Media Releases

Leading Chinese aerospace scientists speak on BeiDou and Chang'e programmes at PolyU public lectures

Two distinguished astronautical scientists overseeing China’s BeiDou navigation satellite system and the Chang’e-4 mission to the moon’s far side spoke today at the public lectures of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) – part of their visiting programme in Hong Kong to reach out to young people and inspire them to pursue scientific exploration. ZHANG He, executive director of the Chang’e-4 lunar probe project, talked about the significance of the mission – in which PolyU was involved – in terms of understanding the mysterious “dark side” of the moon and how it laid the foundation for future exploration of the lunar south pole. “Before we landed on the far side of the moon, there were online rumours about an alien base being located there. But since Chang’e-4’s landing until now, we have found nothing except regolith, rocks and impact craters. It is a desolate place and definitely has no alien base there,” Zhang told the audience at the Jockey Club Auditorium and viewers tuned into the live streaming on social media. On the moon soil samples collected last year via PolyU’s “Surface Sampling and Packing System” in the subsequent Chang’e-5 mission, Zhang said China is committed to contributing to international space exploration, and has already opened loan applications for the samples to researchers around the world. Zhang encouraged young people to contribute to the Nation’s astronautical endeavours in various roles, no matter what disciplines they studied. “Even if you are an arts student, you can join our administrative operations and contribute to our astronautical endeavours,” she said. Meanwhile, XIE Jun, chief designer of the third generation BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3), discussed how China developed its own navigation satellite system and completed its constellation of thirty-five satellites after over two decades of effort. The system is now serving a wide range of applications including transportation and agriculture. Xie told Hong Kong students that the Nation’s astronautical projects need talents from all academic disciplines. “Specifically for the BeiDou programme, we are particularly in need of talents with chemistry or physics backgrounds to help solve engineering challenges like the development of atomic clocks and homegrown parts,” he said. PolyU teachers and students led by PolyU’s President, Professor Jin-Guang TENG, also had an exchange salon session in the afternoon with Xie, Zhang and the Tianwen-1 Mars probe’s chief designer SUN Zezhou, together with young astronautical scientists from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Other PolyU researchers who attended included Professor YUNG Kai-leung, Director of the University Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations and Chair Professor & Associate Head of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; Professor WU Bo, Associate Head of Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics; and Professor FU Xiaowen, Associate Dean (External Engagement) of Faculty of Engineering.   *****End*****

PolyU welcomes distinguished scientists of China’s space programmes and hosts their first public lecture series in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today extended its warmest welcome to the visit of a delegation of distinguished Chinese astronautical scientists who spearhead China’s key space programmes from manned missions to lunar and Mars explorations. PolyU was also honoured to host the delegation’s first public lecture during their visit to Hong Kong at the Jockey Club Auditorium, featuring Professor QI Faren, the first chief designer of the Shenzhou spacecrafts, who talked about China’s space programme and the spirit and virtues embodied by its astronautical researchers.

PolyU scholars elected into the Canadian Academy of Engineering

Professor Li CHENG, Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Song GUO, Associate Head (Research & Development) of the Department of Computing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) were recently named Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the national institution of Canada that comprises its most accomplished engineers who have expressed their dedication to the application of science and engineering principles. Fellows of the Academy are nominated and elected by their peers. In view of their outstanding contributions to engineering in Canada and around the world, and for their service as role models in their fields and to their communities, Prof. Cheng and Prof. Guo join forty-eight other new Fellows and two new International Fellows from around the world who were elected into the Academy this year. Prof. Cheng has made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the areas of sound and vibration, wave manipulation and structural health monitoring. In addition to many high-quality contributions to science, through his close collaboration with industry his research has had direct impact on solving practical engineering problems. Prof. Guo’s work in cloud computing, edge artificial intelligence, big data and distributed systems has had broad and seminal impact – from the advancement of scientific knowledge to industrial innovation. He has been widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to the resilient management system widely used in post-disaster applications. Prof. Cheng and Prof. Guo will be honoured at the Academy’s Induction Ceremony this October.   ***** END *****

PolyU, XJTU, State Grid and HK Electric continue collaboration on the “Belt and Road Advanced Professional Development Programme in Power and Energy” to nurture senior talent for the energy industry

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU); Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU); State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and The Hongkong Electric Company, Limited (HK Electric) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to extend their joint collaboration in running the “Belt and Road Advanced Professional Development Programme in Power and Energy” (The Programme) for another three years. The Programme aims to nurture senior management talent in power and energy-related fields through diversified, cross-regional, systematic and innovative training schemes to meet the rising demand for talent in the Belt and Road countries and regions, thereby promoting the sustainable development of infrastructure and facilitating economic growth in these countries and regions in line with the Belt and Road strategies of the Nation. This cross-regional and multi-cultural university-industry collaboration programme is the first-of-its-kind in both Mainland China and Hong Kong.

PolyU develops biomimetic nanosheet for cancer therapy and imaging

A research team from the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a novel type of biomimetic nanosheet with a multi-modal imaging function, which can track tumour development and treatment processes in real-time. By harnessing two emerging cancer therapies, namely immunotherapy and photothermal therapy, the biomimetic nanosheet enables effective and precise treatment of tumours, which will significantly improve the therapeutic outcome of tumours, reduce side effects and increase patients’ survival rates. The research findings have been published in the prestigious international journal Advanced Science.

Dr Tan Tie-niu, Deputy Director of the Central Government’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong visits PolyU

Chinese version only

PolyU achieves high ratings in Research Assessment Exercise 2020

The University Grants Committee (UGC) announced today (May 24) the results of Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2020, in which PolyU received high ratings in various research areas. PolyU is delighted to see the encouraging results and believes that they are a recognition of the University’s dedicated efforts in pursuing research excellence over the years.

PolyU contributes to the Nation’s first Mars mission with multidisciplinary research

Two research teams at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) contributed to the Nation’s first Mars exploration project Tianwen-1. By harnessing their extensive experience in the field of aerospace science and technology, as well as their commitment to research excellence, PolyU researchers played a vital role in the Tianwen-1 mission, in collaboration with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Professor WU Bo helped identify possible landing regions with advanced topographic mapping and geomorphological analysis technologies. Professor YUNG Kai-leung developed a sophisticated space instrument, the “Mars Landing Surveillance Camera (Mars Camera)”, for capturing images of the surroundings of the Red Planet and monitoring the status of the Zhurong Mars rover.

PolyU to hold online "PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2021: Admissions Strategies" and to adopt flexibility towards the minimum score requirement for admission via JUPAS

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will hold the "PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2021: Admissions Strategies" online in the afternoon of 22 May 2021 (2-5pm, Saturday). During the Consultation Day, Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) applicants will obtain the latest updates on PolyU’s programmes. This will be useful for them when re-evaluating programme choices they have made and amending any choices by 31 May, before the release of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) results. Registration for the Consultation Day is required by noon 20 May via https://www.polyu.edu.hk/conday. Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Consultation Day is being held online. The PolyU Academic Registry will arrange an online seminar during the Consultation Day on “admissions strategies and interview skills”, which will focus on the latest admissions arrangements, key considerations in programme selection and essential interview skills. Academic units will also organise a series of online programme information seminars and Q&A sessions during the Consultation Day. JUPAS applicants will have ample opportunity to understand the entrance requirements, curricula and programme features, and student life of their preferred disciplines/programmes. In addition, the flexibility towards the minimum score requirement or JUPAS admission adopted by PolyU since 2019-20 will be continued in 2021-22 with a slight adjustment in the total score requirement. Applicants who fall slightly short of the general entrance requirements for degree programmes (i.e. with one HKDSE subject result falling one level below the required level - “3-3-2-2-3-3” - level 3 in both languages and level 2 in Mathematics and Liberal Studies together with level 3 in two additional electives) but meet the following conditions will be given special consideration for admission: have attained a total score of 26 points# or above in the best five subjects; and have selected PolyU’s degree programmes as their Band A choices, i.e. first 3 priorities, in JUPAS; and have passed an admission interview. Moreover, the flexibility for special consideration for admission will also be extended to sports talents under the Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Schemes (OSRS). Conditional offer letters with more favourable conditions have been issued to the applicants concerned. To learn more about the flexible approach towards the minimum score requirement, please visit https://www.polyu.edu.hk/conday and register for the Consultation Day seminars. JUPAS programme details are available at the Study@PolyU website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/study. Enquiries about the event should be directed to (tel) 2333-0600 or (email) arevents.enquiry@polyu.edu.hk. #HKDSE level attainments will be converted to score points where Level 5**=8.5, 5*=7, 5=5.5, 4=4, 3=3, 2=2, 1=1 ***** End *****

PolyU congratulates the Nation on the successful landing of Tianwen-1 on Mars

The Nation’s first Mars Exploration mission Tianwen-1 successfully landed on Mars this morning, which marks a milestone development in China's space exploration endeavours. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) offered its warmest congratulations to the Nation on this exemplary and remarkable accomplishment.