Love for research and others drives sustainability research

Currently, the Institute brings together over 130 members from 18 departments across four faculties and one school of PolyU. Members are organised into 36 research groups, each led by a senior researcher internationally recognised in that area. RISUD members have contributed to the Institute’s massive success in the 2021/22 academic year, securing more than HK$15.9 million in large-scale grants for external projects, generating 84 papers and receiving 19 significant external awards.

At RISUD, members are well supported for engagement in interdisciplinary and cross-boundary collaboration. The Institute has launched various funding schemes in the last ten years. The Strategic Focus Area (SFA) Scheme (2016–2020) encouraged studies of strategic importance which aligned with the mission of RISUD, and the Emerging Frontier Area (EFA) Scheme (2018–2021) supported novel and multidisciplinary research in sustainable urban development with great potential for large external funding. “In 2021, we introduced the Joint Research Fund (JRF) and the Interdisciplinary Research Scheme (IRS), which specifically aim at supporting younger researchers with great potential for future academic development and collaboration among PolyU units, respectively,” Prof. Li explained. The Institute has also set up an RISUD Visiting Fellowship Scheme and an International Visiting Scholar Programme, enabling members to engage in academic exchange with partner universities and international collaborators.

Promoting sustainable urban development via resilient marine infrastructure, tree monitoring and water purification

Urbanisation is associated with a myriad of challenges and issues related to humans and the environment. RISUD members are determined to draw on their expertise in multiple disciplines in large-scale research to bring forth new discoveries, technologies and solutions.

Marine infrastructure is faced with challenges of infrastructure resilience and a shortage of fresh water and river sand for producing concrete. The Institute came up with a way to increase the lifespan of marine infrastructure while reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution during the construction process. “President Teng, then the Project Coordinator, proposed replacing steel with fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) as the reinforcing material. He initiated a project to experiment with this method, which directly used seawater and sea-sand to make concrete, known fittingly as seawater-sea-sand concrete (SSC),” Prof. Li said. Prof. Teng assumed his duty as PolyU President in July 2019. Prof. YU Tao, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations and Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, took on the project leadership role, while President Teng now serves as the Advisory Project Coordinator.

A number of tree collapse incidents have caused deaths and injuries in Hong Kong in recent years, and these incidents have increased calls for tree monitoring. RISUD member Sr. Prof. Charles WONG Man-sing, Associate Dean (Teaching) of FCE and Professor in the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), has joined hands with other institutions and government departments to develop and implement advanced technologies for the smart management of trees in Hong Kong. “The team assesses the risk of tree failure by monitoring trees’ swaying or tilting condition with sensors, thus improving tree risk management,” said Prof Li. Sr. Prof. Wong has been working closely with the Hong Kong government on the strategic policies and framework for long-term urban tree management. The research findings have also been shared with the government in Singapore, which is exploring the use of sensing technologies for tree monitoring.

"In another project, our RISUD member Dr Yi JIANG, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), leads a team to develop a new highperformance nano-enabled water filter which minimises leakage and health risks, thus advancing point-of-use (POU) water purification technologies,” said Prof. Li. The research is a large interinstitutional project involving researchers from other local and overseas universities, i.e., The University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong and the University of Missouri.

Unravelling the black box of air pollution for better health

Prof. Li’s research on air quality management has attracted huge funding support from the public sector. A project he leads, “Unravelling the Black Box between Air Pollution and Public Health for Transformative Air Quality Management”, won HK$44.5 million in funding in the Theme-based Research Scheme 2022/23 (Twelfth Round) of the Research Grants Council (RGC). The project aims to identify the toxic components and emissions sources that contribute to the acute toxicity of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), which aggravates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ischemic heart disease.

“I am leading a multi-disciplinary team of over a dozen researchers from PolyU and other local and overseas universities, and several of them are advisors for the World Health Organization (WHO). The study will yield findings which can be used to make recommendations for effective, practical and cost-effective approaches to manage air quality and public health in Hong Kong and around the world,” Prof. Li explained. “This may lead to a revision of the Air Quality Health Index algorithm and the associated health advice, and a review and updates of the Air Quality Objectives in Hong Kong. The findings will also be conveyed to other national and international bodies to influence future policy formulations for air quality in different parts of the world.”

Bringing together outstanding scholars for research excellence, wider collaboration and a stronger culture of urban sustainability

RISUD actively builds the research capacity of the PolyU community and stakeholders in sustainable urban development via professional exchange activities. The Institute invites its members to present their projects and latest developments at research salons, organises distinguished lectures (funded by the Ove Arup Foundation) to raise public awareness of sustainability issues, and co-organises forums and functions. “RISUD is currently the host office of the University–Government–Industry Consortium (UGIC) for Sustainable Urban Development. In December 2022, we co-organised the “Construction R&D Forum – Bringing Applied R&D to a New Height” with the Development Bureau of the HKSAR. It brought together leaders from the government, universities and the construction industry to promote the importance of applied research and development in enhancing the industry’s performance for future construction volume and challenges,” said Prof. Li.

RISUD members’ research impact has attracted distinguished recognition at the international level. “A total of 50 RISUD members are among the top 2% of scientists in the world, according to the 2022 list by Stanford University. Four members are on Clarivate Analytics’ list of highly cited researchers for 2021 and 2022,” shared Prof. Li, who received the Clair C. Patterson Award for Outstanding Achievements in Environmental Geochemistry in recognition of his cutting-edge research in environmental geochemistry within the last decade. RISUD also shone in the 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days, earning one gold medal and two silver medals.

RISUD contributes specialist expertise and knowledge towards a sustainable future for Hong Kong. Several members hold public appointments. Dr George LIU, Associate Head (Partnership) and Professor in the Department of Land Surveying & Geo-Informatics (LSGI), serves as a Scientific Advisor of Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). He provides professional guidance to the HKO in maintaining an active link with the scientific community, pursuing long-term scientific and technical development strategies, as well as research studies and operational applications in specific scientific disciplines. Prof. WANG Tao, Associate Director of the University Research Facility in Chemical and Environmental Analysis and Chair Professor of Atmospheric Environment, is a member of the Air Science and Health Task Force of the HKSAR, contributing to the review of air quality standards and the assessment of health and economic impacts associated with air pollution. Sr. Prof. Charles WONG was appointed to the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel of the HKSAR, advising on urban forestry management strategies, applied research and development regimes, and positive capacity building initiatives for the arboriculture and horticulture industry.

Thirty-year research journey in environmental pollution

Prof. Li joined PolyU as an Assistant Professor in 1995, and has developed his academic career at the University until the present day. The various exposures Prof. Li had during his university education spawned his interest in environmental science and reinforced his determination to pursue a research career. “I earned my first degree in Earth Science and my master’s degree in Geochemistry from Nanjing University. Several field trips during my research projects helped me to realise that mining and smelting operations create many environmental issues. This inspired my interest in environmental science,” Prof. Li recalled. The young researcher then went abroad to the United Kingdom for his doctorate study. “I chose to join Prof. Iain THORNTON’s research group on Environmental Geochemistry at Imperial College London in the late 1980s. That was the beginning of my fascinating research journey in the area of soil, sediment and air pollution over the last 30-plus years.

“Breakthrough research findings along the journey on several occasions have changed past knowledge and opened up a completely new academic field. This is the beauty of exploratory research. An academic job consists of research, teaching, and administrative tasks. I love the frontline research work with my team and am also extremely proud of the successes of our colleagues now,” Prof. Li shared.

Love for research and love for others

Over the years, Prof. Li is recognised for his innovative and dynamic work in environmental biogeochemistry, including research in the fields of regional contamination, urban air PM_2.5 pollution, and the origin and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. Prof. Li is very glad to see the increasing environmental awareness in society over the last few decades. “My own study and research always remind me to make more environmentally friendly decisions in my daily life”, he explained.

When asked for his advice for developing a successful career in academia, the senior researcher talked about the attitude a professional scientific researcher should have. “Asking important scientific questions in your field is important. You need to build your expertise on the chosen topic. Interdisciplinary research can be fun in many respects. Building a research network is very helpful for your career development.”

However, it is more than that. A responsible scientist should also exhibit social virtue and care for others: “Building a truly sustainable society depends on the efforts of many individuals and organisations. Nurture your research team members (PhD students and postdoctoral fellows) and help them succeed! The training of future leaders in this field inspires me to contribute more in the future.”