PolyU Research Student Conference 2023: Research with Impact

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Graduate School celebrates the resounding success of the PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC) on 8 and 9 May 2023. This first flagship student conference themed “Research with Impact” is a platform for research students and undergraduate researchers within the University to demonstrate their research achievements and build a collaborative research community. Around 300 research students and undergraduate researchers attended the conference. A celebratory banquet cum award presentation ceremony was held on the first conference day at Hotel Icon. The banquet was attended by senior management representatives from the conference award sponsor, China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec).

The two-day conference featured an opening ceremony, keynote presentations, student paper presentations and discussions, and networking opportunities. Student research projects’ posters were also exhibited. PRSC served as an excellent opportunity for young researchers to disseminate and present their innovative research findings, interact and connect with peers from diverse disciplines, expand their knowledge, and gain insights into the latest trends and technologies shaping their fields of study. 126 submissions were accepted for oral presentations from more than 330 submissions spanning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); the Humanities, Health and Social Sciences, Business and Finance, Design, and Fashion. The breadth of topics denotes the University's dedication to research and innovation by fostering an interdisciplinary and facilitated research environment.

At the opening ceremony, PolyU President and conference Honorary Co-Chair, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "The PolyU Research Student Conference is an excellent platform for young researchers to showcase their work, exchange ideas, and build collaborations. We are delighted to witness our students' achievements and the vibrant research community that we cultivated at PolyU."

The keynote presentations highlighted global research interests in artificial intelligence and energy sustainability. In the first keynote, ChangJiang Chair Professor Yunhao Liu from Tsinghua University focused on industrial IoT (Internet of Things), illustrating the importance of transiting from the digital follow-up to digital lead-off. In the second keynote, PolyU Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) and conference General Co-Chair, Professor Zuankai Wang, encouraged students to achieve big things through persistence and an open mind.

Getting inspired, six candidates competed for the best paper awards sponsored by Sinopec through presentations and question-and-answer sessions. The awardees were honoured at the award ceremony during the banquet.

Completed Research track

Best Paper Award

Winner: Yezhou Hu and Ye Zhu in Applied Physics (AP)
Paper Title: A Co pre-embedding strategy induced highly efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Award Prize: HK$20,000

Two Best Paper Runners-up

i) Winner: Nga-Yin Dik, Paul Wai-Kei Tsang, Ah-Pun Chan and Kwan-Yu Lo in Fashion and Textiles (SFT)
Paper Title: Developing a Prediction Model for Virtual Garment Fitting Size with Psychographic Characteristics And 3D Body Measurements

ii) Winner: Yiteng Li and Ling Zhu in Logistics and Maritime Studies (LMS)
Paper Title: The Technical and Regulatory Aspects of Unmanned Merchant Ships Reconsidered

Award Prize: HK$10,000 per winning team

Work-in-Progress track

Best Paper Award

Winner: Xintong Liu and Ling Jin in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Paper Title: Unexpected discovery of an algal toxin as a major toxicity contributor in Hong Kong marine waters impacting the finless porpoise

Award Prize: HK$15,000

Two Best Paper Runners-up

i) Winner: Hao Wang and Songye Zhu in CEE
Paper Title: Dynamic Behaviour of Latched Tuned Mass Damper

ii) Winner: Shuai Zhou and Mengyu Wang in Applied Social Sciences (APSS)
Paper Title: Window Dressing or Change Making? Party Building in Chinese Social Work Organisations

Award Prize: HK$8,000 per winning team

At the banquet, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and conference Honorary Co-Chair, Professor Christopher Chao, highlighted the significance of research and innovation and the role of the University in it, saying, "With our research expertise and global reach, we are well-positioned to contribute to knowledge advancement and society's betterment, and reinforce the city’s development into an international I&T hub in the Greater Bay Area."

Dean of the Graduate School and conference General Co-Chair, Professor Jiannong Cao, shared the missions and visions of the GS, expressing, "PRSC highlights the strong research postgraduate education at PolyU. We sustain a meaningful research impact by nurturing aspiring researchers through creativity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration."

Special gratitude was extended to generous donors who supported the nurturing of research intellectuals. The Technical Programme and Work-in-Progress Co-Chairs were also awarded certificates of appreciation. Towards the end, PolyU's faculties and schools were commended for their continuous support and the GS for making the conference a success.