Meet Our Academicians

As a creative scientist, he seeks to address grand problems facing society and strives enthusiastically for evidence-based, practical, and impactful solutions. Professor Chen is a prolific contributor to low-order turbulence models for computational fluid dynamics (CFD), such as the indoor zero-equation model and fast fluid dynamics, that are used in predicting complex airflow, air quality, and thermal comfort in various built environments.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he conducted research on infectious disease transmission in airplanes and cruise ships that helped the flying public, cruise passengers and airliners engage in safe travel, and his work in this area was reported in more than 80 media outlets worldwide. Additionally, he has developed key technologies, standards, guidelines, and design parameters for the environmental control system in commercial airplanes and for ventilation and indoor air quality control in residential buildings. Professor Chen’s expertise is evidenced by his authorship of nearly 300 SCI journal papers. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the journal “Building and Environment” that published over 1,000 papers in 2022 and was elected as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences.

As the Director of PAIR, Professor Chen oversees 11 research institutes and 6 research centres with over 500 senior researchers and managing more than HK$ 600 million in annual research funding. PAIR provides interdisciplinary solutions for major societal challenges through advanced research and knowledge transfer in three major areas: sustainable cities, good health and well-being, and advanced technologies. PAIR makes significant contributions to improve the lives and prospects of people in Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.