News

PolyU ASCE Student Chapter Secures First Prize in 2026 Greater China ASCE Student Symposium Paper Competition

We are proud to announce that the PolyU ASCE Student Chapter has been awarded the First Prize in the 2026 Greater China ASCE Student Symposium Paper Competition. Under the mentorship of Prof. Kai Zhou, Assistant Professor of CEE, CEE undergraduate students Mr Zixuan Xu, Mr Naicheng Chen, Mr Chun Ki Liu, and Mr Hongjian Li brought honour to the Department and the University through their exceptional performance. Hosted by Zhejiang University during 10 - 12 April 2026, the Symposium featured various activities including Sustainable Solutions Competition, Technical Visit and a Paper Competition themed “Engineering the Public Welfare: How Civil Engineers Engage and Advance Communities Through Ethical Infrastructure Design in accordance with the ASCE Code of Ethics”.  The award-winning paper, titled “Beyond the Technical Optimum: Advancing Spatial Justice Through Ethical Infrastructure Design and Inclusive Policy”, examines how the ASCE Code of Ethics can benefit civil engineering to serve community effectively, bringing out an important alert that successful infrastructure design needs the community’s voice and support from its start. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the PolyU ASCE Student Chapter Team for their dedication and research excellence. We look forward to their continued success in future competitions and contributions to the professional arenas. More information of the competition: https://studentsymposium.asce.org/greater-china/competition-results-2026/ More information of the student chapter: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/cee/current-students/student-exposure/cee-student-organizations/asce-student-chapter/  

Prof. Shu-Chien Hsu Secures Innovation and Technology Fund

Congratulations to Prof. Shu-Chien Hsu, Associate Professor of CEE, for securing HK$800,000 from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) under the Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP), administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government. In response to the pressing challenges of managing incineration residues (IBA/IFA) and construction waste in Hong Kong, Prof. Hsu’s research project, titled “From Waste to Shield: High-Value Utilization of Incineration Ash and C&D Waste in Sustainable Radiation-Shielding Concrete”, proposes an innovative "detoxification-to-valorization" strategy through geopolymer-based stabilization and functional activation. The research aims to effectively immobilize hazardous heavy metals while leveraging the naturally occurring high-atomic-number elements (such as Pb, Fe, and Ni) within the waste as functional components for radiation shielding. By developing a sustainable X-ray shielding recycled concrete for medical infrastructure, this study seeks to pioneer a full-volume, high-value recycling solution that supports Hong Kong’s transition toward green construction and a circular economy. The ITF is designed to enhance the added value, productivity, and competitiveness of Hong Kong’s economic activities. Through the ITF-ITSP, the Government seeks to support applied research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by R&D Centres or designated local public research institutes in collaboration with companies. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Hsu. His innovative research in transforming waste into sustainable construction materials will promote sustainability and help achieve carbon neutrality goals in the construction sector.  

CEE PhD Student Honours with “Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2025 ”

Congratulations to Mr Tong Nie, CEE PhD student supervised by Prof. Wei Ma, for being honored with the “Best Research Postgraduate Student of the Year 2025” by PolyU Graduate School. Notably, Mr Nie is one of only three PhD students across the university receiving the accolade this year. This Award recognizes extraordinary research postgraduate students who exhibit outstanding inquisitiveness and make brief impact on peers and research communities. Mr Nie’s research focuses on generative AI for safety-critical scenario generation to support robust training and testing of autonomous driving systems. His work develops AI methods to create safety-critical driving scenarios, helping autonomous vehicles learn from rare but dangerous situations and improving their safety before deployment on real roads.  Kudos to Mr Nie for his exemplary research and strong commitment to enhancing the safety and reliability of autonomous driving systems. His innovative work is paving the way for advanced AI-driven solutions addressing real world road safety challenges. We look forward to his continued contributions to research advancement and the positive impact his work will bring to the society.  

CEE Departmental Visit – China Holiness Church Living Spirit College (27 March)

A group of students from China Holiness Church Living Spirit College visited CEE on 27 March 2026 (Friday). The visit began with an interactive Q&A quiz hosted by Prof. Andy Y.F. Leung, Associate Head and Associate Professor of CEE, which provided students with an engaging overview of the recent developments in civil and environmental engineering. Prof. Leung also shared information about admission procedures and career prospects for BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development programmes to the group. The highlight of the day was the Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination. Using a limited supply of straws and tape, students utilized their creativity and basic engineering principles to construct freestanding towers. The winning team achieved a tower height of 97 cm. The group also had the opportunity to visit the University Gallery, where they were about to learn different aspects of PolyU, including its history and impactful research. Alongside a collection of insightful facts, students gained a deeper understanding of PolyU’s rich history of pursuing excellence as a leading, innovative, and world-class university. We express our gratitude to all students and teachers for their enthusiastic participation. We look forward to welcoming more young talent to explore the world of civil engineering with us!  

HKIE-CIHT Joint Technical Seminar - Realizing Excellence: The Hong Kong Railway Standards in Practice

A technical seminar, themed "Realizing Excellence: The Hong Kong Railway Standards in Practice", was successfully held on 24 March 2026 (Wednesday). This event was jointly organized by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Civil Division) (HKIE-CVD) and The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Logistics & Transportation Division) (HKIE-LTD), with support from CEE.  The seminar aims to discuss the future of Hong Kong’s railway development and explore how the new Hong Kong Railway Standards improve safety, reduce costs, and accelerate project delivery. It features a high-level panel of experts who will provide critical insights into the new unified framework, including Ir Thomas Sze, Government Engineer/ Railway Development 1 of the Highways Department, who shared insights on the strategic development of the new standards; Ir Henry Cheung, Chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Railway Transport Professionals, presented professional views and discussed the preparation of the standards; and Ir Richard Feng, Regional Institute Technical Director of Beijing Urban Construction, discussed practical implementation and illustrative case studies. The seminar attracted over 200 participants, including government officials, researchers, and leading practitioners. As a department dedicated to excellence in infrastructure and transportation, CEE is committed to serving as a vital platform for knowledge exchange. We believe that bringing together policymakers and industry leaders is essential for ensuring our students and researchers remain at the forefront of the technological advancements shaping our city. A big thank you to CIHT, HKIE, all the speakers and attendees for making this a vibrant and insightful exchange. We look forward to hosting more sessions that drive innovation and resilience in Hong Kong’s transport network!  

New joiner – Dr Haoran Xu

Dr Haoran Xu obtained his Ph.D. degree in Environmental Geography from Peking University in 2023. Prior to joining the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a Research Assistant Professor, he conducted two years of postdoctoral research at the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE), France. Dr Xu’s research focuses on regional air quality modeling, as well as the assessment of public health risks and climatic effects of aerosols. His current research interest lies in predicting and evaluating the health risks and climatic impacts of aerosols under multiple future climate scenarios using pollutant emission inventories. Dr Xu has joined on 1 April 2026.  

New joiner – Dr Changchao Li

Dr Changchao Li received his Ph.D. from Shandong University in 2023, with joint supervision at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and his bachelor’s degree from Jiangsu University in 2018. Before joining PolyU as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, he served as a Hong Kong RGC Junior Research Fellow (2025–2026) and a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow (2023–2025) at PolyU. His research spans environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, antimicrobial resistance, and plastic pollution, with a particular focus on how anthropogenic activities reshape environmental microbiomes and pose One Health risks, especially through plastic-associated microbial hazards. His work has been published in leading journals, including Nature, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, The Innovation, One Earth, iMeta, Environmental Science & Technology, and Water Research. He also holds editorial positions in several international journals, including the iMeta, Journal of Environmental Management, and Frontiers in Toxicology. Dr Li has joined on 1 April 2026.  

New joiner – Dr Yong Han

Dr Yong Han obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Tongji University in 2018. Before joining his current position as a Research Assistant Professor, he conducted postdoctoral research at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Fudan University. His work explores the formation, evolution, and impacts of pollutants emitted from combustion sources, spanning their roles in atmospheric chemistry, public health, and climate-related effects. Dr Han has joined on 1 April 2026.  

Celebrating Student Excellence at The Outstanding Student Award and Presidential Student Leadership Award Presentation Ceremony 2025/26

We are proud to announce the remarkable achievements of CEE students, who have been honoured with two distinguished awards for the 2025/26 academic year, The Presidential Student Leadership Award (PSLA) of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and The Outstanding Student Award (OSA) of Faculty of Construction and Environment. There achievements highlight the dedication and passion of our students in both academic excellence and leadership. Presidential Student Leadership Award 2025/26 Mr Chan Chun Hung Ringo, a Year 3 student in BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering, received the Presidential Student Leadership Award of Department. Ringo has demonstrated exceptional academic performance and leadership as a team leader and mentor in community projects. His commitment to service, passion for Hong Kong and innovative spirit mark him out as a future civil engineer who will make a positive impact to the society.  Outstanding Student Award 2025/26 Miss Kyin Nar Hmue Khin Lucus, a final-year student in BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (Smart Mobility) with a Secondary Major in AIDA, was awarded with the Outstanding Student Award of Faculty. Lucus is a well rounded student with excellent academic results and notable leadership experience. As a president of student society and an active committee member in multiple associations, she has shown dedication to the University and the wider community through sustained involvement in extracurricular and service activities.  More details of the awardee: https://polyu.hk/bYNNr  Congratulations to Ringo and Lucus for their exemplary achievements. We wish them continued success in their future endeavours and look forward to their ongoing pursuit of excellence both academically and non-academically.  

PolyU CEE Achieves Remarkable Results in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

In the recently announced QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, PolyU has achieved commendable results in attaining global top 18th in Civil & Structural Engineering and 34th in Environmental Sciences. Both subjects have secured the top spot in Hong Kong. These results reflect CEE’s commitment to academic excellence, impactful research, and strong industry recognition as well as highlighting our dedication to advancing knowledge and expertise in the field of civil and environmental engineering. The QS World University Rankings by Subject features fifty-five subjects across five broad subject areas. Universities are scored based on various criteria including academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper, the H-index and international research network. More details can be found at https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings.  We express our heartfelt appreciation to all our staff, scholars, and students whose dedication has made this achievement possible. Looking forward, we will continue to pursue innovation and excellence in civil and environmental engineering and strengthen our contributions to the field.