Professor Ben Becker Secured HSSPFS Award for 2026/27

Congratulations to Professor Ben Becker on securing an award under the Research Grants Council (RGC) Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS) for 2026/27. Notably, this project is one of only two HKU projects to receive funding in this round.

Project Title: A Multi-Level Framework for Understanding Human-AI Interaction, Adolescent Wellbeing, and Societal Change
Principal Investigator: Professor Benjamin Becker

About the Project:

This project will develop a comprehensive framework for understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) influences human social behaviour, adolescent wellbeing, and wider social systems. Bringing together findings from ongoing empirical studies and international research, the project will examine how interactions with AI may affect social relationships, youth development, and societal dynamics. The research aims to generate thought leadership in the rapidly evolving field of human-AI interaction and provide evidence-informed insights to support the development of human-focused AI systems and policies.

About the HSSPFS:
The HSSPFS is a highly competitive scheme. Each year, a maximum of only 10 fellowships are awarded by the RGC to recognise outstanding investigators in the Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines. The scheme provides extended time-off and supporting funds to enable recipients to focus intensively on research and writing.

Congratulations to Professor Kong and Professor Becker on this outstanding achievement. Their success reflects the Faculty’s commitment to research excellence and the impact of social sciences scholarship in addressing important societal issues.

Faculty News:
https://web.socsc.hku.hk/school_news/faculty-secures-two-prestigious-hsspfs-awards-for-2026-27/