News

CEE China GBA Study Tour 2026

Led by Prof. Andy Leung, Mr Hoi-yung Lin, and Dr Pei-Chen Wu, the CEE China GBA Study Tour, held from 5 to 8 January 2026, provided our UG students a distinctive tour to explore Guangzhou and Heyuan. The tour immersed students in the latest advancements in geotechnical engineering while fostering meaningful connections with peers from Guangzhou University.  Highlights included visits to the Earthquake Engineering Research & Test Center of Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Xinfeng River Flood Control Levee, Huanglong Cave, and Xinfeng River Hydropower Station. These experiences offered our students valuable insights into geotechnical engineering practices and their applications in large-scale infrastructure projects. We sincerely appreciate the hospitality and support from our hosts at Guangzhou University. This enriching study tour has broadened our students' horizons and deepened their passion for civil and environmental engineering.  

CEE Departmental Online Programme Talk – St. Paul’s Convent School (27 February)

A group of 16 students from St. Paul’s Convent School joined the CEE Departmental Online Programme Talk on 27 February 2026 (Friday). Prof. Tony N. N. Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, kicked off the session with a fun and interactive Q&A quiz, offering an exciting glimpse into the world of civil engineering. The students also explored the admission procedures and career pathways for our flagship programmes, BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. A huge thank you to the enthusiastic students and their teacher for joining us with such energy and curiosity! We look forward to welcoming more young talents to discover the impact of civil & environmental engineering with CEE!  

HKIE-CIHT Joint Technical Seminar - Transport Strategy Blueprint

A technical seminar, themed "Transport Strategy Blueprint", was successfully held on 25 February 2026 (Wednesday). This event was jointly organized by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Logistics & Transportation Division) (HKIE-LTD), with support from CEE. The seminar featured Ir Clarence Cheng, Chief Engineer from the Transport Department. The talk, focused on the HKSAR Government’s forward-looking “Transport Strategy Blueprint” attracted over 200 participants from across the government, industry, and academic sectors.  During the seminar, Ir Cheng introduced the blueprint’s key strategies and shared valuable insights on smart and green mobility, infrastructure connectivity, and people-centric design.  A big thank you to CIHT, HKIE, and Ir Cheng for an enlightening evening. We look forward to continuing this collaboration to drive the future of infrastructure development in Hong Kong!  

New joiner – Dr Yifei Xu

Dr Yifei Xu received his Ph.D. degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Zhejiang University in 2023. Working at the interface of structural and geotechnical engineering, his research centers on metamaterial-based wave manipulation for low-frequency vibration mitigation in civil infrastructure. Before being appointed as a Research Assistant Professor, Dr Xu worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at PolyU for over two years. His current research bridges fundamental wave physics and practical applications, with the emphasis on analytical modeling of elastic metamaterials and metamaterial-based sensing for infrastructure maintenance and assessment. Dr Xu has joined on 1 March 2026.  

CEE Chinese New Year Carnival 2026

The CEE Chinese New Year Carnival was a vibrant success on 12 February 2026 (Thursday). Organized by the CEE International Student Taskforce, the event brought together a diverse mix of local and international students to celebrate the festive season and explore Chinese culture. Activities included a hands-on Chinese calligraphy workshop, engaging live music performances, and opportunities for mingling and cultural exchange. The carnival highlighted the department’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for international students while strengthening cross-cultural connections among students from different backgrounds. By creating spaces for interaction, collaboration, and celebration, the event helped deepen the sense of community within CEE. Looking ahead, we anticipate many more opportunities for our students to engage, learn from one another, and thrive together throughout the academic year. Stay tuned for more student activities!  

Prof. Tony Sze Secures Smart Traffic Fund

We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, has been awarded approximately $7.04 million funding from the 23rd batch of the Smart Traffic Fund. His innovative project, titled “Bus Automatic Emergency Braking System Designed for Hong Kong Road and Traffic Conditions”, aims to design an Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS) for buses tailored to Hong Kong’s road and traffic conditions.  Prof. Sze’s project will analyze traffic accident records and real-time bus trajectory data collected during shadow tests to evaluate AEBS performance and its effectiveness in reducing collisions while ensuring passenger safety. The research deliverables include providing empirical evidence for bus operators to formulate AEBS deployment strategies in Hong Kong and the enhancement of overall bus safety. The Smart Traffic Fund provides financial support to local organizations and enterprises to carry out innovative research, with the aims of enhancing commuting convenience, improving the efficiency of the road network and road space, and strengthening driving safety. Congratulations to Prof. Sze on this outstanding achievement and we look forward to the meaningful impact his work will bring to the enhancement of transportation efficiency and driving safety in Hong Kong For more details about the funding results of the Smart Traffic Fund, please visit: https://stf.hkpc.org/psri-131-2512-pr/  

Dr Jianxin Lu Secures Innovation and Technology Fund

Congratulations to Dr Jianxin Lu, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, for securing HK$800,000 from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) under the Partnership Research Programme (PRP), administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government. Dr Lu’s research project, titled “High-value-added Utilization of Recycled Fibreglass in Fibre Reinforced Spray Mortar for Infrastructure Rehabilitation”, aims to develop an eco-friendly fibreglass reinforced spray mortar (FGRSM) to repair seawater and bacteria induced concrete deterioration. By recycling waste fibreglass into a high-performance and eco-friendly construction material, the project promotes sustainable infrastructure rehabilitation and local waste reduction in Hong Kong. It also supports circular economy and reduces maintenance costs for public works. The ITF is designed to enhance the added value, productivity, and competitiveness of Hong Kong’s economic activities. Through the ITF-PRP, the Government seeks to support applied research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by R&D Centres or designated local public research institutes in collaboration with companies. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Lu and we look forward to the positive impacts his research will bring to the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s construction industry.  

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