News

PolyU-developed electroreduction system turns carbon dioxide into plastic ingredients

Prof. Daniel LAU, Associate Director of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI), Management Committee Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Director of the University Research Facility in Materials Characterization and Device Fabrication (UMF), Head of the Department of Applied Physics (AP) and Chair Professor of Nanomaterials and his research team, developed a durable, highly selective and energy-efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) electroreduction system that can convert CO2 into ethylene for industrial purposes. Ethylene is a primary ingredient in plastics and chemical fibres. This research was recently published in Nature Energy and won a Gold Medal at the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva in Switzerland. Conventional ethylene production generates significant carbon emissions. The research team adopted the method of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to convert carbon dioxide into ethylene using green electricity, providing a more environmentally friendly alternative and stable ethylene production. The team is working to promote this emerging technology to bring it closer to mass production, closing the carbon loop and ultimately achieving carbon neutrality. This innovative PolyU project was conducted in collaboration with the University of Oxford, the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre of Taiwan and Jiangsu University. Further reading: https://polyu.hk/guFqw   Online coverage: WhatsNew2Day - https://polyu.me/3SEBt5n GBA Biz Tech Magazine - https://polyu.me/3OghVkV China.com - https://polyu.me/3u3NTdn East Money - https://polyu.me/3HBmGBL Tech Xplore - https://polyu.me/3u65cun ETNet - https://polyu.me/4922GE7 Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/4b4e7Nz Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/4932cxB Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3UaP5Gl Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3u847C8 Yahoo News US - https://polyu.me/47MWqzb Yahoo Finance UK - https://polyu.me/3SaHqFo Sina HK - https://polyu.me/3SfUr0K

Prof. WANG Dan named ACM Distinguished Member

Prof. WANG Dan, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT), Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), has been named a 2023 Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) for his contributions to data-driven applications and platforms for cyber-physical energy systems. A total of 52 computing professionals have received the 2023 ACM Distinguished Member designation. The 2023 inductees were selected by their peers for work that has advanced computing, fostered innovation across various fields and improved computer science education.   Online coverage: AIThority - https://polyu.me/3vN7MFW

RCMI Public Lecture on long COVID by Professor Angela Cheung

The Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) organised a Public Lecture titled “Long COVID in Canada: CANCOV, RECLAIM & Long COVID Web” on 12 January 2024. The lecture was delivered by Prof. Angela CHEUNG, Professor of Medicine from the University of Toronto. The hybrid lecture attracted about 100 participants. It was broadcast live on social media platforms, captivating an online audience of over 12,600 in total. In his opening remarks, Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), emphasised that long COVID is a research topic of global significance. Next, Prof. Cheung gave a comprehensive presentation cov20ering the definition, mechanisms, prevention, and management of long COVID, and shared experiences and insights gained from the CANCOV, RECLAIM, and Long COVID Web projects conducted in Canada. The following question-and-answer session moderated by Dr Daniel MOK, RCMI Associate Director, fostered an engaging and productive discussion between Prof. Cheung and the audience.  

Dr ZHAO Xin receives Biomaterials Young Investigator Award

Congratulations to Dr ZHAO Xin, Member of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI), Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT), for receiving the 2024 Biomaterials Young Investigator Award. Dr Zhao’s research focuses on Translational Regenerative Medicine, where she integrates material science, cell biology, engineering and medicine, to develop solutions for modulating cell micro-environments, controlling cell behaviours and generating tissue-engineered organs, thus addressing critical clinical issues. Launched by the Society of Biomaterials together with international journals including Biomaterials and Materials Today, the award recognises and encourages early career researchers in biomaterials science with outstanding contributions to the field.  An award ceremony will be held at the 12th World Biomaterials Congress on 26–31 May 2024 in Daegu, South Area.  Dr Zhao will receive the award in person and share on her innovative research.

Prof. Raymond WONG elected as Foreign Member of European Academy of Sciences

Congratulations to Prof. Raymond WONG Wai-yeung, Executive Committee Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Associate Director of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and Dean of the Faculty of Science, on his election as a Foreign Member of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) in the Chemistry Division! EurASc is a renowned international association dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting scientific excellence and collaboration. This esteemed recognition is a testament to Prof. Wong’s remarkable research achievements and his outstanding contributions to the field of chemistry around the world.

PAIR researcher-led colour management technologies used in over 100 million smart devices worldwide annually

The team led by Prof. Tommy WEI Minchen, Management Committee Member of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and Professor in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), has developed a series of colour management technologies that enable digital displays, imaging devices and extended reality to capture and reproduce colours more faithfully, thereby enhancing user experience. These cutting-edge technologies have been successfully commercialised and widely adopted by social media, imaging systems and manufacturers of LED lighting products, smartphones and drones. Over 100 million high-end smart devices worldwide each year have been powered by the technologies.   Further reading: https://polyu.hk/ESlFn Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYUgQvmxZgI   Online coverage: unwire - https://polyu.me/3u7eM00 HKONG.HK - https://polyu.me/4bnM6Rp CNHubei- https://polyu.me/3UjclSV Master Insight - https://polyu.me/3U4aJMs ezone - https://polyu.me/3vDNleO IT Pro - https://polyu.me/428yzca Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3u0hTqt The 21st Century Business Herald - https://polyu.me/3HnyxU4 NetEase - https://polyu.me/47Dzm5P CRHK - https://polyu.me/3U5tXS6 Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3U4bsgA Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/3SnYkSz Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/48AlYko Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/41YCSGV Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/3Smew6t Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4bbXgIO Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3vETFm8 HK01 - https://polyu.me/3vEV2kR Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3O3uCiY China News Service - https://polyu.me/425ABte ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/4aZH4Km

Two PAIR scholars receive First Prizes of CSVE Science and Technology Awards 2023

Two collaborative projects co-led by PAIR scholars and mainland researchers have been awarded First Prizes of Science and Technology Awards 2023 by the Chinese Society of Vibration Engineering. A total of 16 projects were awarded this year, including 4 for first prizes and 12 for second prizes. PolyU is the only institution in Hong Kong receiving this prestigious honour. The award-winning PolyU project “Acoustic black holes and applications to vibration and noise control in equipment engineering”, co-led by Prof. CHENG Li, Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering, aims to address issues of vibration and noise in engineering applications. The team unveiled the fundamental physical principles of slow wave phenomena in vibrating structures, established a comprehensive analysis and design methodology, and devised new structures suitable for diverse vibration and noise control applications in equipment engineering. Another award-winning PolyU project “Machine learning methods for structural health diagnosis and operation maintenance of bridges”, co-led by Prof. XIA Yong, Management Committee Member of RIAIoT, Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Development (RISUD) and the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, aims to develop cutting-edge machine learning methods for full-field measurement and modal identification, damage detection, reliability evaluation, and decision-making in the operational maintenance of bridges. These innovative techniques help enable accurate health diagnosis and cost-effective operation maintenance strategies for bridge structures.

PAIR scholar secures Strategic Public Policy Research Funding to drive cross-regional cooperation in GBA construction industry

A three-year project led by Prof. Geoffrey Q. P. SHEN, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships), Chair Professor of Construction Management in the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE), Executive Committee Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) has been granted HK$3.96 million funding under the Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (SPPRFS) 2023/24 of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit. PolyU is the only institution receiving SPPRFS funding this year. The three-year project “Policy Framework for Cross-Regional Cooperation Strategies in the Greater Bay Area’s Construction Industry” aims to provide effective guidance and identify appropriate strategies in three strategic areas—talent cooperation, project management cooperation, and regulatory cooperation—with a view to supporting government departments and the industry in promoting high-quality cooperation within the construction industry across the Greater Bay Area (GBA).    Further reading: https://polyu.hk/QpqDH

Three PAIR research projects receive Green Tech Fund to drive sustainability innovations

Three green technology projects led by PAIR members have received a total grant of HK$14.09 million in the third round of Green Tech Fund of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Hong Kong SAR. A total of eight projects were approved in this round of exercise, and PolyU is one of the local universities with the highest number of approved projects. The three PAIR projects are: Name of Project Coordinator Title(s) and Constituent Research Unit(s) Research Project Grant Approved Dr LI Meng-jung, Molly Member of RISE and RCRE The first intelligent ammonia-powered zero-carbon versatile-energy supply station, NH3-VESS HK$4,613,800 Dr LEU Shao-Yuan, Ben Management Committee Member of RCRE and Member of RiFood, RISE and RISUD Study of ammonia pretreatment – power generation system toward complete valorization of food waste digestate HK$6,870,100 Dr SHOU Dahua Member of RI-IWEAR, RISE, RISports, RCRE and RCTFF Development of multi-functional building clothing using textile waste for energy saving and waste reduction HK$2,606,000   Further reading: https://polyu.hk/dWgwv   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://epaper.tkww.hk/a/202401/31/AP65b95a37e4b0eb64da017f6b.html

DoRISE introduces AI-driven power optimisation technologies

Prof. WANG Shengwei, Director of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Chair Professor of Building Energy and Automation, was interviewed by China Daily, introducing the power optimisation technologies developed by his team.  Powered by AI and advanced optimisation, the technologies provide tailor-made solutions for different buildings to boost energy efficiency.  It has been implemented in various construction projects and public facilities, including the 118-storey International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon, and Phase 5 buildings on PolyU campus. Prof. Wang and his team have provided energy recommendations to over 20 construction projects. Their research outputs have been applied to the air-conditioning systems of commercial and industrial buildings, professional consulting companies and other public utilities, making significant contributions to energy saving and carbon reduction.  The team’s research projects have achieved energy savings of 15% to 42%, leading to an annual energy saving of more than 25 million kWh in total, saving HK$25 million on electricity bills.   Online coverage: China Daily Hong Kong Edition - https://polyu.me/3NBnBWq Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/3RWxXS3 (Chinese only)