News

Prof. Meng Ni co-authored a research article in Nature on fuel cells

In collaboration with Nanjing Tech University (China) and Colorado School of Mines (USA), Prof. Meng Ni, a Professor and Associate Head (Research) of BRE, co-authored a research article entitled “Thermal-expansion offset for high-performance fuel cell cathodes” in Nature.   The first author, Dr Yuan Zhang, worked in Prof. Meng Ni’s lab for 1 year where she conducted part of the experimental research reported in this Nature paper. The second author, Dr Bin Chen (now an Assistant Professor at Shenzhen University, China), received his PhD in 2018 from BRE under supervision of Prof. Meng Ni. The corresponding authors are Prof. Zongping Shao and Prof. Wei Zhou, who are supervisors of Dr. Yuan Zhang and are both from Nanjing Tech University.   High temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have the potential to replace conventional thermal power plants for energy conversion. One challenge for SOFC commercialization is thermo-mechanical instability due to mismatch in thermal expansion behaviour between different fuel cell components, which can cause cell performance degradation or even failure. In this research article, a novel electrode development strategy is proposed by compositing a cobalt-based perovskite with high electrochemical activity and large thermal expansion coefficient with a negative thermal expansion material. A new interface is formed between the two materials. A-site deficiencies in the perovskite are also observed. As a result, the composite electrode shows both high electrochemical activity and excellent thermos-mechanical stability. This research provides a new strategy for the development of high performance and durable solid oxide fuel cells for efficient and clean power generation.   The details of this Nature article can be found at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03264-1   Prof. Meng NI is a Professor and Associate Head (Research) of BRE. He is a Humboldt Fellow (Germany). His research focuses on high temperature fuel cells, rechargeable metal-air batteries, flow batteries, and novel electrochemical cells for low-grade heat harvesting, and energy materials. He is serving as a Senior Editor for Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/sustainable-energy-technologies-and-assessments (Elsevier) and a former Associate Editor for Science Bulletin (Elsevier). He is an Associate Editor for International Journal of Green Energy: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ljge20/current (Taylor & Francis) and International Journal of Energy Research: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1099114x (Wiley). He is one of the founding editors of Energy and AI: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-and-ai/ (Elsevier).   For more details about Prof. Ni, please visit: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/bre/people/academic-staff/prof-meng-ni/

Maggie Ng, Surveying Student Receiving the Awards in PolyU Outstanding Student Awards Presentation Ceremony

Well done to Maggie Ng Tsin Tung, our Surveying student who received the ‘Outstanding Student Award of the Faculty of Construction and Environment’ and the ‘Outstanding Student Award of the Department of Building and Real Estate’! Following the welcoming remarks, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, our President, presented the Awards to Maggie and the other top students in the Outstanding Student Awards Presentation Ceremony on 12 March 2021. Maggie, Keep up the good work! The objective of PolyU Outstanding Student Awards is to recognise full-time final-year students who excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits during their studies.   More about Maggie Click here for video

Ranked 18th in the subject ‘Architecture / Built Environment’ by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021

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Ranked 21st in the subject ‘Engineering - Civil & Structural’ by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021

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Dr Kingsford Owusu Awarded ‘Thesis Awards for Postgraduate Students of The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors’

Congratulations! Dr Kingsford Owusu, a Research Assistant Professor and a PhD graduate of BRE, is very pleased to receive the HKIS Dissertation/Thesis Awards for Postgraduate Students in July 2020.  The Awards are based on merits in research as well as the applicability of the research output to the Surveying profession.    Dr Owusu’s study examined the issue of corruption in infrastructure project procurement in developed and developing economies. It examined the various forms of corrupt practices and their associated causal factors, procurement irregularities, anti-corruption measures (ACMs), and the barriers that hamper the efficacy of the extant ACMs. This research deployed a diverse range of methodological tools and techniques to answer the questions raised and address the study's aim and objectives. They include but are not limited to descriptive statistics, fuzzy synthetic evaluation, social network analysis, and system dynamics. The models and framework developed in this study constitute an overarching ACM dynamic framework to predict and extirpate corruption in public infrastructure procurement.   Dr Owusu said, “I am more than grateful to receive this award on behalf of the Department of BRE. This achievement would not have been possible without the stupendous supervision of my supervisor, Prof. Albert Chan. I would like to dedicate this award to him and everyone in the BRE Department. I hope to continue with the hard work to win more awards for the Department.”

BRE Connected Dec 2020

Outstanding Student of The Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) and The Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) - Maggie Ng, Surveying Student

We shine because of our students’ best endeavours and achievements!  Join us in congratulating Surveying student, Maggie Ng Tsin Tung on receiving the ‘Outstanding Student Award of the Faculty of Construction and Environment’ and the ‘Outstanding Student Award of the Department of Building and Real Estate’!   Maggie is very honoured to be awarded the outstanding student of the Faculty and the Department. The Awards are not only in recognition of her efforts in study, community services and global engagement, but as encouragement also for her future development.   Maggie states, “The Awards strengthen my aspiration in becoming a professional and dedicating myself to society in the future.  I sincerely thank the Department for all the opportunities it provided, inspiring and shaping me to become a shining student.”  Maggie’s success in obtaining the Awards is attributable to her active participation in a series of extra-curricular activities, e.g. YMCA Volunteer Service, Global Youth Leadership Summit, PolyU Student Ambassador Scheme and her many other well-deserved recognitions, including the Reaching Out Award, Dean’s Honours and GSAP Outreaching Award, during her studies.    The objective of the PolyU Outstanding Student Awards is to recognise full-time final-year students who excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits during their studies. This year’s Outstanding Student Awards Presentation Ceremony is tentatively scheduled for March 2021.

Surveying Student’s Passion : Key To Success in the HKIS Competition

Building Surveying Matters!  The Championship goes to our year-two surveying student, Ada Lo Wing Yan in the ‘Maintenance and Appreciation of Historical Buildings Creativity Competition – Tiny Model (Public Category)’, organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.  Ada’s passion for building surveying is the key to her success in this Competition. Ada’s winning model ‘Rejuvenation’ is a miniature of the Grade 1 historical building ‘Lui Seng Chun 雷生春’ built on a 1:200 scale. It successfully shows the unique architectural features along with internal and external structures of this historical building before and after its revitalisation. “Thanks to the Department of Building and Real Estate for inspiring and building me up to participate in this Competition. Joining this Competition has definitely enhanced my awareness of heritage conservation and deepened my understanding of the role of surveyors. Through conservation and timely maintenance, historical buildings are given a new lease of life to demonstrate their aesthetic and historical values for the public to explore. Hong Kong’s heritage is undoubtedly a valuable asset that bears witness to the development of Hong Kong,” says Ada. Keep up the good work, Ada. Special thanks to HKIS for sharing the Award Ceremony’s picture.   More about our Surveying Programme: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/bre/study/undergraduate-programmes/bachelor-of-science-honours-in-surveying/    

Taught Postgraduate Programmes (2021/22 Admission) Call for Application

BRE Scholars Ranked Among Top 2% of Scientists In The World