Ben Zhong Tang received his Bachelor's degree from South China University and Technology in 1982 and his Ph.D. from Kyoto University in 1988. He conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Toronto from 1989 to 1994. He joined HKUST in 1994 and was promoted to Chair Professor in 2008 and to Stephen K. C. Cheong Professor of Science in 2013. He was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2009. His research interests include the exploration of new advanced materials, new luminescent processes, and new polymerization reactions.