News

CEE Career Fair 2026

Hosted across two consecutive Fridays on 16 and 23 October 2026, the CEE Career Fair 2026 successfully brought together over 240 undergraduate and master’s students for two enriching days of career exploration, learning, and networking. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to our distinguished industry partners, AECOM, AtkinsRéalis, Dragages Hong Kong, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Hong Kong, and Mott MacDonald, for their invaluable support. Through informative presentations and interactive discussions, our students engaged directly with senior practitioners and alumni, gaining valuable perspectives on industry trends, professional qualification pathways, and practical advice for launching their engineering careers. The Department extends its warmest thanks to all participating companies for their generous dedication of time and expertise, as well as to our students for their active participation. We look forward to creating more collaborative opportunities to empower our future engineering leaders.  

14 CEE Scholars Secured NSFC Funding 2026

We are proud to announce that fourteen exceptional scholars from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) have successfully secured funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), with total funding exceeding RMB 4.5 million. Reflecting the Department’s continuous pursuit of research excellence and technological innovation, twelve scholars were awarded grants under the Young Scientists Fund (C), while two were funded under the General Programme. Notably, ten of these projects were initiated through the PolyU Shenzhen Research Institute (SZRI). NSFC aims to support basic research and stimulate free exploration, identify and foster scientific talents. The fund enables young researchers to select their own research topics within the funding guidelines, empowering them to pursue foundational studies. It helps young scientists develop the skills needed to independently manage research projects and engage in innovative work, stimulates their creative thinking, and cultivates the next generation of leaders in basic research. We extend our warmest congratulations to all the awardees. Their achievements demonstrate CEE’s dedication to advancing cutting-edge research, translating discoveries into practical engineering solutions, and creating a sustainable impact on society and our living environment.  

Research of Prof. Shipeng Zhang’s Team Published on Nature Communications

A recent research article by Prof. Shipeng Zhang, Assistant Professor of CEE, and his research team, has been published in Nature Communications. The research, titled “Multifunctional Submicron-scale Porous Water-foamed Cementitious Materials”, introduces a new concept, “water foaming,” that requires neither conventional foaming agents nor preformed foam. Conventional lightweight foamed concrete primarily relies on gas bubbles to create pores. These bubbles are unstable in early-age cementitious systems, and the resulting pores typically range from tens to hundreds of micrometres after hardening. To overcome this challenge, the team developed a foaming-agent-free technique termed "water foaming. CO₂ is used to regulate the cement flocculation network and the initial spatial configuration and physical confinement of water within it, guiding pore formation during hardening to produce a fine pore network. This approach enables the development of lightweight cementitious materials with submicron-scale pores, achieving substantial improvements in multiple macroscopic properties. Prof. Shipeng Zhang’s research focuses on sustainable construction materials, cement chemistry, and 3D concrete printing. His contributions have been recognized with the 2025/26 Early Career Award from Hong Kong’s Research Grants Council and a Gold Medal at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. Nature Communications is an open access, multidisciplinary journal that publishes significant advances across the biological, health, physical, chemical, Earth, social, mathematical, applied, and engineering sciences, aiming to provide high-quality research relevant to specialists in each discipline.  Review the full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78691-7   

CEE China (Chongqing) Study Tour 2026

Led by Prof. Yi Jiang, the CEE China (Chongqing) Study Tour, held from 13 to 19 August 2026, provided our UG students with a distinctive journey to explore the mountainous metropolis of Chongqing. The tour immersed students in cutting-edge practices in ecological restoration, sponge city development, and green infrastructure, while fostering meaningful academic exchanges with peers from Chongqing University (CQU). The 7-day programme featured a rich blend of technical, ecological, and cultural experiences. Highlights included technical visits to the Guangyang Island Eco-Education Base, a local municipal wastewater treatment plant, and local Sponge City demonstration projects. Beyond engineering practices, students participated in an academic salon at CQU, delved into history at the CQU History Museum and the "Air Raid Shelter" Patriotism Education Base, and experienced Chongqing’s distinctive urban landscape and cultural heritage through visiting the Ciqikou Ancient Town, Hongyadong, Jiefangbei, and the iconic Liziba monorail station. We sincerely appreciate the warm hospitality and generous support from our hosts at Chongqing University. This enriching study tour has broadened our students’ horizons, strengthened ties, and deepened their passion for sustainable engineering and environmental solutions.  

Smart Traffic Fund

We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Wei Ma, Associate Professor of CEE, has been awarded approximately $7.60 million funding from the 26th batch of the Smart Traffic Fund. His innovative project, titled “Development of Vision-Language Model-based Lane-Level Digital Map Modelling Technology for Establishing Lane-Level Road Network Digital Maps”, aims to apply Vision-Language Models and Artificial Intelligence to develop modelling technologies for generating lane-level road network digital maps. By integrating multi-source geospatial and road data—including street-view imagery, aerial/satellite imagery, government road-network datasets and open-source maps—the platform generates a lane-level digital road network map for Hong Kong. The project creates accurate, machine-readable lane-level digital maps that provide precise lane-level characteristics, traffic flow direction information and connectivity, etc. by coordinating specialized AI agents for data interpretation, lane-feature extraction and topology modelling. The Smart Traffic Fund provides financial support to local organizations and enterprises to carry out innovative research, with the aims of enhancing commuting convenience, improving the efficiency of the road network and road space, and strengthening driving safety. Congratulations to Prof. Ma on this outstanding achievement and we look forward to the meaningful impact his work will bring to the development of smart mobility and enhancement of transportation efficiency in Hong Kong For more details about the funding results of the Smart Traffic Fund, please visit: https://stf.hkpc.org/psri-140-2607-pr/     

CEE BBQ Gathering 2026

The CEE BBQ Gathering 2026 was successfully held on 29 September 2026 (Tuesday), bringing together over 120 undergraduate students and academic staff.  Aiming to enrich students’ learning journey while cultivating an inclusive departmental community, the gathering welcomed students from varied cultural backgrounds. The evening BBQ provided an informal and relaxed setting for participants to connect, share experiences, and strengthen the bonding between staff and students beyond the classroom. The Department extends its sincere gratitude to all staff and students for their active participation and contribution to making the event a resounding success. CEE remains committed to organizing extracurricular and community-building activities to support our students’ holistic development.  

28 CEE Scholars Ranked World’s Top 2% Scientists Released by Stanford University

28 CEE scholars have been recognized among the world’s top 2% scientists 2026 announced by Stanford University. Notably, 6 of these scholars are ranked within the top 100 in their respective fields. Remarkably, Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Distinguished Research Professor of CEE, and Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, have achieved distinguished rankings, placing 6th and 10th globally in their areas of expertise. Kudos to our outstanding researchers! This internationally acclaimed benchmark reflects CEE’s strong research capacity, international scholarly influence, and continuous commitment to scientific breakthrough and societal impact. Name (in alphabetical order of surname) Subject Field Prof. Kaiming Bi Civil Engineering Prof. S.L. Chan Civil Engineering Prof. Kwok-Wing Chau Mechanical Engineering & Transports Prof. Kam Tim Chau Geological & Geomatics Engineering Prof. Anthony Chen Logistics & Transportation Prof. Wei Chu Environmental Sciences Prof. Kwok Fai Chung Civil Engineering Prof. You Dong Civil Engineering Prof. Huan-Feng Duan Environmental Engineering Prof. Hai Guo Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences Prof. Jan-ming Ko Civil Engineering Prof. William Hing-Keung Lam Logistics & Transportation Prof. Zhen Leng Building & Construction Prof. Xiangdong Li Environmental Sciences Prof. Xiang-Zhong Li Environmental Sciences Dr Jianxin Lu Building & Construction Prof. Yi-Qing Ni Civil Engineering Prof. Chi Sun Poon Building & Construction Prof. Jin-Guang Teng Civil Engineering Prof. Tao Wang Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences Prof. Yuhong Wang Building & Construction Prof. Yong Xia Civil Engineering Dr Dongxing Xuan Building & Construction Prof. Zhen-Yu Yin Geological & Geomatics Engineering Prof. Ben Young Civil Engineering Prof. Tao Yu Civil Engineering Prof. Xiao Lin Zhao Civil Engineering Prof. Songye Zhu Civil Engineering For more information, please visit: https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/9  

PolyU Info Day 2026

The PolyU Info Day 2026 was successfully held on 10 October 2026 (Saturday). We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the prospective students, parents, and visitors who joined us to explore their future in the field of civil and environmental engineering. A special thank you goes to our dedicated academic staff and student ambassadors for their efforts in making this event a success. Dr Barbara W.Y. Siu, Senior Lecturer of CEE, delivered comprehensive briefings on our UG programmes, BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering [JS3739] and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development [JS3375]. Attracting over 400 enthusiastic participants, the sessions provided valuable insights on admission requirements, curriculum highlights, and rewarding career pathways. Dr Siu also highlighted the Secondary Major in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AIDA), illustrating how smart technologies and can be applied to civil engineering and infrastructure development. Attendees also had the unique opportunity to explore our world-class facilities, including the Industrial Centre and Noise & Safety Laboratory, where cutting-edge civil engineering equipment and technologies were showcased, offering attendees a glimpse into modern engineering practice. With a dynamic learning environment, cutting-edge research opportunities, and strong ties with the industry, CEE is committed to nurturing innovative leaders who build resilient and sustainable communities. Join us at CEE and embark on a journey where the impossible becomes possible. UG Programme Talk  https://youtu.be/Gx14Zm0YvS8 UG Programme Video  https://youtu.be/qYKpCZxLztQ?si=-f3NEy7H0Nmch-DX   

SETAC Asia-Pacific Student Research Grant

Congratulations to Mr Hengyu Wu, CEE PhD student supervised by Prof. Ling Jin, for being one of two winners of the 2026 Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Asia-Pacific Student Research Grant. Mr Wu’s project, titled “ToxiCell: Knowing when to trust virtual-cell predictions for environmental chemicals”, asks a question that’s becoming more urgent as AI moves into toxicology. ToxiCell is a virtual-cell framework designed to predict how environmental chemicals may alter gene expression under different exposure conditions. This project will extend and validate ToxiCell using independent datasets and laboratory experiments, with particular emphasis on determining when its predictions are sufficiently reliable for interpretation. The work aims to support more scalable and evidence-informed assessment of data-poor environmental chemicals by improving chemical prioritisation and guiding targeted toxicological testing. This highly competitive grant supports student-led research that advances environmental chemistry and toxicology forward across the society, while offering recipients valuable opportunities for professional development, scholarly collaboration, and impactful research outcomes. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Wu on this remarkable achievement and look forward to his continued ground-breaking work towards a better living environment.  

PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2025

We are proud to announce that CEE has received outstanding recognition at the PolyU Patents Achievement Award (PPAA) 2025, an annual scheme that honours departments and inventors who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to translating intellectual property into societal and commercial value. Designed to celebrate outstanding contributions to innovation and commercialization, the award features four categories, “Top Patents Filing Award”, “Most Active Patents Filing Award”, “Most Active IP Commercialisation Award”, and “Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award”.  CEE was proudly awarded both the “Top Patents Filing Award 2025” and “Most Active Patents Filing Award in the year 2025”. Our warmest congratulations go to Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit, and Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Distinguished Research Professor, for receiving the “Top Patents Filing Award 2025”, as well as the Wenzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute, supervised by Prof. Tao Yu, for clinching the “Most Active Patents Filing Award 2025”.  These awards reflect our researchers’ outstanding innovation, active patent portfolios, and continuous dedication to transforming cutting-edge research into real-world applications. They also underscore CEE’s commitment to fostering a vibrant ecosystem for intellectual property development and knowledge transfer. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our inventors for their dedication in driving excellence in IP creation, commercialisation, and knowledge transfer.