ME PhD Student Awarded Prestigious National Grant for Sustainable Energy Research

Congratulations to Ms WANG Qing, a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, on securing a highly competitive 2025 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Young Student Basic Research Grant. This prestigious award recognizes her exceptional research potential and outstanding academic record. Launched in 2023, the NSFC Young Student Basic Research Programme is designed to nurture the independent scientific research capabilities of PhD students and stimulate innovative, high-impact fundamental research. The grant provides CNY 300,000 in funding to support Ms Wang's two-year research project, entitled “Coupling Mechanism of Multiscale Interfacial Transport and Two-phase Flow in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers”. Her work promises to contribute valuable insights into next-generation technologies for sustainable energy conversion. Ms WANG Qing is a doctoral researcher under the supervision of Professor AN Liang. Her consistent academic excellence has been recognized through multiple prior awards. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is immensely proud of this significant accomplishment, which underscores our commitment to cultivating world-class research talent.  

PolyU and Sun Yat-sen University sign MOU on education and research collaborations

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance education and research collaborations. Initiated by PolyU's Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and SYSU’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics (SAA), the MOU establishes a framework for concrete collaborations in areas such as student exchanges, joint research, and the development of joint research centres and projects in mechanical engineering. The MOU was signed by Prof. SU Zhongqing, Head of PolyU ME and Prof. WU Zhigang, Dean of SYSU SAA. The signing ceremony took place on December 5, 2025, at the PolyU campus. During the ceremony, Prof. SU and Prof. WU provided introductions to their respective institutions, fostering a deeper understanding between PolyU ME and SYSU SAA. The signed MOU will serve as a platform for technology transfer, resource sharing, and collaborative efforts. Following the ceremony, the delegation toured PolyU ME's Acoustics Laboratory, Aeronautical Laboratory, Advanced Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage Laboratory, James Hsioung Lee Product Testing and Analysis Centre, Materials and Mechanics Technology Laboratory, Micro-nano Technology Laboratory, Thermal Sciences, Dynamics and Vibrations Laboratory, Thermodynamics Laboratory and Water Tunnel Laboratory, where the innovative research activities and sophisticated facilities were showcased. This partnership between PolyU ME and SYSU SAA is set to foster long-term, comprehensive cooperation opportunities between the two institutions.    

ME Retreat in Dec 2025

The Department of Mechanical Engineering successfully convened its annual staff retreat in Huizhou from December 2 to 3, 2025. The retreat served as a strategic forum to address challenges in curriculum reform and to chart the course for the Department's future development. The event commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Su Zhongqing, who introduced six new faculty members: Prof. Yu Hongyu, Prof. Du Huifeng, Prof. Xu Shengduo, Dr Tong Yu Chee, Dr Xu Nan Nathan, and Dr Yang Lei. Their arrival marks a significant infusion of promising and young talent into the Department. Prof. Su then provided a comprehensive overview of the Department's current status and recent developments. Subsequent sessions featured detailed academic reports. Prof. Ruan Haihui, Associate Head (Teaching and Learning), and Prof. Jiao Zengbao, Chairman of the Postgraduate Programmes Committee, reviewed undergraduate and taught postgraduate admissions, respectively. Their presentations highlighted a sustained increase in applicant interest and the successful recruitment of high-calibre students across all programmes. Discussions also covered teaching load projections for newly launched programmes and upcoming teaching arrangements. Prof. Choy Yat Sze, Chairlady of the Publicity Committee, reported on initiatives to enhance the Department's public image and student recruitment efforts. Prof. Tang Hui, Associate Head (Research), facilitated a lively discussion on key research themes, preparations for the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2026, admission policies, and the allocation of departmental resources. Later in the afternoon, as the first day's agenda drew to a close, Dr Nathan Xu introduced the "Mechanical Engineering Elite Troop" (MEET) initiative and provided a progress update on member recruitment. Dr Curtis Ng, Secretary of the Space Allocation Committee, addressed ongoing space requirements and provided updates on laboratory renovation projects. The retreat resumed on the second day with an open forum led by Prof. Su Zhongqing, fostering vibrant and constructive dialogue among all staff members. The feedback gathered will provide invaluable guidance for the Department's strategic planning. Following the formal discussions, the delegation visited the PolyU-Daya Bay Technology and Innovation Research Institute and Biel Crystal Manufactory Limited. These visits offered first-hand insights into cutting-edge applied research facilities and advanced precision manufacturing processes, further strengthening the Department's industry-academia collaboration within the Greater Bay Area. With over 40 staff members in attendance, the retreat was widely regarded as both insightful and productive, setting a positive and collaborative tone for the coming year. For more photos of the event, please click HERE.  

ME PhD Student Wins Top Award at International Sports Tech Congress

Mr SHEN Junyan, a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded the prestigious Kunwei Applied Research Award at the inaugural World Congress on Sports Science and Technology (WCSST2025). He received the honor for his oral presentation on an innovative research project titled “An Integrated Platform for Assessing Microclimate and Aerodynamic Performance for Sports Footwear”. Under the supervision of Prof. Tang Hui, Junyan developed a groundbreaking platform that uniquely combines a wind-tunnel testbed — featuring a self-developed sweating thermal foot manikin — with a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation framework. This integrated system allows for the simultaneous assessment of aerodynamic drag and the foot’s microclimate (heat and humidity) within footwear. The platform, which has undergone rigorous testing and validation, offers the sportswear industry a cost-effective and rapid approach to performance testing. It also establishes a critical foundation for optimizing the thermal comfort and aerodynamic efficiency of next-generation sports footwear. Held from November 29 to December 2, 2025, at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), WCSST2025 brought together leading engineers, scientists, physicians, and students from academia, research institutions, and industry to share advancements across the full spectrum of sports science and technology.

2025 International Symposium on AI for Fluid Mechanics Successfully Concluded at PolyU

The 2025 International Symposium on AI for Fluid Mechanics (ISAIFM2025) was successfully held at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 29 November to 1 December, 2025. Jointly organized by PolyU and the Hong Kong Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (HKSTAM), the symposium was co-chaired by Professor Hui TANG (PolyU), Professor Weiwei ZHANG (Northwestern Polytechnical University), and Professor Bernd R. NOACK (Shenzhen University). The event brought together leading experts and promising young scholars from the global intelligent fluid mechanics community. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge frontier scientific challenges, recent breakthroughs, talent development, and engineering applications within the field. The symposium attracted over 60 distinguished scholars and industry leaders from more than 10 countries and regions worldwide. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Hui TANG, Conference Chair, Associate Head (Research) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at PolyU, and Secretary of HKSTAM. Professor Zuankai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research) and Dean of Graduate School at PolyU, delivered the opening address. Prof. Hui TANG chaired ISAIFM2025. Prof. Zuankai WANG delivered the opening remarks. The symposium featured plenary speeches by an esteemed lineup of international experts:  Professor Nikolaus A. ADAMS, Technical University of Munich, Germany Professor Weiwei ZHANG, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China Professor Manolis GAVASSES, City St George’s, University of London, UK Professor Gianluca IACCARINO, Stanford University, USA Professor Zhonghua QIAO, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Professor Paola CINNELLA, Sorbonne University, France Professor Bernd R. NOACK, Shenzhen University, China. The scientific program included three parallel sessions, covering a wide spectrum of cutting-edge topics such as AI for Computational Fluid Dynamics (AI4CFD), AI for Experimental Fluid Dynamics (AI4EFD), intelligent techniques for pre- and post-processing in flow field solving, Large Language Models (LLMs) for fluid mechanics, flow data feature extraction and intelligent fusion of multi-source data, and knowledge discovery in fluid mechanics.  Through detailed presentations and vigorous discussions, participants advanced collaborative research on key technologies and disruptive innovations. The symposium not only significantly bolstered China's profile and competitiveness in intelligent fluid mechanics but also established a premier platform for academic exchange and collaboration among international and national experts, researchers, and research postgraduate students. A highlight of the event was a roundtable discussion moderated by Professor Bernd R. NOACK, focusing on the opportunities and challenges at the nexus of AI and fluid mechanics. The panel included Professor Nikolaus A. ADAMS (Technical University of Munich), Professor Hui TANG (PolyU), Professor Xiang YANG (The Pennsylvania State University, USA), Professor Jiaqing KOU (Northwestern Polytechnical University, China), and Professor Dixia FAN (Westlake University, China). Held on an invitation-only basis, ISAIFM2025 featured over 50 outstanding presentations. The focused discussions on pivotal development directions in AI and fluid mechanics fostered vibrant intellectual exchange. This international gathering reinforced the deep integration of AI with traditional mechanics, catalyzed the ecosystem development of intelligent fluid mechanics, and strengthened the synergy between industrial engineering needs and frontier research. The symposium made a substantive contribution to accelerating the progress of AI for Science (AI4Science) and AI for Engineering (AI4Engineering) in China.  

Chinese Aeronautical Establishment Delegation Visits PolyU ME

A delegation from Chinese Aeronautical Establishment (CAE) visited PolyU ME on 25 November 2025. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on research collaboration, fostering industry-academia-research integration. During the meeting, Prof. SU Zhongqing (Head of PolyU ME) outlined the Departments’ latest developments and research advancements, while Mr XU Yue (Chief Engineer of CAE), provided an overview of CAE’ organization structure. This sharing fostered a deeper understanding among PolyU ME and CAE. Following the meeting, the delegation toured PolyU ME’s Thermodynamics Laboratory and Acoustics Laboratory, gaining a deeper understanding of the PolyU ME’s state-of-the-art facilities and research achievements. This visit established a robust communication platform between CAE and PolyU ME, laying a strong foundation for future collaboration in research and technology transfer.  

Unveiling Ceremony of Refreshed ME Entrance

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) held an unveiling ceremony of the new logo and motto wall on 20 November at the refreshed ME main entrance. The new ME motto "Forging Excellence through Mechanical Ingenuity" perfectly captures our mission and ambition. The ceremony marked the official launch of the refreshed ME main entrance, officiated by distinguished leaders, including: Prof. CHAO Yu Hang, Christopher - Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering Prof. H.C. MAN - Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Chair Professor of Materials Engineering Prof. SO, Ronald Ming Cho - Emeritus Professor, PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof. SU Zhongqing - Department Head and Chair Professor of Intelligent Structures and Systems Prof. MAI Yiu Wing - Distinguished Chair Professor of Composites Science and Engineering Prof. RUAN Haihui - Associate Head (Teaching & Learning) and Associate Professor Prof. TANG Hui - Associate Head (Research) and Associate Professor We look forward to welcoming our students here and to celebrating the department's future achievements.    

The 11th ME Research Presentation Contest

The 11th ME Research Presentation Contest was successfully held on November 12, 2025. This annual event provides a platform for research students to showcase their project outcomes and share knowledge with the PolyU community. The event commenced with an introduction from Research Student Liaison Officer, Prof. Li Mengying, who emphasized the importance of communicating academic ideas effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. This was followed by an opening address from the Associate Head of Research, Prof. Tang Hui, who highlighted the contest's significance in offering invaluable opportunities for ME research students. This year's panel of judges comprised thirteen academics from the Department's three main research clusters: Acoustics & Robotics, Manufacturing Materials & Mechanics, and Thermofluids & Energy. We were thrilled to see a strong turnout from the community to support our talented students. During the event, the Department also took the opportunity to present the Outstanding Research Postgraduate Student Award. The five 2024 awardees are: Mr Hu Dien (Supervisor: Prof. Fu Mingwang) Mr Li Weisong (Supervisor: Prof. Zhang Xiao) Miss Zhang Kouer (Supervisor: Prof. An Liang) Mr Pi Rendong (Supervisor: Prof. Yu Xiang) Mr Tang Mingcong (Supervisor: Prof. An Liang) The contest featured three-minute pitch presentations from 23 contestants, each delivering a high-impact talk. Our Distinguished Chair Professor, Mai Yiu Wing, shared his insights with the contestants, advising them to simplify their slides by trimming excessive content and equations. He stressed focusing on one or two key topics to make the material more accessible to a broad audience. Following the oral presentations, contestants engaged with the audience during a poster exhibition, which provided a valuable opportunity for direct interaction with viewers and professionals. All attendees were also invited to vote for the People's Choice Award, and participants actively sought support from the audience. In his concluding remarks, Department Head Prof. Su Zhongqing stated that the contest serves as an excellent platform for PhD students to practice delivering clear presentations. He noted that a good presentation acts as a bridge, connecting complex ideas with the audience's understanding. Prof. Su also emphasized the wise use of AI tools to enhance productivity and polish work, while cautioning against over-reliance. He reminded students that AI cannot replace human judgment and the need for a deep, fundamental understanding of their subject. Congratulations to all participants on their fabulous presentations and excellent research work!   Champion & People’s Choice: Mr Huang Jie (Supervisor: Prof. Su Zhongqing) Title: In-situ Metrology of Next-Generation Semiconductors Using Ultrafast Optoacoustics 1st Runner-Up: Miss Li Wenzhe (Supervisor: Prof. Jiao Zengbao) Title: Design of an ultrastrong and ductile titanium alloy via bifunctional nanoparticles 2nd Runner-Up: Mr Huang Zihan (Supervisor: Prof. Fu Mingwang) Title: Stronger, Smarter, Safer: μLPBF titanium Alloys for Bone Implants  Merit: Miss Zhi Hui (Supervisor: Prof. David Navarro) Title: Pass the Parcel by Multi-Agent Systems Miss Liu Xinran (Supervisor: Prof. Li Mengying) Title: Maintain Stability in Fluctuations: Internal Heat Source Control in SOEC Mr Xia Qing (Supervisor: Prof. Zhang Xiao) Title: Electrochemical Creating a Knife to Break N2’s Triple Bond  

2 ME Scholars Recognised Amongst World’s Most Highly Cited Researchers 2025

Congratulations to Prof. WANG Zuankai and Prof. ZHANG Xiao being two of the 20 PolyU academics who have been recognised in the "Highly Cited Researchers 2025" list by Clarivate Analytics. Prof. Wang was recognised in the Materials Science category, while Prof. Zhang was listed in both Materials Science and Cross-Field categories. Prof. Zhang is the only researcher from PolyU to be recognised in two categories, underscoring the significant impact of their research and their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. This year, a total of 6,668 researchers from 60 countries and regions from a diverse range of fields have been named as Highly Cited Researchers. This annual list recognises researchers for significant impact in their respective research fields. Each researcher selected has authored multiple highly-cited papers that have ranked in the top 1% by citations for their fields and publication year in the Web of Science over the past 11 years. The department is proud of Prof. Wang and Prof. Zhang’s outstanding achievements in ground-breaking research. Their accomplishments reaffirm ME’s dedication to research excellence.  

Prof. Wu Maochun Secured Highly Competitive National Funding in NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme

The RGC has recently announced the application results for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC) Joint Research Scheme in 2025/26 exercise. This year, 11 full proposals submitted by PolyU have been awarded the funding support. We are particularly proud that Prof. WU Maochun, Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering was one of the awardees. Prof. Wu will receive around HK$1.2 million to conduct a joint project entitled “Investigation on energy storage mechanism of rechargeable carbon-fixed Zn-CO2 flow battery based on nanoparticle suspension” with Prof. HE Yurong at Harbin Institute of Technology. The NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme aims to promote collaboration between researchers/research teams in Hong Kong, China and the Chinese Mainland on the basis of complementing the existing strengths of both sides. The grant encourages young researchers of similar fields from Hong Kong China and the Chinese Mainland to foster collaboration through the dissemination of their recent and unpublished research works. It is very encouraging to see that young scientists from the Department is acclaimed by the Nation to further develop scientific research in cutting-edge technologies.