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One hundred and ten PAIR scholars ranked among world’s top 2% most-cited scientists

A total of 110 scholars from PAIR and its 17 constituent research units were ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in the newly released metrics compiled by Stanford University, and four of them were among the top 20 scholars in the world in their own areas of specialty. The latest ranking reflects the influential research of PAIR researchers and PolyU’s leading position in multiple research areas. The latest 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, and the ranking was compiled based on indicators of research publications, including information on citations, individual’s scientific research output, co-authorship and a composite indicator for career-long citation impact up to the end of 2022. The number of PAIR scholars listed in the ranking and their corresponding research fields are as below*: Acoustics (3) Aerospace & Aeronautics (1) Analytical Chemistry (1) Applied Physics (2) Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing (2) Biomedical Engineering (2) Biotechnology (1) Building and Construction (12) Civil Engineering (10) Energy (11) Environmental Engineering (1) Environmental Sciences (2) Experimental Psychology (1) Geological & Geomatics Engineering (4) Industrial Engineering & Automation (1) Information Systems (1) Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry (1) Logistics & Transportation (3) Materials (9) Mechanical Engineering & Transports (1) Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences (3) Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (9) Networking & Telecommunications (4) Neurology & Neurosurgery (1) Operations Research (5) Ophthalmology & Optometry (2) Optics (1) Optoelectronics and Photonics (6) Organic Chemistry (1) Polymers (3) Psychiatry (1) Rehabilitation (3) Urban & Regional Planning (2) *As per the data published by Elsevier on 4 October 2023 (version 6):  https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/6   Read more: Top 2% Scientists in PAIR (2023)

Prof. TO Chi-ho conferred with Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award

Congratulations to Prof. TO Chi-ho, Member of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Visiting Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry in the School of Optometry (SO), for being conferred with the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2023! Prof. To is a globally recognised scholar in the fields of myopia and glaucoma research. His research has been widely published in top journals and presented at international conferences. As a pioneering researcher, he led his team to successfully develop the Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) Lens and the Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) Spectacle Lens, which have been proven to slow the progression of short-sightedness among children by up to 60%. The two inventions bring significant breakthroughs in vision health, and have received multiple awards, including Grand Prizes at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. Prof. To served as the Head of SO during 2013–2022 and the Director of RCSV during 2021–2022. Under his leadership, 88% of SO’s research outputs were rated as “internationally excellent” or above in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2020. Prof. To has also been actively promoting interdisciplinary research collaboration between the School and research laboratories and scholars worldwide.    Further reading: https://polyu.hk/Kkwvn Online coverage: Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3QyFh7b (subscription required)

Dr Wayne Chan receives Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at IAGG Asia/Oceania Regional Congress 2023

The study led by Dr Wayne CHAN, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS), “The effects of Nintendo Ring Fit-based exercise training to improve balance and muscle strength of community-dwelling older adults with an increased risk of falls – a randomised controlled feasibility trial”, received the Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) Asia/Oceania Regional Congress 2023. The study examined the effectiveness of the Nintendo Ring Fit-based exercise programme in improving the balance and muscle strength of community-dwelling older adults with a history of falling. Participants were randomly assigned to the Nintendo Ring Fit-based exercise (NRE) group or control (CON) group. The NRE group received an 8-week balance and resistance training using the Nintendo Ring Fit, while the CON group received the usual care. Results indicated that the NRE group showed significantly better improvement in mobility and balance than CON group, providing empirical evidence for the use of motion-sensing exergames in improving balance and muscle strength and preventing falls in older adults.

Prof. TAO Xiaoming elected as Full Foreign Member of European Academy of Natural Sciences

Congratulations to Prof. TAO Xiaoming, Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, for being elected as a Full Foreign Member of the European Academy of Natural Sciences. Headquartered in Hannover, Germany, the Academy promotes contacts and exchange of information between its members. Currently, a total of 50 scientists from China have been appointed as full members.

Dr SHOU Dahua awarded The Fiber Society’s 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award

Dr SHOU Dahua, Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF), Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies, and Assistant Professor in the School of Fashion and Textiles, has been bestowed with the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award by The Fiber Society.   The Fiber Society is a scientific association dedicated to the advancement of knowledge pertaining to fibres, fibre-based products, and fibrous materials. The Award is presented annually to an outstanding researcher under the age of 40 who has made significant contributions to the field of fibre science and engineering worldwide.

PAIR scholars honoured by National Natural Science Foundation of China

Dr HUANG Xinyan, Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Associate Professor in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, has been awarded the 2023 Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macao) by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), to support his research. Three research projects led by Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space and Chair Professor of Geomatics, and Prof. XU Zhao, Management Committee Member of the RISE, respectively, have been selected as NSFC Key Programmes.   Online coverage (Chinese only): Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/45WNVBt Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3PDxDHQ

RISA Member wins 1st Runner Up in Health Future Challenge 2023 to develop a hearing-cognitive training system for older adults with hearing loss

Dr Ivy ZHAO, Member of the Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), was awarded the 1st Runner Up in the Health Future Challenge 2023 organised by the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office and received Translational Research Grant from the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences for her start-up project “A web-based game-like dual-task hearing-cognitive training system”. The project aims to develop a web-based, game-like, dual-task hearing-cognitive training system for older adults with hearing loss to enhance their hearing efficiency, cognitive functions and social engagement. Health Future Challenge is a start-up ideation competition for students, researchers, alumni and industrialists to team up and come up with health-tech ideas and business models.

RISUD Member conferred as RGC Senior Research Fellow

Prof. NI Meng, Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment and Professor in the Department of Building and Real Estate, has been awarded in the Research Grants Council (RGC)’s Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS).   Prof. Ni was conferred the title “RGC Senior Research Fellow”, and awarded funding for his interdisciplinary project which aims to promote sustainable and clean energy generation. The project “Protonic ceramic fuel cells for clean power generation: From new cathode materials to new stack designs” will integrate engineering, chemistry, physics and material science in developing new cathode materials for enhancing the performance of protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) for clean power generation.   The SRFS aims to provide sustained support to exceptionally outstanding researchers at the UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. It provides ten places to scholars from all academic disciplines. The supporting university of each awardee will receive a fellowship grant at around HK$7.8 million for a period of 60 months.   Press release: https://polyu.me/3q5zewd   Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3QbxtIq (Chinese only; subscription required)

RISUD MC member receives Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award (Science and Technology)

Prof. WANG Tao, Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Associate Director of the University Research Facility in Chemical and Environmental Analysis, Chair Professor of Atmospheric Environment in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and other five mainland research collaborators received the 2022 Second-Class Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award (Science and Technology) from the Ministry of Education for their research project on the chemical transformation mechanism of atmospheric reactive nitrogen oxides and their impacts on ozone and smog pollution. Online coverage (Chinese only): Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3XsTrIt Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3pnKP9D (subscription required) Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/43U5elE Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3Xqn3Gw Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3XGIgwh Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3XqWyAK Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/46locDp Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/430UZKY East Money - https://polyu.me/3CONKLO Sohu - https://polyu.me/3XsZM6R

Prof. ZHENG Zijian receives inaugural Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology Award

Prof. ZHENG Zijian, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), and Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of the Faculty of Science, received the Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology Award (HKEST Award) 2022. Newly launched by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences last year and supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR government, the Award aims to recognise and commend outstanding contributions and excellence among younger generations in Hong Kong for their dedication and achievements in the arena of engineering science and technology.   Online coverage (Chinese only): Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/43FngYo ETNet - https://polyu.me/42tIzLo Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/45Q3ZVR