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Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN elected as Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts

Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Chair Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology in the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Director of the Yan Oi Tong Au Suet Ming Child Development Centre, and Co-Founder of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has been elected as a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) under Class V: Social Sciences, Law, and Economics. EASA is a learned society based in Salzburg, Austria, committed to promoting scientific and societal progress. Its members include leading scientists, artists, and practitioners of governance who are dedicated to innovative research, interdisciplinary and transnational collaboration, as well as the exchange and dissemination of knowledge. The Academy comprises seven distinct classes representing various academic and artistic disciplines: Humanities, Medicine, Arts, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Law and Economics, Technical and Environmental Sciences, and World Religions. Prof. Chen’s research spans personality and social psychology, cultural psychology, and mental health, with a focus on bilingualism and biculturalism, culture and globalisation, personality and social behaviour in cultural contexts, and the psychosocial and cultural dimensions of mental health. She is a Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society and a Registered Psychologist and Fellow of the Hong Kong Psychological Society.  Prof. Chen’s honours include the Outstanding International Psychologist Award from the American Psychological Association and the Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship from the Research Grants Council. She is a Fellow of major scholarly and professional societies, including The World Academy of Sciences, the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, as well as a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, UK. She has served as President of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, and is currently Editor‑in‑Chief of the Journal of Cross‑Cultural Psychology and General Editor of the Cambridge University Press Culture and Psychology Series.  

PolyU research reveals hidden health risks from urban airborne microbes

Public concern about air pollution has traditionally focused on chemical pollutants in fine particulate matter (PM2.5), such as vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions. However, recent research from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) shows that microbial components in the air — including bacteria, fungi, viruses and cellular debris — may also pose significant but overlooked health risks. The study was led by Prof. Nathanael Jin Ling, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Health Technology and Informatics. The research team carried out a systematic analysis of the microbial components of PM2.5 and found that bacteria make up the largest share. In particular, they identified endotoxin, a structural component of bacterial cell walls, as a major concern. Although endotoxin represents less than 0.0001% of the total mass of PM2.5, it can account for up to 17% of the inflammatory response in the human respiratory system. In other words, among all currently known PM2.5 components, endotoxin exhibits the highest toxicity and health impact relative to its mass. The findings suggest that reducing the overall mass of PM2.5 alone may not be enough to lower the health risks of air pollution. Instead, more effective protection may depend on identifying and controlling trace components with very high toxicity, even when present at extremely low concentrations. The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology under the title “Disproportionately Higher Contribution of Endotoxin to PM2.5 Bioactivity than Its Mass Share Highlights the Need to Identify Low-Concentration, High-Potency Components”. In a separate study, Prof. Jin’s team collaborated with researchers from overseas universities to investigate airborne Candida in urban air and assess its potential transmission routes and community infection risks. Candida species are classified by the World Health Organization as priority pathogens. The researchers detected multidrug-resistant Candida parapsilosis in urban air and found close genetic links between these airborne strains and clinical strains from infected patients. This suggests that people may unknowingly be exposed to drug-resistant fungi through everyday breathing or skin contact, thereby increasing the potential risk of community infection. The study also showed that Candida species are seasonally common in urban air and widely distributed across various built environments, including wastewater treatment plants, healthcare settings and residential ventilation systems. Among the species studied, Candida parapsilosis showed particularly strong environmental resilience and drug resistance, making it a notable fungal threat in urban air. This study was published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters under the title “Public Health Implications of Airborne Candida: Viability, Drug Resistance, and Genetic Links to Clinical Strains”. Prof. Jin is a member of several research units under PAIR, including the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC). Read the full studies: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c07255 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.5c00795 Press release:https://polyu.me/48CazTc   Online coverage: Mirage - https://polyu.me/3QKCiuI The National Tribune - https://polyu.me/4cJzdnm Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/42EmA6X EurekAlert - https://polyu.me/3OLPTBx Head Topics - https://polyu.me/49nP8Wb

Prof. Raymond WONG elected Fellow of Chinese Chemical Society

Congratulations to Prof. Raymond WONG Wai-yeung, Dean of Faculty of Science, Clarea Au Professor in Energy and Chair Professor of Chemical Technology, on his election as a Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society (FCCS).  He is the only Fellow from a Hong Kong institution to have been elected this year, among a total of 50 Fellows. Established in 2019, the Chinese Chemical Society (CCS) Fellowship is the highest level of membership conferred by the Society.  It recognises senior members who have made significant contributions to chemistry and related fields, or outstanding contributions to the development of the Society, and encourages their continued efforts in advancing science and technology, while also promoting the development of China’s chemical industry.  To date, 346 scholars have been elected as FCCS fellows. Prof. Wong is a distinguished scholar in the field of advanced materials and energy science. His research focuses on the design and synthesis of molecular functional materials and one‑ and two‑dimensional metallopolymers with photofunctional properties and energy applications.  His team is committed to transforming cutting-edge chemistry research into meaningful solutions for sustainable energy. Prof. Wong is currently Associate Director of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports).

Three PAIR members receive PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award 2026

Congratulations to the following three rising stars at PAIR for winning the PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2026! YIRA aims to honour young PolyU researchers under the age of 35 who have demonstrated originality, contributed to technological advancement, and propelled transformational innovation into solutions to addressing global challenges through their research. Each awardee will receive a research funding support of HK$500,000 and a personal cash prize of HK$20,000 to encourage their continued pursuit of innovative and impactful research. Awardee Affiliated PAIR Research Unit Research Focus Prof. GE Jingjie Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) Designing Low-cost, High-efficient Anodic Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production Prof. LIU Tao Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and RCRE Net-Zero Wastewater Management through Circular Resource Utilisation Prof. YANG Lidong Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Member of RIAM, Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) Trustworthy AI-assisted Magnetic Microcatheter (AI-M2) System: An Enabling Paradigm for Intelligent Superselective Endoluminal Interventions

Internal and external collaboration in tandem: PolyU study identifies key drivers of sustainable hospitality

The hotel industry plays an important role in reducing society’s overall environmental footprint. However, achieving meaningful progress depends not only on hotel operators themselves, but also on the many external stakeholders who shape and influence decision-making. A study led by Prof. WANG Dan, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) and Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, proposes a new framework to help the industry strengthen environmental management through more effective stakeholder engagement. Based on case studies of five international hotel chains in Beijing and Shanghai, the research examined how the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives was influenced by multiple stakeholder groups. It shows that hotel owners, employees, guests, industry associations and local communities all affect the outcomes of sustainability initiatives. Drawing on stakeholder theory, the researchers classified stakeholders according to three criteria: by power, legitimacy and urgency. Hotel owners and employees were identified as “definitive” stakeholders because of their direct influence over the design and delivery of green practices. However, owners’ commitment to such initiatives was often limited by cost concerns and return-on-investment considerations, particularly in relation to the introduction of new technologies aimed at reducing energy use and emissions. The study also highlights the need for staff training and clearer communication with guests. The paper, titled “Pathway to Environmental Management in the Hotel Industry: A Stakeholder Engagement Framework”, has been published in the Journal of China Tourism Research. Read the full paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19388160.2024.2374726#abstract   Online coverage: Hotel Online - https://polyu.me/41XWZG4 Hospitality Net - https://polyu.me/3QvICpW 4Hoteliers - https://polyu.me/4mR1YBM Travel Daily News Asia-Pacific - https://polyu.me/4cXDBhp Pacific Asia Travel Association - https://polyu.me/4ddeRTu Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals - https://polyu.me/3QBDi4k HITEC - https://polyu.me/4cFbxk2 Travel News Hub - https://polyu.me/4vNYRi6 Travel & Tourism Foundation - https://polyu.me/4tMpl2k Top25World - https://polyu.me/4tEsMrw HotelTalks - https://polyu.me/4tEIzXt VisitBali - https://polyu.me/4tH8ii0 Thailand Tourist - https://polyu.me/3QR8aOd

New health eating explained: Prof. Kenneth LO on new “inverted pyramid” dietary guidelines

Prof. Kenneth LO Ka-hei, Member of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) and the Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA) and Assistant Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, was interviewed by Now TV programme “Medicine Online”.  During the interview, he shared his professional views on the “inverted pyramid” dietary guidelines recently published by the US Government. Prof. Lo explained that the inverted food pyramid emphasises the concept of “Eat Real Food”, aiming to prevent chronic diseases and improve long-term health.  For grains consumption, he suggested mixing red rice or brown rice with white rice to increase fibre intake. Moreover, amid the wide array of dietary approaches available these days, he advised the public to choose high-quality protein, consume less refined starch, fried food and processed food, and control salt and sauces intake to help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases over time.   Online coverage: Now TV - https://polyu.me/4tyzgsb (8:16 - 10:09; 10:59 - 11:26) Headline for HK - https://polyu.me/4sTx6lC

PolyU study: Hong Kong’s shipping industry must shift from throughput-driven competition to high value-added services

Hong Kong’s shipping industry is at a critical stage of transformation and upgrading.  A PolyU study has found that the city’s shipping ecosystem is gradually evolving from a traditional container terminal-led model towards a new diversified landscape jointly driven by freight forwarding, maritime services, insurance, finance, and cross-boundary collaboration. The study is led by Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung, Co-Director of the Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA), Associate Dean (Academic Support) of the Faculty of Business, Interim Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics.  It notes that, while container terminals remain an important foundation of the shipping system, the core momentum behind the industry’s sustainable development has increasingly shifted to freight forwarders and a range of professional services with stronger digital capabilities and greater efficiency in resource integration.  Amid intensifying port competition within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and uncertainty arising from the restructuring of global supply chains, Hong Kong must move beyond a development mindset focused solely on growth in throughput.  To consolidate its position as an international shipping centre, the city should instead strengthen the connectivity and transformation capacity of its overall shipping ecosystem. Prof. Lai suggests that Hong Kong should focus on three key priorities in the future: accelerating port digitalisation and data connectivity; strengthening collaboration with Greater Bay Area cities in sea-land-air intermodal transport; and further expanding and upgrading high value-added professional services such as marine insurance, maritime finance, compliance advisory, and green finance.  These efforts will help drive Hong Kong’s transition from a “port city” to a comprehensive international shipping services centre.   Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4vJKDPf

Unlocking New Perceptual Dimensions: Prof. ZHANG Jie on AI’s Leap from Vision to Sound and Vibration Sensing

On 23 April 2026, Prof. ZHANG Jie, Chair Professor in Faculty of Business for Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Machine Listening: Extending AI from Vision to Sound and Vibration Sensing” at the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted almost 100 scholars, researchers and students onsite, and nearly 16,000 online viewers across various social media platforms to explore how the emerging field of “machine listening” is transforming urban monitoring, disaster prevention, and infrastructure safety. Prof. Zhang opened the lecture by outlining the major challenges in today’s science and technology. He noted that while AI has reached significant maturity in visual perception, sound and vibration data remain “largely underutilised” in the digital era. He emphasised that machine learning in the domain of sound and vibration sensing is still at an early stage, with vast development potential ahead. While sharing technical insights, Prof. Zhang also reflected on his life and research journey. He remarked, “Only by fully committing myself and giving it everything I had did I discover how fascinating a discipline could be.” He emphasised that true excellence comes through continuous learning and self‑improvement. Technological innovation is now driven by cross‑disciplinary collaboration and collective progress, rather than individual heroism.  To illustrate how machine listening can be translated from concept to practice, Prof. Zhang presented several innovative real-world cases where sound sensing complements visual systems. Among them, he highlighted the “CitySeis” project in Hefei, where approximately 50,000 seismic sensors have been deployed to achieve citywide coverage, enabling continuous monitoring of subsurface structural changes and subway safety, and providing critical information beyond visual perception. He presented applications of “RoadSeis” in digital traffic systems and weight‑in‑motion sensing, showing how vibration signals can predict vehicle weight and assess road health. These examples demonstrated that machine listening can surpass visual technologies, offering a fuller picture of infrastructure conditions above and below ground. The lecture concluded with a highly interactive Q&A session moderated by Prof. CHEN Jianli, Chair Professor of Space Geodesy and Earth Sciences. Discussions extended beyond technical theory to research ethics, societal impact, and cross‑disciplinary applications of machine listening, including smart ageing and home safety. Prof. Zhang shared his passion for lifelong scientific inquiry, while the session highlighted how AI can transcend visual limitations, opening new dimensions for research and industry.  Please click here for an online review.

Interdisciplinary Excellence・Global Impact | The new PAIR profile video is now online

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) leverages its world-class academic and research excellence to drive groundbreaking innovations and contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable tomorrow.  Established in July 2022, the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) brings together interdisciplinary research strengths as the University’s central research platform, dedicated to translating frontier discoveries into real-world applications and delivering solutions with tangible value and global impact for both society and industry. Watch the video now to discover PAIR research units’ unwavering efforts to push boundaries across research and scholarship, knowledge transfer and cross-sectoral collaboration, bringing forth impactful innovations for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world! Please click here for the video.    

PolyU secures funding for four cutting-edge projects in Third Round of RAISe+ Scheme

PolyU has earned funding support for four high-impact research projects in the third round of the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme, administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.  Spanning areas from advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence (AI), these projects demonstrate significant potential for industry impact—a testament to the University’s research excellence and translation.  All the funded projects are led by PAIR members.   Details of the projects: Project Title and Description Project Leader Forging with Clarity: Intelligent In-Situ Laser Melt Pool Monitoring Technology IntraSpect™ is redefining precision manufacturing with its 3rd-generation intelligent in-situ melt pool control technology. By integrating advanced high-frequency optical tomography with a multi-modal AI engine, the team has developed an “industrial eye” capable of penetrating metal vapour to deliver micron-level 3D real-time monitoring and closed-loop control, effectively eliminating hidden defects such as porosity.   This solution matches the performance of top-tier international competitors at half the cost, offering a rapid ROI of less than one year. Closely aligned with the “15th Five-Year Plan” and “China Intelligent Manufacturing 2030”, IntraSpect™ empowers the EV battery and electronics sectors to transition from passive defect detection to proactive quality prevention. Prof. H.C. MAN Founding Director and Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Member of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Cheng Yick-chi Chair Professor in Manufacturing Engineering and Chair Professor of Materials Engineering WiseLaw: Next Generation Agentic AI for Legal Services WiseLaw Digital Technology Co., Ltd is Hong Kong’s first technology enterprise specialising in AI applications for cross-border legal and compliance services. Incubated by PolyU, WiseLaw brings together PolyU alumni and technical experts from leading internet companies in Chinese Mainland. WiseLaw deeply integrates AI with professional legal and compliance expertise, driving the intelligent transformation of legal services and corporate compliance management.   As WiseLaw’s core product, “Lawrence” is an AI Digital Employee designed to empower corporations, financial institutions and law firms. Distinct from conventional software tools, Lawrence is built to “work like an employee”. It provides continuous support across cross-border business scenarios, including legal research, compliance review, contract analysis, risk identification, knowledge management and workflow coordination.   Leveraging world-leading LLM capabilities and professional knowledge, further enhanced by WiseLaw’s proprietary Harness Engineering and Agentic Memory solutions, Lawrence enables users to improve operational efficiency, reduce compliance costs and mitigate legal risks. It provides enterprises with a more sophisticated and efficient framework for navigating global expansion and international operations. Prof. LU Haitian Management Committee Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) and Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA), Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), and Hong Kong Sustaintech Foundation Professor in School of Accounting and Finance ShieldTrade: Multi-layer Defense System for Secure Web3 Transactions The project aims to develop ShieldTrade, a next-generation Web3 security system that prevents users from transacting with blacklisted or sanctioned addresses, malicious or deceptive smart contracts, and phishing or fraudulent applications that attempt to obtain unauthorised token approvals or asset transfers.   ShieldTrade provides end-to-end security protection for Web3 users by detecting risky transactions before execution and blocking malicious activities in real time. It analyses wallet interactions, smart-contract behaviours and transaction patterns to identify blacklisted or sanctioned addresses, malicious or deceptive contracts, and phishing or fraudulent “dApps” designed to steal assets or token approvals. Through advanced binary analysis, fuzzing and symbolic execution, ShieldTrade delivers proactive defence against emerging Web3 threats and ensures safer participation in decentralised ecosystems. Prof. Allen AU Man-Ho Member of Research Institute for Quantum Technology (RIQT), Associate Head (Research and Development) and Professor of the Department of Computing New Generation of Miniature Quantum Chip with Embedded System for Cybersecurity In today’s information-driven era, safeguarding data has become an exceptionally critical concern. Traditional encryption methods may prove highly vulnerable in the face of potential quantum computing attacks in the near future, underscoring the need to develop new technological solutions with high security standards.   The project aims to develop a new generation of miniature quantum chips with embedded systems that enable secure communication by integrating optical quantum components with classical electronics (ARM and FPGA) on a single chip, often using CMOS fabrication to reduce size and cost. These chip-scale devices support high-speed communication, while allowing easy integration into IoT devices, handheld devices, fibre-optic networks, data centres and other applications. Prof. LIU Ai-Qun Director of RIQT, Chair Professor of Quantum Engineering and Science of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Hong Kong Global STEM Scholar Press release: https://polyu.me/41Ipibn   Online coverage: Mirage - https://polyu.me/4u6a3oS Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/4mFaFiw Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4mIcrj5 HK01 - https://polyu.me/4tJeCpn Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/3Oik433 Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/4cDBSxk EDU Plus - https://polyu.me/4sJfHvP Australian Chinese Daily - https://polyu.me/4u5CeUU Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/4crp4vs People's Daily Online - https://polyu.me/4u4n2at