New research approach improves the flavor stability of flaxseed oil and extends its shelf life

Successful application on a laboratory scale: natural precursors of bitter-tasting compounds can be gently removed from the oil using bleaching earth

Leibniz-Institut für Lebensmittel-Systembiologie an der TU München

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChat
WhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

The photo shows scientist Dr. Roman Lang in his office in front of his computer.

view more 

Credit: photo: Dr. Gisela Olias / Leibniz-LSB@TUM

How can the mild flavor of flaxseed oil be preserved for longer? A research team led by Roman Lang from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich has investigated this question. As the team demonstrates in its latest study, natural precursors of bitter-tasting compounds can be gently removed from the oil using bleaching earth (magnesium-aluminum silicate). This results in significantly fewer bitter-tasting compounds formed during storage, and the flaxseed oil remains flavor-stable for longer. The particular advantage: The high content of health-beneficial fatty acids as well as the oil’s typical character are preserved despite the purification process.

The German Federal Center for Nutrition recommends reducing saturated fatty acids in the diet in favor of polyunsaturated fatty acids, as this can help lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Flaxseed oil can contribute to this, as it is particularly rich in the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid.

However, flaxseed oil has a drawback: while it has a pleasantly mild taste when fresh, it quickly develops bitter notes during storage and eventually becomes inedible. Previous research by the Leibniz Institute and the Technical University of Munich had already shown that so-called cyclolinopeptides are responsible for this change in taste. These peptides, which are naturally present in the oil, oxidize during storage into substances with a strong bitter taste.

“We therefore investigated whether the flavor stability of flaxseed oil can be improved by specifically removing these cyclolinopeptides,” explains principal investigator Roman Lang. To test this hypothesis, the research team examined eight mineral-based cleaning agents approved for the refining of edible oils, including bleaching earth.

Successful application on a laboratory scale

On a laboratory scale, the research team at the Leibniz Institute has now succeeded in selectively reducing the natural bitter compound precursors using magnesium-aluminum silicate. When the researchers mixed 200 grams of oil with 10 grams of the natural mineral, stirred it for 20 minutes at 30°C, and separated the mineral again by centrifugation, the cyclolinopeptide content in the oil decreased by more than 80 percent. The color, odor, and fatty acid profile of the oil remained largely unchanged.

Sensory tests subsequently confirmed the success of the new research approach: While the untreated flaxseed oil exhibited a noticeable bitterness right from the start, the treated oil tasted hardly bitter at all. The taste advantage of the treated oil persisted even over a longer period.

As the research team further reports, although the bitterness increased in both samples after nine weeks of storage in the dark, the treated oil reached only the bitterness level of fresh, untreated oil. Even at room temperature, under UV light and air exposure, the oil purified with bleaching earth remained milder for longer and exhibited significantly lower concentrations of bitter-tasting oxidation products.

Potential for more sustainable food production

Given the rising demand for omega-3-rich foods, the new research approach offers a solid foundation for extending the sensory shelf life of flaxseed oil and increasing consumer acceptance—without chemical additives or complex refining.

The Researchers view the reduction of cyclolynopeptides as a sustainable approach to waste prevention due to the extended shelf life.

In further studies, they aim to investigate the optimal combination of materials used, as well as the influence of treatment duration and temperature on cyclolinopeptide residues and the stability of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in order to further refine the purification process.

Publication: Zavrak, S., Graßl, A., and Lang, R. (2026). Removal of cyclolinopeptides leads to reduced bitter taste of flaxseed oil. Appl Food Res. 10.1016/j.afres.2026.101777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afres.2026.101777

Funding: The research was funded by the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich. No specific funding was received from institutions in the public, private, or non-profit sectors.

More Information:

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is one of the omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for humans. This means that the body cannot produce it on its own but must obtain it through diet. The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends that adults consume about 1.1 grams of ALA daily, which is already contained in a single teaspoon of flaxseed oil. ALA serves as the precursor for the formation of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

However, the body converts ALA into EPA and DHA only to a limited extent. Studies show that only about five to six percent of ingested ALA is converted to EPA, and less than one percent to DHA (J. T. Brenna, et al., 2009; Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids, doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2009.01.004). High levels of omega-6 fatty acids in the diet can further significantly reduce this conversion. Therefore, a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is considered important. The DGE recommends a ratio of about 5:1. Compared to other vegetable oils, flaxseed oil has particularly favorable values, with a ratio between 1:3 and 1:6.

One study suggests that an ALA-rich diet, combined with a diet relatively low in omega-6 fatty acids, can increase EPA levels in tissues to a degree similar to that achieved by fish oil supplementation (E. Mantzioris, et al. 1994; The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 59 (6): 1304–1309). The extent to which ALA also contributes to maintaining DHA levels is still a subject of scientific debate. However, one thing is clear: ALA plays a role in ensuring an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids, making flaxseed oil an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly for people who eat little ocean fish.

Read also: Why Stored Flaxseed Oil Tastes Bitter—and What You Can Do About It

https://www.leibniz-lsb.de/en/press-public-relations/translate-to-englisch-pressemitteilungen/pm-20220421-press-release-linseed-oil

Publication: Lang, T., Frank, O., Lang, R., Hofmann, T., and Behrens, M. (2022). Activation Spectra of Human Bitter Taste Receptors Stimulated with Cyclolinopeptides Corresponding to Fresh and Aged Linseed Oil. J Agric Food Chem. 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00976. pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00976

Funding: This research was partially supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) (BE 2091/7-1 to MB).

Did you know?

Linseed oil is also used for craft purposes. However, caution is advised, as rags or brushes soaked in linseed oil can also spontaneously combust (Michael Kundel: Fires Caused by Spontaneous Combustion, In: Schadenprisma / Fire Protection. 3/2013, p. 3, at schadenprisma.de, www.schadenprisma.de/pdf/sp_2013_3_1.pdf).

Information About the Institute:

The Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich (Leibniz-LSB@TUM) comprises a unique research profile at the interface of Food Chemistry & Biology, Chemosensors & Technology, and Bioinformatics & Machine Learning. As this profile has grown far beyond the previous core discipline of classical food chemistry, the Institute spearheads the development of a food systems biology. Its aim is to develop new approaches for the sustainable production of sufficient quantities of food whose biologically active effector molecule profiles are geared to health and nutritional needs, but also to the sensory preferences of consumers. To do so, the Institute explores the complex networks of sensorically relevant effector molecules along the entire food production chain with a focus on making their effects systemically understandable and predictable in the long term.

A Member of the Leibniz Associatation

The Leibniz-LSB@TUM is a member of the Leibniz Association, which connects 96 independent research institutions. Their orientation ranges from the natural sciences, engineering and environmental sciences through economics, spatial and social sciences to the humanities. Leibniz Institutes address issues of social, economic and ecological relevance.They conduct basic and applied research, including in the interdisciplinary Leibniz Research Alliances, maintain scientific infrastructure, and provide research-based services. The Leibniz Association identifies focus areas for knowledge transfer, particularly with the Leibniz research museums. It advises and informs policymakers, science, industry and the general public.

Leibniz institutions collaborate intensively with universities – including in the form of Leibniz ScienceCampi – as well as with industry and other partners at home and abroad. They are subject to a transparent, independent evaluation procedure. Because of their importance for the country as a whole, the Leibniz Association Institutes are funded jointly by Germany’s central and regional governments. The Leibniz Institutes employ around 21,300 people, including 12,200 researchers. The financial volume amounts to 2,2 billion euros.

Note on the use of AI

The press release was first translated from German into American English using DeepL Pro. The scientist an the communications team then reviewed the text for factual and linguistic accuracy, making corrections where necessary.

+++ Stay up to date via our LinkedIn channel +++

---

Journal

Applied Food Research

DOI

10.1016/j.afres.2026.101777 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Removal of cyclolinopeptides leads to reduced bitter taste of flaxseed oil

 

The naming of mollusks evolves at a snail's pace

Taxonomic labels for the phylum Mollusca show Eurocentric bias and intellectual elitism

Peer-Reviewed Publication

University of Tokyo

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Various historic artifacts including text, art and materials which connect ancient Greece to naming conventions in the 18th century and beyond. ©2026 Taro Yoshimura CC-BY-ND

view more 

Credit: ©2026 Taro Yoshimura CC-BY-ND

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” said Juliet Capulet in William Shakespeare’s famous play. And the same is presumably true for mollusks, albeit with different odors. When you think about the scientific names of animals, including our own species Homo sapiens, it’s tempting to see these as neutral, objective labels. But Taro Yoshimura, a researcher in evolutionary paleontology at the University Museum, the University of Tokyo, sees scientific names as time capsules that reflect the culture and education of the people who coined them. By examining the entire set of 773 molluscan family names, which includes the likes of snails, clams and octopuses, he uncovered a significant bias towards using ancient Greek, as opposed to for example, Latin. This was partly due to some ideal linguistic features of the language, but also because 19th-century European scientists used it to show off their high-level education and authority. 

For Yoshimura, the seeds of this research were sown long before his professional career. “I have been an avid collector of shells since my early childhood,” he explained. “My fascination with the power of naming was truly ignited at the age of 17, when I had the opportunity to publish my first paper describing a new species. Being given the chance to coin a scientific name myself made me deeply curious about the rules and the human choices behind these labels.” This early experience evolved into a broader investigation of the historical and linguistic landscape of biodiversity. 

“Later, as a researcher of mollusks, I spent a lot of time looking at names like Tomichia, Thyasira, Phylliroe and Scyllaea, and wondered why they were spelled in such a specific, slightly fancy way. I noticed that many names seemed to have these Greek-style flourishes that didn't quite match their origins. I wanted to find out if this feeling of Greek dominance was real and whether it was tied to the specific background, nationality or education of the people who were doing the naming in the 18th and 19th centuries,” said Yoshimura. “I discovered that Ancient Greek is the champion of molluscan naming, making up nearly 72% of all family names. But I also found this wasn't always the case. There was a surge in the late 1800s where Greek became, and remained, the dominant language, a ‘linguistic climax.’ This highlights a fundamentally human side to naming. Authors often added unnecessary letters, such as the extra ‘h’ seen in Tomichia, simply to make names look more Greek. This shows that names were often about style and prestige as much as they were about science.” 

Such patterns are not unique to particular branches of life, nor to biology itself, but here it is just abundantly clear. The paper highlights prior research on historic Eurocentrism, gender imbalances and geographic disparities in fields such as botany, entomology, astronomy and chemistry. Think about the English names for the planets, for example. All this reflects how Western scholarship has influenced the global language of science. There is an International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) that sets the formal rules for how to name life, and these rules are partially flexible to allow names from any origin. 

“As the scientific community becomes more diverse, the way we apply those rules is definitely starting to change. We are seeing a slow increase in the use of modern and Indigenous languages, which is wonderful for inclusivity. However, we also need names to be a ‘universal key’ that a researcher in Japan and a researcher in Brazil can both understand. The goal is to blend local culture into the established scientific framework,” said Yoshimura. “This is more than a matter of mere tradition. It is fundamentally interwoven with our view of science itself. The choice of language and the underlying motivations for naming encode what I term epistemic values, reflecting how we perceive the natural world and which attributes we choose to prioritize. For example, the historical reliance on Ancient Greek, while offering great compounding flexibility, has arguably fostered a descriptive bias. This can lead to a disproportionate emphasis on physical morphology at the expense of other vital scientific dimensions, such as ecology or behavior. In this sense, naming systems are not just passive labels; they are the very conceptual frameworks that shape scientific inquiry.” 

### 
 

Journal: Taro Yoshimura, “Taxonomic Graecism: the historical hegemony of Ancient Greek and cultural bias in molluscan family nomenclature”, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlag053  

 
Useful links: 
The University Museum, The University of Tokyo - https://www.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/home-en  
Graduate School of Science - https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/  
Dryad Digital Repository - https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.98sf7m0wg  
MolluscaBase - https://www.molluscabase.org/  

 

 

About The University of Tokyo: 

The University of Tokyo is Japan's leading university and one of the world's top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world's top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 5,000 international students. Find out more at www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @UTokyo_News_en

 

Countries whose researchers contributed to descriptions are colored on the map, with the intensity of the color indicating the number of individuals in proportion. Colors in the pie chart are standardized to shades of blue for European countries. ©2026 Taro Yoshimura CC-BY-ND

Credit

©2026 Taro Yoshimura CC-BY-ND

---

Journal

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

DOI

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlag053 

Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Taxonomic Graecism: the historical hegemony of Ancient Greek and cultural bias in molluscan family nomenclature

Article Publication Date

20-Apr-2026

 

Light can twist matter in unexpected ways

A new method reveals a hidden property of light that could power future nanomachines

Hokkaido University

WeChatBluesky
Email

 

image: 

A “micro-drone” holds a nanostructure at its center, while four laser beams trap and control the platform. 

view more 

Credit: Ryoma Fukuhara et al., Nature Physics. April 20, 2026

Light does more than illuminate the world—it can also push and twist matter. It was back in the 1870s that James Clerk Maxwell first predicted that light carries momentum and can exert pressure on objects. Nearly a century later, in the 1970s, Arthur Ashkin asked why not use this property of light to hold and push around tiny particles. He developed optical tweezers that use focused laser beams to trap and move nanoscale objects.

While scientists have long known that light can exert small forces, detecting them has been extremely difficult. Objects at this scale are constantly jostled by random thermal motion, making the subtle influence of light hard to measure.

Now, researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a new method to measure these small forces with high precision. They then used the new technique to discover a surprising phenomenon in which light can twist tiny objects sideways, in a direction that is perpendicular to the light’s direction of travel.

“We developed a novel measurement platform called the ‘micro-drone,’ which enables, for the first time, full three-dimensional characterization of optical forces and torques acting on nanostructures,” says Professor Yoshito Y. Tanaka of Hokkaido University.

The idea is simple: place the nanostructure to be studied at the center of a tiny, cross-shaped platform, or “micro-drone.” Then use four laser beams to hold the platform in place, like invisible tweezers gripping its corners. By carefully tracking how the platform moves and rotates, researchers can then infer the forces acting on the nanostructure inside.

“Optical tweezers have been a powerful tool since Arthur Ashkin’s pioneering work, recognized with the Nobel Prize in 2018,” says Tanaka. “Using them, conventional methods could only measure rotation of an object along a single axis. Our approach overcomes this limitation by measuring not the nanostructure itself but the platform containing the nanostructure.”

The new method allows scientists to measure motion and rotation in all directions—capturing a complete three-dimensional picture. In effect, it converts extremely small, hard-to-detect nanoscale forces into larger, measurable movements of the micro-platform.

The team tested their approach using tiny gold structures shaped like the letter “V.” Using the new method, when these structures were placed inside the platform and illuminated with light, they exhibited an unusual behavior known as transverse optical torque, meaning that instead of twisting themselves along the direction of light, they rotated sideways.

“We were able to observe, using the new method, a phenomenon that had not been experimentally observed before: transverse optical torque acting at the nanoscale,” says Tanaka.

Even more surprising was what led to this effect. Scientists had predicted that such a twisting effect would be controlled by the light’s angular momentum. But instead, the researchers found that it depends on a more subtle property called optical helicity—a measure of the “handedness,” or twist of the light’s electromagnetic field. They showed this by designing experiments that canceled the light’s angular momentum while preserving its helicity. The sideways torque still remained, confirming that helicity plays the dominant role.

This discovery provides new insight into how light interacts with matter at extremely small scales.

It opens up new possibilities for using light to precisely control nanoscale objects. Potential applications include light-driven nanomachines and advanced sensing technologies.

“This work represents a new measurement paradigm for nanoscale optomechanics,” says Tanaka. “Just as optical tweezers opened a new field in single-molecule biophysics, we hope this platform will unlock access to nanoscale mechanical phenomena that have so far remained beyond reach.”

---

Journal

Nature Physics

DOI

10.1038/s41567-026-03268-6 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Transverse Optical Torque observed at the Nanoscale.

Article Publication Date

20-Apr-2026

 

Ugandan human rights leader Frank Mugisha to be awarded 2026 Inamori Ethics Prize

Case Western Reserve University

Facebook

XLinkedIn

WhatsAppmail

 

image: 

2026 Inamori Ethics Prize winner Frank Mugisha

view more 

Credit: SMUG

CLEVELAND—Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), has devoted his life to advocating for basic human rights for all people—not only in his home country, but globally.

A recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award and Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize, Mugisha has been recognized internationally for his activism and courage. He was a 2014 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, chosen one of Fortune magazine's 2017 World's Greatest Leaders, and named among the 100 Most Influential People of 2024 by TIME magazine.

And now, add one more honor to the list: The Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University will award Mugisha with the 2026 Inamori Ethics Prize.

"It is truly humbling to be recognized alongside the inspiring work of previous Inamori Ethics Prize recipients,” Mugisha said. “This recognition inspires me greatly and means so much—not only to me personally but also to the communities I have the privilege to serve. It strengthens our resolve to continue advancing human rights, equality and ethical leadership.”

Mugisha will be awarded the prize, deliver a free public lecture about his work, and participate in a symposium panel discussion during the 2026 Inamori Ethics Prize events Sept. 17-18 on the Case Western Reserve campus.

“Mr. Mugisha’s dedication to and advocacy for human rights is inspiring. Driven by impact and propelled by purpose, Mr. Mugisha is changing lives around the world,” said Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler. “We look forward to hearing about his life’s work this fall and honoring him as the 2026 Inamori Ethics Prize winner.”

The Inamori Ethics Prize has been awarded since 2008 to honor outstanding international ethical leaders whose actions and influence have greatly improved the condition of humankind.

“Frank Mugisha reflects the very spirit of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence—grounded in human dignity, global awareness, and moral courage. His leadership challenges us to see beyond differences and to strengthen our common humanity,” Provost and Executive Vice President Joy K. Ward said.

Grassroots movement

Mugisha has led the grassroots movement to save thousands of LBGTI Ugandans from persecution, incarceration, and death.

During his undergraduate studies, Mugisha founded Icebreakers Uganda in 2004, an organization created as a support network for LGBTI people who are out or in the process of coming out to family and friends.

Icebreakers Uganda offers counseling, suicide-prevention, and education services to those who are sexual minorities and open about their identity—because it is viewed by law and some public opinion in that country as criminal.

Mugisha has expanded his efforts while at SMUG, now an umbrella organization of over 40 groups, including the first and only LGBTI health center in Uganda.

In addition to promoting equality for the LGBTI community in Uganda, Mugisha and his team at SMUG have been fighting legal and ideological battles with Ugandan Parliament and championed legal efforts in U.S. District Court against anti-LGBT activists for years.

Mugisha has led the movements to abolish Uganda’s anti-homosexuality and sexual-offense legislation which makes it a crime to identify as queer, considers all same-sex conduct to be nonconsensual, and allows for the death penalty in certain cases.

Ugandan courts upheld the large majority of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2024. However, SMUG’s advocacy efforts did convince legislators to eliminate sections that restricted healthcare access for LGBTI people, criminalized renting premises to LGBTI people, and required alleged acts of homosexuality to be reported. Mugisha and advocates continue to seek a full annulment of the Act before the Supreme Court of Uganda.

Mugisha was 14 when he told his brother he was gay. Both brothers were born and raised in a strict Catholic family in suburban Kampala, the capital of Uganda, where anti-LGBTI laws are among the harshest in the world. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say “coming out” in the East African country could draw a beating, land you in prison, or even cost your life.

“Frank Mugisha embodies moral courage in its highest form,” said Inamori Center Director Eileen Anderson, Inamori Professor in Ethics and the Anne Templeton Zimmerman, MD Professor of Bioethics at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. “For more than two decades, he has led the fight for human dignity and equality in Uganda, transforming personal risk into global impact.”

                                                                        ###

As one of the fastest-growing research universities in the United States, Case Western Reserve University is a force in career-defining education and life-changing research. Across our campus, more than 12,000 students from around the world converge to seek knowledge, find solutions and accelerate their impact. They learn from and collaborate with faculty members renowned for expertise in medicine, engineering, science, law, management, dental medicine, nursing, social work, and the arts. And with our location in Cleveland, Ohio—a hub of cultural, business and healthcare activity—our students gain unparalleled access to academic, research, clinical and entrepreneurial opportunities that prepare them to join our network of more than 125,000 alumni worldwide. Visit case.edu to see why Case Western Reserve University is built for those driven to be a force in the world.

 

Incidence, mortality, and federal research funding by cancer type in the US

JAMA Network Open

About The Study: 

The findings of this study indicate that cancers with the highest lethality receive disproportionately lower levels of federal research support. Prioritizing these cancers could help direct limited resources toward diseases with the greatest potential to reduce suffering, particularly as outcomes continue to improve for less lethal malignant neoplasms. Beyond mortality, prioritization should also account for the disproportionate impact of certain cancers on underserved populations, quality-of-life burden, and opportunities for prevention.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Anish Thomas, MBBS, MD, email anish.thomas@nih.gov.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.7837)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article 

 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.7837?guestAccessKey=1b34668e-afe8-4888-aa3d-dd05b3b83eff&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=042026

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication. 

---

Journal

JAMA Network Open

 

HKU launches School of Governance and Policy, sets stage for global dialogue on pressing challenges

The University of Hong Kong

LinkedInWeChatBluesky
Email

 

image: 

HKU Launches School of Governance and Policy, Sets Stage for Global Dialogue on Pressing Challenges

view more 

Credit: HKU

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) announces the launch of the School of Governance and Policy (SGP), a new interdisciplinary hub dedicated to shaping the future of governance and public policy. To mark this milestone, SGP will host its inaugural week from 27 to 29 April 2026, convening global thought leaders, nobel laureate, former heads of state, and leading academics to confront the world’s most urgent regional and transnational challenges.

Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, stated, “The establishment of the School of Governance and Policy underscores HKU’s dedication to cultivating visionary leaders and driving meaningful global cooperation.  It also exemplifies the value of the humanities in the midst of the global technology leap. This Inaugural Week will serve as a dynamic platform where ideas meet action—bridging academic insight, policymaking, and real-world innovation.”

Echoing this vision, Professor Kenneth Wong, Director of School of Governance and Policy and Kerry Group Professor in Public Policy, added, “In an era defined by disruption and interdependence, collaborative governance is not just important—it is essential. SGP’s Inaugural Week embodies our mission to foster dialogue, advance research, and deliver impactful solutions that transcend borders.”

The Inaugural Week will commence on 27 April with an Inaugural Ceremony featuring the official announcement of SGP and a keynote address by Professor James Robinson, 2024 Nobel Laureate in Economics. This will be followed by an exclusive panel, “Beyond Borders: Policy Innovation and Collaboration in a Multipolar World” with Professor Joseph Liow Chinyong, Dean and Wang Gungwu Professor in East Asian Affairs, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore; Professor Lan Xue, Dean, Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University and Professor Carole Roan Gresenz, Dean, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University.

On the following day, the Global Leaders Series will welcome Dr Yukio Hatoyama, former Prime Minister of Japan, to explore “The Future of Sino-Japanese Relations Amid a Cracking World Order”. Professor James Robinson will return for a second session examining “The Future of Nations: How Economic and Political Institutions Contribute to Growth and Progress”.

The final day will feature Open Dialogues on Global Policy Challenges and Solutions, including sessions led by Professor Joseph Liow on “Southeast Asia Between the Superpowers: The Dilemma of Choice”, and Professor Carole Roan Gresenz on “Cognitive Health, Household Financial Decision-Making & Intrahousehold Financial Spillovers”. The week will conclude with a powerful address by Mr Phongthep Thepkanjana, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, on “Transnational Scams and the Digital-Age Death Penalty Debate”.

Designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and actionable insights, the Inaugural Week underscores SGP’s commitment to advancing governance innovation and strengthening international cooperation in an increasingly complex global landscape.

For more information and to register, please visit:
https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxSKys1jr2yRzLM

About HKU School of Governance and Policy
HKU School of Governance and Policy (SGP) is jointly allocated to the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Business and Economics, and the Faculty of Law. Bringing together the Asia Global Institute and the Centre on Contemporary China and the World under one umbrella, SGP is dedicated to advancing excellence in global governance and policy analysis, strategically positioned at the intersection of the public, non-profit, and private sectors. By uniting leading scholars, practitioners, and students, SGP addresses complex regional and global challenges through innovative, evidence-informed solutions.