PAIR Distinguished Lectures

Towards the future of long-duration energy storage: Prof. ZHAO Tianshou of SUSTech on novel flow cells

Prof. ZHAO Tianshou, Director of Energy Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Chair Professor of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), China, delivered the 41st PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Flow Cells for Long-Duration Energy Storage” on 4 July 2025 on the PolyU campus. The lecture drew over 90 attendees in person and captivated an online audience of more than 15,400 from different countries and regions who watched the live broadcast on social media platforms.

Exploring the frontiers of mechanics: Prof. GAO Huajian of Tsinghua University on mechano-X innovations

Prof. GAO Huajian, Xinghua Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Mechano-X Institute of Tsinghua University, China, delivered the 40th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Mechano-X: Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation at the Frontiers of Mechanics” on 13 June 2025 on the PolyU campus. The lecture drew over 130 attendees in person and captivated an online audience of more than 14,000 from different countries and regions who watched the live broadcast on social media platforms.

Net-zero future - Nanotech expert Prof. G.Q. Max LU explores revolutionary advances in green hydrogen

rof. G.Q. Max LU, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, delivered the 39th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Functional Nanomaterials for Green Hydrogen Production and Storage” on 20 May 2025 on the PolyU campus. The lecture drew over 60 attendees in person and captivated an online audience of more than 15,900 from different countries and regions who watched the live broadcast on social media platforms.

The 38th PAIR Distinguished Lecture: Prof. Pedro Alvarez explores breakthroughs in nanotechnology for water treatment

Prof. Pedro Alvarez, George R. Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, USA, delivered the 38th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment” on 6 May 2025 on the PolyU campus.

Prof. SO Kwok-fai shares lifestyle interventions for mental health at PAIR Distinguished Lecture

Prof. SO Kwok-fai, Director of GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration at Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, delivered the 37th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Mental Health and Lifestyle Intervention” on 17 April 2025 on the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted about 100 participants to join in person and captivated an online audience of over 13,300 from different countries and regions who watched the live broadcast on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili, WeChat, Weibo and YouTube

Notable scholar Prof. Jesse ZHU advises graduate students on research career preparation at PAIR Distinguished Lecture

Prof. Jesse ZHU, Senior Advisor to the President, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China, delivered the 36th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Research Strategy and Planning: How to Prepare a Research Career?” on 12 March 2025 on the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted over 110 participants to join in person and captivated an online audience of over 13,300 from different countries and regions who watched the live broadcast on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili, WeChat, Weibo and YouTube.

Renowned expert in organic semiconducting polymers from Princeton University delivers PAIR lecture

Prof. Iain McCULLOCH from Princeton University, United States, delivered the 34th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Designing Organic Semiconductors to Optimise Charge Transport” on 14 January 2025 on PolyU campus.

Prof Deborah D.L. CHUNG delivers PAIR Distinguished Lecture on 'Explorations on the fascinating realm of multifunctional carbon fiber'

Prof. Deborah D.L. CHUNG of The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo delivered the 33rd PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Carbon Fiber Multifunctionality Enabled by Conductivity, Dielectricity and Inductance” on 17 December 2024 on the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted about 100 participants to join in person and captivated an online viewing audience of over 12,800 from different countries and regions who watched the live broadcast on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili, WeChat, Weibo and YouTube.

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Prof. ZHENG Quanshui shares reflections on interdisciplinary innovative research at PAIR distinguished lecture

Prof. ZHENG Quanshui, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Founding Principal of X-Institute and Professor of Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, China, delivered the 31st PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Reflections and suggestions from 20 years’ interdisciplinary innovative research” on 21 November 2024 on the PolyU campus.

Sharing of Research and Application on Photonic Crystal Fiber Waves by Prof. Philip Russel

Prof. Philip RUSSELL, Scientific Director of the Russell Centre for Advanced Lightwave Science (RCALS), Hangzhou, China, delivered the 30th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Three decades riding the photonic crystal fibre wave” on 5 November 2024 on the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted over 80 participants to join in person and captivated an online viewing audience of over 12,500 from different countries and regions to watch the live broadcast on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili, WeChat, Weibo and YouTube.