News

Prof. Ling Jin Featured on RTHK Radio Programme

Prof. Ling Jin, Assistant Professor of CEE, was featured on RTHK’s radio programme “World in a Nutshell” (十萬八千里) on 13 June 2026. The segment elaborated on the microplastic pollution issue and the plausibility of using extracts from moringa oleifera seeds to remove microplastics from water. Prof. Jin’s research bridges environmental chemistry, toxicology, and microbiology to address the ecological and health impacts of air and marine pollution, as well as solid waste. He also created a global atlas of plastic-associated bacteria and introduced the “microplastome” concept, deepening our understanding of plastic pollution’s multifaceted impacts. A revisit of the interview can be found here (Starting from 2:45 of Part 2): https://polyu.me/4xHVMRQ

CEE Departmental Visit – AD & FD POHL Leung Sing Tak College (26 May)

CEE welcomed 30 Secondary students from AD & FD POHL Leung Sing Tak College on 26 May 2026 (Tuesday) for a joyful afternoon of exploration and practical learning. The visit started with a programme talk hosted by Ir Chung-Lim Kwan, Senior Teaching Fellow of CEE, who gave students an overview of the recent developments in civil and environmental engineering. During the talk, Ir Kwan also shared the admission procedures and career prospects for BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. The highlight of the day was our exciting Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination. Equipped with only straws and tape, students used their creativity and problem-solving skills to build freestanding towers. The winning team reached a fantastic height of 123 cm!  The group also visited the Transport and Highway Engineering Laboratory. Through a series of interesting experiments and demonstrations, they knew the latest innovative materials for road surface and gained some practical insights into highway engineering in Hong Kong. Big thanks to all students and teachers for their passionate participation. We look forward to greeting more young generation to discover the world of civil engineering with us!

CEDD Safety Stand-down Workshop 2026

The CEDD Safety Stand-down Workshop 2026, organized by the Civil Engineering and Development Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and supported by the Research Centre for Design for Safety of PolyU CEE, was successfully held on 3 June 2026. The event brought together senior management from the HKSAR Government, along with collaborators from consultants and contractors, to share best practices and insights on site safety management. Prof. Songye Zhu, Interim Head and Professor of CEE, represented the Department at the workshop. His participation underscored the university’s ongoing commitment to advancing construction safety research and fostering deeper industry collaboration. CEE has long been dedicated to promoting safety within the construction sector, and strives to advance the science and practice of safety by integrating cutting-edge research from engineering, environmental science, and systems design.  We welcome industry partners to collaborate with us not only to equip future generations with skills and knowledge but also to translate research findings into practical, actionable solutions. Together, let’s establish a safe and risk-free environment in the construction industry.

CEE PhD Student Receives Best Poster Award at China Rock International Symposium (CRIS) 2026

Congratulations to Mr Qiwu Xie, CEE PhD student co-supervised by Prof. Jianhua Yin, Dr Peichen Wu, and Prof. Chao Zhou, on receiving the “Best Poster Award” at the inaugural China Rock International Symposium (CRIS) 2026. Mr Xie’s award-winning poster, titled “Novel FBG-based Sensor for In-situ Investigation of Marine Soft Soil”, highlights his innovation and dedication to the field of marine geotechnics. The symposium, themed “Intelligent Geotechnics for Resilient Coastal Cities”, was held from 8 – 10 May 2026 at the University of Macau. The event brought together 116 scholars and practitioners from 10 countries and regions to share the latest scientific insights, exchange practical engineering experiences, and foster international collaboration.  We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Xie on this remarkable achievement and look forward to seeing his continued contributions to the intelligent geotechnics and resilient coastal cities.  

CEE Departmental Visit – Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School (8 May)

CEE was delighted to welcome 28 secondary students from Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School On 8 May 2026 (Friday) for a wonderful afternoon of exploration and hands-on learning. The visit commenced with an interactive session hosted by Prof. Andy Leung, Associate Professor of CEE, who provided students with a comprehensive overview of recent developments in civil and environmental engineering. Prof. Leung also shared valuable information regarding admission procedures and career prospects for our two undergraduate programs, BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. We were deeply honoured to have Ir Dr Goman Ho, ARUP Fellow and Outstanding Alumni of both CEE and Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School, joined us for an inspiring sharing session. Dr Ho generously shared his industry insights and encouraged the students to boldly pursue their aspirations. Another highlight of the day was the exciting Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination. Students showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills by designing and building freestanding towers using only straws and tape. The winning team achieved an impressive height of 76 cm. The visit concluded with a tour to the Structural Engineering Research Laboratory. Through a series of engaging demonstrations, students gained some practical knowledge into structural engineering and its applications in buildings and infrastructure. We extend our sincere thanks to all the participants for their enthusiastic support. We look forward to welcoming more young talents in the future as we work together to explore the world of civil and environmental engineering!  

FCE Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Funding 2026

Nine exceptional CEE members have been awarded the 2026 FCE Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Funding. This prestigious award acknowledges and appreciate the valuable contributions and accomplishments of their endeavor in securing external competitive research funding. This success highlights their commitment to driving technological innovation and their continuous dedication to research excellence.  Congratulations to the award recipients. Their ground-breaking research will continue to make a profound impact and shape the future of civil and environmental engineering.  Find the complete list of projects in the below link: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/fce/eBulletin/public/issue187/Dean's%20Award%20for%20Outstanding%20Achievement%20in%20Research%20Funding%202026_updated.pdf  

CEE Departmental Visit – Christian Alliance S C Chan Memorial College (8 May)

CEE welcomed 23 secondary students from Christian Alliance S C Chan Memorial College on 8 May 2026 (Friday) for a fruitful morning of exploration and hands-on learning. The visit began with an interactive session led by Prof. Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, who provided students with an engaging overview of the latest developments in the field. Prof. Sze also shared the admission procedures and career prospects for BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. The highlight of the day was the exciting Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination. Armed with just straws and tape, students channelled their creativity and problem-solving skills to build impressive freestanding towers. The winning team achieved a height of 62 cm. Following the challenge, the group visited the Noise and Safety Laboratory.  Through a series of interactive experiments and demonstrations, they gained practical insights into noise control and environmental safety for Hong Kong. We extend our gratitude to all students and teachers for their enthusiastic participation. We look forward to welcoming more young generation to explore the world of civil engineering with us!  

CEE Three Minute Thesis Competition 2026

CEE recently wrapped up its eagerly awaited Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition on 14 May 2026 (Thursday). The event showcased the impressive research capabilities and presentation skills of CEE RPg students. Four of the six talented participants have been nominated to represent CEE at the FCE 3MT® Competition on 3 June 2026 (Wednesday), where they will face off against contestants from other departments. Here are the winners of the CEE 3MT® Competition: Rank Student Name 3MT Title Chief Supervisor Champion YANG Shihui Food-related waste stream bioconversion: Medium-chain fatty acids production through carboxylate chain elongation Prof. Shao-Yuan Leu First Runner-up & People's Choice LU Tian When Traffic Meets Corrosion: How Long Can Our Bridges Survive? Prof. Yong Xia Second Runner-up LI Haiyun From Cascade to Recovery: Engineering Flood Resilience Beneath the City Prof. Huan-Feng Duan Congratulations to all the participants and winners for their remarkable performances and dedication to advancing research and communication in civil and environmental engineering. Stay tuned for more updates as our nominees prepare for the upcoming interdepartmental competition! 🏆🌟 Highlights of the Competition: https://youtu.be/gRIJ74VrRaU

CEE Member Receives the ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture Award

Congratulations to Dr Kai-Qi Li, CEE Postdoctoral Fellow supervised by Prof. Zhen-Yu Yin, for being honored with the Bright Spark Lecture Award by the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), the leading international professional body in geotechnical engineering with over 90 member societies worldwide. Dr Li is one of the few young scholars selected for this honor this year, reflecting the international recognition of her research excellence. Dr Li has proposed and developed the "GeoPUDding" intelligent geomechanics framework (where P stands for Physics, U for Uncertainty, and D for Data), bridging physics, data, and uncertainty to enable robust, interpretable, and efficient computational frameworks for modern geotechnical analysis and design. Her research has been applied to practical engineering projects, including the Gongbei Tunnel of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge. Kudos to Dr Li for her outstanding achievements and strong commitment to advancing intelligent and reliable geotechnical engineering. We look forward to her continued contributions to research excellence and the positive impact her work will bring to the engineering community and society.  

HKIE-CIHT Joint Technical Seminar - Championing Innovative Construction Technologies in the Northern Metropolis

PolyU CEE was proud to support the technical seminar, “Championing Innovative Construction Technologies in the Northern Metropolis”, on 15 May 2026. Jointly organized by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Civil Division) (HKIE-CVD), the seminar showcased how PolyU CEE’s cutting-edge research is being applied to Hong Kong’s infrastructure projects. The seminar featured Ir Gavin Wong, a seasoned civil engineer in the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), who highlighted the deployment of transformative solutions in the Northern Metropolis, including the use of ultra-high-strength S960 steel for pedestrian footbridges, horizontal bridge rotation to construct a vehicular bridge over the East Rail Line, and the adoption of U-shaped and rectangular tunnel boring machines to overcome complex site constraints. He also discussed the integration of semi-flexible pavement to enhance the resilience of our transport networks. It is truly inspiring to see how innovations pioneered by our very own PolyU scholars are now “championing” the construction of the Northern Metropolis! At PolyU CEE, we go beyond teaching engineering, we foster the knowledge transfer that builds cities, empowering young civil engineers and prospective students to turn cutting-edge science into sustainable, real-world infrastructure. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ir Gavin Wong and all the participants. Join us and be part of the next generation of innovators!