Chief Editor's Corner
Welcome to Issue 19 of the PAIR Newsletter.
As the 2026/27 academic year begins, we are delighted to bring you a collection of recent updates, achievements and activities from across PAIR. The past few months have been especially vibrant, as many PAIR Fellows and collaborators from our research institutes and centres visited PolyU to deliver distinguished lectures, seminars and research talks. These exchanges sparked new ideas, strengthened collaborations and opened up fresh opportunities for interdisciplinary research. The News & Events section offers a closer look at these engaging activities.
This issue also features our conversations with two distinguished scholars whose insights shed light on very different yet equally important challenges facing society today. We were privileged to meet with Prof. Sir Bashir M. AL-HASHIMI, Senior Vice President (Research & Special Initiatives) of King’s College London, who shared his reflections on human reasoning, critical thinking and research in the age of artificial intelligence. While AI is reshaping how we learn and work, he reminds us that human judgement, curiosity and creativity remain irreplaceable. We also spoke with PAIR Fellow Prof. Sara DOLNICAR of The University of Queensland, whose research explores how consumer behaviour can be influenced towards more sustainable choices in tourism and hospitality. Her work shows that protecting the planet does not always require sacrificing enjoyment— sometimes, thoughtful design can make both possible.
Another highlight of this issue is the remarkable achievements of PAIR scientists. Several senior scholars at PAIR coming from different engineering disciplines have been elected fellows of prestigious learned societies and professional bodies. I am also deeply honoured to have been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the world’s most distinguished scientific academies. This recognition is not the result of individual effort alone; rather, it reflects the dedication, support and collective contributions of many students, colleagues and collaborators over the years. I am sincerely grateful to all who have been part of this journey.
We are also delighted to welcome the newly established Research Institute for Microbiology (RIM) to the PAIR family, further strengthening our capacity to address global challenges through interdisciplinary research.
Recognition is important, but it is only one part of the story. Across PAIR’s research institutes and centres, exciting discoveries, innovations and partnerships continue to take shape every day. In this issue, we highlight a range of research achievements, knowledge transfer initiatives and impact stories spanning health and wellbeing, sustainability, emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing and ESG. Together, they illustrate how interdisciplinary research is translating knowledge into meaningful impact for society.
I hope you enjoy this issue and find inspiration in the people, ideas and achievements featured within. Happy reading!
Prof. CHEN Qingyan
Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
