News

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.  

CEE EOSH Graduate Receives Occupational Safety & Health Best Project Scholarship 2025

We are proud to announce that Mr Chi Wing Lau, graduate of CEE, has been awarded the Occupational Safety & Health Best Project Scholarship 2025 by the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC).  Mr Lau was graduated from the BSc (Hons) in Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH) programme. Supervised by Dr Nicole Yiu, Senior Lecturer of CEE, his final year project titled “Artificial Intelligence Design and Applications on Construction Safety Inspections” received Merit Award. This scholarship recognizes outstanding project work in key areas such as occupational safety and hygiene, ergonomics, accident prevention, construction safety, risk management, and rehabilitation. It not only acknowledges achievements of our students, but also encourages them to appreciate the importance of occupational safety and health in their studies. Congratulations once again to Mr Lau on his remarkable achievements. We look forward to his ongoing success and future contributions in the academic and professional fields of environmental and occupational safety and health.  

Research of Prof. Yi-Qing Ni’s Team Published on Nature Communications

A recent study by Dr E Deng, CEE Research Fellow, and Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Chair Professor of CEE, has been published in Nature Communications. The article, titled “Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Extends Inland”, explores the global landward extension of tropical cyclone rainfall and its implications for inland flood risk. The study demonstrates that tropical cyclone rainfall has extended inland globally from 1980 to 2023. Along the continental coasts of the Northern Hemisphere, the landward extent of tropical cyclone heavy rainfall has increased at a rate of 3.8 ± 1.8 km per decade (95% CI). Observations and model simulations suggest that nearshore sea-surface temperature warming is closely linked to this extension. Coastal urbanization may further enhance this trend. As coastal cities continue to extend inland, the landward extension of tropical cyclone heavy rainfall could exacerbate inland population exposure and potential flood risk. Nature Communications is an open access, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in all areas of the biological, health, physical, chemical, Earth, social, mathematical, applied, and engineering sciences. Papers published by the journal aim to represent important advances of significance to specialists within each field. This research is supported by the Research Grants Council Theme-based Research Scheme (Grant No. T22-501/23-R). Review the full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70647-1  

Dr Yong Tao Secures Grant from PROCORE - France/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme 2025/26

Congratulations to Dr Yong Tao, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, for securing HK$61,200 from the PROCORE - France/ Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme 2025/26 introduced by the Research Grants Council (RGC) and the Consulate General of France (CGF) in Hong Kong. Under the scheme, Dr Tao will collaborate with Prof. Roland J.M. Pellenq, Director of Research at CNRS, French National Centre for Scientific Research, for 2 years. Dr Tao’s research project, titled “Cementitious Optimization Against Seawater Threats (COAST)”, aims to enhance the long-term durability of concrete infrastructure in harsh marine environments. By combining experimental research at PolyU with advanced computational modeling at CNRS, the research team will investigate the fundamental degradation mechanisms of cementitious materials under seawater attack. Ultimately, the project seeks to develop predictive durability models and engineer next-generation, resilient cement formulations, directly contributing to global decarbonization and sustainability goals in the construction sector. The PROCORE scheme is designed to promote high-quality research collaboration between Hong Kong and France. It provides one to two year travel grants to support researchers from both sides in conducting joint studies, exchanging expertise, and distributing new research outcomes. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Tao and we look forward to seeing the impactful research outcomes generated through this international collaboration. For more details about the funding results of the PROCORE, please visit: https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/fr_hk_jrs/funding_results/frhk2526.html