Dear TIRF Board Members and Supporters,

I recently had the pleasure of welcoming Charles Hung—the first TIRF Presidential Fellow—back to Macau during his summer break. I invited Charles and his family to dinner to learn more about his academic experience at Imperial College London, where he is currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. A year ago, after careful consideration of offers from institutions such as Purdue University and the University of Washington in Seattle, Charles made the decision to study in the UK.

Charles is a highly motivated student with a clear vision for his future. His research interests lie at the intersection of nuclear energy—specifically microreactors, molten salt reactors, mobile microreactors, and fusion—and marine robotics, including autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, and robotic swarms. During our conversation, it became clear that Charles is not only inspired by cutting-edge research, but also eager to gain hands-on experience. He spoke enthusiastically about his aspirations to intern with leading experts in the field. Although these are highly specialized fields with which I am not intimately familiar, I was deeply impressed by Charles’s clarity of thought and sense of purpose—especially as a first-year undergraduate. His intellectual curiosity and drive clearly mark him as a student with significant research potential.

When I asked Charles about his experience studying abroad as a student from Macau, he offered thoughtful reflections on the cultural behaviors and learning styles of his international peers. He expressed pride in his multicultural upbringing, his English-language high school education, and his strong communication skills, all of which have helped him successfully navigate a competitive and diverse academic environment.

I also took the opportunity to thank his family for their generous support of TIRF. Witnessing Charles’s growth and dedication is incredibly rewarding. It fills me with pride to see TIRF’s first Presidential Fellow thriving. Charles’ progress and future achievements will serve as a powerful testament to the value of investing in young talent. Supporting TIRF is a reciprocal act: While we seek assistance from our community, we also endeavor to support those who contribute to our mission—directly or indirectly.

If you happen to know professionals working in nuclear energy or marine robotics who may be willing to host Charles for a short-term internship, I would be most grateful if you could contact me at [email protected].

The work of TIRF is international and broad reaching. Language impacts every field. TIRF strives not only to empower our language students but also our researchers in education, innovations, and beyond. How amazing it is to see how far the English language can propel a young student from Macau.

Warm regards,

Jun Liu, PhD

TIRF President