News

CEE Departmental Visit – Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School (8 May)

CEE was delighted to welcome 28 secondary students from Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School On 8 May 2026 (Friday) for a wonderful afternoon of exploration and hands-on learning. The visit commenced with an interactive session hosted by Prof. Andy Leung, Associate Professor of CEE, who provided students with a comprehensive overview of recent developments in civil and environmental engineering. Prof. Leung also shared valuable information regarding admission procedures and career prospects for our two undergraduate programs, BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. We were deeply honoured to have Ir Dr Goman Ho, ARUP Fellow and Outstanding Alumni of both CEE and Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School, joined us for an inspiring sharing session. Dr Ho generously shared his industry insights and encouraged the students to boldly pursue their aspirations. Another highlight of the day was the exciting Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination. Students showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills by designing and building freestanding towers using only straws and tape. The winning team achieved an impressive height of 76 cm. The visit concluded with a tour to the Structural Engineering Research Laboratory. Through a series of engaging demonstrations, students gained some practical knowledge into structural engineering and its applications in buildings and infrastructure. We extend our sincere thanks to all the participants for their enthusiastic support. We look forward to welcoming more young talents in the future as we work together to explore the world of civil and environmental engineering!  

FCE Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Funding 2026

Nine exceptional CEE members have been awarded the 2026 FCE Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Funding. This prestigious award acknowledges and appreciate the valuable contributions and accomplishments of their endeavor in securing external competitive research funding. This success highlights their commitment to driving technological innovation and their continuous dedication to research excellence.  Congratulations to the award recipients. Their ground-breaking research will continue to make a profound impact and shape the future of civil and environmental engineering.  Find the complete list of projects in the below link: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/fce/eBulletin/public/issue187/Dean's%20Award%20for%20Outstanding%20Achievement%20in%20Research%20Funding%202026_updated.pdf  

CEE Departmental Visit – Christian Alliance S C Chan Memorial College (8 May)

CEE welcomed 23 secondary students from Christian Alliance S C Chan Memorial College on 8 May 2026 (Friday) for a fruitful morning of exploration and hands-on learning. The visit began with an interactive session led by Prof. Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, who provided students with an engaging overview of the latest developments in the field. Prof. Sze also shared the admission procedures and career prospects for BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. The highlight of the day was the exciting Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination. Armed with just straws and tape, students channelled their creativity and problem-solving skills to build impressive freestanding towers. The winning team achieved a height of 62 cm. Following the challenge, the group visited the Noise and Safety Laboratory.  Through a series of interactive experiments and demonstrations, they gained practical insights into noise control and environmental safety for Hong Kong. We extend our gratitude to all students and teachers for their enthusiastic participation. We look forward to welcoming more young generation to explore the world of civil engineering with us!  

CEE Three Minute Thesis Competition 2026

CEE recently wrapped up its eagerly awaited Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition on 14 May 2026 (Thursday). The event showcased the impressive research capabilities and presentation skills of CEE RPg students. Four of the six talented participants have been nominated to represent CEE at the FCE 3MT® Competition on 3 June 2026 (Wednesday), where they will face off against contestants from other departments. Here are the winners of the CEE 3MT® Competition: Rank Student Name 3MT Title Chief Supervisor Champion YANG Shihui Food-related waste stream bioconversion: Medium-chain fatty acids production through carboxylate chain elongation Prof. Shao-Yuan Leu First Runner-up & People's Choice LU Tian When Traffic Meets Corrosion: How Long Can Our Bridges Survive? Prof. Yong Xia Second Runner-up LI Haiyun From Cascade to Recovery: Engineering Flood Resilience Beneath the City Prof. Huan-Feng Duan Congratulations to all the participants and winners for their remarkable performances and dedication to advancing research and communication in civil and environmental engineering. Stay tuned for more updates as our nominees prepare for the upcoming interdepartmental competition! 🏆🌟 Highlights of the Competition: https://youtu.be/gRIJ74VrRaU

CEE Member Receives the ISSMGE Bright Spark Lecture Award

Congratulations to Dr Kai-Qi Li, CEE Postdoctoral Fellow supervised by Prof. Zhen-Yu Yin, for being honored with the Bright Spark Lecture Award by the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), the leading international professional body in geotechnical engineering with over 90 member societies worldwide. Dr Li is one of the few young scholars selected for this honor this year, reflecting the international recognition of her research excellence. Dr Li has proposed and developed the "GeoPUDding" intelligent geomechanics framework (where P stands for Physics, U for Uncertainty, and D for Data), bridging physics, data, and uncertainty to enable robust, interpretable, and efficient computational frameworks for modern geotechnical analysis and design. Her research has been applied to practical engineering projects, including the Gongbei Tunnel of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge. Kudos to Dr Li for her outstanding achievements and strong commitment to advancing intelligent and reliable geotechnical engineering. We look forward to her continued contributions to research excellence and the positive impact her work will bring to the engineering community and society.  

HKIE-CIHT Joint Technical Seminar - Championing Innovative Construction Technologies in the Northern Metropolis

PolyU CEE was proud to support the technical seminar, “Championing Innovative Construction Technologies in the Northern Metropolis”, on 15 May 2026. Jointly organized by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Civil Division) (HKIE-CVD), the seminar showcased how PolyU CEE’s cutting-edge research is being applied to Hong Kong’s infrastructure projects. The seminar featured Ir Gavin Wong, a seasoned civil engineer in the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), who highlighted the deployment of transformative solutions in the Northern Metropolis, including the use of ultra-high-strength S960 steel for pedestrian footbridges, horizontal bridge rotation to construct a vehicular bridge over the East Rail Line, and the adoption of U-shaped and rectangular tunnel boring machines to overcome complex site constraints. He also discussed the integration of semi-flexible pavement to enhance the resilience of our transport networks. It is truly inspiring to see how innovations pioneered by our very own PolyU scholars are now “championing” the construction of the Northern Metropolis! At PolyU CEE, we go beyond teaching engineering, we foster the knowledge transfer that builds cities, empowering young civil engineers and prospective students to turn cutting-edge science into sustainable, real-world infrastructure. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ir Gavin Wong and all the participants. Join us and be part of the next generation of innovators!  

Prof. Qi Zhao Secures Grant from China Space Station Application and Development Program / Space Science and Application Projects

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Qi Zhao, Associate Professor of CEE, for securing a grant of RMB3,670,000 under the China Space Station Application and Development Program / Space Science and Application Projects. Prof. Zhao is the first PolyU scholar to receive this type of funding associated with the China Manned Space Program. The approval of this project recognizes Professor Zhao’s previous research efforts in planetary geotechnics and reflects the alignment of this research direction with the future space science development. Prof. Zhao’s research project, titled "Dynamics of dense granular flows under low-gravity conditions,” involves conducting the first rotating drum granular flow experiment aboard the Chinese Space Station to investigate how particles segregate, mix, and move in the granular flow under low-gravity conditions. These experiments aim to uncover the fundamental physics that shape planetary surfaces and provide engineers with the quantitative data needed to design safer landing systems and select sites for long-term bases.  Since the completion of the China Space Station in 2022, the programme has entered a new phase of application and development. As a strategic technological platform for the nation’s long-term development, the space station has carried out over 100 experiments spanning earth observation, space materials and new technology applications. For researchers, the China Space Station is not only a world-class laboratory, but also a “dream factory” where limitless possibilities can be put into practice. The approval of Professor Zhao’s project also creates a new opportunity for PolyU to further participate in the development and use of major national research platforms.  

CEE Departmental Visit – Ho Yu College and Primary school (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) (6 May)

CEE welcomed 28 secondary students from Ho Yu College and Primary school (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) on 6 May 2026 (Wednesday) for an afternoon of exploration and hands-on learning. The visit kicked off with an interactive Q&A session by Prof. Jacqueline Lo, Assistant Professor of CEE, which provided students with an engaging overview of the recent developments in civil and environmental engineering. Prof. Lo also shared the admission procedures and career prospects for BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. 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 80 cm. The group also visited the Water and Waste Teaching Laboratory and the Geology Laboratory. Through a series of interactive experiments and demonstrations, they gained practical insights into sewage treatment processes and the geology of Hong Kong. We sincerely thank all students and teachers for their enthusiastic participation. We look forward to welcoming more young talents to explore the world of civil engineering with us!  

PolyU JUPAS Admissions Q&A 2026

PolyU JUPAS Admissions Q&A was successfully held on 9 May 2026. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the students and parents who joined us. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the next generation of engineering talent. Dr Barbara W.Y. Siu delivered an insightful programme talk, sharing admission strategies and career insights for BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering [JS3739] and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development [JS3375]. While Prof. Andy Y.F. Leung, Prof. Shao-Yuan Leu and Prof. You Dong engaged directly with students at our consultation counter, providing personalized guidance and a deeper look into our curriculum. With the HKDSE results release approaching, we invite students from all backgrounds to join our community. Don’t miss your final opportunity to modify your programme choices during 16-18 July 2026! We wish all candidates every success with the results and look forward to welcoming you in the upcoming academic year. Stay tuned for more updates to help you navigate your academic journey!  

Prof. Tao Liu Receives Young Innovative Researcher Award 2026

Congratulations to Prof. Tao Liu, Assistant Professor of CEE, for being awarded the PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2026. This accolade recognizes Prof. Liu’s dedication to advancing knowledge and his commitment to societal impact through his innovative research, titled “Net-Zero Wastewater Management through Circular Resource Utilisation”. The project aims to develop circular, net-zero wastewater systems through integrated carbon management, in-situ resource recovery, and system-wide technological innovation.  The YIRA is a university-level award that honours early-career scholars for their research excellence, fostering impactful and interdisciplinary research that addresses the world’s most pressing challenges. This year, a record 60 submissions were received from across all schools and faculties, and after a rigorous selection process, six remarkable individuals have been chosen as awardees. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Liu! We are confident that this recognition will further inspire his pursuit of transformational solutions and technological advancement.