News

Prof. WENG Qihao wins double honours from American Association of Geographers

Congratulations to Prof. WENG Qihao, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) and Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence, for receiving the 2024 AAG Wilbanks Prize for Transformational Research in Geography from the American Association of Geographers (AAG), and the Lifetime Achievement Honor Award 2024 from the AAG Remote Sensing Specialty Group (RSSG), respectively. The dual recognitions are a testament to his remarkable contributions in the fields.  A prize presentation will be held and a special conference session in honour of Prof. Weng will take place at this year’s AAG Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, 16–20 April 2024. Founded in 1904, the AAG is a non-profit scientific and educational society aimed at bringing advancements to geography and related fields. The AAG Wilbanks Prize for Transformational Research is awarded to geographers from the academic, public or private sectors whose research has made transformational research contributions to geography or geographic information science, or to science and society more broadly. The AAG RSSG Lifetime Achievement Honor Award is bestowed upon individuals who have made a unique and path-breaking impact on remote sensing and relevant disciplines through research, education and service engagement.

RIAM co-organises 3D scanning and printing demonstration for secondary and primary school students

The Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and the University Research Facility in 3D Printing (U3DP) successfully co-organised a 3D scanning and printing demonstration session for a group of students from Po Leung Kuk Laws Foundation College and Po Leung Kuk Luk Hing Too Primary School on 22 March 2024. Prior to the workshop, the U3DP had received an invitation from the College to help the school in reconstructing a dolphin skeleton which the school had received from Ocean Park using PolyU’s advanced manufacturing technologies. The 3D-printed replica of the dolphin skeleton will be used as an exhibit. RIAM and U3DP arranged a demonstration session for the students, demonstrating the replication of the dolphin skull using 3D scanning and printing technologies. The U3DP team employed specialised 3D structured light scanners, which capture the intricate details of the original dolphin skeleton from multiple angles, to generate a highly detailed and accurate digital 3D model of the skeleton. After the 3D scanning process, U3DP replicated the dolphin skeleton using Stereolithography (SLA) printing technology. This technology uses a liquid resin material that is selectively cured layer by layer using a laser. As each layer is cured, the replica of the dolphin skeleton gradually takes shape. The SLA printing process ensures that the replica closely resembles the original skeleton in terms of its geometry and surface characteristics. The level of detail and accuracy achieved through this technology allows for a faithful representation of the dolphin skeleton. The replicated dolphin skeleton can be used for various purposes, including educational displays, scientific research, museum exhibits, or even as a visual aid in veterinary or marine biology studies. It provides a tangible and accurate representation of the original skeleton without the need to handle or potentially damage the fragile original specimen. U3DP’s combination of 3D scanning and SLA printing technologies offers a practical and efficient solution for creating replicas of complex skeletal structures like the dolphin skeleton. Watch the video via Pinterest

Prof. TAO Xiaoming leads delegation visit to Jinjiang textile and apparel enterprises

Prof. TAO Xiaoming, Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), led a delegation from PolyU to visit textile, apparel and sportswear enterprises in Jinjiang, China on 21 March 2024. The visit aims to explore collaborations with the industry for advancing translation of research outputs and promoting industry-university-research collaboration. The delegation visited 11 enterprises including Anta, Hengan, 361ﾟ, Kalmei, Qipai, Septwolves, Xintai Technology, Fengzhu Textile, Maotai Technology, Xiangxing Textile, and Longxinglong Dyeing & Weaving Co Ltd., for discussions and exchanges on innovative textile research technologies, intelligent textile fibres, regenerative biomaterials, green nanotechnology, wearable technology, bionic smart material innovations, bionic catalysis and sustainable energy, etc.    Online coverage: IJJ News - https://polyu.me/49ZyJWc Sina - https://polyu.me/3TL4a0G Toutiao - https://polyu.me/43uobvV

PolyU joins forces with Xingguo county to promote textile industry development

On 19 March 2024, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, attended the inaugural Ganzhou Graphene and Textile and Apparel New Material Industry Symposium held in Jiangxi, representing the University to sign a cooperation framework agreement on establishing a strategic partnership with the Government of Xingguo county of Jiangxi. The partnership aims to better gather quality resources to promote the development of textile and apparel industry. Prof. Chao also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Graphene Technology Centre in Xingguo, the first county-level centre of such kind in China. The centre aims to promote the organic integration of new graphene materials in the textile and apparel industry. In addition, Dr SHOU Dahua, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Assistant Professor in the School of Fashion and Textiles, delivered a keynote speech at the Symposium. Dr Shou is a member of various PAIR constituent research units, including 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).   Online coverage: NetEase - https://polyu.me/4908T33, https://polyu.me/4a3oY9o Sohu - https://polyu.me/3IPFjT6 JX News - https://polyu.me/4cq2Nf8

Gut microbiome expert Prof. Eugene B. CHANG delivers PAIR Distinguished Lecture

Prof. Eugene B. CHANG, Martin Boyer Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Director of the Microbiome Medicine Program at The University of Chicago, USA, delivered the 15th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “What is a healthy gut microbiome and why is it important to know?” on 18 March 2024. The hybrid lecture attracted over 200 participants joining in person and online from more than 20 countries and regions across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. It was also broadcast live on multiple social media platforms, captivating an online viewing audience of over 10,900. The lecture commenced with a welcome speech by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR, followed by a brief speaker introduction by Prof. WONG Ka-hing, Director of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood). In his presentation, Prof. Chang first gave some fun facts about the human gut microbiome and explained that it is a vital organ of the body. Next, he elaborated on the importance of understanding a healthy gut microbiome and keeping it healthy. Prof. Chang stated that it is comparatively easy to determine the health of a vital organ through different tests but not the gut microbiome. He pointed out the limitations of the traditional 16S rDNA and metagenomics as metrics to assess the state of gut microbiota health. He then outlined the desirable features for assessing gut microbiome health and introduced the modified targeted mass spectrometry method. The technique combines 20 markers of gut microbial functions into a single score. This enables an understanding of the quantitative functional profiles of gut microbiome health and can be applied in clinical settings to help patients to restore gut microbiome health. Prof. Chang further explained how the assessment method can be used for maintaining the health of the gut microbiome, treating patients with dysbiosis, and making predictions about the clinical outcomes of therapies. To conclude, Prof. Chang shared that his team would join hands with research institutes, including RiFood, for research collaborations. A question-and-answer session moderated by Dr Amber CHIOU Jiachi, Associate Director of RiFood, followed. The online and on-site audience engaged in a productive discussion with Prof. Chang. Please click here for an online review.  

“Meet PolyU Academicians and Distinguished Scholars” video series | Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) recently rolled out a new video series “Meet PolyU Academicians and Distinguished Scholars” to introduce outstanding research and innovations by PolyU scholars. Watch Episode 25 featuring Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), to learn more about his remarkable works on built environment and air-conditioning systems! Prof. Chen is a Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering. The built environments he has worked with include: indoor environments of buildings, outdoor environment around buildings, and enclosed environments such as airplanes and cruise ships. Prof. Chen has developed various ventilation systems for reducing energy usage and mitigating the effect of airborne infectious diseases. He has also developed guidelines and handbooks to help building designers to design such ventilation systems. Prof. Chen ranked No. 13 in the “Building and Construction” field in the 2023 List of World’s Top 2% Scientists compiled by Stanford University. At PolyU, Prof. Chen is the Director of PAIR, providing overall leadership to PAIR to drive PolyU’s vision to be a world-leader in providing interdisciplinary solutions to address major societal challenges. Currently, PAIR has 11 research institutes and 7 research centres, bringing together over 500 senior researchers from various disciplines. PAIR researchers focus on three major areas: advanced technologies and manufacturing, good health and well-being, and smart and sustainable cities, and pursue interdisciplinary research and knowledge transfer that bring impactful solutions to major societal challenges, benefitting Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.   Watch at: https://youtu.be/OPUrMvJ4zhI

PRI and Jilin University researchers develop novel sensor for high-sensitivity gas detection

A joint research team led by Prof. JIN Wei, Associate Director of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and Chair Professor of Photonic Instrumentation in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Prof. WANG Yiding of the Jilin University, have successfully developed a novel on-chip photothermal spectroscopy sensor for high-sensitivity gas detection. Photothermal spectroscopy is an optical analysis technique which uses sensors for determining the composition of solids, liquids and gases. It works by exposing a sample to radiation, and measuring the heat produced from the irradiated sample. Existing waveguide gas sensors have limited sensitivity and measurement range. The team demonstrated a new method which uses photothermal spectroscopy and on-chip sensor to achieve gas measurement with high sensitivity. The team developed a novel waveguide sensor, which contains chalcogenide glass as the core-layer materials, for detecting acetylene, a colourless flammable gas. The new sensing method achieved a remarkable acetylene detection sensitivity of 4 ppm and a dynamic range exceeding 5 orders of magnitude, outperforming traditional direct absorption sensor. Research findings have been published in Laser & Photonics Reviews (https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202301071). The team is now conducting further investigation to optimise the waveguide structure, improve thermal accumulation and understand deeper the optical-thermal-phase transfer mechanism.

RCMI develops nanotechnology for prolonging retention of ocular drugs on corneal surfaces

Prof. WONG Man-sau, Director of the Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) and Prof. LIU Juewen from the University of Waterloo, successfully developed a novel formulation for treating dry eye diseases using nanoparticles, aptamer-functionalised liposomes. A key challenge in ocular drug delivery is the need to prolong the retention of drugs within the eyes. Cyclosporine A is a therapeutic agent for dry eye diseases. The aptamer-functionalised liposomes developed by the team could prolong the retention of Cyclosporine A on the corneal surface. Aptamer-functionalised liposomes are nanoparticles which have aptamers, a short nucleotide, on its surface that can bind to specific molecular targets with high affinity. The team discovered a aptamer that is capable of binding to the corneal surface for delivering Cyclosporine A loaded in liposomes. This can not only mitigate the adverse effects associated with the drug, but also augment its therapeutic efficacy in managing dry eye disease. Related research works have been published in three esteemed journals. The study opens up new avenues for the future of nano-based drug delivery, enabling the treatment of ocular diseases via topical eye drops that deliver natural products, supplements and small molecules.   Read the full paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2319417023001221

MHRC member introduces music-with-movement system for elderly in RTHK TV programme

Dr Daphne CHEUNG, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, was featured in RTHK’s TV programme “Hong Kong United” to introduce the therapeutic music-with-movement system invented by her team. The innovation combines music, augmented reality (AR) interactive games and motion sensors to deliver music intervention for improving the cognitive and psychosocial functions of older adults with dementia. The innovation has won a prestigious global consumer product award in the “Accessibility & Aging Tech” category at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 Innovation Awards. PolyU is the only Hong Kong educational institution honoured with this award.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/4cdiDtt (9:13–14:36) (Chinese only)

DoRIAIoT Prof. CAO Jiannong featured in Ta Kung Pao, sharing views on developing new quality productive forces in Hong Kong

Prof. CAO Jiannong, Director of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), shared his views on developing new quality productive forces in Hong Kong, in an exclusive interview with Ta Kung Pao. He said that the new force involves new computing infrastructure, cloud computing and big data, and is therefore the development of edge computing and artificial intelligence. He believed that if businesses can achieve infrastructure digitalisation at full scale, with Hong Kong’s Web 3.0 development, research strength and protection policies, the formation of big data can connect and open up the isolated information systems across industries, thus realising data exchange. This is conducive to the development of Hong Kong’s new quality productive forces and digital economy.   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3Ivt8eb Chinese Press - https://polyu.me/3T3esYs