Media Releases

PolyU research overcomes major obstacle to solar technology development, achieving record 33.89% power-conversion efficiency in solar cells

Significantly surpassing their single-junction counterparts in power-conversion efficiency (PCE), two-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have emerged as a game-changer in photovoltaics. However, due to the lack of effective optimisation of the device interface to maximise charge extraction efficiency and reduce energy loss, their widespread application has been limited. Researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have pioneered a novel bilayer interface passivation strategy to develop tandem solar cells that achieve a record-high PCE of 33.89%, representing a milestone in the development of solar technology. Interfacial recombination at the perovskite/electron transport layer interface has long been considered a major obstacle to enhancing the efficiency of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. Prof. YIN Jun, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Physics at PolyU, and his research team have made a breakthrough in interface engineering towards addressing this critical challenge. They have integrated advanced material design and a device optimisation strategy to develop high-efficiency perovskite/silicon tandem devices. This research was conducted in partnership with LONGI Green Energy Technology Co. Ltd and Soochow University. The findings have been published in the international journal Nature. The team introduced a nanoscale, discretely distributed ultrathin lithium fluoride (LiF) layer combined with a short-chain ethylenediammonium diiodide (EDAI) molecule deposition, inducing field-effect and chemical passivation simultaneously and thereby achieving a bilayer-intertwined passivation. This strategy significantly improved electron extraction and effectively suppressed non-radiative recombination. The researchers then applied the strategy to perovskite stacked on a double-textured silicon heterojunction cell, which featured a mildly textured front surface and a heavily textured rear surface, and successfully constructed the perovskite/silicon tandem devices. This unique design can enhance photocurrent while also maintaining robust rear passivation, effectively optimising both light absorption and power transfer. The resulting perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have achieved an independently certified PCE of 33.89%, marking the first reported certified efficiency of a two-junction solar cell that exceeds the single-junction Shockley-Queisser limit of 33.7%. In addition to their record-breaking efficiency, the cells demonstrate an impressive fill factor of 83%, an open-circuit voltage approaching 1.97 V, as well as significantly improved long-term stability.  This breakthrough helps overcome long-standing efficiency barriers to improving power-conversion efficiency of solar cells and unlocks the application potential of perovskite technologies in photovoltaics. It also serves as a strong motivation for continued innovation and advancement in solar technology, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and energy-efficient future. Prof. Yin said, “Our research is driven by the vision of breaking traditional efficiency barriers in solar cells. By integrating advanced materials like perovskites with established silicon technologies, we harness the best of both worlds to redefine solar cell performance. This multidisciplinary approach not only showcases the tremendous potential of photovoltaic technology, but also lays a solid foundation for the development of renewable energy and new quality productive forces.” Prof. Yin has been awarded the Excellent Young Scientists Fund for 2024 by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for his outstanding contributions to materials science. Moving forward, he and his research team will continue to explore the optoelectronic properties of advanced perovskite materials and their applications in next-generation photovoltaic devices. ***END***

Pioneering entrepreneur William Heinecke inducted into School of Hotel and Tourism Management Gallery of Honour

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to announce that Mr William HEINECKE, Founder and Chairman of Minor International PCL, was inducted into the SHTM Gallery of Honour on 16 May 2025, the same day he was bestowed the esteemed SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala dinner held in his honour. At the gala dinner, Prof. Miranda LOU, PolyU Executive Vice President, said, “As an entrepreneur and innovator in the industry, Mr Heinecke’s name has become synonymous with entrepreneurial success and hospitality leadership in the region and around the world. He is a stellar role model for future hospitality professionals and a source of inspiration for all.” Expressing his heartiest congratulations to Mr Heinecke on receiving the accolade, Prof. Kaye CHON, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said, “A trailblazer and an accomplished entrepreneur, Mr Heinecke’s exemplary achievements have not only played an important role in raising the level of the hospitality business in the region and globally but also helped transform it through his distinctive vision. As a passionate advocate for hospitality and tourism education, he has ardently supported the SHTM and is truly deserving of this award.” Mr William Heinecke remarked, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the SHTM. For me, hospitality is so much more than offering a place to stay – it is about creating transformative experiences that bring people together, spark positive social change, and highlight the unique warmth of every destination. I hope this honour will encourage the next generation of hospitality leaders to push boundaries, embrace lifelong learning, and strive for excellence at every turn.” Mr Heinecke’s leadership of Minor International has spanned close to six decades, guiding what began as a small start-up into one of the world’s largest hospitality groups. His career began at the young age of 17, when he launched his first company while still in high school. In the years that followed, he expanded what became known as Minor Hotels into a diversified global hospitality group to embrace a range of brands including Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Elewana Collection, NH Collection and Tivoli. Under his visionary leadership, Minor Hotels – which now boasts over 600 hotels in 63 countries – was an early pioneer in eco-friendly hospitality in Southeast Asia and has since established itself as a leader in sustainable tourism development. In his role as Chairman of the Board of Minor International, Mr Heinecke also oversees Minor Food, one of Asia’s largest restaurant companies with more than 2,500 outlets globally, and Minor Lifestyle which operates nearly 400 retail stores. Beyond his professional achievements, he has been actively engaged in philanthropic endeavours including setting up the Heinecke Foundation to support education for less fortunate children, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to seek to improve the welfare of elephants, and the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation to help rejuvenate the turtle population in the Sirinat Marine National Park in Thailand. He has also been involved in the annual St. Regis Bangkok Charity Gala and Auction, contributing to the fundraising for nominated organisations under Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand. Highly regarded for his exemplary accomplishments in hospitality, Mr Heinecke was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards in 2022 and HOTELS magazine’s Corporate Hotelier of the World 2017. A recipient of the Trailblazer Award at the Asian Business Leadership Forum Awards 2013, he authored the book The Entrepreneur: 25 Golden Rules for the Global Business Manager. He was also the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and sat on the Prime Minister’s Foreign Investment Advisory Council. Mr Heinecke’s contributions continue to inspire and transform the industry, making him stand out as a beacon of excellence. “The SHTM prides itself in being a leading force in education and research in hospitality and tourism,” said Dean Chon. “Our commitment to excellence is well supported by industry heavyweights and visionary leaders such as Mr William Heinecke. With steadfast support from our industry partners, our School is committed to nurturing the bright minds who will become future leaders of this dynamic global industry.” The Gallery of Honour is located in the SHTM lobby and displays portraits of the outstanding recipients of the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award, who represent the world’s most successful hospitality organisations and recognisable brands. The School established the Award to honour individuals who have made substantial contributions to the development of hospitality and tourism in Hong Kong, the region and the world, recognising the true leaders who have helped define the global hospitality landscape and advance the industry. ***END***

PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2025 coming soon, providing latest information on programmes for JUPAS applicants

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will hold the PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2025 on 24 May (Saturday) from 10am to 1pm. During the event, Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) applicants can obtain the latest updates on PolyU programmes, enabling them to re-evaluate and finalise their programme choices by late-July. Registration for the Consultation Day is now open at  https://www.polyu.edu.hk/conday. On the event day, the Academic Registry will host two sessions of talks on “Admission Strategy & Flexible Admission Arrangement” to introduce the latest admission information and JUPAS selection strategies. Professors and faculty representatives will be on hand to provide programme information, while student representatives will share their experiences of campus life and offer interview tips, helping prospective applicants to prepare in advance. In addition, faculties and schools will organise programme seminars, consultation sessions and guided tours to campus facilities to help interested students gain a better understanding of the University’s entrance requirements and features of their preferred disciplines/programmes, while also experiencing a taste of the vibrant campus learning atmosphere. PolyU has adopted a flexible and diverse admissions strategy. For the 2025/26 academic year, alongside the departmental scheme-based admissions and specialised programmes, PolyU is launching seven new bachelor’s degree schemes.  One is the Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Interdisciplinary Studies, which breaks through the traditional academic framework by implementing a personalised coaching system. It allows students, with guidance from PolyU’s distinguished professors, to design their own major based on personal interests and aspirations, helping to nurture professionals and leaders with interdisciplinary skills, innovative thinking and a global perspective to address the diverse challenges of future society. PolyU also continues to optimise its flexible admission arrangements. Applicants who fall slightly short of the general entrance requirements for degree programmes, i.e. “3-3-2-A-3-3” (level 3 in both languages, level 2 in Mathematics, “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, together with level 3 in two additional electives) can be given special consideration for admission if they demonstrate outstanding performance overall or excel in specific subjects. For details, please visit Study@PolyU: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/study. For enquiries about the “PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2025”, please email arevents.enquiry@polyu.edu.hk. ***END***

PolyU Foundation hosts luncheon talk exploring how AI revolutionises business innovations

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Foundation hosted a luncheon talk in the PolyImpact Luncheon Series on 8 May 2025, titled “DeepSeek and Beyond: How Generative AI (GenAI) Can Revolutionise Your Business”. Delivering the keynote address, a leading AI expert from PolyU examined the role of AI in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape and how it will refine strategies for business innovation. The event drew approximately 90 guests, including PolyU Foundation members, government officials and industry leaders. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, introduced the newly established Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI). He highlighted how these initiatives will foster collaboration among internal and external stakeholders to advance the development of GenAI through interdisciplinary and multidimensional approaches. Prof. Teng also noted that PolyU had recently recruited several globally renowned experts in AI and data science, and had plans to expand its talent pool by attracting further leading scholars in related fields, reinforcing its pioneering position for cutting-edge AI. The keynote was delivered by Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of the PolyU PAAI, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, and Professor of the Department of Computing. Her talk, titled “How GenAI Empowers Enterprises”, traced the evolutionary trajectory of AI, analysed breakthroughs and challenges in AI-powered search engines, and explored how GenAI enhances competitiveness across various industries. With 15 years of experience in AI, Prof. Yang has developed algorithmic systems that have been widely adopted by leading enterprises. She emphasised that GenAI offers transformative opportunities across the healthcare, finance, manufacturing, retail, media and fashion industries, with applications spanning medical image analysis, fraud detection, predictive maintenance, inventory management, content creation, design and marketing. However, challenges such as limited internet data accessibility and the high costs of open-source models hinder AI advancement. To address some of these barriers, Prof. Yang’s team developed the decentralised Co-GenAI platform. It features domain-adaptive continual pretraining, enabling AI models to become more specialised through learning data from specific domain data. It enables enterprises to obtain their own models, and demonstrates superior performance compared to open-source models. In addition, the system comprises a “Model Fusion” over existing specialised models that significantly reduces centralised computing resource usage. By optimising computational efficiency through small-model fusion, it reduces reliance on the high-end GPU clusters traditionally required for foundation model training. Prof. Yang pointed out that AI-driven medicine and healthcare is poised to achieve significant breakthroughs in disease diagnosis and treatment, particularly in precision medicine for cancer. Her team has developed AI-powered medical models that assist in tumour diagnosis and enhancement of personalised treatment plans. The team is currently collaborating with Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Centre and Peking Union Medical College Hospital to strengthen clinical validation. In addition, the newly established PAAI will serve as a decentralised Co-GenAI platform, fostering collaborative research and applications of GenAI across diverse fields including urban energy, business transformation, smart manufacturing, robotics, intelligent clinical reasoning, grid modernisation, smart construction and smart materials. The panel discussion, chaired by Dr Sunny CHAI, Chairman of the PolyU Foundation, and Prof. Yang, explored Hong Kong’s unique strengths and essential conditions for fostering a robust AI ecosystem. Prof. Yang emphasised that Hong Kong’s five globally top 100 ranked universities, combined with extensive research capabilities and an abundance of AI talent, provide a formidable foundation for advancing AI development. She urged that the City should harness the talent pool, invest in ample, cutting-edge AI infrastructure, and prioritise AI integration into industries where Hong Kong holds competitive advantages. By focusing resources and expertise on strategic priorities, she asserted that Hong Kong could accelerate the widespread adoption of AI across diverse sectors. During the Q&A session, Prof. Yang addressed questions from guests on various topics.  These included the importance of AI in driving business development, strategies for building efficient AI models within enterprises, and the applications and potential challenges of AI in healthcare and philanthropy. The PolyImpact Luncheon Series provides a platform for exchanging ideas and gaining professional insights, equipping participants with the knowledge needed to navigate the future of AI-driven business innovation. This event highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia, industry and government in fostering AI development and application. The PolyU Foundation is a committee under the PolyU Council, supporting the University’s mission through fundraising, fostering partnerships and promoting educational initiatives. The Foundation plays a crucial role in enhancing the University’s capabilities in research, innovation and community engagement by securing resources and building networks with alumni, industry leaders and other stakeholders. The Foundation is committed to promoting the University’s contributions to education and research, as well as its impact on society, by organising events such as luncheons and talks that facilitate knowledge exchange and strengthen ties between the University and the broader community. For more information about PolyU Foundation, please visit the website. ***END***

PolyU harnesses AI and data science to enhance maritime and shipping management and foster sustainable development within the industry

Facing a complex and ever-changing international environment, the maritime and shipping industry requires more efficient and precise data collection and analysis technologies to enhance management efficiency. A  research team at The Maritime Data and Sustainable Development Centre (PMDC) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a series of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and big data driven tools, including advanced technology for estimating the supply and demand for typhoon shelter berths in Hong Kong to improve vessel monitoring and emergency response, a shipping data analytics platform that uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to assess real-time port congestion index and other maritime statistical indicators, and a trajectory analysis technology to effectively detect illegal fishing activities. These innovations not only provide governments and industry stakeholders with cutting-edge management solutions but also drive the sector’s digital transformation and sustainable development. Automatically identifying vessels and estimating the supply and demand for typhoon shelter berths As a coastal city frequently affected by typhoons, Hong Kong must take effective preventive measures to ensure the safety of vessels. The research team, led by Prof. YANG Dong, Associate Head and Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies and Director of the PMDC, has collaborated with the Hong Kong Marine Department to develop an innovative monitoring technology. It utilises images of local vessels captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), combined with deep learning-based computer vision algorithms to automatically identify and classify ships, achieving an accuracy rate of 98.6%. This new technology is used to predict the supply and demand for local vessel typhoon shelter berths from 2022 to 2035, optimising the design of berth management plans. The method significantly enhances the government’s monitoring and emergency management efficiency for local vessels and typhoon shelters while greatly reducing labour and time costs. The research results have been adopted by the Hong Kong Marine Department as a technical reference for local typhoon shelter planning, assisting the government in developing shelter facility plans and establishing benchmarks for the digital management of coastal vessels. The technology has broad applications in port state control inspections and port congestion management. Looking ahead, the team plans to develop techniques for data collection and processing based on videos and images, integrating deep learning algorithms to create an intelligent regulatory system for vessels and navigation areas. To date, the team has collected over 50,000 images of local vessels, laying a solid foundation for future research and analysis. Utilising intelligent algorithms to calculate port congestion index Accurately and timely obtaining maritime statistical indicators, such as port congestion index and shipping line connectivity index, remains a major challenge for the maritime industry. Traditional manual data collection methods are error-prone, and the macro information released by administrative agencies or port departments often suffers from delays and lacks comprehensiveness. To address this, Prof. Yang Dong and his team have collaborated with researchers from Tsinghua University to develop advanced big data analysis algorithms for processing AIS data. They constructed a global, multi-level shipping and trade network database and created an online platform capable of calculating key indicators in real-time, such as port congestion index, port connectivity index, and port turnover rate. This research substantially broadens the application scenarios of maritime big data technologies, enabling the current shipping analysis from micro to macro levels, accurately capturing industry dynamics, and providing a reliable basis for maritime operational analysis and decision-making, thereby supporting the sustainable development of the industry. Analysing trajectories to identify illegal fishing vessels In the past, combating illegal fishing primarily relied on random sea patrol, which is costly and inefficient. To enhance the management efficiency of fishing vessels in Hong Kong waters, Prof. Yang Dong and his team developed a fishing vessel behaviour pattern recognition model by applying a novel trajectory feature engineering method combined with a semi-supervised machine learning framework. This model effectively identifies abnormal fishing behaviours with an accuracy rate of up to 90%. This technology integrates maritime domain knowledge with AI algorithms to establish precise distinctions in vessel trajectory features under different navigation states. It greatly reduces the time and labour required for manual data collection and labelling process and can be flexibly adapted for vessel trajectory prediction and emissions monitoring. The team has collaborated with the Hong Kong Tourism Commission and the Marine Department to assess the risks associated with large cruise ships navigating Hong Kong’s central channel using multi-source maritime data such as AIS, maritime radar, and CCTV footage. Recently, the team have utilised graph neural networks to accurately predict the future trajectories of multiple vessels in Hong Kong’s busy waterways, further strengthening real-time navigation safety supervision. Prof. Yang Dong said, “AI and big data technologies are bringing revolutionary changes to the maritime and shipping industry. These innovative assessment and monitoring tools combine domain knowledge in the maritime field with cutting-edge technology, significantly improving the speed, quality, and accuracy of data collection. They also address key operational challenges faced by the industry and make substantial contributions to academic research in related fields, promoting the intelligent development of maritime operations and further solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime centre.” ***END***

PolyU journal Nexus hosts forum on smart sustainable development promoting interdisciplinary research and innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Cell Press co-hosted the Nexus Forum 2025 from 8 to 10 May. Themed “Collaborative Innovation for Smart Sustainable Development”, the Forum served as a vital platform for promoting exchange and collaboration in interdisciplinary research and innovation, facilitating the advancement of smart technology and sustainable development. The three-day Forum featured keynote speeches, a panel discussion, oral and poster presentations, and an editorial workshop, attracting over 170 participants, including academic experts and authors, as well as consulate and industry representatives from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Additionally, over 300 PolyU faculty members and students also participated in the event. During the opening ceremony,  Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. Qingyan CHEN, Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science and Director of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR); and Prof. Jerry YAN, Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings and Editor-in-Chief of Nexus, warmly welcomed the participants from around the world. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng remarked, “In celebrating the first anniversary of Nexus, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing innovative research in applied sciences, engineering, technology, and inter- and multi-disciplinary fields to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This forum and Nexus reflect PolyU’s unwavering dedication to pioneering research and scholarship that directly benefits society. Looking ahead, PolyU will continue to champion transformative research through strategic platforms including the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, which conducts breakthrough interdisciplinary research in frontier domains of socioeconomic importance; the newly established PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), which strengthens our leadership in cutting-edge AI research and applications; and our network of translational research institutes across various cities in mainland China that address local industrial and societal needs.” The Forum featured three inspiring keynote speeches centred around three core themes: innovative techniques for sustainable cities, industrial and interdisciplinary solutions for sustainability, and carbon neutrality and energy system transformation. The speeches sparked thought-provoking discussion on the latest technologies and industry developments in these areas, highlighting how collaborative innovation and research can help shape a sustainable future for all. The distinguished keynote speakers included Prof. Michael OBERSTEINER, Director of Environmental Change Institute of University of Oxford; Prof. HE Kebin and Prof. TU Shandong, Members of Chinese Academy of Engineering; Ms Louise BERGHOLM, Consul General of Sweden to Hong Kong and Macau; Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of PAAI; as well as scholars and representatives from Tsinghua University, San Diego State University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, East China University of Science and Technology, The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Lingnan University, CLP Power Hong Kong, HK Electric, the Hong Kong Green Building Council, and Strategy Department of Tencent. The first two keynote speeches covered topics such as Sweden’s best practices in developing sustainable cities, generative AI applications, innovative engineering solutions for sustainable built environments, and breakthroughs in electric vehicle battery storage technology. The third keynote, themed “Carbon Neutrality and Energy System Transformation”, is co-organised by the PolyU International Centre of Urban Energy Nexus and the Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality. It focused on the latest achievements in cutting-edge multidisciplinary research in carbon and earth sciences, environmental science, energy and power engineering, data science, and intelligent technology. Topics included climate risk mitigation strategies, sustainable Modular Integrated Construction, and AI-driven co-simulation in power and carbon markets. At the panel discussion titled “Technology Innovation for Decarbonisation of the Power Sector”, scholars from PolyU, local, mainland China, and overseas universities, as well as representatives from two local power companies introduced and explored the research projects supported by the Strategic Topics Grant under the Hong Kong Research Grants Council. In addition, multiple oral and poster sessions were organised to allow participants to share their views and exchange research findings on different topics, thereby facilitating knowledge exchange and transfer. The editing workshop, co-organised by the PolyU Graduate School, drew over 180 PolyU postgraduate and undergraduate students. Editors-in-chief and editors from seven academic journals, including Nexus and Nature Energy, introduced young researchers to the skills and tools necessary for writing scientific papers. The workshop aimed to enhance the readability and impact of their manuscripts, and to demonstrate the skills of integrating advanced technologies into research. Nexus is Cell Press’s first partner journal in cross-disciplinary subjects and the first title published in collaboration with a university. To learn more, please visit https://www.cell.com/nexus/home. ***END***

PolyU research reveals sharp depletion in soil moisture, driving land water to flow into the oceans and contributing to a rise in sea levels

The increasing frequency of once-in-a-decade agricultural and ecological drought has underscored the urgency of studying hydrological changes. A research team from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has collaborated with international experts to analyse the estimated changes in land water storage over the past 40 years by utilising space geodetic observation technology and global hydrological change data. This innovative method has revealed a rapid depletion in global soil moisture, resulting in a significant amount of water flowing into the oceans, leading to a rise in sea levels. The research provides new insights into the driving factors behind the alarming reduction in terrestrial water storage and rise in sea levels. The findings have been published in the international journal Science. Since polar motion reflects mass redistribution within the Earth system, integrating models and observations across the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere is crucial. However, previous challenges in measuring terrestrial water storage, particularly groundwater and root zone soil moisture, limited understanding of hydrological depletion at continental scales. Prof. Jianli CHEN, Professor of the PolyU Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics and core member of the Research Institute for Land and Space and the international team employed satellite altimetry and gravity missions, including the Gravity Recovery and Satellite Experiment (GRACE), and GRACE Follow-On, to enable continental-scale observations of terrestrial water storage variations. By integrating this with global mean sea levels and polar motion data, the team has explored terrestrial water storage depletion patterns. Notably, this study introduced novel methods for estimating global soil moisture, which improves the accuracy of continental and global scale modeling to enable a more effective understanding of soil moisture variations under climate change. The melting of Greenland’s ice sheet is recognised as the largest single contributor to the rise in global sea levels, adding approximately 0.8mm annually. This study reveals that between 2000 and 2002, the global terrestrial water storage significantly declined, with a total of 1,614 billion tons of water lost to the oceans, which is twice as much as resulting from the current melting of Greenland ice, and equivalent to a 4.5mm rise in sea levels. Since then, the rapid loss of terrestrial water storage has been followed by a more gradual but continuous depletion, with no signs of recovery. In addition, compared to the period from 1979 to 1999, a notable decline in global average soil moisture was observed from 2003 to 2021. Between 2003 and 2011, the Earth’s pole shifted 58cm toward 93° East Longitude, demonstrating that the continued decline in soil moisture is leading to a reduction in terrestrial water storage. The team also pointed out that precipitation deficits and stable evapotranspiration caused by global warming, changing rainfall patterns and increasing ocean temperatures are likely the key factors for the abrupt decline in terrestrial water storage. The ERA5-Land soil moisture data of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ corroborates these findings, showing substantial terrestrial water storage losses in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. In Asia and Europe, the affected areas expanded from northeastern Asia and eastern Europe to broader regions across East and Central Asia, as well as Central Europe, following the sharp water storage depletion observed between 2000 and 2002. With increasing agricultural irrigation in regions such as northeast China and the western United States, and global greening, soil moisture may further diminish in semi-arid areas with intensive agriculture and high levels of greening. The team suggests the need for improved land surface models which consider these factors for a more comprehensive understanding of long- term changes in terrestrial water storage. Prof. Jianli Chen said, “Sea level change and Earth rotation serve as indicators of large-scale mass changes in the Earth system. Accurately measured sea level change and variation in Earth rotation provide a unique tool for monitoring large-scale mass changes in the global water cycle. By integrating multiple modern space geodetic observations, it enables comprehensive analysis of the driving factors behind changes in terrestrial water storage and sea level rise. This, in turn, provides reliable data for climate and Earth system science experts to further investigate drought issues, aiding authorities in formulating water resource management and climate change mitigation strategies to address new challenges posed by climate change.” ***END***

PolyU holds the 31st Congregation, envisioning a future driven by innovation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held its 31st Congregation last Saturday (10 May), presided over by PolyU Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai and President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG. At the Congregation, held in the Jockey Club Auditorium on campus, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees were awarded to 226 graduates. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng extended his warmest congratulations to all the doctoral graduates and shared PolyU’s vision of being an innovative world-class university that pursues excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. He said, “We aspire for our graduates to be able to connect their academic research to societal needs and to solve complex problems by driving innovation, contributing to building a better future for the world.” Prof. Teng added, “PolyU has proactively evolved its initiatives and strategic directions to meet the needs of the Nation’s strategic development and the changing demands of society. Embracing the opportunities and challenges brought about by artificial intelligence (AI), PolyU established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences earlier this year and the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI) recently, promoting AI research and applications while elevating Hong Kong as a global centre for generative AI development.” Prof. Teng also mentioned that PolyU has submitted an innovative and forward-looking proposal for Hong Kong’s third medical school to the Hong Kong Government. Leveraging the University’s strong foundation of excellence in health sciences, engineering and AI, as well as its extensive experience in training healthcare professionals, PolyU envisions nurturing the next generation of socially responsible and technologically proficient medical talents for the future AI-driven healthcare landscape. He believes this initiative will support Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub, and address the city’s critical healthcare needs, including primary healthcare and preventive medicine. PAAI will also play a pivotal role in strengthening PolyU’s leadership in AI-driven healthcare and medicine, giving the University an even stronger foundation for the new medical school. Prof. Teng emphasised that continuous innovation is the key to remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving global environment. He encouraged the graduates to drive positive change and innovation in their respective fields, carrying forward PolyU’s spirit of innovation and excellence. This Congregation Session was held for the presentation of awards to PhD students who graduated between October 2024 and March 2025. The Congregation Sessions for PhD students who graduated between April and September 2025, as well as for graduates of all other award levels, including professional doctoral degree, Master of Philosophy degree, taught master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, postgraduate diploma and higher diploma, will be conducted in November this year. ***END***

PolyU establishes Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), with strong support from the Joseph Needham Foundation for Science and Civilisation (JNFSC), announced the establishment of the Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation in the Faculty of Humanities at PolyU, in honour of Dr Needham’s outstanding contributions to academia, particularly his pioneering work in the history of science and civilisation. Today, the PolyU Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) co-hosted the 15th Joseph Needham Memorial Lecture with JNFSC. It featured Prof. Roel STERCKX FBA, Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science and Civilisation at The University of Cambridge, who delivered a lecture titled “‘Those who are learned do not farm and farmers do not learn.’ Writing agriculture in early China”. In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Honorary Secretary of the JNFSC, said, “We are deeply committed to advancing interdisciplinary research that bridges technology, sustainability and cultural heritage. This lecture focuses on the interaction between scholarly discourse and agricultural development, resonating with the connection between academic rigour and real-world impact. In addition to co-hosting the lecture, we are very honoured to establish the Joseph Needham Professorship, continuing the research legacy of this legendary scholar. This new professorship will further advance research in the history of science and technology at PolyU, while also strengthening the University’s overall research capabilities.” Dr Peter LEE, Chairman of the JNFSC, remarked, “The Joseph Needham Memorial Lecture continues to bring together global top scholars to promote research in the history of science and medicine in East Asia. Today’s lecture helps the participants further understand ancient Chinese agricultural activities. To deepen the academic legacy of Dr Joseph Needham, JNFSC has announced the establishment of the Joseph Needham Professorship at PolyU to attract international scholars and expand Dr Needham’s core value of nurturing ‘the coexistence of science and civilisation’ through interdisciplinary research, talent development and public outreach, promoting a deep global dialogue on science and humanities.” In the lecture, Prof. Roel Sterckx FBA said, “In ancient China, rulers routinely presented agriculture as the most important profession in society. Yet, Confucius notoriously claimed he had no expertise when it came to fields and gardens and insisted that those who study should not be concerned with farming.” In his lecture, Prof. Sterckx explored how these seemingly contradictory attitudes were reflected in the textual sources of Warring States and early imperial China. The history of early Chinese agriculture was not just a story of agronomic and technological developments but also firmly influenced by the political philosophies of the time. Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of the PolyU Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of PReCIT, also noted that the lecture explained the technological development and political relationships in early Chinese agronomy, highlighting the diversity of ancient Chinese agricultural history. Through a meticulous analysis of documents of the Warring States period, the lecture demonstrated how ancient Chinese rulers viewed agriculture as a fundamental political and economic strategy of the state. JNFSC was established in 1979, with the aim of promoting the academic legacy of the late Dr Joseph Needham for the benefit of students and the public. To cultivate more outstanding scholars and talents like Dr Needham, JNFSC has established the “Joseph Needham Professorship” and “Joseph Needham Merit Scholarship” programmes. Two PolyU graduates, two HKU graduates and one HKUST graduate were awarded this year’s scholarship to recognise their outstanding performance in academic research, as well as their qualities of empathy, humility and courage. They will receive full scholarship funding and an additional stipend for a fixed period of four years during their postgraduate studies and research work. The full list of awardees is as follows: Awardees Graduating University Research Subject  Academic Institute  Mr Allen CHEN Zihao The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Human Genomics and Disease The University of Edinburgh Ms KWOK Hin Chi The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Data Science / Computer Science / ECE (MLDS) AI Health University of California San Diego Ms LIN Aijing  The University of Hong Kong  Biomedical Engineering Johns Hopkins University Mr Timmy WONG Tsun Chui The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Biochemistry and Cell Biology University of California, Berkeley Mr ZHANG Chenwei The University of Hong Kong Electrical & Computing Engineering Yale University About Dr Joseph Needham Born in 1900, Dr Needham was a biochemist and historian of science known for his scientific research and writing on the history of Chinese science and technology. He initiated the publication of Science and Civilisation in China, which is an ongoing series of books about the history of science and technology in China published by Cambridge University Press. It is recognised as one of the most remarkable works of scholarship in the twentieth century.  Dr Needham was the first Western scholar to undertake a comprehensive and comparative study of the history of Chinese science and technology, examining its relationship with the development of modern science. He highlighted and fully recognised the rich connotations of traditional Chinese culture in science and technology development. His works opened up global interests in and attention to the history of Chinese science and technology, making it an important international academic field. Among his many academic honours and achievement, Dr Needham was elected as a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1994. His legacy as a distinguished scientist, humanist, and intellectual continues to have a profound impact on the science and civilisation of our world today.  PolyU looks forward to the continued exploration and understanding of the rich tapestry of science and civilisation inspired by Dr Needham’s remarkable legacy. PolyU has initiated global open recruitment for the Joseph Needham Professorship in Science and Civilisation. The position will be held by a world-renowned leading scholar at the Chair Professor level in the Faculty of Humanities, whose scholarship includes a focus on areas related to the history of science and civilisation.   ***END***  

PolyU research unveils hidden microbial threats to ecosystem caused by plastic waste, urging global collaboration to track harmful microbiomes

Four hundred million tonnes of plastic waste are produced every year worldwide. More than seven billion tonnes have been generated in total to-date, with less than 10% having been recycled and about 80% accumulating in the environment. While discussion about plastic pollution often hinges on marine animals ingesting the waste or harmful compounds being leached out of plastics, a research team of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has shed light on the often-overlooked microbial threats associated with plastic waste. The team is developing a global database and model to map the trajectory of the harmful microbiomes carried by plastic debris and to forecast the potential ecological risks. Plastics comprise a variety of compounds that can serve as nutrients for microbes attached to them.  These microbes develop distinctive microbial communities that colonise plastic debris in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, forming what is referred to as the plastisphere. Previous research revealed that one gram of marine plastic can contain up to ten times the microbial biomass found in 1,000 litres of open-ocean water. This indicates that, as plastic waste continues to grow and degrades at an extremely slow rate, the plastisphere is expanding rapidly and harbours an abundance of microbes. Led by Prof. JIN Ling Nathanael, Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Health Technology and Informatics, the research team combined field-collected samples and publicly available raw data to analyse the microbial communities in the plastisphere and its associated natural environments, covering freshwater, seawater and terrestrial ecosystems. Providing a comprehensive overview of the unique and diverse microbial communities of the plastisphere, the findings have been published in the international interdisciplinary journal The Innovation and recognised as its Most Popular Paper from 2020 to 2024. The research found that, in all three environmental systems, microbial communities in the plastisphere differ markedly from those in the natural environment, in terms of both the genera of microorganisms present and their coexistence patterns. These communities consist of fragile networks of specialised microorganisms, which are rarely encountered in nature. Compared with microbial communities in the natural environments, microorganisms in the plastisphere boast a pronounced ability to decompose organic compounds, potentially increasing the release of greenhouse gases and accelerating carbon turnover. The findings also highlight disturbances in the nitrogen cycle caused by the plastisphere, especially in freshwater ecosystem where bacteria that release harmful substances such as nitrite and nitrous oxide thrive. In addition, a significant rise in pathogens that pose risks to humans, animals and plants is spotted in the plastisphere. Notably, some of the pathogen species have not been detected in the corresponding natural environment previously, which indicates the potential of the plastisphere to carry pathogens across ecosystems. Prof. Jin said, “Plastic waste and the microbiomes it carries can travel long distances via different means like streams and wind, and can disturb the natural distribution of microbial species. As viruses can survive longer and are more infectious in the plastisphere, this may accelerate the spread of pathogens and also prompt disease outbreaks. Traditionally, plastic pollution has been evaluated primarily based on its physical and chemical impacts, but it is now crucial to also consider the microbial threats posed by plastic waste.” Prof. Jin and his team were invited to offer insights into this critical issue in the international journal Nature. They explained the fact that the plastisphere is composed of plastic fragments ranging in size from micrometres to several metres enables it to carry its inhabiting microbiomes into ecosystems and the food chain through various pathways. For instance, submicrometre-sized plastic particles can be directly absorbed by crops while larger plastic debris can easily be ingested by animals. The researchers therefore emphasised the importance of assessing the impact brought by the plastisphere on the ecosystem and of forecasting the potential risks. By integrating findings from ground monitoring, laboratory experiments and simulation modelling, they set the goal of mapping the trajectory, transport dynamics and fate of plastic debris carrying microbiomes across ecosystems, regions and countries. Prof. Jin elaborated, “This is a complex yet achievable task, requiring extensive international and interdisciplinary collaboration, along with the application of advanced technologies such as geographic information systems, remote sensing and nano-sensors connected through the Internet of Things. A crucial aspect of this project is to standardise methods across different research endeavours and establish a global data-sharing framework in order to provide consistent and actionable advice.” Global database for mapping the trajectory of the plastisphere The team actively collaborates with global partners, including academic institutions, government departments and NGOs, to collect plastic samples, create a comprehensive planetary catalogue of hazardous plastisphere microbiomes and track the flow of associated risks. Leveraging existing plastic waste migration and accumulation research, they are now developing a model to assess and quantify the microbial impacts of plastic pollution. This new model is based on existing plastic presence data and future emission scenarios and will be validated through simulation experiments. Prof. Jin stated, “The severity of the projected effect of the plastisphere varies by geographic location and is closely linked to regional human activities, development and environmental management. Through enhanced mapping and tracking, the project will deepen our understanding of microbial migrations on plastics, enabling more accurate risk assessments and targeted interventions in critical areas. The data can also serve as guidance for more effective environmental policies and public health strategies, particularly in regions most affected by plastic pollution.” ***END***