geometry. His project, titled 高维视觉信息重建和处理, is awarded with an approved amount of RMB 2 million.
Prof. Hou is set to further explore the domain of spatio-temporal perception and analysis algorithms, utilizing a variety of modalities such as event data and 3D point clouds. This opportunity will enable him to pioneer new research avenues, with the potential to deepen our understanding of complex environments and transform how we interact with and interpret visual information. His work promises significant advancements in immersive 3D telepresence, intelligent surveillance systems, the metaverse, and autonomous driving technologies.
The NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund aims to support young scholars with commendable achievements in basic research, encouraging them to conduct innovative investigations in their chosen fields. The fund strives to accelerate the development of creative young talents and cultivate a cadre of exceptional researchers at the forefront of international science.
Finalist in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) AIxCC competition
Prof Huang Heqing, in collaboration with four international scholars from IBM and Texas A&M University, became a finalist in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) AIxCC competition. His team "All you need is a fuzzing brain" was awarded USD$2 million in the AIxCC Semifinal Event held at the DEF CON 32 from 9 to 11 August 2024 in Las Vegas, USA.
The DEF CON is an annual networking and innovation platform for cybersecurity professionals, featuring cutting-edge talks and hands-on workshops dedicated to security, privacy and emerging technologies. In the AIxCC Semifinal Competition, teams were tasked with developing the next-generation Cyber Reasoning Systems in the era of AI to automatically process a set of Challenge Projects to identify and rectify vulnerabilities. The AIxCC Final Competition will be held in August 2025.