FCE joins hands with CEDD on research studies for sustainable infrastructure development and land formation

Sharing a common vision to create a safe, green and sustainable environment for the benefit of society, FCE and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 4 May 2023. The collaboration would couple FCE’s research strengths with CEDD’s experience in construction projects by developing new technologies for application in public works projects to cope with the limitations of existing engineering technologies and reduce construction time.

The MoU was signed by Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael FONG, and Dean of Faculty, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, and witnessed by Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky LAU, and President of PolyU, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG.

FCE has partnered with CEDD to apply our research results for developing engineering solutions to enhance productivity, project quality and site safety. Examples include the use of high strength grade 690 steel in the building of the Cross Bay Link in Tseung Kwan O and the use of AI techniques to carry out automated identification of landslide trails on aerial photographs for slope safety management. With the MoU in place, the collaboration between FCE and CEDD will be deepened to further promote research in sustainable infrastructure development and land formation.

FCE Distinguished Lecture 2023

With the full resumption of face-to-face learning and teaching activities, the Faculty is pleased to report the return of the long-awaited FCE Distinguished Lecture - a platform for world-leading academics from across the globe to come and share their knowledge and expertise with our students, staff, alumni, and friends.

Prof. Jizhong ZHOU from The University of Oklahoma (OU) was invited to deliver the first lecture on 11 May 2023. Prof. Zhou is an international leader in genomics-enabled microbial environmental sciences known for his pioneering advances in developing both experimental and computational metagenomic technologies. He is the Director of the Institute for Environmental Genomics at the OU and also a George Lynn Cross Research Professor and a Presidential Professor of OU. Earlier this year, he was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS).

In the lecture entitled “Stochastic Community Assembly: Is It Important In Engineered Systems?”, Prof. Zhou shared his insights into the quantification of stochastic processes, the importance of stochastic processes in key non-engineered ecosystems, and stochasticity in microbial fuel cells, global wastewater treatment plants, and anaerobic digestion reactors. The lecture was concluded with a Q&A session facilitated by Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty.

FCE Chair Professor to be inaugural editor-in-chief of new interdisciplinary journal Nexus

Prof. Jerry YAN, Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), has been appointed the inaugural editor-in-chief of PolyU’s new interdisciplinary journal Nexus – a journal envisioned to be the leading scholarly forum that connects science with engineering and technology.

The new gold open access journal will cover all subjects in the areas of applied sciences, engineering, technology, and inter- and multi-disciplinary fields. In addition to original research and reports, the journal will also publish reviews and commentaries on innovations that aim to improve lives, protect the planet, and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Prof. Yan’s appointment to chief editorship is not only a recognition of his academic standing but also an acknowledgement of FCE scholars’ commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

Nexus is the first journal published by the University’s own publishing house, the PolyU Press, in collaboration with Cell Press. It is Cell Press’s first partner journal in the physical sciences and the first title published in collaboration with a university.

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FCE innovations win medals at Geneva Inventions Expo 2023

PolyU again proves its excellence in research and knowledge transfer by winning 31 prizes with its 28 projects at the 48th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, while 8 of the projects are led or co-led by FCE researchers. This annual event is regarded as the largest global exhibition on inventions and showcased about 1,000 innovations from 40 countries and regions.

Congratulations to the following FCE researchers:

You may wish to learn more about the awarded projects on the website of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office (KTEO).

FCE Sharing Session on Teaching Excellence 2023

With the aim of enhancing student learning experience through professional education, this year’s FCE Sharing Session on Teaching Excellence was held face-to-face on 30 May 2023. Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, gave an opening address to kick off the sharing session. Speakers shared their insights and experiences on pedagogy with the audience. Topics such as using empathy as a core teaching strategy, working with students as partners, the use of online platforms, etc, were covered. Prof. Charles WONG, Associate Dean (Teaching), thanked all speakers and emphasised the importance of quality teaching in his closing remark.

PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2023 to engage prospective students

The PolyU Consultation Day for Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) applicants was brought back to the campus in a face-to-face format on 20 May 2023. Over 220 students joined the various activities hosted by FCE, including a series of information seminars on departmental scheme-based admission programmes to introduce entrance requirements, programme curricula and features. Students also had the opportunity to interact with professors at the consultation sessions for advice and guidance on programme selection and career prospects, and to participate in the guided tours to FCE major laboratories and teaching facilities.

The annual PolyU Consultation Day offers the JUPAS applicants a valuable chance to explore more on their interested undergraduate programmes and prepare them to re-evaluate and finalise their programme choices. For highlights of the Consultation Day 2023, please click here.

FCE receives a delegation from Qingdao to explore collaboration opportunities

On 17 April 2023, a delegation from Qingdao, Shandong, led by Mr Xuejun LIU, Director of Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, and comprised representatives from the city government of Qingdao and Prof. Lin DU of Shandong University, visited FCE and met with our academic representatives. Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, presented the latest development of PolyU at the meeting and highlighted FCE’s strengths in teaching and learning, as well as in research and innovation. The visit was hoped to explore collaboration opportunities in the area of talent cultivation.

Dean of FCE welcomes newly joined academics

Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, met with two groups of recently joined staff at different academic ranks from Research Assistant Professor to Professor on 16 May 2023 to extend his warm welcome. Prof. Li introduced the Faculty’s structure, research strengths and focuses, and the resources provided by the Faculty and the University to support their success in research. To encourage young researchers to apply for competitive external research grants like the RGC General Research Fund (GRF), Prof. Li also shared his own experience and practical tips on preparing successful proposals.

Welcome new staff to FCE

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) welcomed two new members to the post of Assistant Professor in May 2023.

	Dr Sunghoon JANG received his PhD in Transportation Planning from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the Netherlands. After graduation, he worked as a post-doctoral researcher at TU/e and then as a research fellow at the Seoul National University. His research mainly focuses on advanced travel behaviour modelling, and aims to enhance citizen adoption of active travel behaviour and sustainable low-carbon transport. As smart city development becomes a global trend, Dr Jang’s research on citizens’ use of smart mobility systems provides new insights into the planning of sustainable transport policies and related infrastructure, as well as the effective strategy in promoting people’s behaviour change toward green transportation.
	Dr Kai ZHOU obtained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut (UCONN) in 2015. Before joining PolyU, he worked as a post-doctoral researcher at UCONN and then as a Research Assistant Professor at Michigan Technological University (MTU). Dr Zhou's research interests include Structural Dynamics, Vibration Control, Structural Health Monitoring, Prognostics and Health Management, and Reliability Analysis, Assessment and Design under Uncertainties. He has published more than 50 refereed journal articles and conference papers over the years, including those featured in Mechanical Systems And Signal Processing and Journal Of Sound And Vibration.