News

CEE Members Awarded in International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2025

We are thrilled to announce that CEE members have excelled at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, winning 2 awards including 1 Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury by Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE, and 1 Silver Medal by Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Chair Professor of CEE and Director of CNERC-Rail. Both projects exemplify a commitment to advancement through innovative technologies, by addressing critical challenges including environmental sustainability and safety in transportation, the cutting-edge research demonstrates how civil engineering can play a pivotal role in shaping a better future. Since 1972, the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva has annually gathered over 825 exhibitors from 35 countries to showcase their inventions, research, and innovative, market-ready products. With over a thousand entries this year, CEE members have truly shone on the global stage, highlighting their perseverance in civil engineering development. Congratulations again to Prof. Poon and Prof. Ni for their accomplishments, we look forward to seeing how their pursuit of research innovation will pose a transformative impact to the built environment. To learn more about their impactful projects, please visit:  https://www.polyu.edu.hk/kteo/knowledge-transfer/innovations-and-technologies/award-winning-innovations/geneva2025. Project Principal Investigator / Co-investigator Award CO2-driven Superhydrophobic Carbon-sink Concrete Prof. Chi Sun Poon Head of CEE Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury AI-based Railway Obstacle Intrusion Detection System with Multimodal Transformers Prof. Yi-Qing Ni Chair Professor Director of CNERC-Rail Silver Medal

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Image-based Characterization and Discrete Element Modeling of Granular Materials

Dr Meng-meng Wu delivered a seminar with the topic of “Image-based Characterization and Discrete Element Modeling of Granular Materials” on 16 April 2025. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division. Find the full version of the webinar in the below link: https://youtu.be/Dx-BDS8eCWM  

CEE Departmental Visit – Po Chiu Catholic Secondary School (9 April)

A group of 19 students from Po Chiu Catholic Secondary School visited CEE on 9 April 2025 (Wednesday). Prof. Andy Y.F. Leung, Associate Head of CEE, started the visit by a programme talk to the group introducing the admission information of BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. The civil engineering industry updates and career prospects were shared with the students. Following the informative session, the students joined the Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination where they were required to use their innovation to build a tower with only paper straws and tape. The winning team had set a record by creating a 62cm-high tower. The activity was concluded with a visit to Geology Laboratory, where the students were able to gain a deeper understanding on rock composition and distribution through interactive demonstrations and mini games. It enhanced the students’ insights on local geology in relations to civil engineering projects and community development in the real world.  

CEE Site Visit – Goodman Texaco Centre

Led by Dr Nicole Yiu, Programme Leader of BSc (Hons) in Environmental and Occupational Safety & Health (EOSH), a group of 37 EOSH students embarked on an insightful site visit to the Goodman Texaco Centre on 8 April 2025 (Tuesday). This visit provided a unique opportunity for them to explore the ongoing alteration and addition works for the project of transforming a 23-storey factory building to a data centre, managed by the main contractor, Chinney Construction Co. Ltd. The activity was kicked off with a comprehensive safety briefing, emphasizing the importance of safety practices in construction environments. Students were then guided through the site, where they were able to observe various key components of the project, including metal structures, tower crane, excavator and material hoist. The visit not only enriched the students' understanding of real-world construction practices but also reinforced the significance of occupational safety in the industry. We extend our gratitude to Chinney Construction Co. Ltd. for their warm hospitality and informative guidance throughout the visit. This experience undoubtedly contributed to the professional growth of the students, preparing them for future challenges in the field of occupational safety and health.  

Prof. Tony Sze Featured on TVB News Programme

Prof. Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, was featured on TVB News Programme, "A Closer Look (時事多面睇)" (TVB News Ch.83). The segment broadcasted on 14 April 2025 focused on the transformative impact of innovative transportation solutions on urban design and infrastructure. Prof. Sze shared his insights into the field of smart mobility research, emphasizing how these advancements have significantly enhanced transport efficiency. He also addressed the critical issue of safety in transportation systems and the importance of smart mobility in urban design and in meeting the diverse transportation needs of urban residents. For a recap of Prof. Sze's sharing, please visit: https://news.tvb.com/tc/programme/closerlook/67fd264c62816ca49886eade?utm_source=newsappshare&utm_medium=referral    

Three CEE Projects Secured Environment and Conservation Fund 2024

We are proud to announce that three research projects from Prof. Tao Wang, Chair Professor of CEE, Prof. Siwei Liu, Assistant Professor of CEE, and Dr Meng Wang, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, were supported by Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) 2024 under the funding scheme “Environmental Research, Technology Demonstration and Conference Projects”. This remarkable accomplishment highlights the contributions of CEE scholars to advancing carbon neutrality and pursuing green solutions for environmental preservation in Hong Kong.  Name of PC: Prof. Tao Wang Proposal Title: Investigating Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity of Hong Kong: Measurement and Modelling of Hydroxyl Radicals, Hydroperoxyl Radicals, and Hydroxyl Radicals Reactivity Awarded Amount: HK$1,469,500 Name of PC: Prof. Siwei Liu Proposal Title: Developing Modular Engineered Bamboo Hoarding Structures for Carbon-neutral Construction Awarded Amount: HK$1,239,200 Name of PC: Dr Meng Wang Proposal Title: Unravelling the Complexities of Secondary Organic Aerosols Formation in Hong Kong's High-Vehicle Environment Awarded Amount: HK$487,800 In 2024 Exercise, PolyU submitted 71 ECF applications, in which 9 projects were supported by the funding body with a total awarded amount of $6,987,457. Since its establishment in 1994, the ECF has played a pivotal role in supporting environmental research and fostering conservation efforts throughout Hong Kong, aiming to promote sustainability and raising environmental awareness. Congratulations again to our scholars for their outstanding achievement! We believe their dedication to innovative research will contribute significantly to addressing climate issues and enhancing the local environment, leading to a more sustainable future.  

CEE PhD Student Awarded “Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2024”

Congratulations to Mr Fan Dingqiang, CEE PhD student supervised by Prof. Chi Sun Poon, for being honored with the “Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2024” by PolyU Graduate School. Notably, Mr Fan is one of only two PhD students across the university receiving this accolade this year. This Award recognizes extraordinary research postgraduate students who exhibit outstanding inquisitiveness and make brief impact on peers and research communities. Mr Fan’s research focuses on development of sustainable high-performance lightweight construction materials towards carbon neutrality applications. His work is dedicated to developing innovative carbon capture and storage construction materials, driving the building industry toward carbon neutrality through advanced and sustainable solutions.  Kudos to Mr Fan’s high caliber of research and commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges. His groundbreaking efforts are paving the way for advanced solutions that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry. We look forward to his continued dedication in research advancement and positive impact his research will bring to the society.  

CEE Departmental Visit – Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School (28 March)

A group of 23 students from Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School visited CEE on 28 March 2025 (Friday).  Prof. Andy Y. F. Leung, Associate Head of CEE, kicked off the visit by a programme talk to the group which provided an introduction to admission information of BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. The civil engineering industry updates and career prospects were shared with the students. Following the informative session, the students visited Rock Mechanics Laboratory and Structural Engineering Research Laboratory. Through witnessing the demonstrations of laboratory equipment and experiments firsthand, they had more understanding on rock and structural engineering which significantly enhanced their insights on the relevance of civil engineering to the community development and daily life.  

Hang Seng X HKSTP X Wofoo Future Ecopreneur Programme - Visit to CEE Laboratories

CEE welcomed a group of 20 enthusiastic university students and young innovators as part of the Future Ecopreneur Programme, co-organized by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Wofoo Social Enterprises, on 14 March 2025 (Friday). The programme is designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the Green Technology and Sustainable Development in Hong Kong. Through a series of training and activities, the programme tends to empower a community of young changemakers who innovate and drive collective impacts on sustainability, and combating climate change. As one of the integral parts of the bootcamp, participants had the opportunity to visit our Air Pollution Laboratory and Water and Waste Laboratory. Guided by Prof. Hai Guo, Professor of CEE, students were introduced to advanced lab facilities and technologies aimed at mitigating air quality challenges and promoting sustainable development. Whilst the visit to Water and Waste Laboratory provided the participants with a comprehensive overview of sewage treatment processes, emphasizing the significance of these procedures in protecting human health and the environment.  The insights gained from the visit empowered the participants with practical knowledge and a deeper understanding of how engineering solutions can lead to significant environmental impacts. CEE is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of changemakers and encouraging them to pursue careers that contribute to a sustainable future. Together, with initiatives like the Future Ecopreneur Programme, we can cultivate a vision of innovation and responsibility towards our planet.  

CEE PhD Student Received “Best Postgraduate Poster Presentation Award” at the 7th Conference on Environmental Health Risks and Control of New Pollutants

Congratulations to Mr Shihao Wang, CEE PhD Student supervised by Prof. Ling Jin, on receiving the “Best Postgraduate Poster Presentation Award” at the 7th Conference on Environment Health Risk and Control of New Pollutants. The conference took place on 14 – 16 March 3036 in Nanjing, aiming to foster the collaborative innovation in the field of environmental health risk prevention and control of emerging pollutants, green alternative technologies were also promoted. Mr Wang’s award-winning presentation, titled “Identification of pathway-perturbing toxicants in PM2.5”, showcases his exceptional research contributions and commitment to addressing critical environmental challenges.  The conference brought together experts and scholars to discuss various themes, including exposure identification and monitoring of pollutants, environmental behavior and exposure assessment, toxicological effects and mechanisms, risk monitoring and assessment, health effects and risk management, and degradation and prevention technologies. It also provided a valuable platform for graduate students to learn, exchange ideas, and showcase their research through a graduate poster exhibition. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Wang for this remarkable achievement. His success not only reflects his hard work and dedication but also highlights the continued excellence of our department in the field of environmental engineering. We look forward to seeing his future contributions to the field and the positive impact of his research on global environmental health.