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Sixteen PAIR members named Highly Cited Researchers 2025 by Clarivate

PAIR has 16 scholars recognised in the list of “Highly Cited Researchers 2025” by Clarivate Analytics, with one scholar recognised in two categories, underscoring PolyU internationally recognised research and academic excellence and highlighting its contributions to societal development and technological advancement across diverse fields. Clarivate Analytics’ Highly Cited Researchers list recognises academics who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their respective fields of research.  This year, 6,868 scholars from 60 countries and regions have been named.  The selected scholars have authored multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for their fields and publication year over the past 11 years.  Of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers are 1 in 1,000. PAIR members named Highly Cited Researchers 2025 are listed below (in alphabetical order by surname): Category Name Title and Faculty/Department/School Computer Science Prof. TAN Kay Chen Head and Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence of the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Cross-Field Prof. CHAI Yang Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Science, Chair Professor of Semiconductor Physics of the Department of Applied Physics Prof. Daniel LAU Chair Professor of Nanomaterials of the Department of Applied Physics Prof. LI Gang Sir Sze-yuen Chung Endowed Professor in Renewable Energy, Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Prof. NI Meng Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, Head and Chair Professor of Energy Science and Technology of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Prof. Harry QIN Professor of the School of Nursing Prof. Geoffrey SHEN Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships), Director of Global Engagement, Chair Professor of Construction Management of the Department of Building and Real Estate Prof. WU Tao Chair Professor of Frontier Materials of the Department of Applied Physics Prof. YAN Feng Chair Professor of Organic Electronics of the Department of Applied Physics Prof. YANG Guang Assistant Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Prof. ZHANG Xiao Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof. ZHENG Zijian Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Engineering Prof. YAN Jinyue Chair Professor of Energy and Buildings of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Prof. ZHENG Pai Associate Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Wong Tit Shing Young Scholar in Smart Robotics Materials Science Prof. WANG Lianzhou Chair Professor of Energy Materials of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Prof. WANG Zuankai Associate Vice President (Research), Dean of Graduate School, Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering, Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof. ZHANG Xiao Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering   For the full list of Highly Cited Researchers 2025, please visit: https://clarivate.com/highly-cited-researchers/  

Prof. Amy FU pens article in Ming Pao Daily on prevention and treatment of fencing injuries

Prof. Amy FU, Associate Head and Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Associate Director of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and Peter Hung Professor of Pain Management, together with her research team, published an article in Ming Pao Daily introducing research on, prevention of and treatments for fencing-related injuries. Prof Fu’s team highlighted that the prevalence of injuries among fencers ranges from 51.5% to 92.8%, with the lower limbs being the most commonly affected area (56.1% in professional athletes, 54% in non-professionals).  In clinical practice, the PolyU team most frequently treats injuries to the lower limbs and lower back, particularly knee problems, including patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellar tendinitis and hamstring strains.  During their long-term service to fencing teams, the team analysed athletes’ annual medical examination data over the past five years and found that the incidence of knee and lower back injuries was highest (46.6% to 52.1%), followed by injuries to the wrist, neck and ankle (33.8% to 35.9%). A review study on injury patterns among fencers showed that injuries most often occur on the dominant side, with the rate of knee joint injury as high as 49%.  Injuries to structures responsible for knee flexion and extension (such as patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellar tendinitis) and hamstring strains accounted for the highest proportions (25% and 7% respectively).  Another cross-sectional study of 150 local fencers found that the incidence of knee injuries due to overuse was as high as 60.67%.  These figures highlight that the knee joint is highly susceptible to injuries, especially among professional athletes, who require enhanced preventive measures. Fencing is a sport characterised by repetitive movements, high impact, and asymmetrical actions, involving rapid lunges, explosive changes of direction and asymmetric stances.  During forward lunges, athletes must avoid hyperextension of the front knee, and the forward movement of the lower limb upon landing generates significant braking force, requiring eccentric contractions of the hamstrings of the dominant leg.  However, athletes often over-rely on the quadriceps and neglect hamstring strength training, increasing the risk of hamstring strains during lunges.  Frequent explosive movements can also overload the patellar tendon, leading to microtears and inflammation.  Additionally, abnormal hip movement (such as excessive adduction and internal rotation) upon landing of the dominant leg is associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome.  This dynamic valgus of the knee reduces the contact area of the patellofemoral joint and increases the load on the lateral patella, thus resulting in pain. The team believes that progressive resistance training can effectively relieve pain and improve function.  They recommend athletes to avoid movements that exacerbate pain during training and undertake high-load, low-speed strength training only when the pain score is below 5 (0 being no pain, 10 being extreme pain).  Training should begin with isometric exercises (such as wall sits), gradually transitioning to isotonic exercises (such as Bulgarian split squats) and finally to energy storage and loading exercises (such as jumping squats); each stage should progress from two-leg training to single-leg training. The team also introduced a three-stage exercise therapy programme to help improve hamstring strains. The first stage (1 to 5 days after injury) focuses on pain and swelling reduction and protecting scar healing, using low-intensity, pain-free exercises (such as isometric glute bridges) to minimise muscle atrophy and enhance neuromuscular control.  The second stage gradually increases training intensity and range of motion according to the patient’s tolerance (such as single-leg glute bridges) and introduces eccentric hamstring exercises (such as single-leg Romanian deadlifts).  The third stage centres on targeted training, using full-range movements to help athletes gradually return to their previous level of performance (such as single-leg balance windmill dumbbell touches). The team added that injury prevention exercises for fencing should include strength, mobility and movement control training.  Strengthening hip abduction and external rotation, as well as eccentric training for hamstrings and quadriceps, forms the foundation.  At the same time, it is important to relax tense muscles (such as the tensor fasciae latae) and improve hip and ankle flexibility.  In movement control training, the hip, knee and ankle should stay aligned during lunges, to ensure that force travels in a straight line through the lower limb.   Online coverage: Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/49L7p0D

Vice Minister of Science and Technology of China leads delegation to visit PolyU

Mr CHEN Jiachang, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, led a delegation to visit PolyU on 5 November 2025.  During the visit, he engaged in in-depth discussions with PolyU’s management and research staff, focusing on the University’s core work in innovative teaching and research, as well as the nurturing of technology talent.  The delegation also gained a comprehensive understanding of PolyU’s cutting-edge research and achievements in technology transfer, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and healthcare.  Vice Minister Chen commended PolyU for its contributions to technological innovation and its staunch support to the Nation’s strategies in advancing science and technology as the primary productive force, and promoting national prosperity through science, education and innovation. PolyU scholars introduced the delegation to a range of leading research projects related to AI-enabled medicine, including an AI-powered fundus camera developed by Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV); a 3D ultrasound scoliosis assessment system, and a  portable liver fibrosis and fatty liver assessment system developed by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA); an AI-based virtual enhanced MRI system developed by Prof. CAI Jing, Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and RISA; an ankle rehabilitation robot developed by Prof. ZHANG Dan, Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), RI-IWEAR, RISA, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF); and robots for post-stroke telerehabilitation developed by Prof. HU Xiaoling, member of RISA and Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports)  These achievements fully demonstrate how PolyU leverages its strong research capabilities in artificial intelligence, healthcare, and engineering, translating them into impactful products and technologies. Online coverage: Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4oYwgCK CCTV - https://polyu.me/47qmBif HK01 - https://polyu.me/4p06kqg hkong.hk - https://polyu.me/47NQiIZ Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3WIuMjJ  

Dr LEUNG Ka-sing featured on TV programme on “prepared dishes” and its impacts on consumer rights

Dr LEUNG Ka-sing, Member of Steering Committee of Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) and Adjunct Associate Professor of Department of Food Science and Nutrition, was featured on TVB’s programme “News Magazine” on the definition of “prepared dishes” and its impacts on consumer rights. Dr Leung explained that “prepared dishes” refers to dishes that have been prepared in advance and prepackaged.  He emphasised that one of the issues surrounding “prepared dishes” could be the rights of consumers.  He acknowledged that consumers have certain expectations when dining at restaurants, and suggested that certification might help address diners’ concerns.  For example, restaurants could display labels at the entrance or use other means to indicate that they do not use “prepared dishes” to serve customers. Dr Leung further noted that whether or not “prepared dishes” should be regulated through legislation requires open to discussion.  He cautioned that, in commercial contexts, legislating prematurely may not be advisable, as excessive regulation could impede development of the industry.  He concluded that, in handling matters involving the industry and consumers, legislation should be considered only as a last resort.   Online coverage: TVB - https://polyu.me/47l8EC9 (17:46 - 18:15; 20:54 - 21:54)

Single session of exercise rapidly alleviates depressive mood: PolyU study reveals neural mechanism and preventative potential

Prof. Sonata YAU, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has uncovered the neural mechanism behind the rapid antidepressant effect of a single bout of physical exercise. Her team found that just one 30-minute treadmill running at intermediate intensity could rapidly elevate mood in university student participants. Mechanistic evidence from animal models revealed that this effect is mediated by the activation of specific glutamatergic neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)—a key brain region for emotion regulation—via the hormone adiponectin, which triggers nuclear translocation of the adaptor protein APPL1. This cascade enhances synaptic protein expression and spine formation through epigenetic regulation, leading to immediate relief of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the powerful potential of physical exercise as a practical and accessible intervention for managing mood disturbances in young adults. Crucially, the research suggests that prompt physical exercise can help prevent the worsening of depressive mood, serving as an effective preventative measure against depression and supporting mental well-being in this population. The study provides robust scientific evidence for the rapid antidepressant effects of physical exercise, paving the way for immediate rehabilitation strategies for depressive mood. This work has been recently published in Molecular Psychiatry, a leading journal in Psychiatry and Neuroscience Research. Read the full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03317-1   Online coverage: Weixin - https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/068XuRmVen-sQW4Uvb6_ZQ

PolyU partners with industry to transform waste glass into low-carbon bricks, supporting mall renovation in Central

PolyU, in collaboration with Gammon Construction, is supporting Hongkong Land’s HK$7.8 billion “Tomorrow’s Central” initiative to renovate its shopping mall in Central. The project will convert demolition glass waste into partition bricks and low-carbon cement alternatives, aiming to recycle 75% of the waste generated in the project. Prof. POON Chi-Sun, Director of the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), Distinguished Research Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering, explained that the technology adopted in the project grinds waste glass into powder, which replaces 20% to 30% of the cement used in brick production. Compared to conventional bricks on the market, these eco-bricks are 10% to 20% stronger while having similar weight. Following the completion of performance tests including fire resistance and others by the end of this year, the bricks will be officially produced in Hong Kong for use as partition bricks. Prof. Poon added that 41 tonnes of glass have already been dismantled for the project, with the estimated total amounting to 50 tonnes. Each brick uses at least 2 to 3 kg of glass for replacing some of the high carbon-emitting cement. Over 20,000 partition bricks are expected to be produced for use by Hongkong Land. Many buildings in Hong Kong are built with extensive glass curtain walls, which require disposal. This green brick technology helps the industry address the challenge of discarding large volumes of glass waste and has the potential for economical and scalable production. In future, it could even be expanded to develop structural building materials.   Online coverage (Chinese only): Ming Pao Daily News: https://polyu.me/4qnMOFr Hong Kong Economic Times: https://polyu.me/43oVvpc (subscription required) Headline Daily: https://polyu.me/4nlRr0d Wen Wei Po: https://polyu.me/4nl6yXQ Bastille Post: https://polyu.me/49ovAlc Macau Business: https://polyu.me/43B2X0v PC home: https://polyu.me/3L9A1X3 Sina HK: https://polyu.me/43wW9Ru Global News: https://polyu.me/3WWvQjW NetEase: https://polyu.me/4hmWmfP

PolyU projects garner top funding in Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology Programme (Cat. C Projects)

Six research projects from PolyU have been awarded funding under the 2025 Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology Programme (Category C Projects).  PolyU has secured the highest number of selected projects among institutions in Hong Kong and Macao.  Each of the six projects has received close to the maximum funding amount of RMB 3 million, with total funding reaching RMB 17.79 million.  All project leaders are members of PAIR. This remarkable achievement underscores PolyU’s leading position in research translation and collaborative innovation in the Greater Bay Area.  The funded projects are dedicated to advancing innovative development in high-tech fields, including battery technology, marine engineering coating materials, aircraft engine repair technology, artificial intelligence-driven tactile sensing, diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, and construction safety in the low-altitude economy. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology Programme (Category C Projects) administered by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, is a flagship research funding initiative for technological innovation cooperation in the Greater Bay Area.  The programme aims to encourage universities, research institutions, and enterprises in Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao to leverage their strengths, engage in deep industry-academia collaboration, and catalyse research outcomes with global impact. Project Leader Affiliations with PAIR Project Title Funding Amount (RMB) Prof. NI Meng Associate Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, Head of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering and Chair Professor of Energy Science and Technology Management Committee Member of RISE, Member of RISUD Development of key technologies for lightweight, high-performance proton-conducting fuel cells or electrolysers towards the additive manufacturing for carriers and portable devices 3 million Prof. WANG Zuankai Dean of Graduate School and Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering Member of RISports, RI-IWEAR and RCTFF Development of multifunctional coating materials for core moving components in high-end offshore equipment 3 million Prof. H.C. MAN Cheng Yick-chi Chair Professor in Manufacturing Engineering, Chair Professor of Materials Engineering and Dean of Faculty of Engineering Member and Founding Director of RIAM Data-driven multi-state collaborative laser cladding repair technology for aero-engine blades 3 million Prof. YU Changyuan Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering   Management Committee Member of PRI, Member of RCDSE, RISports and RI-IWEAR AI-driven research on flexible optical fibre multi-parameter tactile sensing for robotics 2.99 million Prof. WEN Xiewen Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering   Member of RIAM Research and development of cross-scale glass additive manufacturing technology and equipment for integrated diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy 3 million Prof. YI Wen Assistant Professor in the Department of Building and Real Estate Member of RISUD Research on high-altitude construction safety inspection for smart cities admidst low-altitude economy 2.8 million   Online coverage: Toutiao - https://polyu.me/4qqHUrs (Chinese only)  

Prof. HU Xiaoling introduces multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation on TV to support stroke patients in regaining mobility

Prof. HU Xiaoling, Member of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA) and Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and Associate Professor of Department of Biomedical Engineering, was recently featured on HOY TV’s “Health Concern Group” programme, where she introduced the world’s first multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation “Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton” developed by her research team.  This innovative device effectively assists stroke patients with hemiplegia in improving lower limb motor function and enhances their mobility. Prof. Hu explained that stroke patients often experience varying degrees of mobility impairment, such as foot drop and foot inversion, which can severely impact daily life.  She emphasised that traditional ankle-foot orthoses can easily lead to muscle atrophy and do not facilitate the restoration of voluntary muscle function on the affected side.  In contrast, the new device incorporates a range of advanced multimodal assistive technologies, including functional electrical stimulation, mechanical assistance provided by artificial muscles, and sensory stimulation.  These features support stroke patients in rebuilding ankle-foot function from multiple perspectives, effectively correcting issues such as foot inversion and foot drop.  Additionally, through targeted neural stimulation, the device improves sensory and motor functions in weakened muscles and provides vibratory stimulation, enabling patients to independently correct foot inversion. Clinical studies have confirmed that stroke patients who underwent rehabilitation training with the “Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton” for one month, a total of 20 sessions, each lasting one hour, experienced restoration of lower limb function and by nearly 40% in some cases.  Improvements in foot drop were even more pronounced, with the angle of dorsiflexion increasing from approximately 5 degrees to 10 degrees.  Regarding foot inversion, over 90% of patients experienced significant improvement, demonstrating highly effective results. Online coverage: HOY TV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4y4j4soO0c (07:39 - 11:11)

New theory on tourist behaviour unveiled by Prof. Sara DOLNICAR at PAIR Seminar

At the PAIR Seminar on 14 October 2025, Prof. Sara DOLNICAR of The University of Queensland, Australia, shared her pioneering theory of consumer behaviour during leisure.  Her presentation, titled “Habit-Enjoyment-Effort Theory – Changing Consumer Behaviour in Hedonic Contexts”, explored human behaviours in settings where the pursuit of pleasure is paramount.  The seminar attracted over 170 in-person participants and an online audience of more than 13,800 across various social media platforms.  Prof. Dolnicar began her speech by providing an overview of the global tourism industry, highlighting its contribution to global carbon emissions and the significance of behavioural theories in enticing pro-environmental behaviours in tourists.  She noted that prevailing theories, such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Value-Belief-Norm Theory, are predominantly cognitive-focused: they assume that human behaviours are guided by cognitive processes and are therefore predictable.  However, these theories are less adept at explaining behaviour in hedonic contexts, where pleasure-seeking is the primary motivation.   Introducing her Habit-Enjoyment-Effort Theory, Prof. Dolnicar offered an alternative to the existing cognitive-focused models.  Drawing on real-world survey studies conducted in hotels around the world, she demonstrated that this new theory outperforms the Value-Belief-Norm Theory and shows considerable promise in field experiments, where the competing theories were assessed for their construct validity. In summary, Prof. Dolnicar argued that the current dominant theories adequately support the design of effective behavioural change interventions.  She emphasised the need for ongoing development of new theories, such as the Habit-Effort-Enjoyment Theory, and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary and university-industry collaborations.  She concluded that preliminary research results generally provided empirical support for this new theory, highlighting that the theory has great potential for further refinement and deserves continued attention and uptake by the industry. Following the presentation was a lively question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. WANG Dan, Associate Director of Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) and Professor of School of Hotel and Tourism Management.  Both the on-site and online audiences engaged in a productive discussion with Prof. Dolnicar. Please click here for an online review.

One hundred and thirty-nine PAIR scholars ranked among World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists 2025

A total of 139 scholars from PAIR and its 19 constituent research units were ranked among the “World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists 2025” in the latest list released by Stanford University, and five of them were among the top 20 scholars in the world in their own areas of specialty. The named PAIR scholars were included in the “Career-long Impact” list based on their career-long citation impact. The latest ranking reflects the influential research of PAIR researchers and PolyU’s leading position in multiple research areas. The ranking compiled by Stanford University covers over 100,000 top scientists across the globe. The database grouped scientists under 22 subject fields and 174 sub-fields. The list was based on indicators including citations, scientific research output and a composite indicator for citation impact, up to the end of 2024. The number of PAIR scholars listed in the ranking and their corresponding research fields are as below*: Acoustics (2) Analytical Chemistry (1) Applied Physics (2) Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing (7) Biomedical Engineering (3) Biotechnology (1) Building and Construction (14) Civil Engineering (9) Energy (11) Environmental Engineering (1) Environmental Sciences (1) Experimental Psychology (1) Food Science (1) Geological & Geomatics Engineering (5) Industrial Engineering & Automation (4) Information Systems (1) Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry (1) Logistics & Transportation (3) Materials (14) Mechanical Engineering & Transports (3) Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry (2) Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences (3) Microbiology (1) Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (16) Networking & Telecommunications (6) Neurology & Neurosurgery (1) Operations Research (5) Ophthalmology & Optometry (3) Optoelectronics and Photonics (8) Organic Chemistry (1) Polymers (2) Psychiatry (1) Rehabilitation (3) Sport, Leisure & Tourism (1) Statistic & Probability (1)   *As per the data published by Elsevier on 19 September 2025 (version 8):  https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/8   Read more: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pair/news-and-events/world_top_2_percent_scientists_2025-career_long/