News

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

CEE Members Excel in International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2026

We are thrilled to announce that CEE members have excelled at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, securing 4 awards including 3 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal. The winning projects demonstrate breakthroughs across advanced construction, sustainable materials and smart system. These accolades serve as a strong testament to CEE’s commitment to translating innovative solutions into impactful research, addressing the world’s most pressing problems. The 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva attracted over a thousand entries from 40 countries. CEE members have truly shone on the global stage, highlighting their perseverance in the field of civil and environmental engineering. Congratulations again to all the CEE members 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/geneva2026/ Project (in alphabetical order of project title) Principal Investigator(s) Award Construction Robot for Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) and Steel Structure Dr Xiao-Zhou Han Postdoctoral Fellow Gold Medal Green Energy-driven Electrochemical Upcycling of Urban Solid Wastes Prof. Shipeng Zhang Assistant Professor Prof. Chi Sun Poon Distinguished Research Professor Gold Medal Latching-based Smart Control System for Mitigating Ultralow-frequency Vibrations: Inspired by Wave Energy Converters Prof. Songye Zhu Interim Head Mr Hao Wang PhD Candidate Gold Medal Nanocarbon-coated Conductive Aggregates (NCCA) for Smart, Sustainable Asphalt Pavement Prof. Zhen Leng Professor Silver Medal  

CIHT Technical Seminar

CEE was proud to support the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation – Hong Kong (CIHT-HK) in hosting a successful technical seminar on “Trunk Road T4 and Tseung Kwan O Promenade Southern Bridge” on 13 March 2026. The seminar engaged around 40 participants from government, industry, and academia, facilitating an insightful exchange of knowledge on transport infrastructure in Hong Kong. A big thank you to the distinguished speaker, Ir Carrie Leung, Deputy Project Manager (East) of CEDD, or her inspiring presentation. Her talk highlighted how engineering excellence, innovation, and technology are being utilized to overcome complex construction challenges in Hong Kong. We would also like to express our appreciation to CIHT Hong Kong in organizing this event and bridging the gap between academia and industry professionals. Stay tuned for more upcoming technical seminars in the coming months as we continue to explore the exciting developments shaping Hong Kong.