The first BNBU Academic Drinks of semester 2 of the 2025-2026 academic year was successfully held on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event took place at CHIAS Coffee, where the café was transformed into a vibrant hub of transdisciplinary conversation. It successfully attracted more than 25 faculty members from a wide variety of academic and cultural backgrounds.

Light refreshments and drinks were served throughout the event

The relaxed setting allowed participants to engage in spontaneous discussion regarding teaching strategies and research experiences while enjoying light refreshments.

Faculty and staff interact

The event featured two speakers: one shared his research insights, and the other shared her teaching experience:

Dr. Jianing CHEN, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS), delivered a presentation titled "The Cantonese Belief in the Pak Tai (Northern Emperor) Deity and Its Development on the Islands of Zhuhai." He introduced traces of the evolution of Pak Tai from a northern Chinese astronomical symbol and Daoist deity into a localized maritime guardian on Zhuhai’s Outer Lingding and Miaowan Islands, where it uniquely fuses with Mazu belief to serve the spiritual and social needs of Cantonese fishing communities.

Dr. CHEN sharing his research

Dr. Jenny Shujuan XIAO, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Business and Management (FBM), presented her findings on "AI IT or Play IT: Incorporating a Board Game in a Sustainability Course," shared how she incorporates the "Building Better Business" board game into her sustainability course to enhance student engagement and understanding of ESG frameworks.

Dr. XIAO sharing her teaching experience

Following the presentations, faculty members participated in a lively Q&A session. Numerous faculty members praised the opportunity to foster connections and engage in meaningful conversations.

Q&A Session

The BNBU Academic Drinks event reinforces the university’s dedication to fostering transdisciplinary collaboration, deepening faculty ties, and enriching the broader academic community.