News

Establishment of the Research Institute for Microbiology

We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Research Institute for Microbiology (RIM) with effect from 1 September 2026 as a constituent research unit of PAIR. RIM aims to become a world-leading hub for cutting-edge microbiological research, dedicated to addressing global microbial challenges that pose significant threats to human health, environmental sustainability, food security and biotechnological advancement, while also advancing the beneficial applications of microorganisms to improve human health. Prof. CHEN Sheng, Head and Chair Professor of Microbiology in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, will lead the Institute as Director. Prof. DONG Cheng, Associate Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) and Chair Professor of Cell Engineering and ImmunoMedicine in the Department of Biomedical Engineering; Prof. HUANG Jian, Chair Professor of Data Science and Analytics in the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Department of Applied Mathematics; and Prof. ZHANG Weixiong, Associate Director of PAIR and Chair Professor of Systems Biology and Artificial Intelligence in the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, will serve as Associate Directors. Please join us in welcoming them and all members of RIM to the PAIR family!

PAIR Newsletter · Issue 19 · September 2026 is now available

A new academic year brings new ideas, new collaborations and new discoveries. In Issue 19 of the PAIR Newsletter, we look back on a particularly vibrant season at PAIR, marked by distinguished lectures, research seminars and scholarly exchanges that connected PolyU with leading researchers from around the world. This issue features thought-provoking conversations with two distinguished scholars whose insights offer valuable perspectives on some of the most pressing challenges facing society today. Prof. Sir Bashir M. AL-HASHIMI, Senior Vice President (Research & Special Initiatives) of King’s College London, shares his reflections on human reasoning, critical thinking and the future of research in the age of artificial intelligence, reminding us that independent thinking, sound judgement and the pursuit of knowledge remain indispensable, even as AI technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, PAIR Fellow Prof. Sara DOLNICAR of The University of Queensland takes readers into the world of sustainable tourism and hospitality, exploring how behavioural science can encourage more sustainable choices without compromising the joy of travel. We also celebrate the achievements of PAIR scientists. Several scholars have recently been elected Fellows of prestigious learned societies and professional bodies, underscoring the growing international impact of PAIR research. Among them, PAIR Director Prof. CHEN Qingyan has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the world’s most distinguished scientific academies, with a centuries-long tradition of scientific excellence. We are also delighted to welcome the newly established Research Institute for Microbiology (RIM) to the PAIR family, further expanding our interdisciplinary research landscape and strengthening our capacity to address global challenges in health, biomedicine and beyond. Beyond these important updates, readers will discover research achievements, knowledge transfer initiatives and impact stories spanning health and wellbeing, sustainability, emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing and ESG, showcasing how interdisciplinary research continues to create meaningful benefits for society.   Read PAIR Newsletter – Issue 19: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pair/publications/issue-19/    

Bridging aerosol science and policy action: Prof. Lidia MORAWSKA discusses ultrafine particles, microplastics and public health

On 27 August 2026, Prof. Lidia MORAWSKA of the Queensland University of Technology delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Current Problems of Science: The World of the Particles We Inhale and How to Control it”.  The event drew more than 70 in-person attendees and approximately 14,700 online viewers across multiple social media platforms.  During her lecture, Prof. Morawska provided a comprehensive overview of the profound impacts of atmospheric pollution on human health and socioeconomic development.  She noted that the health and economic burden associated with indoor air pollution is estimated at 3.45% of China’s gross domestic product (GDP).  She underscored the critical need to translate advances in aerosol science into concrete and enforceable public health policies to address better the challenges posed by atmospheric pollution. A major highlight of the lecture was the discussion on ultrafine particles (UFPs).  These tiny pollutants, measuring less than 0.1 micrometre in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and posing long-term risks to brain health.  To overcome the limitations of conventional, costly monitoring spectrometers, Prof. Morawska presented a global study launched in September 2024 across 19 international monitoring sites.  Utilising the portable Partector2-Pro instrument, the project aims to validate a scalable, long-term approach to UFP monitoring, enabling a more robust assessment of the relationship between exposure levels and health impacts.  These findings, she noted, will provide scientific foundation for upcoming World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and future regulatory standards worldwide. The presentation also examined the dual threats of infectious respiratory particles and airborne microplastics.  Drawing on lessons from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Prof. Morawska highlighted the importance of monitoring airborne pathogens and examined the technical bottlenecks facing real-time pathogen detection, including sensitivity, specificity and cost-effectiveness.  She also warned of the escalating crisis of microplastics and nanoplastics (NMPs).  Since 1950, global plastic output has exceeded 10 billion tonnes, while only around 6% has been recycled.  Inhalable plastic fragments smaller than 10 micrometres from synthetic textiles, tyres and paints have become increasingly pervasive in the atmosphere.  She urged the scientific community to establish and adopt standardised testing methods to assess better their toxicological risks and potential health impacts under real-world conditions. In conclusion, Prof. Morawska emphasised that airborne particles are influenced by multiple factors, including the built environment, human activities and surrounding environmental conditions.  Effective risk mitigation necessitates a three-pronged approach: controlling source emissions, reducing environmental concentrations and limiting human exposure.  She further stressed that scientific discoveries could bring about meaningful change only when translated into policy action.  Due to the intrinsic complexity of aerosol science, such regulatory measures must be grounded in rigorous scientific evidence to protect global public health. The lecture concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR.  Both in-person and online participants engaged in lively and insightful discussions with Prof. Morawska. Please click here for an online review.

Prof. Vivian HUI Leads New Phase of PolyU-led Community Mental Health Support Programme for Fire-affected Residents

Prof. Vivian HUI, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Assistant Professor of the School of Nursing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been appointed Programme Lead of the new phase of the Community Mental Health Support Programme.  Coordinated by the Advisory Committee on Mental Health under the Health Bureau of the HKSAR Government and supported by a donation of over HK$10 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the programme will be implemented in 2026–2027 to provide sustained and comprehensive mental health support for residents affected by the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire.  Prof. Hui is a member of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health and has long been involved in the development of mental health policies and services in Hong Kong. Led by PolyU, the Community Mental Health Support Programme aims to provide comprehensive and tailored mental health support through mental health monitoring, risk assessment and stepped-care services.  The programme also leverages data analytics to inform long-term support strategies, with a view to enhancing the community’s capacity to respond to and recover from major incidents.  Particular attention is given to residents who were relocated to transitional housing following the fire, through outreach mental health services and professional counselling support. The first phase of the programme achieved significant outcomes, with about 300 residents having completed comprehensive mental health screenings to date.  The project team also organised 10 workshops focusing on insomnia management and psychological resilience, and referred more than 10 individuals in need to clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness for further support and follow-up. Under the new phase, a multidisciplinary team comprising psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals will provide mental health support services at 12 transitional housing sites.  Over the next 12 to 18 months, the team will work closely with the JC JoyAge Project to further strengthen community outreach efforts, offering psychological counselling to individuals experiencing anxiety, stress and other mental health challenges.  The programme will also facilitate access to appropriate medical and specialist services for those in need, thereby promoting mental well-being and recovery within the community.

PAIR Research Impact Video Series | Episode 5 | Vision elevated: Bioinspired sensing technologies for intelligent machine perception

The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) is delighted to present the fifth episode of the PAIR Research Impact Video Series. This series invites PAIR researchers to share their latest research achievements and innovative solutions to major societal challenges. The fifth episode, titled “Vision elevated: Bioinspired sensing technologies for intelligent machine perception”, features Prof. CHAI Yang, Director of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Science and Chair Professor of Semiconductor Physics. In this episode, Prof. Chai discusses his team’s development of bio-inspired semiconductor hardware designed to advance AI through integrated sensing and computing. By mimicking the visual systems of flying insects and the human retina, the team created optoelectronic graded neurons for real-time motion tracking in machine systems, alongside sensors capable of adapting to dynamic light environments. These innovations significantly reduce data transmission latency and power consumption while improving machine vision performance. Watch the video now to discover how Prof. Chai’s research is shaping the future of sensory AI, paving the way for smarter cities, intelligent mobility and next‑generation artificial intelligence! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsYhTrRdfXc

Prof. FAN Jintu outlines key challenges in textiles in ScienceNet.cn interview

In a recent exclusive interview with ScienceNet.cn, Prof. FAN Jintu, Director of Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF) and Chair Professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Engineering, reflected on his research journey, examined the key scientific challenges facing the textiles field, and offered valuable advice for young academics navigating their research careers.  He also shared his vision for the journal Textiles. Prof. Fan identified three primary hurdles facing today’s textiles industry: Sustainability bottlenecks: Overcoming technical barriers in recycling blended fibers, reducing microplastic pollution, and establishing low-energy, high-efficiency closed-loop recycling systems. Health-oriented functional textiles: Developing functional textiles for physiological monitoring, therapeutic applications and specialised protection without compromising product safety or wearer comfort. Intelligent industrial transformation: Utilising 5G and industrial IoT to connect data across the entire supply chain, and embedding core textile physics into AI models to drive a shift from production optimisation to product R&D. Addressing the development of young scholars, Prof. Fan stressed the importance of tackling fundamental scientific problems within the field.  He advised against chasing fleeting research trends, encouraging long-term dedication to a core field alongside measured innovation.  He noted that young scholars should maintain a keen awareness of emerging developments while striking a balance between sustained commitment to their core research areas and appropriate innovation.  Such an approach, he explained, is essential for building a solid academic foundation and achieving impactful research breakthroughs. On assuming the role of Editor-in-Chief at Textiles, Prof. Fan said the decision stemmed from a sense of duty to the academic community, with the aim of building a high-calibre platform for scholarly exchange and helping to retain top-quality submissions.  While highlighting that Open Access breaks down barriers to knowledge dissemination and significantly enhances the international visibility of research outcomes, he underscored the necessity of upholding rigorous peer-review standards and strict adherence to academic integrity.  Moving forward, Textiles will focus on frontier research and interdisciplinary innovation and recruit talented young researchers to its editorial team to drive sustained growth.   Online coverage: Sciencenet.cn - https://polyu.me/3SkWcxr

Advancing oxide electronics through materials engineering: Prof. Judith L. DRISCOLL shares breakthroughs in next-generation memory technologies

On 10 August 2026, Prof. Judith L. DRISCOLL, Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), Professor of Materials Science and Fellow of Trinity College, University of Cambridge, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Pioneering Materials Engineering to Meet Performance Requirements of Oxide Electronics Applications”.  The lecture attracted 37 onsite participants and more than 14,000 online viewers across various social media platforms. During the lecture, Prof. Driscoll highlighted the enormous potential of functional oxide materials for a wide range of electronic, energy and information technologies.  While these materials exhibit diverse and highly attractive electronic, magnetic, optical and energy-related properties, she noted that translating research breakthroughs into practical technologies remains challenging.  Key challenges include the precise control of material composition, defects and interfaces, all of which significantly influence device performance. With the rapid advancement of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, edge computing and neuromorphic computing, demand for advanced non-volatile memory technologies continues to grow. Prof. Driscoll explained that next-generation memory devices must simultaneously deliver low power consumption, fast switching speeds, high endurance, scalability and reliable multilevel operation.  She highlighted oxide-based resistive random-access memory (RRAM) and ferroelectric random-access memory (FRAM) as two highly promising candidates for next-generation memory technologies. Prof. Driscoll then presented a series of innovative materials-engineering strategies developed by her research team to improve memory device performance.  Central to these approaches is the precise control of oxygen vacancies and their transport pathways within thin-film materials, which play a critical role in determining device performance.  By engineering switching layers, electrodes and interfaces, her team has demonstrated effective ways to improve device uniformity, reduce power consumption, enhance endurance and enable reliable multistate operation.  She also shared several examples of oxide-based memory systems, highlighting significant advances in switching performance, stability and neuromorphic-computing applications. The lecture also explored how fundamental materials research can be translated into device architectures compatible with existing semiconductor-manufacturing processes. Through advanced nanostructuring, interface engineering and electrode composition tuning, Prof. Driscoll demonstrated how materials design can address long-standing challenges associated with oxygen vacancy control and defect management, paving the way for the practical deployment of oxide-electronics technologies. Looking ahead, Prof. Driscoll emphasised that materials engineering will remain a key driver of progress in oxide electronics. She noted that new approaches to oxygen-vacancy control are continuously improving device uniformity, endurance, energy efficiency and neuromorphic-computing capabilities. These advances help bring oxide-based memory and computing technologies closer to real-world deployment, creating new opportunities for next-generation electronic and AI applications. The lecture concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. TAO Xiaoming, Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textiles Technology and Chair Professor of Textile Technology.  Participants actively engaged with Prof. Driscoll in discussions on oxide electronics, advanced memory technologies and neuromorphic computing, bringing the lecture to a successful close. Please click here for an online review.

Thirteen PAIR members shine at PolyU Patents Achievement Award

The PolyU Patents Achievement Award (PPAA) is a prestigious university-level accolade that recognises academic departments and faculty members for their exceptional commitment to knowledge transfer.  This award celebrates outstanding contributions to innovation and commercialisation while encouraging a strong culture of research impact across the University. PAIR is proud to celebrate 13 members who were recognised at the PPAA 2025, earning awards across four of the five award categories.  This achievement highlights PAIR’s strong commitment to innovation, intellectual property development, and research commercialisation. The PPAA comprises the following award categories: Top Patents Filing Award (Department and Individual Award): IP filing achievements over the past three years (2022–2025); Most Active Patents Filing Award in the Year (Department and Individual Award): Outstanding IP filing activities within year 2025; Most Active IP Commercialisation in the Year (Department Award): Highest number of licensing cases within year 2025; Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award (Individual Award): High-value licensing achievements over the past three years (2022–2025); Outstanding IP Commercialisation Awards in the Year (Individual Award): High-value licensing achievements within year 2025.   The PAIR awardees are as follows: Awardee Award Category Prof. Benny CHEUNG Chi-fai Associate Director of RCSV Management Committee Member of RCRE Member of RIAM Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology Top Patents Filing Award Most Active Patents Filing Award 2025 Ir Prof. NI Yiqing Member of RISUD Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Professor in Smart Structures Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit Top Patents Filing Award Ir Prof. POON Chi-sun Management Committee Member of RCRE Member of RILS and RISUD Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering Distinguished Research Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Top Patents Filing Award Ir Prof. ZHENG Yongping Director of RISA Member of RI-IWEAR, RISports and RCSV Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering Top Patents Filing Award Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. ZHENG Zijian Associate Director of RI-IWEAR Management Committee Member of RISE Member of RIAIoT and PRI Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices Top Patents Filing Award Most Active Patents Filing Award Ir Prof. ZHENG Pai Member of RIAM Wong Tit Shing Young Scholar in Smart Robotics Associate Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Most Active Patents Filing Award Prof. Carly LAM Member of RiFood, RISports and RCSV Adjunct Professor of School of Optometry   Prof. TO Chi-ho Member of RCMI and RCSV Visiting Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry   Prof. Dennis TSE Yan-yin Member of RCMI and RCSV Associate Professor of School of Optometry Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. YANG Hongxing Former Management Committee Member of RISUD Former Member of RISE Retired Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. Justina LIU Yat-wa Member of RILS and RISA Associate Head (Education) and Professor of School of Nursing Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. TAO Xiaoming Management Committee Member of PAIR Director of RI-IWEAR Member of RISE, RISA, RISports and RCTFF Chair Professor of Textile Technology Vincent and Lily Woo Endowed Professorship in Textile Technology Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. WONG Ka-hing Management Committee Member of PAIR Director of RiFood Member of RCRE Professor of Department of Food Science and Nutrition Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award in the Year  

Shaping the future of mobility: Prof. QU Xiaobo on autonomous driving and emerging paradigms in vertical transportation

On 5 August 2026, Prof. QU Xiaobo, Member of Academia Europaea (Academy of Europe), Changjiang Chair Professor of School of Vehicle and Mobility, Director of Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control for Low-Altitude Heterogeneous Vehicles, Tsinghua University, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Future Transport: Autonomy, Verticalization and Cloud Control”.  The seminar attracted 50 onsite participants and more than 14,600 online viewers across various social media platforms. During the seminar, Prof. Qu highlighted the growing challenges facing urban transportation systems as cities continue to expand.  He noted that existing transport networks are increasingly constrained by the limited flexibility of traditional infrastructure in accommodating dynamic travel demand, resulting in severe congestion during peak periods and underutilisation during off-peak hours.  To address these challenges, he presented a vision for future mobility centred on intelligent vehicle-road-cloud systems, which integrate vehicles, infrastructure and cloud platforms to create a more efficient, flexible and sustainable transportation ecosystem. A major focus of the seminar was the development potential of demand-responsive microtransit. This emerging transport mode combines the convenience of ride-hailing services with the affordability and sustainability of public transportation.  Leveraging cloud-based scheduling, dynamic route planning and intelligent dispatching algorithms, microtransit systems can respond to real-time travel demand while improving operational efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.  Prof. Qu also shared a successful case study of a microtransit platform implemented in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. Supported by intelligent scheduling technologies, the platform has expanded service coverage, improved operational efficiency and enhanced the appeal of public transport. Prof. Qu also introduced his team’s research on System-Physical AI for Transport Autonomy. By integrating artificial intelligence, cloud platforms, digital twins and real-world operational data, the research provides important support for the development of future intelligent transportation systems.  He explained that digital twin technologies can recreate real-world operating scenarios in virtual environments, accelerating the testing and validation of autonomous vehicles, flying vehicles and intelligent transport operations, while improving safety, reliability and deployment efficiency.  He also presented several innovative concepts including modular and platooning-based microtransit systems capable of allocating capacity according to demand, improving passenger transfer experiences and enhancing overall network performance. Looking ahead, Prof. Qu explored the prospects of urban aerial mobility and low-altitude transportation systems. He noted that, as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles continue to mature, future transport networks may integrate virtual air corridors, cloud-based traffic management systems and intelligent safety-control technologies to enable seamless coordination between ground and air transportation. He also shared the latest developments in flying car technologies and low-altitude transport operations, highlighting their potential to overcome the limitations of existing transportation infrastructure and pave the way for more efficient and flexible modes of mobility. The seminar concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. Hans WANG Shuaian, Professor in the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies.  Participants engaged in lively discussions with Prof. Qu on topics including autonomous transportation, intelligent mobility services and urban aerial transport, exploring the opportunities and challenges presented by these emerging technologies. Please click here for an online review.

Prof. ZHANG Dan highlights robotics and 3D printing security risks, calling for stronger regulation and preventive measures

In an era of rapid artificial intelligence development, drones and robots are increasingly becoming part of daily life.  However, their growing adoption also introduces potential security threats, including the risk of terrorist attacks.  In a recent interview with Sing Tao Headline, Prof. ZHANG Dan of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) shared his insights on the security risks associated with robotics and 3D printing technologies, as well as measures to guard against their misuse. Prof. Zhang pointed out that robots offer distinct advantages, including the ability to operate without fatigue, respond rapidly and perform highly precise movements.  However, they also face a high risk of being maliciously modified and weaponised.  Because the low-level drive control systems of many robots rely on open architectures without encryption, virtually anyone can modify the software for secondary development.  When integrated with facial recognition technology, these machines could be used to identify and track specific targets.  Furthermore, as 3D printing becomes more accessible and affordable, malicious actors can easily fabricate components for harmful purposes and integrate them into robotic platforms To prevent the weaponisation of robots, Prof. Zhang urged manufacturers to implement encryption safeguards before products are released to the market, restrict devices from connecting to external networks, and require buyers to sign agreements prohibiting unauthorised modifications.  He also called on governments to establish dedicated legal frameworks as soon as possible to clarify legal liabilities and introduce traceability mechanisms to monitor the supply chain of core components, thereby tackling illegal modification and counterfeiting at the source Prof. ZHANG is a member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF).   Online coverage: Sing Tao Headline - https://polyu.me/4pTFVfq; https://polyu.me/4w92kHc