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Prof. HUANG Yonggang of Northwestern University delivers a distinguished lecture on shape programmable 3D mesostructures and functional devices

Prof. HUANG Yonggang, Jan and Marcia Achenbach Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University in the United States, delivered the 28th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Shape Programmable Three-Dimensional Mesostructures and Functional Devices” on 8 August 2024 at PolyU. The lecture attracted more than 100 participants to join in person and captivated an online viewing audience of over 15,500 from different countries and regions to watch the live broadcast on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili, WeChat, Weibo, YouTube, etc. The lecture commenced with a warm welcome and brief speaker introduction by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR. During the presentation, Prof. Huang highlighted that many biological systems, such as venue flytraps and nepenthes, exhibit multistable or shape-shifting features. He emphasised the current challenge in the development of morphing structures, pointing out that the complex shape-shifting processes involved in many biological functions are complicated to reproduce by artificial structures. Next, he introduced the assembly approach for achieving multistable 3D mesostructures. The approach proposed by Prof. Huang and his team works similarly to children’s “pop-up” books—it controls the process of substrate compression to deform 2D patterned micro/nano structures into extended 3D layouts. He used videos and images to show how different 2D ribbon patterns can result in different 3D ribbon configurations and reconfigurable structures with diverse geometries. After that, Prof. Huang explained the concepts of shape programming and continuous shape-shifting, and showed some of the research by him and his team to illustrate how 2D precursors can be deformed to various 3D target shapes under external electromagnetic actuation. He also pointed out three significant challenges in achieving shape programme surfaces. At last, Prof. Huang showed examples of how this technology is used to make 3D submillimetre-scale robots and 3D displays. To conclude, he emphasised that the same precursor structure can be deformed to many target shapes by electromagnetic force, and this new tool can bring many novel functions and unique applications. Following the presentation was a lively and insightful question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. Chen. The audience had a fruitful discussion with Prof. Huang. As a token of appreciation for his inspiring talk and support for PAIR, a souvenir was presented to Prof. Huang by Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation).   Please click here for an online review.

PolyU-developed Mars Camera showcased in National Security Exhibition Gallery

A model of the “Mars Landing Surveillance Camera” developed by Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) and Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering and his team is now on display in the National Security Exhibition Gallery at the Hong Kong Museum of History. The camera was used in the Nation’s first Mars exploration project “Tianwen-1” in 2021, to carry out the task of photographing the surrounding environment of the lander on the Mars surface and monitoring the status of the Mars rover “Zhurong”. Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/46BU3jE Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3Aew2De

PolyU and Nanjing Zhuling signed MoU to establish joint laboratory on industrialised construction

Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Mr DAI Angang, Chief Executive Officer of Nanjing Zhuling Technology Co., Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 25 July to build a joint laboratory on industrialised construction. The joint lab will focus on research directions such as construction digitalisation in the industrial metaverse, digital twins, construction robotics, smart building systems as well as advanced automation and AI-driven solutions. By harnessing the advantages of both parties in terms of research resources, testing environments and application scenarios, it is aimed for enhancing the safety and efficiency of the construction process.  Breakthrough research results could be achieved to enable digital transformation of the construction industry. The joint lab will be led by Dr ZHAO Zhiheng, Member of the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Research Assistant Professor in Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Dr LIU Hengzhi, Chief Operating Officer and Product Director of Nanjing Zhuling Technology Co., Ltd. The first collaborative research project, “Development of Construction Robots Digitalization System for Industry Metaverse” will be carried out under RIAM. The collaboration will involve applying the research outcomes generated in the project “Industry 4.0 Smart Prefabrication Yard for Modular Construction Fitout”, which is led by Prof. George Q. HUANG, Director of RIAM, to promote innovative development in the construction field, foster new quality productive forces and inject new momentum into the industry.

Prof. ZHANG Weixiong appointed as Associate Director of PAIR

We are pleased to announce that Prof. ZHANG Weixiong, Chair Professor in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, was appointed as Associate Director of PAIR with effect from 1 August 2024. Prof. Zhang is a Global STEM Scholar under the Global STEM Professorship of the HKSAR government. He is an expert in medical laboratory science, and his research interests include genetics/genomics, non-coding RNA, medical imaging, etiology and biomarker, big data analytic and artificial intelligence. Prof. Zhang received his PhD in computer science from the University of California, Los Angeles, U.S.A. Before joining PolyU, he was a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Genetics at Washington University in St. Louis, USA.

PAIR research teams shine at 2024 Silicon Valley International Inventions Festival

PolyU research teams garnered nine prestigious awards at the 2024 Silicon Valley International Inventions Festival (SVIIF), including a semi-grand prize, two special prizes, five gold medals and one silver medal. Among them, four award-winning innovations were developed by research teams led by PAIR researchers:   Award Project Project Leader Semi-Grand Prize   Gold Medal ICU-grade Wireless Breathable Cardiac Electronic Skin Prof. ZHENG Zijian Associate Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Management Committee Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) Member of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) Prize of the Korea Invention Promotion Association   Gold Medal Development of Intelligent Nighttime Brace with Smart Padding to Treat Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Prof. Joanne YIP Management Committee Member of Research Institute of Future Food (RiFood) Member of Photonics Research Institute (PRI) Member of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports)   Prize of the Croatian Union of Innovators   Silver Medal 3D Printed Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) Bone Scaffolds Prof. ZHAO Xin Member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Member of Research Institute of Future Food (RiFood) Member of Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI)   Gold Medal   Edge AI-empowered Smart Devices and Robotics for AIoT Applications Prof. CAO Jiannong Director of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT)     Press release: https://polyu.me/46vFPAP   Online coverage: Dim Sum Daily - https://polyu.me/4c5nCLx Taiwan Business News - https://polyu.me/4fnEq3n CRWE World - https://polyu.me/3StwXWA BizHub - https://polyu.me/4dmJCTh Malay Mail - https://polyu.me/4c4D6zI Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3WTG59T Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3WjorL2 Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3A2JYjz

Prof. ZHENG Zijian shares on Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One plus Scheme

Prof. ZHENG Zijian, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Management Committee Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), and Chair Professor of Soft Materials, was interviewed in i-Cable’s HOY TV programme InnoAction, to share his views on the positive impacts of the “Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One‑plus Scheme” (RAISe+ Scheme) on young scientists, as well as his research projects in the field of soft materials and electronics and their applications and prospects for new energy, new materials, telemedicine, sports monitoring, etc.   Online coverage: i-Cable HOY TV - https://polyu.me/4evWVlH（智．創未來 - 2024年 第 30 集 00:10 – 12:33）(Chinese only)

Dr Billy SO featured in i-Cable TV programme on enhancing swimmers’ performance through wearable sensing technologies

Dr Billy SO, Member of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was interviewed in i-Cable’s HOY TV programme InnoAction, on his project which integrates sports technologies and biomechanics to enhance the training effectiveness of swimmers through capturing and analysing athletes’ take-offs, body movements and other data.   Online coverage: i-Cable HOY TV - https://polyu.me/4evWVlH (12:52 – 21:27) (Chinese only)

Prof. SONG Haiyan appointed to Hainan’s Expert Advisory Group for High-Quality Development of Tourism

Prof. SONG Haiyan, Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) and Associate Dean and Chair Professor of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, has been appointed as a Member of the Expert Advisory Group for High-Quality Development of Tourism in Hainan, for a term of three years. The Hainan Provincial Committee and the Hainan Provincial Government recently established the Expert Advisory Group for High-Quality Development of Tourism, with the aim to enhance the consultative decision-making for high-quality tourism development. The advisory group has appointed Mr LUO Shugang, Member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), Director of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the NPC, and Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, as the Chief Expert, and 15 expert consultants to assist in promoting the high-quality development of Hainan’s cultural and tourism industry. Online coverage: Toutiao - https://polyu.me/4d013sY

Prof. Hector TSANG delivers psychosocial service practitioner training course in Guangzhou

Prof. Hector TSANG, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Chair Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences, was invited to give lecture for the “Third Round of 2024 Psychosocial Service Competency Training Course” in Baiyun District, Guangzhou.   Prof. Tsang elaborated on three areas including “mental health and mental illness”, “the continuum of mental health interventions” and “the concept and elements of recovery”, and cited cases to introduce the important role of occupational therapy in the field of mental health. He said that the promotion, prevention, early intervention, clinical treatment, long-term treatment and management of mental health are closely interlinked and coordinated. Mental health intervention is a continuous process, and mental health promotion is a society-wide movement, which requires the participation and support of all sectors of society. The prevention of mental illness cannot be overlooked, and it requires different levels of prevention, as well as the need for early detection, early diagnosis and treatment, and early recovery.   In addition, Prof. Tsang introduced the key value of the concept of recovery in mental rehabilitation, emphasising that its purpose is to enable persons with mental illness to participate in meaningful daily activities and to use community resources for enhanced participation. He also introduced the division of work and collaboration in different stages in mental health services, and highlighted the work and importance of the occupational therapy.   NetEase - https://polyu.me/4feB6rn Sohu - https://polyu.me/4fkW7k4 Toutiao - https://polyu.me/3yg0I6s

PAIR Research Impact Video Series | Episode 2 | Illuminating eye health: Red light can reduce the dioptre of near-sightedness

The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) is pleased to present the second episode of the PAIR Research Impact Video Series. The Series invites PAIR researchers to share their latest research achievements and solutions to major challenges in the society. In this episode, Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), introduces his team’s research on a new technology named Repeated Low-Level Red Light (RLRL) therapy, that is, a user-friendly, affordable, safe and clinically proven treatment solutions that slow the progression of myopia.  Prof. He also shares the news of PolyU joining the Global SPECS Network hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO)!  At RCSV, Prof. He and other members shall continue pursuing various impactful and international collaborations, with the goal to create knowledge and solutions for the promotion of healthy life-long sharp vision. Watch the video now and learn how PAIR helps reducing myopia in children! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K90VS2iXC_A