PAIR Distinguished Lectures

Advancing oxide electronics through materials engineering: Prof. Judith L. DRISCOLL, Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), 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.

Diverse applications power smart innovation: Prof. ZHU Meifang, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, charts the future of intelligent fibre materials

On 28 July 2026, Prof. ZHU Meifang, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dean of the College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), titled “Multifunctional Structural Fiber Materials for Diverse Applications”. The lecture attracted more than 100 attendees in person and approximately 14,900 online viewers across multiple social media platforms.

Understanding cancer metastasis through the lens of biomechanics: Tsinghua scholar Prof. FENG Xiqiao shares frontier research on cell dynamics

On 20 July 2026, Prof. FENG Xiqiao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chair Professor at the Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics of Tsinghua University, China, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Multiscale Theory and Numerical Methods of Cell Dynamics” on the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted over 70 attendees in person and nearly 16,200 online viewers across various social media platforms.

Tracking influenza transmission through wastewater: Stanford research reveals new opportunities for public health

On 29 June 2026, Prof. Alexandria BOEHM of Stanford University, U.S., Member of National Academy of Engineering, USA, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Influenza Transmission and Diversity in Humans and Animals Inferred from Untreated Wastewater across the United States”. The lecture attracted more than 80 attendees in person, while approximately 15,600 viewers watched the livestream across multiple social media platforms.

Unlocking Graphene the Wonder Material: Prof. Robert J. YOUNG Explores Mechanics and Toughening Mechanisms in Nanocomposites

On 3 June 2026, Prof. Robert J. Young, Fellow of The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering, UK, and Emeritus Professor of Polymer Science and Technology at the National Graphene Institute and Department of Materials at The University of Manchester, UK, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “The Mechanics of Graphene and Graphene-Based Nanocomposites” at the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted an audience of over 40 onsite attendees, and nearly 15,700 online viewers across various social media platforms.

Harvard Professor SUO Zhigang Unveils Frontiers in Soft Materials, Bio-adhesion and Biomedical Applications

On 2 June 2026, Prof. SUO Zhigang, Foreign Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Member of both National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences in the USA, Allen E. and Marilyn M. Puckett Professor of Mechanics and Materials at Harvard University, USA, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Adhesion between Soft Materials and Tissues” at the PolyU campus. The lecture was attended by more than 100 scholars, researchers and students in person, and nearly 16,000 online viewers across various social media platforms.

Envisioning the Future: Academician PENG Shou on How Glass is Shaping the World of Tomorrow

On 27 May 2026, Prof. PENG Shou, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Scientist of China National Building Material Group Co., Ltd. delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “The Transparent Revolution that is Remoulding the Future” at the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted an audience of nearly 100 scholars, researchers and students onsite, and over 14,700 online viewers across various social media platforms.

Empowering Tomorrow: Academician GUO Wanlin on the Evolution Toward Hydrovoltaic Intelligence

On 22 May 2026, Prof. GUO Wanlin, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Founder of the International Institute for Frontier Science at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Hydrovoltaics Intelligence (HI)” at the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted an audience of nearly 60 scholars, researchers and students onsite, and over 15,200 online viewers across various social media platforms.

Designing Materials the Lego Building Way: Prof. Stephen Z. D. Cheng on New Strategies for Giant Molecule Design

On 11 May 2026, Prof. Stephen Z. D. CHENG, Member of the National Academy of Engineering, USA, and Dean and Honourable Professor of School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Superlattice Engineering of Soft Alloys in Giant Molecules” at the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted an audience of over 50 scholars, researchers and students onsite, and nearly 14,300 online viewers across various social media platforms.

Unlocking New Perceptual Dimensions: Prof. ZHANG Jie, Member of U.S. National Academy of Engineering, 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.