43 Lingnan scholars in Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists - Multiple scholars rank No. 1 in China and Hong Kong SAR in their respective disciplines

Lingnan University has achieved another important milestone in the 2025 edition of the World’s Top 2% Scientists list, published by Stanford University. This year, 43 Lingnan scholars are on the list, an increase of almost 50 per cent over last year’s 29. Among them, 19 scholars are in the global top 100 in their respective disciplines, underscoring the international recognition of Lingnan’s research excellence and rising international impact.

The Stanford World’s Top 2% Scientists list evaluates the academic performance of scholars worldwide, based on authorship and the number of citations in the Scopus database. Rankings are for career-long research impact and citations, as well as those for the year of 2024, covering nearly all academic disciplines. This ranking has been among the most comprehensive for researchers worldwide and across disciplines since 2015.

Lingnan scholars recognised in this year’s list represent multiple fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and humanities and social sciences.

President S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science, comes first once again in overall China and the Hong Kong SAR in his field of Industrial Engineering and Automation for career-long research impact.

Prof Richard M. Walker, Lee Shau Kee Foundation Chair Professor of Public Administration, Head of the Department of Government and International Affairs, and Director of the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS), is first in overall China and Hong Kong SAR in Political Science and Public Administration for both career-long and 2024 single-year citation categories.

Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning, ranks No. 4 in overall China and No. 1 in the Hong Kong SAR in AI and Image Processing for career-long research impact.

Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing, ranks No. 11 in overall China and No. 1 in the Hong Kong SAR in Numerical and Computational Mathematics for career-long research impact.

Prof Ngai Pun, Chair Professor of Department of Cultural Studies and Director of the Centre for Cultural Research and Development, comes second in overall China and the Hong Kong SAR in Cultural Studies for both career-long and 2024 single-year citation categories.

Prof Edward Kwabena Ameyaw, Research Assistant Professor of the School of Graduate Studies (GS), is sixth in overall China and No. 3 in the Hong Kong SAR in Public Health for the 2024 single-year citation category.

Prof Siu Oi-ling, Head of the Department of Psychology, Lam Woo & Co Ltd Chair Professor of Applied Psychology and Director of the Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre, ranks No. 14 in China and No. 6 in the Hong Kong SAR in her field of Business and Management for the career-long category, and No. 9 in the Hong Kong SAR in the 2024 single-year citation category.

Furthermore, 19 Lingnan scholars were in the global top 100 in their respective disciplines for career-long and/or 2024 single-year citation categories.

Congratulating Lingnan’s distinguished scholars, President Qin said “This ranking is recognised as one of the most influential and prestigious annual benchmarks for individual researchers globally. The number of Lingnan scholars included on the list has steadily increased at a significant rate, and this year, several have topped the rankings in their respective fields in overall China and the Hong Kong SAR, which is truly encouraging. I look forward to seeing more of our scholars translating their research into knowledge and technologies that benefit society, and address the needs of the digital age.”

The World’s Top 2% Scientists list by Stanford University is based on a composite indicator of standardised citation metrics, which include the number of citations, the h-index (measuring scientific research output), and authorship.