News

BEEE Congratulates Prof. CHEN Qingyan on Election as Fellow of the Royal Society

Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), the United Kingdom’s national academy of science.   Election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society is regarded as one of the highest scientific honours in the world. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is the world’s oldest scientific academy in continuous existence, and its fellowship includes many of the most distinguished scientists and thinkers in history.   A globally recognised thought leader in building environment research, Prof. Chen is renowned for his pioneering contributions to indoor air quality (IAQ), aircraft cabin environments, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). He is also among the very few scholars from PolyU to receive this prestigious honour.   His research has earned him recognition as one of the world’s leading scientists in the “Building and Construction” field on Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists list. Prof. Chen’s models for simulating indoor environments have significantly informed public policy and advanced innovation in ventilation systems. In addition, he has developed design guidelines and strategies that have become industry benchmarks, with a strong focus on enhancing occupant well-being and promoting healthier, more energy-efficient environments.   PolyU President Prof. TENG Jin-Guang congratulated Prof. Chen on the achievement, saying, “We are proud of Prof. Chen’s contributions to the scientific community. His work has played an important role in advancing human well-being and safety. His research has also helped inform safety standards for public transportation, including efforts to reduce infectious disease transmission on airplanes and cruise ships.”   Prof. Chen expressed his gratitude for the honour, saying, “I am deeply humbled to receive this recognition, which is truly one of the highest accolades a scientist can achieve. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to my research team and collaborators at PolyU, as well as my family, for their unwavering support over the years.”   Throughout his distinguished career, Prof. Chen has received numerous awards and recognitions for his groundbreaking work from leading organisations and institutions, including the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology, the International Building Performance Simulation Association, the Scandinavian Federation of Heating, Ventilation and Sanitary Engineering Associations (SCANVAC), the Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan, and the U.S. National Science Foundation.   On behalf of BEEE, we extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. CHEN Qingyan on this remarkable international recognition, which reflects his outstanding scholarly achievements and far-reaching impact on the advancement of building environment and energy engineering.  

BEEE Engages Prospective Students through 2026 JUPAS Admissions Activities

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) actively supported the 2026 JUPAS Admissions Q&A through a series of outreach activities designed to help prospective students better understand the programme, admissions arrangements, and future study opportunities.   On 9 May (Saturday), Ir Dr Lui Che Heng Gigi and Professor Jiang Liming participated in the JUPAS Consultation Day, where they provided guidance to visitors at the consultation counter at PolyU campus. Together with three student ambassador warmly welcomed students and parents and answered enquiries about the Department and its study pathways. On the same day, Ir Professor Yuen Anthony Chun Yin also conducted a face-to-face mock interview for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Building Sciences and Engineering (JS3211) at PolyU campus. The session gave participating students a valuable opportunity to experience a real interview setting and gain insights into the admissions process.   In addition, Dr Cheung Hiu Dan Hilda delivered two webinars on 11 May 2026, one in Cantonese and one in English, as part of the JUPAS Admissions Q&A series. Held online via Zoom, the sessions featured a student sharing by Ms. Karen Cheung, who offered her personal experience of studying in BEEE. Together, the webinars highlighted the programme’s diverse learning environment, admission requirements, scholarship opportunities, and the exciting prospects offered by the PolyU BSE programme.   These activities provided prospective students with practical and tailored information to support their university choices, while showcasing BEEE’s commitment to student engagement and admissions outreach.   The photo gallery can be found here.  

Teaching Excellence in Action: Teaching Research Salon Series 2

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) successfully held Series 2 of the Teaching Research Salons on 28 April 2026 (Tuesday) in Room Z412, Block Z.   Series 2 featured a sharing by Prof. Jiang Liming, recipient of the Departmental Teaching Award 2020/21. Prof. Jiang discussed practical approaches to teaching and learning, drawing on his award-winning practices to illustrate strategies for enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. The session stimulated lively discussion among colleagues and provided concrete takeaways for curriculum design, classroom interaction, and assessment.   The salon attracted enthusiastic participation from academic staff across the Department. Attendees exchanged ideas, reflected on their own teaching practices, and explored ways to apply the shared strategies in their courses. Light refreshments were provided, and participants received a certificate of attendance.   This event continues the Department’s new salon series—launched with Series 1 on 25 March 2026—aimed at fostering peer exchange on effective teaching practices and strengthening teaching quality through collegial sharing and discussion. We thank Prof. Jiang for his insightful presentation and all colleagues for their active participation. The Department looks forward to the next Teaching Research Salon.  

BEEE Researcher Receive the Outstanding Associate Editor Award

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is proud to announce that Prof. HUANG Xinyan, has received the 2025 Outstanding Associate Editor Award from the International Journal of Wildland Fire (IJWF). This award honours Associate Editors who have demonstrated sustained excellence in their responsiveness, thoroughness, and timeliness. See more details on the IJWF website.   The International Journal of Wildland Fire publishes new and significant papers that advance basic and applied research concerning wildland fire, founded in 1991. The journal has an international perspective, since wildland fire plays a major social, economic and ecological role in many regions of the world and strongly interacts with global climate change. It is the official journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire, published by CSIRO Publishing. Its Editorial Board includes two Editors-in-Chief, 40 associate editors, and 12 editorial advisory members. The journal has been fully open access since 2024, and its latest impact factor is 2.9, ranked as 17/92 in Forestry (Q1) (Source: JCR).   Prof. Huang has served as an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Wildland Fire since 2021. He has also been a board member of the International Association of Wildland Fire from 2022 to 2024 and was honoured with its Early Career Award in Fire Science in 2025. Right now, he is also an Associate Editor of Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Fire Technology, Journal of Safety Science and Resilience, and Emergency Management Science and Technology.   Please join us in congratulating Prof. Huang on this well-deserved recognition for his dedication to original, impactful research and his contributions to the international scientific community. We hope his achievement will inspire the BEEE community to continue leading multidisciplinary research in environment and safety, further strengthening our department’s role in shaping a future of innovation and impact at PolyU.  

BEEE Undergraduates Awarded HKIE (Fire Division) Scholarships for Excellence in Fire Engineering

We are pleased to announce that Mr Chan Chuen Chi (FYP supervisor: Professor Jiang Liming, Associate Professor) and Ms Ling Lok Sze (FYP supervisor: Ir Professor Yuen Anthony Chun Yin, Assistant Professor) have been selected as recipients of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Fire Division) Scholarship for 2026. Each student will receive a scholarship of HK$5,000.   The HKIE (Fire Division) Scholarship promotes public awareness of fire safety by encouraging excellence in fire engineering among undergraduates. The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) nominated two final‑year students whose capstone projects are related to fire engineering. The selection panel judged Mr Chan’s and Ms Ling’s projects outstanding for their technical merit and contribution to fire safety.   Congratulations to Mr Chan Chuen Chi and Ms Ling Lok Sze on this well‑deserved recognition, and our thanks to the HKIE (Fire Division) for its continued support of fire‑engineering education. Their work exemplifies the Department’s commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in fire safety engineering.  

BEEE Celebrates Recipients of “Cleaner Energy Better Life” Outstanding Student Award Scheme 2025/26

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is proud to announce the outstanding achievements of our students for the 2025/26 academic year.   Cleaner Energy Better Life Outstanding Student Award Scheme 2025/26 (SINOPEC) Research Project Scholarship 2025/26 (PolyU-SINOPEC Joint Research Project) The Research Project Scholarship is exclusively established for PhD students who have displayed outstanding performance in joint research projects between PolyU and SINOPEC. We are delighted to share that our PhD student, Mr XIA Qi, under the chief supervision of Ir Professor Lu Lin Vivien, has been selected as the recipient of the “Research Project Scholarship” for 2025/26 out of five. This prestigious scholarship recognises his exceptional research performance, dedication to innovation, and active contributions to the collaborative research between PolyU and SINOPEC.   Mr Xia is specializing in the application of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in low-energy buildings. His research focuses on the development and application of high-conductivity paraffin energy storage microcapsules and their innovative technology in ultra-low energy buildings.   Reflecting on his journey, Mr Xia shared: “I am truly delighted to be involved in this joint research project on high-conductivity paraffin energy storage microcapsules and their innovative technology development and application in ultra-low energy buildings. With the support of this project, I have expanded the application methods of phase change materials in the field of building energy efficiency, and have also received valuable guidance and friendship from the supervisors at SINOPEC. This scholarship serves as both an encouragement and a strong support to me. I will continue to work hard and contribute to the vigorous development of the industry.”   Congratulations to Mr Xia Qi on this well-deserved recognition! We wish him continued success in his future research endeavors and look forward to seeing his impactful contributions to the field of low-energy buildings.   We are also pleased to announce that the following degree students have been selected as awardees of the SINOPEC “Cleaner Energy Better Life” Outstanding Student Award Scheme 2025/26: Mr Kong Ka Yam Mr Lam Tsz Hin Mr Wong Chun Yin   Congratulations to Mr Kong Ka Yam, Mr Lam Tsz Hin, and Mr Wong Chun Yin for their dedication and accomplishments. We commend their contributions to promoting cleaner energy and a better life, and we wish them continued success in their studies and future endeavours.  

Collaborative Team Wins First-Class Award in 2025 Huaxia Construction Science and Technology Awards

A research team led by Prof. Peng Jinqing (Hunan University, our BEEE alumnus) has won a First Class Award in the 2025 Huaxia Construction Science and Technology Awards, one of China’s highest recognitions in the construction field. The award recognises the project “Key Technologies and Large-scale Application of Lighting-power-thermal Synergistic Enhancement for Building-Integrated Photovoltaic and Photothermal (BIPV/T) Systems,” which advances integrated low carbon solutions for the built environment.   Ir Professor Lu Lin Vivien and Ir Prof. Yang Hongxing from the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) made key contributions to the project through their expertise in building integrated solar photovoltaics and solar thermal applications. Their work helped to develop the novel technologies and large scale application strategies central to the project’s success.   The multidisciplinary team also includes Prof. Ma Tao (Shanghai Jiao Tong University) and Dr Song Aotian (Shenzhen Leadus Technology Industry Co., Ltd.), both BEEE alumni, underscoring the strong role of alumni networks and cross institutional collaboration in achieving this result. The award highlights the impact of collaborative research in accelerating the adoption of low carbon building technologies.   We congratulate all team members for this outstanding achievement and for advancing innovation in sustainable building systems.   Website : 2025 Huaxia Construction Science and Technology Awards  

Enhancing Teaching Through Peer Sharing: Teaching Research Salon Series 1

The Department successfully held the first session of the Teaching Research Salons on 25 March 2026 at Room Z410, 4/F, Block Z. This new salon series aims to foster peer exchange on effective teaching practices and enhance teaching quality through collegial sharing and discussion.   We were delighted to have our Associate Professor, Prof. Cao Sunliang, recipient of the Departmental Teaching Award 2018/19, as the speaker for Series 1. During the session, Prof. Cao shared his valuable insights, teaching experience, and practical approaches to engaging students and promoting effective learning. His sharing stimulated fruitful discussion among colleagues on innovative teaching strategies and classroom practices.   The salon provided a valuable platform for academic staff to exchange ideas, reflect on teaching approaches, and explore ways to further strengthen teaching and learning within the Department. Participants also enjoyed light refreshments while networking with colleagues in a relaxed and interactive setting.   The Department looks forward to continuing this meaningful initiative through upcoming sessions in the Teaching Research Salons series.  

Hat-Trick for BEEE — Three Honoured by CIBSE Hong Kong Region

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is proud to announce that three of our members have been recognised by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Hong Kong Region.   Award winners Dr Zhang Hanbei (PhD, Class of 2025) — Winner, Building Information Performance 2025: Best Report Submission (Gold). Dr Zhang’s award recognises the excellence and rigour of the research and the high standard of the report submission. Ms Wu Jiayan — Recipient, CIBSE Hong Kong Region Student Award 2025–2026. Ms Lan Yufei — Recipient, CIBSE Hong Kong Region Student Award 2025–2026.   These prestigious awards recognise outstanding academic performance, professional promise and exemplary contributions to the field of building services engineering. We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Zhang, Ms Wu and Ms Lan for their dedication, scholarly excellence and commitment to advancing the profession. Their achievements bring great pride to the Department and reflect the high calibre of our students and researchers.   Please join us in congratulating the awardees on their remarkable accomplishments.  

BEEE Continues to Excel in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

In an exciting development for the academic community, the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has once again demonstrated its global leadership, ranking 21st in the Architecture and Built Environment category of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. This year’s impressive position underscores the department’s unwavering commitment to excellence in education and research, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the field.   The QS World University Rankings by Subject are highly regarded for their comprehensive evaluation of universities worldwide, assessing factors such as academic reputation, employer reputation, and research impact. The 2026 edition evaluated the performance of over 1,900 institutions across 55 academic subjects and five broad subject areas, based on academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, the H-index, and international research network. BEEE’s consistent presence among the world’s top institutions highlights the department’s dedication to fostering innovative research and providing top-tier education to its students. The department’s success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its academics, researchers, and students. These achievements not only enhance PolyU’s reputation on the international stage but also reinforce its role as a pivotal contributor to sustainable development and innovation in its respective fields.   Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, remarked, “We are pleased with PolyU’s encouraging results in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, which demonstrate the University’s internationally recognised academic and research excellence across various disciplines. As an innovative world-class university, PolyU is committed to pursuing excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer. The University will continue to expand its global collaborative network, with the aim of playing a pivotal role in the global higher education landscape and contributing to Hong Kong’s development as an international hub for post-secondary education.”   In addition to BEEE’s outstanding performance, several other PolyU departments have also achieved notable rankings in their respective subject areas, further showcasing the University’s broad-based strengths and international competitiveness.   PolyU remains dedicated to nurturing future leaders and driving impactful research that addresses global challenges. The University’s continued success in the QS World University Rankings by Subject is a reflection of its strategic vision and commitment to academic and research excellence.   For more information about PolyU’s achievements and the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, please visit PolyU’s official website.