Dr. QING Yamin has been awarded the 'PolyU PhD Thesis Award - STEM Outstanding Award'.
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Yamin QING, a PhD student in LSGI, has been awarded the 'PolyU PhD Thesis Award - STEM Outstanding Award'. Under the supervision of Prof. Shuo WANG, Dr. QING completed her thesis “Advancing the Understanding of Soil Drought Dynamics and Mechanisms in a Warming Climate”.
Dr. QING's research addresses a critical challenge of the climate change. The sudden and severe droughts would endanger food security, water resources, and livelihoods. These rapidly evolving droughts could develop within days, leaving farmers, communities, and governments little time to respond. She developed a new and reliable method to identify such events, enabling earlier warnings that can help safeguard crops, secure water supplies, and reduce wildfire risks.
Dr. QING reveals that droughts are intensifying more quickly than previously understood, even in regions once considered as water-secure. The study highlights a critical and dangerous situation: sudden soil drying often precedes dangerous heat waves or leads to extreme floods when rains return. By understanding soil drought dynamics and its critical role in multi-hazard climate extremes, her research provides knowledge that helps societies better prepare, protect vulnerable communities, and build sustainable resilience.
Congratulations Dr. QING!
