Past Events

Towards a New Era of Engineering Innovation: Prof. ZHOU Ming on Simulation, Digital Twins and AI

On 2 November 2026, Prof. ZHOU Ming of the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China delivered a PAIR Distinguished Seminar titled “Engineering in the AI Era – The Grand Arc of Technology through the Ages”, sharing his insights into the development of technology and engineering. The event attracted more than 60 on-site participants and about 16,000 online viewers across social media platforms.

From fertility treatment to precision medicine: Prof. SUN Yu highlights frontier applications of robotic micro-nano manipulation

On 22 October 2026, Prof. SUN Yu of the University of Toronto in Canada delivered a PAIR Distinguished Seminar titled “Advancements and Emerging Trends in Robotic Micro-Nano Manipulation”. The event attracted more than 110 on-site participants and over 16,000 online viewers across social media platforms.

Metal-free catalysis opens new possibilities for clean energy: Prof. Markus ANTONIETTI on novel applications of carbon nitride materials

On 8 October 2026, Prof. Markus ANTONIETTI of Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “New Modifications of Carbon Nitrides and Their Use in Artificial Photosynthesis and Photoelectrochemistry”. The event attracted over 130 onsite participants and about 14,000 online viewers across social media platforms.

Boston Scientific’s Vincent SOURDAINE shares lessons on neurotech commercialisation at the final Cambridge NeuroWorks and PolyU PAIR Joint Seminar of the academic year

On 29 September 2026, Mr Vincent SOURDAINE, Vice President of Neuromodulation for EMEA at Boston Scientific, delivered the presentation “Neuromodulation — Access to Innovation” at the final session of the Cambridge NeuroWorks and PolyU PAIR Joint Seminar, exploring the gap between technological breakthroughs and real-world clinical adoption. Co-hosted by Prof. George MALLIARAS, Cambridge NeuroWorks Scientific Lead and Prince Philip Professor of Technology at the University of Cambridge, and Prof. ZHANG Weixiong, Associate Director of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and Chair Professor of Systems Biology and Artificial Intelligence at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the online event drew over 15,000 live-stream and Zoom participants from 20 countries and regions, bringing together researchers, industry experts and members of the public.

Pioneering new frontiers in medical engineering: Prof. Jonathan DORDICK on scalable bioengineered heparin and magnetically controlled cell therapies

On 22 September 2026, Prof. Jonathan DORDICK of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Exploiting the Interface of Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science to Generate New Therapeutic Outcomes”. The lecture attracted about 90 onsite participants and more than 14,000 online viewers across various social media platforms.

Bridging aerosol science and policy action: Prof. Lidia MORAWSKA discusses ultrafine particles, microplastics and public health

On 27 August 2026, Prof. Lidia MORAWSKA of the Queensland University of Technology delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Current Problems of Science: The World of the Particles We Inhale and How to Control it”. The event drew more than 70 in-person attendees and approximately 14,700 online viewers across multiple social media platforms.

Advancing oxide electronics through materials engineering: Prof. Judith L. DRISCOLL 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.

Shaping the future of mobility: Prof. QU Xiaobo on autonomous driving and emerging paradigms in vertical transportation

On 5 August 2026, Prof. QU Xiaobo, Member of Academia Europaea (Academy of Europe), Changjiang Chair Professor of School of Vehicle and Mobility, Director of Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control for Low-Altitude Heterogeneous Vehicles, Tsinghua University, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Future Transport: Autonomy, Verticalization and Cloud Control”. The seminar attracted 50 onsite participants and more than 14,600 online viewers across various social media platforms.

PAIR Seminar: Prof. Hélder A. SANTOS of University of Groningen, The Netherlands, delivers “Can We Restore a Broken Heart? Precision RNA-based Nanotherapies for the Next Era of Cardiovascular Medicine”

On 31 July 2026, Prof. Hélder A. SANTOS, Professor and Head of the Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology and Head of the Translational Bionanomicro Theragenerative Medicine Lab at the University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Can We Restore a Broken Heart? Precision RNA-based Nanotherapies for the Next Era of Cardiovascular Medicine”. The seminar attracted 43 onsite participants and an online audience of over 15,800 viewers through live broadcasts across various social media platforms.

Diverse applications power smart innovation: Prof. ZHU Meifang 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.