Professor Ho Peng Yoke joined Griffith University in April 1973 as Foundation\u00a0Professor and Chairman of Australia\u2019s first School of Modern Asian Studies.<\/p>\n
He came to the University with an impressive academic record and an international\u00a0reputation for his work on Chinese mathematics, astronomy, alchemy and materia\u00a0medica. In his research and teaching, he was also recognised for his scholarship in\u00a0history, religion, philosophy and literature, especially in relation to the development\u00a0of Chinese scientific thought.<\/p>\n
Professor Ho\u2019s wealth of experience and expertise in Asian Studies was crucial\u00a0to setting up the new School of Modern Asian Studies at Griffith. He played an\u00a0instrumental role in designing and implementing the first degree programs in the\u00a0School \u2013 programs which were renowned for their innovation and relevance. As\u00a0Foundation Professor, his dedication and contribution to academic excellence saw the\u00a0School develop a national and international reputation.<\/p>\n
During his career, Professor Ho\u2019s achievements were recognised by a number of\u00a0significant honours.He was made a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, London, (1971)\u00a0and a Fellow of the Academy of Humanities of Australia (1976); he was elected a\u00a0member of Academica Sinica (1988); and he was appointed an Honorary Professor in\u00a0the Chinese Academy of Science (1989) (which, at that time, was the highest honour\u00a0that the People\u2019s Republic of China bestowed upon a foreign scholar).<\/p>\n
Following\u00a0his retirement from Griffith University in 1989, Professor Ho took up a prestigious\u00a0appointment in England \u2013 the Directorship of the Needham Research Institute at\u00a0Cambridge University.In October 1989, in recognition of Professor Ho\u2019s distinguished contributions to\u00a0scholarship and to the service of the University, the Griffith University Council\u00a0conferred on him the title \u201cProfessor Emeritus\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"