News

Probing Microbial Hazards in Urban Air: International Media Spotlight on Research by Prof. Ling Jin’s Team

We are excited to highlight the pioneering research of Prof. Ling Jin, Assistant Professor of CEE, and his team, which has garnered international attention, including features in Nature Research Highlights and an embargoed press release on American Chemical Society. Under the theme "Probing Microbial Hazards in Urban Air", these studies examine how harmful airborne microbial components contribute to public health risks in cities. In the first study, titled Disproportionately Higher Contribution of Endotoxin to PM2.5 Bioactivity than Its Mass Share Highlights the Need to Identify Low Concentration, High-Potency Components, Prof. Jin and team investigated the inflammatory effects of endotoxins from Gram-negative bacteria found in fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Despite their small mass, these bacterial toxins were found to significantly drive inflammation, raising concerns about the air quality in urban environments. The second study on Public Health Implications of Airborne Candida: Viability, Drug Resistance, and Genetic Links to Clinical Strains highlighted airborne Candida in respirable suspended particulate (PM10) from urban areas. It identified multidrug-resistant Candida parapsilosis and revealed genetic links to clinical strains, suggesting the possibility of community-acquired infections. This underscores the impact of urban pollutants and climate change on antifungal resistance. Explore the studies in the following links: Nature Research Highlights: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03052-1  American Chemical Society Press Release: https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2025/october/pathogenic-yeast-strains-found-in-urban-air-but-not-along-the-coast.html   Prof. Jin's research opens vital discussions on the microbial hazards in urban air, emphasizing the need for ongoing investigation into the impacts of urban living on public health. We congratulate him on his achievements and anticipate more insights from his pioneering work.  

Workshop on Design Guidelines for the Use of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) in Marine Structures

The Workshop on Design Guidelines for the Use of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) in Marine Structures, organized by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) in collaboration with four PolyU units (CEE, RISUD, RICRI and SKL-CRCC), was successfully held on 17 September 2025. The event brought together representatives from government, academia, and industry to exchange knowledge and insights on key topics including application of FRP materials, FRP composites for construction, design consideration and procedures, and specifications and test methods for marine environments. The workshop was graced by Ir Ricky Wong, JP, Head of the CEO of CEDD, and Prof. Xiangdong Li, Dean of FCE. They both emphasized the importance of innovation and sustainability in shaping the long-term development of Hong Kong’s infrastructure. Presentations were delivered by Prof. Tao Yu, Associate Head (Research) of CEE and Dr Michael Chan, CEE Senior Research Fellow, covering FRP applications, standards, testing methods, and design considerations. Participants also toured CEE’s laboratory to observe advanced FRP testing equipment. With internationally recognized expertise in FRP research, Prof. Yu’s team is actively supporting CEDD in drafting Hong Kong’s first-ever Design Guidelines for the Use of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) in Marine Structures. This milestone document will provide engineers with a systematic reference, enhancing structural durability, reducing maintenance demands, and fostering the broader adoption of sustainable construction practices in Hong Kong. Stay tuned – the first Hong Kong FRP Guideline for Marine Structures will be released soon.  

PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2024

The CEE Non-Local Students Orientation Night was successfully held on 26 September 2025 (Friday), attracting over 30 international students eager to connect with their fellow civil engineering peers and kick off the semester in a vibrant atmosphere. The evening was filled with engaging games, stimulating conversations, and a warm environment that celebrated the rich cultural diversity of our student body. The CEE department is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community for all students. To enhance connections between local and non-local students, an International Student Representatives Taskforce was formed. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between local and non-local students, ensuring that everyone feels supported and integrated into campus life. We believe that such interactions not only enrich the educational experience but also cultivate lasting friendships and networks. The success of this orientation night is just the beginning, and we look forward to many more opportunities for our students to engage and thrive together throughout the academic year.  

PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2024

The PolyU Patents Achievement Award honours departments and inventors who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to intellectual property (IP) activities. Four awards are presented to highlight accomplishments in leveraging IP into societal impact thus generating revenue. The four awards include the “Top Patents Filing Award”, award considers the IP filing activities over the past five years (2020-2024), the “Most Active Patents Filing Award”, award focuses on the IP filing activities within year 2024, the “Most Active IP Commercialisation”, award focuses on the highest number of licensing cases within year 2024, and the “Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award”, award focuses the high-value licensing cases over the past three years (2022- 2024). These awards showcase PolyU’s dedication to promoting innovation and protecting intellectual property. CEE is proud to be awarded the Top Patents Filing Award 2024, Most Active Patents Filing Award in the year 2024, and Most Active IP Commercialisation Award 2024. These recognitions reflect our sustained excellence in IP filings and our unwavering commitment to advancing innovation while protecting the intellectual assets developed by our researchers. Special congratulations to Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit of CEE, for receiving the “Top Patents Filing Award (Inventor)”. This distinction celebrates his remarkable contributions to patent filings throughout 2024. These awards highlight CEE’s ongoing efforts to cultivate an environment that encourages creativity and values the protection of intellectual property. We sincerely thank all our inventors for their dedication and hard work in driving innovation and securing IP rights. Their efforts exemplify CEE’s leadership in advancing knowledge and making a positive impact on society.  

Twenty-eight 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 2025 announced by Stanford University. Notably, 7 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 9th globally in their areas of expertise. Kudos to our outstanding researchers! The internationally recognized list highlights CEE’s commitment to research excellence and technological breakthroughs. We look forward to the scholars' continued accomplishments and their ongoing contributions to advancing knowledge and innovation! For more information, please visit: https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/8 Name (in alphabetical order of surname) Subject Field Prof. Kaiming Bi 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. Ahmed Youssef Elghazouli Civil 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. Yuhong Wang Building & Construction Prof. Yong Xia Civil Engineering Dr Dongxing Xuan Building & Construction Prof. Jian-Hua Yin Geological & Geomatics Engineering 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                                                                          

CEE Welcome Gathering cum Info Session for International Students

The CEE Welcome Gathering cum Info Session for International Students held on 19 September 2025 (Friday) was a resounding success!  We were thrilled to see a vibrant mix of new and returning international students coming together to foster connections and share experiences. Prof. Andy Y.F. Leung, Associate Head (Partnership) of CEE, and Dr Barbara W.Y. Siu, Senior Lecturer of CEE, introduced the department and offered valuable study tips, helping students acclimate to university life and the beautiful city of Hong Kong. The CEE Student Association, along with the Year 2 CEE International Student Representatives, introduced themselves to the freshmen and shared exciting upcoming activities for the academic year. A big thank you to everyone who participated, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all. For those who missed out, stay tuned for more events and activities from the Department. We look forward to seeing you at future gatherings!  

PolyU Info Day 2025

The PolyU Info Day 2025 was successfully held on 27 September 2025 (Saturday). We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the enthusiastic visitors who share our passion for 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, introduced the admission information and career prospects of BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering [JS3739] and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development [JS3375] during the Undergraduate Programme Talk, drawing over 350 participants eager to explore our programs and gain insights for their educational journeys. In light of the rise of artificial intelligence, a workshop on AI Applications in Civil Engineering, hosted by Prof. Wei Ma, Associate Professor of CEE, and Prof. Jacqueline Lo, Assistant Professor of CEE, provided a glimpse into innovative applications within the field. Attendees also had the unique opportunity to explore our state-of-the-art facilities, including the Structural Engineering Research Lab and Industrial Centre, where cutting-edge civil engineering equipment and technologies were showcased, highlighting the exciting future of our discipline. CEE offers a dynamic learning environment, world-class research opportunities and a strong emphasis on real-world applications. Join us at CEE and embark on a journey where the impossible becomes possible, as we shape the future of our built environment together! Programme Talk Playback UG Programme Talk: https://youtu.be/hph3kDXQ3LU  

Prof. Yong Xia Received Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year Award

We are proud to announce that Prof. Yong Xia, Professor of CEE, has been recognized by the editorial board of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) journal as the recipient of the Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year (SHM-POY) Award for 2025.   Established for over 20 years, the Award recognises individuals worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to structural health monitoring that benefit society. It honours excellence in theory, analysis, applications, education, or other advancements within the field, focusing on achievements in the past few years. Notably, PolyU is the only university in Hong Kong to receive this honour, and Prof. Xia is the third scholar from PolyU to be recognized with this accolade in the past two decades. Prof. Xia specializes in large-scale civil engineering structural health monitoring, structural damage identification, and substructure methods for large structures. Being an expert in the field, his pioneering technologies have been applied to numerous prominent projects, including the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and the Shanghai Tower etc., contributing significantly to the advancement of science and technology in SHM. We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Yong Xia on this well-deserved recognition. We eagerly anticipate his continued achievements and are excited to see how his endeavours in SHM address critical challenges in the field.  

Prof. Tony Sze Featured on TVB News Programme

Prof. Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, was featured on TVB News’ “A Closer Look” (83 無綫新聞台《時事多面睇 - 紅光任我行》) on September 15, 2024. The segment discussed the effectiveness of red light auxiliary devices in reducing red light running behaviors. Prof. Sze shared expert insights on pedestrian red light running behaviour in Hong Kong, emphasizing the importance of traffic safety and effective urban mobility solutions. The discussion highlighted practical approaches to enhance pedestrian safety in the city. Prof. Sze believes that implementing red light cameras, strengthening law enforcement, and promoting public education campaigns simultaneously will significantly improve pedestrian safety. A revisit of the interview can be found here (Starting from 8:00): https://t.ly/8Twfi     

Prof. Anthony Chen Being Identified as the Most Influential Scholar with High-impact Contributions

We are proud to announce that Prof. Anthony Chen, Professor of CEE, has been identified as the most influential scholar with high-impact contributions to the field of vulnerability and resilience analysis of transportation road networks. In addition, PolyU has been acknowledged as the most productive institution in this research area. This recognition stems from a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy. The study aimed to provide an extensive literature review of scientific articles in the field of vulnerability and resilience of transportation road networks. To achieve this, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was carried out, investigating road network vulnerability and resilience by selecting all articles published between 2003 and 2023. A total of 594 papers were collected from the Web of Science (WoS).   Congratulations to Prof. Chen for this well-deserved honor. His dedication and innovative research continue to shape the future of transportation network and inspire scholars worldwide. We look forward to witnessing more groundbreaking achievements from him in the years to come. Review the full research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825007063