News

28th Congregation of FCE

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2022! On 15 and 16 November 2022, FCE conducted its 28th Congregation at the Jockey Club Auditorium in hybrid mode. More than 1,600 graduates from the four departments were conferred degrees and awards in five sessions. Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, presided over the ceremony and encouraged graduates to take on challenges and build their dreams on top of the foundation they laid at FCE. To enhance the overall ceremonial experience and graduates’ sense of involvement, graduates’ photos with virtual gowns were shown on the LED wall on stage during their conferment while graduates who could not attend the Congregation in person were presented virtually. Live broadcasting was arranged for this year’s Congregation via online platforms, such as YouTube and Tencent, to allow graduates and families to witness the ceremony online from all over the world. The four departments also each invited a guest of honour from related government departments to share with the graduating class their visions for the future of Hong Kong’s construction, environment and development fields, as well as invaluable life lessons. b2{font-family: Arial, Gotham, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "sans-serif"; font-size:12px; text-align: left; line-height: 130%; font-weight: 400; color: #5B5B5B;font-style: italic} table { border-spacing:0; border-collapse:collapse; margin:0 auto; border:0; padding:0 } table td{vertical-align: top;padding: 0;margin:0} table.info{ color: #5B5B5B; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Gotham, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "sans-serif"; font-size:14px; text-align:left; line-height: 130%; border-collapse:collapse; } .info td{ border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; padding:5px; } table.event{ color: #5B5B5B; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Gotham, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "sans-serif"; font-size:14px; line-height: 130%; font-weight: 400; color: #5B5B5B; border-collapse:collapse; } table.eventcontent{ color: #5B5B5B; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Gotham, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "sans-serif"; font-size:14px; line-height: 130%; font-weight: 400; color: #5B5B5B; border-collapse:collapse; } .eventcontent td{ border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; padding-bottom: 3px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 3px;padding-top: 3px; } Departmental session Guest of Honour Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Mr Andy YEUNG Director of Fire Services, Fire Services Department, HKSAR Government Department of Building and Real Estate Ms Clarice YU Director of Buildings, Buildings Department, HKSAR Government Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Mr Michael FONG Director of Civil Engineering & Development also Commissioner of Mines, Civil Engineering and Development Department, HKSAR Government Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics Mr Kelvin LO Director of Water Supplies, Water Supplies Department, HKSAR Government

PolyU Undergraduate Info Day 2022

The Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) offers a comprehensive range of construction related undergraduate degree programmes which are all well recognised by the local and international professional community. On 8 October 2022, the Faculty took part in the PolyU Undergraduate Info Day 2022 (Info Day) which attracted about 26,000 participants to a broad range of face-to-face/online activities that provided first-hand information on undergraduate studies to the participants. Representatives from the Faculty vigorously participated in the Info Day to showcase our education and research excellence. Apart from consultation booths to introduce the departments and undergraduate programmes, guided laboratory tours and hybrid seminars were also organised for students, parents, and members of the public. Participants also took the opportunity to seek information and advice for the newly implemented departmental-scheme admission programmes. For those who missed the event, you can now get an e-ticket to visit our virtual booth via the PolyU UG Admissions Info Platform for admissions and programme webinar playbacks, student sharing and other information. You can also visit FCE (at Block Z) by taking a Virtual Campus Tour.

Inauguration of Endowed Professorships and Endowed Young Scholars

Being appointed as an Endowed Professor or an Endowed Young Scholar is a joint recognition from the University and the wider community of an academic’s outstanding contributions in their respective fields of research. It also represents immense support and faith that the academic’s research endeavours will advance the frontiers of knowledge and benefit both society and the world at large. FCE is proud to have eight academics bestowed the honours at the Fourth Inauguration of Endowed Professorships cum the First Inauguration of Endowed Young Scholars held on 31 August 2022. The Endowed Professorship Scheme was established by PolyU in 2012 to honour distinguished scholars for their outstanding academic and research achievements. The current Endowed Professors at FCE are as follows, you may click on the titles to learn more about each Endowed Professorship.  New Endowed Professorship   Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Endowed Professorship in Smart Buildings Prof. Shengwei Wang Dept of Building Environment and Energy Engineering   Able Endowed Professorship in Construction Health and Safety Prof. Albert Chan Dept of Building and Real Estate   Michael Anson Endowed Professorship in Civil Engineering Prof. C. S. Poon Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering   Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Endowed Professorship in Urban Informatics Prof. John Shi Dept of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics   Fiona Cheung Endowed Professorship in Spatial Science Prof. Bo Wu Dept of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics  Successive Endowed Professorship   Ko Jan Ming Endowed Professorship in Sustainable Urban Development Prof. Xiang-dong Li Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering   Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Endowed Professorship in Smart Structures Prof. Yiqing Ni Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering   The Endowed Young Scholars Scheme was introduced by PolyU in 2021 to support promising early-career academics to advance the frontiers of knowledge and technology. Dr Chao Zhou (CEE) is among the first batch of Endowed Young Scholars of PolyU.  New Endowed Young Scholar   Tsui Tack Kong Endowed Young Scholar in Civil Engineering Dr Chao Zhou Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering It is hoped that by partnering with visionary philanthropists, the Endowed Professors and the Endowed Young Scholar of FCE will be empowered to step up their excellent work in research and education and bring positive changes to the world.

FCE Alumni Reunion Day 2022

FCE Dean secures HK$44 million funding in the latest round of RGC Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) for project on air pollution

BEEE academic garners Young Innovative Researcher Award 2022

FCE Academics among World’s Top 50 Scholars

Congratulations to the Recipients of Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Construction and Environment 2022

FCE is delighted to present the “Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Construction and Environment 2022” to four distinguished alumni in recognition of their professional, entrepreneurial, and scholarly achievements and significant contributions to the University and the community at large. Marking the 85th Anniversary of PolyU this year, special recognition for outstanding young alumni is added. The award recipients of FCE Outstanding Alumni Award 2022 are:  Award Recipient  Award Category   Ir LAU Chun-kit, Ricky, JP Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic (1989) Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement Ir Ricky Lau, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) of the HKSAR Government, has demonstrated exemplary leadership and made tremendous contributions to the local construction industry over the past three decades. In 2018, he took up the post of Director of Civil Engineering and Development cum Commissioner of Mines of the HKSAR Government overseeing various mega-sized projects of reclamation including the proposed Kau Yi Chau artificial islands under the Lantau Tomorrow Vision as well as other New Development Areas (NDA), and participating in infrastructural development. His advocacy for the “Construction 2.0” strategy, leveraging technologies through the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) has taken the strategic development of the industry to a new horizon. In 2020 and early 2022, to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic, he led various Works Departments of the HKSAR Government to build quarantine, isolation and treatment facilities within an extremely tight time frame. Ir Lau has been instrumental in encouraging young professionals to contribute to community building, and promoting the collaboration of academia and industry practitioners to innovate for engineering advancement in support of the wider community. He currently chairs the Departmental Advisory Committee for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) of FCE in the PolyU.   Prof. Xugang HUA Doctor of Philosophy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2006) Outstanding Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement Prof. Xugang Hua is Deputy Dean of College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, and Director of Key Laboratory for Wind and Bridge Engineering of Hunan Province. Being a renowned scholar among researchers of his age, Prof. Hua is a recipient of many privileged awards, including National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) funded Distinguished Young Scholars (2020) and Excellent Young Scholars (2014). He made significant contributions to his research field of aeroelasticity and aerodynamics of long-span bridges, vibration control, and structural health monitoring. He developed a fictitious finite element-based method for flutter analysis of long-span bridges, which is widely used by both research and design institutes. In the field of structural health monitoring, he formulated an improved perturbation-based method for stochastic finite element model updating, which is known to the world as Hua's Approach. In addition to sharing research ideas, Prof. Hua has helped nurture the alma mater’s next generation: a graduate mentee of his, Dr Youwu Wang, is now a research assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) of FCE.   Prof. Huafu PEI Doctor of Philosophy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2012) Outstanding Young Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement Prof. Huafu Pei is Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Infrastructure Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, and the Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory of Engineering Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Liaoning Province. Focusing on geotechnical hazards prevention and mitigation, Prof. Pei committed himself to the research and development of original high-precision geotechnical disaster monitoring and sensing equipment for the benefit of society. The technologies and theoretical methods he developed have been employed for important engineering tasks including Xinpu landslide in Three Gorges reservoir area, Fushun West Open-pit, and Weijiagou landslide in Wenchuan earthquake zone. He was awarded the National Science Fund for Excellent Youth Scholar for his tremendous contributions to disaster prevention and mitigation. Prof. Pei has dedicated himself to connecting the alumni community with the alma mater. He is a member of the Committee of CEE Research Scholars Alumni Association (CEE-RSAA) and is on the preparatory team of the Postgraduate Students and Scholars Alumni Association of PolyU in the mainland China.   Dr Aotian SONG Doctor of Philosophy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2018) Outstanding Young Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement Dr Aotian Song is the co-founder and CEO of Shenzhen Leadus Industry Co. Ltd (formerly Shenzhen Pavo Tech Development Co. Ltd). Aiming to resolve the core technology problems in ultra-low energy consumption building industry chain, the company has been awarded as national high-tech enterprise, as well as one of top 100 enterprises in Shenzhen Longhua District. Dr Song and his team in 2018 invented the first tempered and no-pumping hole vacuum insulated glazing, with better product performance than existing energy-saving glazing by 2 times in thermal conductivity and by 3 times in sound insolation. The invention has increased production efficiency, minimized cost and has been applied massively in areas like construction, transportation and electrical appliances. Dr Song has demonstrated outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship in his endeavour to advance technology ventures with societal impact. Being the Vice Chairman of Shenzhen Longhua Friendship Association for Non-CCP Intellectuals and a standing committee member of Shenzhen Longhua People's Political Consultative Conference (C.P.P.C.C.), Dr Song proactively explores innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities in the Greater Bay Area for Hong Kong youngsters. He is also actively involved in PolyU’s knowledge transfer initiatives by sponsoring research projects and providing PolyU students with internship opportunities.

FCE Proudly Debuts PolyU’s First Faculty-based Education and Research Fund

 The Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) is delighted to announce the official launch of the FCE Education and Research Fund (FCE Fund), the first faculty-based platform in PolyU that solicits concerted and sustainable support of the community for the advancement of education and research development of the Faculty. An online launch ceremony was hosted on 26 March 2022. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, expressed his joy to witness a milestone in the University’s 85th Anniversary in his welcome speech. Prof. Teng reiterated the University’s commitment to academic and research excellence. The establishment of the FCE Fund, with the backing of the University, provides sustainable resources to the Faculty to accelerate its research and education efforts, with the ultimate goal of benefiting our society and the wider world. Prof. Xiang-dong Li, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, emphasized that FCE, as a world-leading faculty in civil and structural engineering, as well as architecture and built environment disciplines , is determined to create innovative solutions for sustainable urban development, building smart cities and improving people’s lives. The FCE Fund will serve as a key fundraising platform in supporting the strategic initiatives and the holistic development of the Faculty and its academic departments across disciplines. The Faculty has been engaging its alumni, industry stakeholders, partners and friends in its establishment of the FCE Fund, and has so far raised over HK$10 million donations. Prof. Li particularly expressed his gratitude to the Fund’s donors and supporters, whose contributions, together with fundings from the PolyU Donation Matching Scheme and the UGC Research Matching Grant Scheme, laid a solid foundation of over HK$20 million for the FCE Fund to inaugurate. The donation will enable FCE to materialise its ambitious plans and initiatives set out under the Fund, in supporting the emergence of new knowledge and innovative ideas, grooming talents, and accelerating high-impact research projects with societal impact. Prof. Li concluded his speech by calling upon the audience to support the Fund and introducing the new online donation platform. It was highlighted that PolyU will match $1 for every $2 donation to the FCE Fund, thereby multiplying the donation for greater impact. Ms Belinda Chow, Director of Alumni Affairs and Development, shed light on the role of the Alumni Affairs and Development Office (AADO) in significant initiatives like the FCE Fund. Ms Chow shared ways of engaging alumni and maintaining the bond between the University and the alumni community. The online ceremony ended on a high note with an inspiring speech from Ir Yau Kwok-fai, an alumnus of PolyU and the President of the Federation of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Alumni Associations. Ir Yau shared his vision with the audience and illustrated how the FCE Fund sets a good example of alumni contributing and involving in the alma mater’s development. Ir Yau emphasized the Alumni Associations’ support for PolyU in its pursuit of education and research excellence. For more details of the FCE Fund, please refer to the Fund homepage.

FCE Dean Receives Clair C. Patterson Award for Outstanding Achievements in Environmental Geochemistry

Prof. Xiang-dong Li, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) and Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology, was honoured with the Clair C. Patterson Award 2022 in recognition of his cutting-edge research in environmental geochemistry within the last decade. His research projects mainly aim at addressing real-world environmental problems, by engaging in the fields of regional contamination, urban air PM2.5 pollution, and the origin and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. Prof. Li was proud to be presented with this prestigous award, as it is an international recognition to not only himself but also the PolyU research team, for their dedication in making an impact in the communities and the wider world. Prof. Li is also the Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development at PolyU. He has published more than 250 papers over the years, and has over 10 publications listed among the top 1% most cited papers in Environment/Ecology by the ISI database. He has also been the principal investigator of numerous research projects funded by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Presenting the Clair C. Patterson Award to only one recipient annually, the Geochemical Society is a non-profit scientific organisation established in 1955 to encourage the application of chemistry to the solution of geological and cosmochemical problems, as well as to promote understanding of geochemistry through a wide range of programmes.