Prof. Xu Zhenghe Honoured with IMPC Lifetime Achievement Award

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at PolyU is proud to share that Prof. Zhenghe Xu, Chair Professor of Interfacial Sciences and Engineering of Materials, was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC) Gala Dinner in Cape Town on 21 October 2026. This prestigious award celebrates Prof. Xu’s exceptional international career at the forefront of engineering, materials science, and sustainable resource processing, recognizing a lifetime of scientific excellence, innovation, and leadership. A Legacy of Groundbreaking Research and Innovation Prof. Xu is a globally renowned authority in interfacial science, mineral processing, and clean energy technologies. Over his distinguished career, his research has spanned mineral flotation, oil-sands extraction, colloids and surface forces, petroleum emulsions, tailings management, wastewater treatment, and the recycling of spent batteries and electronic materials. Prior to joining PolyU, Prof. Xu held prominent academic and leadership positions internationally: University of Alberta (Canada): Joined in 1997, where he served as Canada Research Chair in Mineral Processing, NSERC-Industry Research Chair in Oil Sands Engineering, and NSERC-Industry Research Chair in Coal Cleaning and Combustion Technology. He remains associated with the university as an Emeritus Professor. Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech, China): Served as Chair Professor and Founding Dean of the College of Engineering starting in August 2016. Scientific Impact and Global Recognition Prof. Xu has authored over 550 peer-reviewed journal papers, held numerous patents, and contributed to multiple books and book chapters. His research seamlessly bridges fundamental science with industrial application, resulting in widespread global impact. His outstanding contributions have earned him top honours worldwide: Fellowships: Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2008), Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2015), and International Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (2021). Major Awards: Antoine M. Gaudin Award (2024), MetSoc Airey Award, ASTech Leadership Foundation Award, MetSoc Award for Research Excellence, Syncrude Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development, and the APEGA Frank Spragins Technical Award. Pioneering New Frontiers at PolyU Having joined PolyU's Department of Mechanical Engineering as Chair Professor in September 2026, Prof. Xu is extending his core expertise in interfacial sciences and resource processing toward energy storage materials for renewable energies. We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Xu on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to his continued contributions to sustainable engineering and innovation at PolyU!

ME Scholars Ranked Among World's Top 2% Most-cited Scientists

In the newly released metrics compiled by Stanford University, 16 scholars of PolyU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) have been ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in their main disciplines for career-long citation impact. In addition, 3 other ME academics have also been ranked for single recent year impact *. Scientists are classified into 20 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields according to the standard Science-Metrix classification. Field- and subfield-specific percentiles are also provided for all scientists with at least 5 papers. Career-long data are updated to end-of-2025 and single recent year data pertain to citations received during calendar year 2025. The selection is based on the top 100,000 scientists by c-score (with and without self-citations) or a percentile rank of 2% or above in the sub-field. This version (9) is based on the August 1, 2026 snapshot from Scopus, updated to end of citation year 2025. This work uses Scopus data. Calculations were performed using all Scopus author profiles as of August 1, 2026. The recognition reflects the significant influence and research excellence of the Department’s scientists, who are committed to furthering their knowledge for the benefit of the world. Congratulations to the following ME scholars who have been ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world in their respective fields: Prof. An Liang Prof. Christopher Chao Yu Hang Prof. Chen Guohua Prof. Cheng Li Prof. Fu Mingwang Prof. Jiao Zengbao Prof. Mai Yiu Wing Prof. Su Zhongqing Prof. Wang Liqiu Prof. Wang Quan Prof. Wang Zuankai Prof. Xu Zhenghe Prof. Yao Haimin Prof. Zhang Dan Prof. Zhang Xiao Prof. Zheng Guangping Prof. Choy Yat Sze * Prof. Wu Maochun * Prof. Yu Xiang * Data available at Elsevier Published: 7 October 2026 | Version 9 | DOI:10.17632/btchxktzyw.9      

ME Student Secures Medal for Excellence in Mechatronics at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to share that undergraduate student CHAO Zhixian has won the Medal for Excellence in the Mechatronics trade at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai (22–27 September 2026). Competing alongside his teammate against top global talent in the "Skills Olympics," Zhixian tackled intense multi-day challenges simulating smart manufacturing operations (Industry 4.0). His work spanned: Assembling & Wiring: Building mechanical, pneumatic, and electronic automation modules. Smart System Control: Programming PLCs, HMIs, and industrial robotic arms for automated production lines. Troubleshooting & Optimization: Rapidly diagnosing system faults and optimizing cycle performance under strict time constraints. This prestige award reflects Zhixian’s exceptional practical skills, innovative engineering thinking, and seamless collaboration. Please join us in congratulating Zhixian on this stellar achievement! The primary local competition took place in late April to June 2025 across local Hong Kong venues. CHAO Zhixian and teammate HO Sing Mok competed against local talent, securing top places to qualify as representative candidates for Team Hong Kong, China. After progressing through the multi-stage training pipeline in late 2025 – mid 2026, they achieved the Medal for Excellence in Mechatronics at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai. WorldSkills Competition, hailed as the “Skills Olympics”, organised every two years by the WorldSkills International, is the international vocational education and skills competition with an aim to provide a platform to exchange the skills and knowledge for the experts, trainers and competitors and to uplift professional skills and social statuses of the construction technicians. The department is pleased to see our ME student achieve remarkable success in the international competition as part of a winning two-person team. This achievement not only showcases our student's exceptional talent in engineering, but also reflects their combined excellence in creative thinking and teamwork.

ME PhD Graduate Achieved the PolyU PhD Thesis Award 2026 for Merit

We are delighted that Dr WU Lizhen, a PhD graduate from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has received the competitive PolyU PhD Thesis Award for Merit (STEM Category). The PolyU Graduate School establishes the PhD Thesis Award to recognize, reward and promote the distinguished research achievements by graduating PhD students. There are two award classes, namely Outstanding and Merit, recognizing students’ performance of different levels. Dr WU completed his PhD under the supervision of Prof. AN Liang and has demonstrated exceptional research achievements through his graduating thesis.   Thesis Title: Bubble management at high-rate water electrolysis for green hydrogen production - For contribution to green hydrogen production Chief Supervisor: Prof. AN Liang To convert renewable electricity into green hydrogen, efficient and affordable water electrolyzers are essential. Our research investigated how bubbles affect electrolyzer performance at the high current densities needed for large-scale hydrogen production. We found that bubbles trapped inside porous electrodes can block water supply and ion transport, making effective bubble removal more important than simply increasing the available catalytic surface area. By combining direct bubble observations, deep-learning-based tracking and numerical modeling, we connected microscopic bubble behaviors with overall device performance. These insights guided the development of low-cost stainless-steel electrodes and dual-layer flow fields that improve bubble removal while maintaining water supply. The electrode structures help bubbles escape, while the flow fields provide separate pathways for bubble removal and water delivery. Together, these advances reduce energy losses and improve hydrogen production performance, providing practical design principles for more efficient and affordable water electrolysis.      

ME Enters Top 10 Globally in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2026

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has achieved a remarkable milestone in the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2026, officially breaking into the global Top 10 for Mechanical Engineering.

5 ME Academics Appointed Supervisors in Hong Kong Scholars Program 2026

Congratulations to five ME academics on being selected as supervisors under the Hong Kong Scholars Program 2026, joining 31 PolyU academics chosen for this prestigious initiative. Among all participating local universities, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) enrolled the largest number of fellows and led in matching projects for 2026, with the Department of Mechanical Engineering securing the second-highest fellow enrolment within the University. Jointly established by the Society of Hong Kong Scholars and the China National Postdoctoral Council under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the program aims to pool research resources and talent from Hong Kong and the Mainland to nurture outstanding postdoctoral scholars. Appointed supervisors are selected based on their leading international research capabilities, high-level research teams, advanced facilities, and track records in major research projects. PolyU ME participating academics and research projects: Prof. AN Liang Electrochemical Energy Systems Prof. CHOY Yat Sze Design and development of compact meta-liner for noise and vibration mitigation in aircraft application Prof. JIAO Zengbao Advanced Metallic Materials and Manufacturing Prof. MAI Yiu Wing Enhancing engineering performance of composite materials through improved manufacturing and innovative microstructure design  Prof. ZHENG Guangping The mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of high-entropy materials

Prof. Fu Mingwang Honoured as Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) 2026

The Department is proud to share that Prof. Fu Mingwang, Chair Professor of Advanced Manufacturing, has been elected as a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) for 2026. This prestigious international honour recognizes Prof. Fu's long-standing research leadership and pioneering scientific contributions to advanced materials processing, micro-mechanics, metal forming, and manufacturing engineering. Election to EurASc is reserved for world-leading scientists and scholars who have made significant, sustained contributions to science and technology globally. Prof. Fu’s research focuses on size-effect micro-mechanics, plastic deformation, metal micro forming, and defect prediction models in additive manufacturing. This fellowship marks another major milestone in a remarkable year of international achievements for Prof. Fu, following his recognition as the recipient of the 2026 Khan International Award for lifelong contributions to plasticity and mechanics, as well as the 2026 SME Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal. Prof. Fu also serves as Associate Director of the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) at PolyU. He has authored or co-authored over 350 high-impact journal publications and several authoritative books in materials mechanics and advanced manufacturing. He is a Fellow of both the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). This prestigious honour underscores the world-class quality and global impact of PolyU's research in advanced manufacturing and mechanical engineering. We extend our heartiest congratulations to Prof. Fu on this well-deserved international distinction.    

Warmest Welcome to Our New Research Students Joining in September 2026!

We are delighted to welcome 46 newly admitted research students to the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at PolyU for the new academic semester. On the morning of 1 September 2026, an orientation session was held for the incoming cohort, led by our Department Head, Prof. SU Zhongqing. He introduced the department’s primary research areas—Aerospace Engineering, Energy and Environment, Manufacturing, Materials and Mechanics, Robotics and Control, Sound and Vibration, and Thermofluids and Combustion—which are strategically aligned to address the major challenges facing society and the world in the coming decades. He emphasized that research studies at ME aim not only to train students into leading professionals in their fields, but also to broaden their perspectives in discovering new knowledge for the benefit of society. Prof. TANG Hui, Chairman of the Departmental Research Committee (DRC) and Associate Head (Research); Prof. LI Mengying, Research Student Liaison Officer; and Ir Dr NG Chun, Curtis, Technical Support Group Leader, also extended their warm welcome to the students. To help the new cohort settle in, Ms. Lily TAM, DRC Secretary and Administrative Support Group Leader, provided a comprehensive overview of the study programme structure, examination and grading systems, and key administrative support mechanisms. The orientation concluded with great enthusiasm and positive feedback from the students. We are confident that they will enjoy a supportive, knowledge-rich, and interactive research experience throughout their journey at PolyU ME.  

ME Final Year Project Wins 2nd Prize of 25/26 Best Final Year Energy Project Competition

Congratulations to our team of three 2026 graduates of BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering for receiving the 2nd Prize of 2025/2026 Best Final Year Energy Project Competition hosted by the Energy Institute (Hong Kong Branch) for their final year project entitled “Development of a Zinc-Air Flow Battery for Efficient Energy Storage”. The award ceremony will be held during the Energy Institute (Hong Kong Branch) Annual Dinner on 26 Feb 2027. The team, consisting of CHAN Kwan Kuen, LEE Chak Fai, and LEE Ming Hon, was supervised by Prof. WU Maochun. This award aims to recognize the most outstanding energy-related final year projects and to encourage them to continue the effort in improving the environmental engineering practice in their future careers. The project optimizes electrolyte chemistry and flow conditions to resolve dendrite and passivation issues in zinc–air flow batteries (ZAFBs). Driven by the demand for scalable renewable energy storage, the proposed method regulates Zn2+ion distribution and improves mass transport. Validated through experimental testing, the solution significantly enhances cell stability and discharge performance, proving practical for industrial grid integration.

Prof. Mai Yiu Wing Honoured with 2026 Wei-zang Chien Medal

Congratulations to Prof. MAI Yiu-Wing, Distinguished Chair Professor of Composites Science and Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at PolyU, on receiving the prestigious 2026 Wei-Zang Chien Medal. Prof. Mai was recognized for his pioneering contributions to fracture mechanics modeling and the characterization of coarse-grained ceramics, advanced fiber composites, as well as ductile polymers and blends. The award was presented at the 32nd International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences (ICCES2026), held in Hong Kong from August 7–12, 2026. Conferred jointly by ICCES and Tech Science Press, the Wei-Zang Chien Medal honors researchers who have made groundbreaking technological innovations and achievements in the field of mechanics. The medal pays tribute to Professor Wei-Zang Chien, who made seminal, lifelong contributions to applied mathematics and mechanics. First established in Tokyo in 1986, ICCES is widely recognized as one of the most influential international conferences in the discipline. The Department extends its warmest congratulations to Prof. Mai on this well-deserved recognition. This international honor highlights the remarkable research excellence and global influence of our faculty members, who remain dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge for the benefit of society.