News

CEE Spring Reception 2026

The CEE Spring Reception, held on 6 February 2026 (Friday), was a resounding success. Welcoming more than 300 CEE staff members, former heads, distinguished alumni and research personnel, the event celebrated our strong sense of community and connection, creating a festive atmosphere filled with joy, laughter, and togetherness. Graced by Prof. Songye Zhu, Interim Head CEE, the event unfolded with great warmth and excitement. The highlight of the day came as 20 lucky participants won attractive prizes in the lucky draw, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the celebration. Embraced by the festive spirit, CEE extends its warmest wishes for a joyful and prosperous Year of the Horse!  

CEE Departmental Visit – STFA Tam Pak Yu College & FDBWA Szeto Ho Secondary School (23 January)

A group of 54 students from STFA Tam Pak Yu College and FDBWA Szeto Ho Secondary School visited CEE on 23 January 2026 (Friday). The visit began with an opening programme talk by Prof. Tony N. N. Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, who introduced recent developments of civil engineering in Hong Kong. This was followed by an energetic Q&A quiz that provided students with an engaging overview of the profession. The group also learned about the admission procedures and career pathways for the BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and the BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development programmes. The highlights of the day included the Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination. Using a limited supply of straws and tape, students showcased their creativity and basic engineering principles to construct freestanding towers. The winning team set a new department record with a tower reaching 142 cm. After the challenge, the two schools toured our laboratories, the Structural Engineering Research Laboratory and the Hydraulics Laboratory separately. Students had the opportunity to observe cutting-edge technologies used in construction research and fluid mechanics experiments. We extend our gratitude to the students and teachers for their enthusiastic participation. We look forward to welcoming more young talent to discover the world of civil engineering with us!  

Prof. Ling Jin Featured on BBC Wildlife

Prof. Ling Jin, Assistant Professor of CEE, was recently interviewed by BBC Wildlife for a feature on the plastisphere, an ecosystem of microbes, algae, fungi and invertebrates, alongside other leading scholars in the field.  The article “‘It’s a disease superhighway.’ The shocking new ecosystem that’s evolving in our oceans” explores the plastisphere, a unique ecosystem that forms on plastic debris in oceans and waterways. When plastics enter the environment, they quickly become colonized by a variety of microorganisms. Prof. Jin emphasizes that the plastisphere is not merely waste but a living habitat with unique microbial communities, including pathogens, that aid species dispersal across oceans. This habitat significantly impacts ecological functions and poses risks of spreading harmful microbes, highlighting urgent research needs to assess plastic's effects on ocean health. Prof. Jin’s research focuses on human health impacts of air pollution, wildlife health impacts of marine pollution, and ecohealth impacts of solid waste. He actively engages in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of environmental chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, and data science, addressing critical challenges in planetary health. Recently, Prof. Jin was honored with the 2026 James J. Morgan Early Career Award for the Asia Pacific region, recognizing his pioneering contributions to environmental science and technology. Online Coverage of Prof. Jin’s Interview: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/environment/plastiphere  

Prof. Kwok-Fai Chung’s Project Receives the Winner Award in Excellence in Innovation and Technology Adoption from the Development Bureau

We are proud to announce that a project led by Prof. Kwok-Fai Chung, Research Professor of CEE and Former Director of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Steel Construction (Hong Kong Branch) (CNERC-Steel), has received the Winner Award in Excellence in Innovation and Technology Adoption. The award was presented at the Outstanding NEC Team Performance Award 2025s Presentation Ceremony on 30 January 2026. Prof. Chung received the award alongside Ir Michael Fong Hok-shing, Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Ir Joyce Y.Y. Lau, Project Manager of North Development Office, and senior engineers due to the successful application of ultra-high strength S960 steel in two large pedestrian footbridges, Footbridges F4 and F6, located in the Northern Metropolis Area. The Award was presented by Ir Ricky Chun-kit Lau, Permanent Secretary (Works), Development Bureau. The project, titled “The World’s First Ultra-high Strength S960 Steel Footbridges in the Northern Metropolis”, was executed by AECOM Asia Co. Ltd. along with a joint venture of Daewoo E&C, Chun Wo C&E, and Kwan Lee Holding. Given the lack of technical guidance on S960 steel structural design, the team undertook extensive research and development to formulate innovative construction techniques. Under a MOU signed between CNERC and CEDD in June 2023, Prof. Chung contributed significantly to various project deliverables, including effective designs and construction methodologies. The collaboration among project team members resulted in substantial material and cost savings, as well as reduced construction time. The Outstanding NEC Team Performance Awards, organized by the Development Bureau, recognize exceptional project teams in Hong Kong's construction industry, promoting a culture of excellence and innovation. The Excellence in Innovation & Technology Adoption category specifically honors teams that integrate innovative solutions through collaborative partnerships. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Chung and his team for this remarkable achievement. Their dedication to innovation and collaboration has set a new standard in the construction industry, showcasing the potential of advanced technologies in promoting sustainability. We look forward to their continued contributions to the field.  

Prof. Ling Jin Secures RGC Collaborative Research Equipment Grant 2025/26

The RGC recently announced the funding results of the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) including Collaborative Research Project Grant (CRPG), Collaborative Research Equipment Grant (CREG) and Young Collaborative Research Grant (YCRG) in 2025/26 exercise. We are proud to announce that Prof. Ling Jin, Assistant Professor of CEE, has been awarded the Collaborative Research Equipment Grant 2025/26 for his project. The project details are as follows: Proposal Ref. No.: C5081 – 25EF Name of PC: Prof. Ling Jin Proposal Title: Advanced Single-Particle Mass Spectrometer to Uncover Hidden Aerosol Complexity Impacting Health and Climate Amount Awarded: $3,400,000 The project aims to develop a single-particle mass spectrometry platform to precisely show aerosol mixing states and assess their impacts on health, toxicity, and climate, improving predictions for policymaking. In 2025/26 CRF Exercise, the RGC received a total of 31 preliminary CREG proposals, of which 8 were ultimately supported. The CRF supports multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary projects to encourage more researchers to engage in creative and high-quality cross-disciplinary projects.  Congratulations again to Prof. Jin, we believe this funding will enable him to engage in cross-disciplinary research and collaborate with multiple scholars to produce innovative and impactful outcomes. For more details about the funding results of the Collaborative Research Fund 2025/26, please visit: https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/crf/funded%20research/25-26.html

CEE Student Receives The HKIE Scholarship 2025-26

We are delighted to announce that Miss Shenin Tasnim Hasan, a Year 2 undergraduate student in the BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering programme, has been awarded The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Scholarship 2025-26. The scholarship was presented at the HKIE Prize Presentation Ceremony cum New Members’ Reception held on 17 January 2026.  The HKIE Scholarship recognizes engineering undergraduate students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, leadership skills, and a commitment to community service, alongside a passion for pursuing a career in engineering. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to up to three students who major in HKIE-accredited engineering programs in any local university. Congratulations to Ms Tasnim Hasan on receiving this recognition. This scholarship not only highlights her academic achievements but also underscores her potential as a future leader in the engineering field. We wish her continued success in her academic journey. Please visit HKIE's official website for the awardee list. https://www.hkie.org.hk/en/membership/award_detail/25/   

New joiner – Dr Weixin Liu

Dr Weixin Liu obtained his Ph.D. (Medical Sciences) degree (2023) from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, M.Sc (Cell Biology) degree from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2018), and B.Sc. (Biotechnology) Degree from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (2015). Before joining PolyU as a Research Assistant Professor, Dr Liu had worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Medicine & Therapeutics of The Chinese University of Hong Kong for two years. Dr Liu’s research explores how microbiome-host interactions, especially concerning airborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and gut disorders, influence human health and disease, aiming to elucidate AMR dissemination pathways and identify preventive strategies. Dr Liu has joined on 1 Feb 2026.  

Research of Prof Tao Wang’s Team and Collaborators Published on Science Advances

A recent research article by Prof. Tao Wang’s team and collaborators has been published in Science Advances. The research, titled “Isotopic Constraints on The Origin of Reactive Chlorine in The Troposphere”, introduces an innovative method to track ocean influence on the inland atmosphere, marking a significant advancement in atmospheric science. Reactive chlorine from oceanic and human activities affects air quality and climate. This study utilizes chemical ionization mass spectrometry to analyze nitryl chloride (ClNO₂), revealing a wide range of isotopic values and significant distinctions between sources. The findings enhance our understanding of chlorine's role in air pollution. Prof. Tao Wang, Chair Professor of Atmospheric Environment of CEE, has long been focused on uncovering the root causes of air pollution through both experimental and numerical approaches. His research has addressed critical gaps in knowledge regarding tropospheric ozone trends and their underlying drivers in East Asia, playing a key role in supporting air pollution mitigation strategies for the Hong Kong government and beyond. Science Advances is an open-access journal by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), publishing impactful research across all scientific fields. It aims to provide fair, fast peer review and freely available research. Led by esteemed scientists, it uses digital technologies to enhance communication and support major advancements in science and engineering for the benefit of humanity. Review the full article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aeb5397   

New joiner – Dr Danning Li

Dr Danning Li received his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at PolyU in 2024, after completing his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at South China University of Technology (2019) and Guangzhou University (2016). He worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at PolyU before being appointed as a Research Assistant Professor. His research focuses on road materials and pavement design, including the development of sustainable and smart paving materials, life cycle analysis of road infrastructure, and artificial intelligence-aided design of bituminous materials. Dr Li has joined on 31 Jan 2026.  

New joiner – Dr Ho Yin Tse

Dr Ho Yin Tse received his B.Sc. degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2016 and his Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering from PolyU in 2022. During his doctoral studies, he conducted research at Yale University for two years as a Lee Hysan Foundation Scholar, and subsequently continued at Yale as a Postdoctoral Associate working with Prof. Paul Anastas and Prof. Julie Zimmerman, before joining PolyU as a Research Assistant Professor. His work is based on green chemistry principles and bio-based chemical building blocks, and integrates photochemical, electrochemical, and catalytic approaches to translate molecular-level understanding into engineering-relevant functional systems. Dr Tse has joined on 1 Feb 2026.