News

Prof. XIA Yong receives Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year Award 2025

Prof. XIA Yong, Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) and Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been selected by the editorial board of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) journal for the Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year Award 2025.  The Award recognises individuals worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to structural health monitoring for the benefit of society.  It honours excellence in theory, analysis, applications, education or other advancements within the field, with a particular focus on achievements in recent years.  Notably, PolyU is the only university in Hong Kong to have received this distinction and Prof. Xia is the third scholar from PolyU to be recognised with this accolade since its establishment 20 years ago. Prof. Xia specialises in large-scale civil engineering structural health monitoring, structural damage identification and substructure methods for large structures.  As an expert in the field, his pioneering technologies have been applied to numerous prominent projects, including the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Shanghai Tower, among others, contributing significantly to the advancement of science and technology in SHM.

Ten PAIR members win PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2024

Launched in 2023, the PolyU Patents Achievement Award aims to honour the exceptional achievements of departments and inventors who actively contribute to intellectual property (IP), research commercialisation and knowledge transfer.  This year, 11 scholars have been recognised with individual awards.  Among them, ten are PAIR members (in alphabetical order of surname): Top Patents Filing Award and Most Active Patents Filing Award Prof. Benny CHEUNG Chi-fai Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology Associate Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) Management Committee Member of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM)   Prof. HUANG Xinyan Associate Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) Member of RCRE   Top Patents Filing Award Ir Prof. NI Yiqing Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Professor in Smart Structures Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit Member of RISUD   Prof. John SHI Wenzhong Chair Professor of Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Urban Informatics Director of SCRI Member of RISUD   Top Patents Filing Award and Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. TO Chi-ho Visiting Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry Member of RCSV   Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. TAO Xiaoming Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology Chair Professor of Textile Technology Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Member of RISE   Prof. Dennis TSE Yan-yin Associate Professor of School of Optometry Member of Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) Member of RCSV   Prof. WONG Ka-hing Professor of Department of Food Science and Nutrition Director of Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) Member of RCRE   Ir Prof. YANG Hongxing Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Management Committee Member of RISUD Member of RISE   Ir Prof. ZHENG Yongping Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA)  

Prof. WANG Shuo’s team uncovers feedback loop between wildland fires and Arctic snow cover loss

Prof. WANG Shuo, Member of Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI), and Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), and Associate Professor of Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, and his research team have conducted a study on wildland fires in seasonally snow-covered regions.  Their findings were published in Nature Climate Change under the title “Delayed formation of Arctic snow cover in response to wildland fires in a warming climate”. This work was also highlighted in a Research Briefing. Utilising long-term satellite data, the team discovered that between 1982 and 2018, the burned area in the Arctic increased significantly, while the duration of snow cover decreased markedly.  An XGBoost machine learning model and causal analysis confirmed the role of wildland fires in delaying the formation of snow cover, with this effect strongly associated with fire-induced reductions in albedo and increases in temperature.  Furthermore, the team observed a delay of more than five days in snow cover formation following major wildland fires.  Their projections under a high-emissions scenario (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway, SSP 5–8.5) suggested that the burned area could increase by a factor of 2.6 and the annual mean snow cover duration could decrease by nearly 18 days between 2015 and 2100 compared with the historical average. Prof. Wang’s research provides a more comprehensive understanding of the feedback loop between intensifying wildfires and reduced snow cover.  As climate change increases both fire activity and snow cover loss, insights into the interplay between the two factors are crucial for predicting future impacts and developing mitigation strategies. Read the full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02443-6 Read the research briefing: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02444-5

PolyU and AFCD forge partnership to advance technological innovation in agriculture and fisheries

PolyU and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22 September 2025 to explore collaborative opportunities in the development and application of technological innovation within the local agriculture and fisheries sectors, with a view to injecting new impetus into the sustainable development of the industries. In the witness of Mr Mickey LAI, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, and Prof. WONG Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, the MoU was signed by Mr Patrick LAI, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, and Prof. WONG Ka-hing, Director of Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood). The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between the two parties over the next five years, with the objective of jointly advancing innovative development initiatives for the agriculture and fisheries industries, aimed at enhancing the quantity, quality and value of local agricultural and fisheries products.  The collaboration will strengthen efforts in developing processed agricultural and fisheries products with local characteristics, as well as precise agriculture solutions, thereby improving the industries’ overall efficiency and resilience to environmental changes.   Online coverage: Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/3I8KrFy Sina HK - https://polyu.me/4pG0xYa

Twenty-five PolyU projects receive support from Health and Medical Research Fund

PolyU has secured HK$22.9 million in funding support from the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2023 exercise to support 25 research projects. Focused on addressing pressing health challenges and enhancing patient welfare, these initiatives exemplify PolyU’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and translating scientific research into impactful solutions that address the needs of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, ultimately improving health outcomes across physical, psychological, and social dimensions. Among them, 12 research projects are led by PAIR members: Principal Investigator Project Title Amount Awarded (HK$) Dr LEE Tin Yan Timothy Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Member, Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA) Exploring Spine Flexibility and Spinal Deformities and their Association with Curve Progression in Skeletally Immature Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Study $724,600 Prof. ZHU Yuyan Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition; Member, Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) and Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) Investigating the translational potential of parthenolide for ameliorating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adults $1,499,999 Prof. SIU Kit Hang Gilman Associate Head, Professor, and Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Medical Laboratory Science, Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI); Member, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) Application of Targeted Capture Sequencing for Diagnosis of Respiratory Infections – Simultaneous Pathogen Identification, Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Detection and Strain Typing in a Single Reaction $1,499,950 Prof. LI Tian Assistant Professor, HTI; Member, RiFood and Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) Investigation of Time-resolved Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (TR-MRF) for Liver Cancer Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Response Assessment in a Pilot Clinical Trial $1,459,000 Prof. HUANG Chien-ling Associate Professor, HTI; Management Committee Member, RiFood Integrated AI-driven single-cell monitoring system for early detection and pathway discovery in infection-associated thrombosis: advancing prevention and treatment strategies for long COVID $1,499,000 Dr WONG Wing Sze Winsy Research Assistant Professor, Department of Language Science and Technology; Member, RISA Utilization of Immersive Virtual Reality in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (IVR-CST) for Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study $499,996 Prof. LIN Jingxia Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences; Management Committee Member, Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC); Member, RCMI Enhancing Clinical Care for Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment and Intervention: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial with “MotherCare” Mobile App $499,920 Prof. Jed MONTAYRE Associate Head (Strategy) and Associate Professor, School of Nursing (SN); Member, RISA Dyadic management intervention in older people with co-occurring cognitive impairment and diabetes as a supplementary approach to Chronic Diseases Self-Management Program: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation study $1,345,318 Prof. YEUNG Wing Fai Associate Professor, SN; Associate Director, RCMI; Member, RISA An implementation Science Approach to Evaluate Self-administered Acupressure for Knee Osteoarthritis in Older-Aged Adults in the Community $1,499,989 Prof. YANG Lin Associate Professor, SN; Management Committee Member, RI-IWEAR, Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF); Member, Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) A Personalized Interactive Patient Empowerment Artificial Intelligence Platform (PIPE-AI) Enhanced by DiabetesGPT in Prediabetes and Diabetes Patients in Primary Healthcare Settings $500,000 Prof. XIE Yaojie Associate Professor, SN; Member, RCMI Migraine features and silent brain infarction in predicting stroke risk progression: A cohort study with neuroimaging analysis in Hong Kong Chinese women $1,499,907 Prof. LEUNG Tsz Wing Assistant Professor, School of Optometry; Member, RiFood and RCSV Investigating the Role of the Magnocellular-Dorsal System in Reading Chinese: A Pilot Study Exploring the Effect of Middle Temporal Visual Area Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation $499,550

Prof. WONG Ka-hing featured in TV programme on transforming food waste into 3D printing materials

Prof. WONG Ka-hing, Director of Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) and Professor in Department of Food Science and Nutrition, was featured on TVB’s programme “ESG Decoded”, introducing the sustainable food waste-derived 3D printing material developed by his team. The material is made from upcycled spent coffee grounds, which are combined with polylactic acid.  This technology not only helps reduce carbon footprint, but also demonstrates the significant potential of reusing waste.  Prof. Wong added that the team has collaborated with several local coffee chains to produce eco-friendly 3D printing products using their spent coffee grounds.  This innovative green technology offers a new approach to addressing the challenges of municipal food waste and greenhouse gas emissions in Hong Kong.  Online coverage: TVB - https://polyu.me/4pA59ik (13:56-16:38) (subscription required)

Two PolyU projects receive funding from the Innovation and Technology Support Programme to advance aerospace technology research and development

The nation places great importance on its aerospace sector. In his latest Policy Address, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, John LEE Ka-chiu, mentioned that the “Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology” has allocated over HK$100 million to support six university research and development projects, two of which are from PolyU. The supported aerospace technology R&D projects are expected to be applied in future missions such as Chang’e 7, the Tiangong space station and manned lunar landings. Ir Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering and Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), has been awarded HK$32 million to carry out the project “Key Space Technology Capability Research and Development with Application to Terrain Cameras”. This project will build upon PolyU’s successful experience in the Chang’e 3, 4, 5, and 6, as well as Tianwen-1 missions, to develop next-generation space navigation cameras and related technologies. The team will develop new materials and processes with high strength-to-weight ratios, high thermal conductivity, and controllable absorptivity, reflectivity, emissivity and refractive index. The research will also focus on radiation resistance and chemical compatibility in the space environment and key manufacturing technologies such as void-free 3D printing. In addition, the team will explore core technologies related to image capture and processing, including thermal modelling for maintaining neutral optical performance under extreme temperature fluctuations and artificial intelligence algorithms for terrain recognition to aid navigation on the lunar surface under varying sunlight angles. Furthermore, Ir Prof. SU Zhongqing, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chair Professor of Intelligent Structures and Systems, and Member of RCDSE, has also been awarded over HK$4.4 million to carry out the project “A ‘Totally-Additive-Manufacturing’-driven New Sensing Technique for Rapid Health Evaluation of Space Systems under Hypervelocity Impact of Orbital Junks”. The project is conducted in collaboration with co-investigators from Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Environment Engineering of China Academy of Space Technology and Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen). The successful installation of this system and the implementation of the technology on spacecraft will mitigate the risk of hypervelocity impact (HVI) from space debris to communication satellites and space stations. Additionally, it will retrofit existing safety design philosophy, enhance serviceability and extend the lifespan of long-service space systems. The nation has designated “commercial aerospace” as a strategic emerging industry. PolyU will continue to leverage its professional strengths to actively support the Hong Kong SAR Government in promoting the development of aerospace technology, contributing to the vigorous growth of the space economy. Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3K2RlN8 Lion Rock Daily - https://polyu.me/42y9Oax Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/4ncDBOg ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/47S7grl   Further readings: Ir Prof. Yung’s project - https://polyu.hk/dXYVP Ir Prof. Su’s project - https://polyu.hk/hONCU

Creation of intelligent wearable systems leading the innovation of industries

Prof. TAO Xiaoming, Director of Research Institute of Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Chair Professor of Textile Technology and Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology, together with her team, has successfully developed a series of intelligent wearable systems, which are applied in fields such as sports, healthcare, entertainment, and industry. The wearable system with adaptive cooling and heating for sport recovery “COOLWEAR”, utilises a unique fluidic textile structure and unidirectional heat-transfer composite fabrics, combined with ergonomic design. It also integrates multifunctional technologies for electrofluidic detection and control, enabling rapid temperature switching between 5°C and 40°C within 10 seconds, with a uniform temperature distribution and a maximum heat flux of up to 1.2 kW/m2.  The system consists of a main unit and a wearable component, is compact in size, and features a three-chamber intermittent compression device suitable for use on various parts of the body, for effectively enhancing post-exercise muscle oxygenation and elasticity, while alleviating delayed onset muscle soreness.  Users can customise treatment modes via a mobile application, which allows athletes to easily use it on the sidelines for rapid sports recovery. In the field of multisensory simulation wearable technology, the team’s research is focused on mixed scent perception in human and multisensory tactile simulation.  They have pioneered a bionic mechanism based on fibre assemblies and designed corresponding actuators to simulate mixed odour and tactile sensations.  Using artificial intelligence and algorithms, the device integrates sensory signals to provide users with a highly immersive experience.  Their research and development goals include: AI-controlled wearable olfactory simulation devices, fabric-based haptic device for dynamic simulation of hardness and temperature, and wearable fibre-based acoustic hearing devices for continuous monitoring of human organ acoustic signals. Furthermore, the electronic textile interactive system is also one of the team’s significant research achievements.  By employing heterogeneous integration technology of microelectronic chips and fibre materials, the team has developed a new generation of high-performance, programmable electronic textiles, and has made a breakthrough by developing the world’s thinnest electronic yarn, less than 1 millimetre in diameter and washable, which can be seamlessly applied to traditional knitting and embroidery techniques.  Based on these technologies, the team has achieved numerous innovations, including full-colour programmable electronic textile displays, intelligent interaction, composite electronic yarn manufacturing processes, novel fibre-based electronic materials, and dedicated spinning equipment, creating a multimodal intelligent textile system that simultaneously interacts with human vision, hearing, and touch.  These systems not only maintain the softness and comfort of fabrics, but also offer advantages such as stain resistance, water resistance and multimodal human-machine interaction. The series of ground-breaking achievements by Prof Tao’s team fully demonstrates PolyU’s outstanding research capabilities and innovative spirit, bringing diverse applications to intelligent wearable technology and becoming a driving force in fields such as sports, healthcare, entertainment and industry.   Online coverage: Xinhua News - https://h.xinhuaxmt.com/vh512/share/12737062?docid=12737062&newstype=1001&d=1350125&channel=weixin&time=1758592082577

Revolutionising Sustainable Energy Through Catalytic Innovation

Catalysis can accelerate chemical reactions and plays a key role in producing cleaner and more economical fuels.  On 17 September 2025, Prof. WANG Yong from Washington State University, USA, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Catalysis: Driving Affordable Clean Energy”.  He shared insights into the potential of advanced catalytic technologies in revolutionising fuel production and reducing emissions.  The lecture attracted over 120 in-person attendees, with more than 17,900 online viewers tuning in via various social media platforms. At the beginning of his talk, Prof. Wang explained the definition of catalysis: the use of catalysts to lower the activation energy required to initiate a chemical reaction, thereby enabling reactions to proceed more rapidly and efficiently with minimal energy input.  An excellent catalyst must possess high stability to effectively facilitate the interactions among reactants to form products. Prof. Wang then introduced his team’s research achievements in the field of the Fischer-Tropsch process.  They discovered that this process, developed in the last century, can convert coal, natural gas or biomass into liquid fuels, and that its reaction rate naturally fluctuates between high and low levels.  This intriguing phenomenon may pave the way for more efficient fuel production in the future. Prof. Wang also discussed how catalytic converters in vehicle exhaust systems use metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium to purify emissions and reduce pollutants.  He pointed out that hydrothermal ageing techniques can be used to stabilise single-atom catalysts and enhance their catalytic activity. In summary, these studies demonstrate the immense potential of advanced catalytic technologies in revolutionising fuel production and emissions control, laying the foundation for cleaner and more efficient energy systems. The subsequent question-and-answer session was chaired by Prof. WANG Lianzhou, Chair Professor of Energy Materials in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology.  Both in-person and online audiences engaged in fruitful exchanges and discussions with the two professors. Please click here for an online review.

Chief Designer of Chinese Lunar Exploration Programme delivers talk on development of national aerospace technology

PolyU warmly welcomed Academician WU Weiren, Chief Designer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Programme, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director and Chief Scientist of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory and Chairman of the International Deep Space Exploration Association, who delivered a talk titled “Chasing Dreams in Space, Exploring the Cosmos” on 17 September 2025.  During the talk, he shared insights with more than 600 students, faculty, alumni and guests on the Nation’s latest developments and strategic plans for its aerospace missions.   Mr Wu is a leading expert long engaged in research and engineering practice in aerospace telemetry, tracking and communications and in systems engineering for deep space exploration. Mr Wu and his team have led various historic missions in the Chang’e Programme, making significant contributions to the Nation’s lunar and deep space exploration. They are currently advancing the construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a China‑initiated, multinational project.   In his talk, Mr Wu reviewed the history of global space exploration and highlighted China’s major achievements, such as the manned space programme, lunar exploration, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and high-resolution Earth imaging satellites. He noted that China completed the three phases of lunar exploration, “orbiting”, “landing”, and “returning”, within two decades, achieving several world firsts.  The Chang’e-5 mission returned lunar samples, leading to the discovery of a new mineral, Changesite-(Y).  Mr Wu also mentioned that over 30 lunar locations now bear Chinese names, including Statio Tianhe, the Chang’e-4 landing site, breaking Western dominance in lunar naming.  Looking ahead, Mr Wu emphasised the economic and scientific potential of deep space resources, such as minerals and helium-3, and highlighted future opportunities in sectors like space-based solar power, tourism, agriculture and pharmaceuticals, which could drive economic growth and innovation.  After the talk, Mr Wu engaged in a dialogue session with PolyU students, which was moderated by Prof. WU Bo.  The audience engaged in a productive discussion with Mr Wu.   As the only university in Hong Kong to have participated in multiple national space missions, since 2010, PolyU has been participating in the Nation’s space exploration programmes and collaborating with the China Academy of Space Technology to develop and manufacture sophisticated space instruments. In recent years, PolyU has established the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) and the “Joint Research Centre of Advanced Aerospace Propulsion Technology” in collaboration with the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology.   The RCDSE is led by Director Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Associate Director Prof. WU Bo, Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science, Associate Head (Research) of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, both of whom have contributed to the success of the Nation’s lunar exploration missions, including Chang’e-3, Chang’e-4 and Chang’e-5, as well as the Mars exploration project Tianwen-1.     PolyU has obtained approval to borrow lunar soil samples collected by the Chang’e-6 and Chang’e-5 mission from the Lunar Sample Management Office under the China National Space Administration’s Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre to support a range of research projects.  At the same time, PolyU scholars are also actively engaged in national aerospace and deep space exploration initiatives, including research studies conducted on the Shijian‑19 satellite and projects to mitigate the risk of hypervelocity impacts from space debris on satellites and space stations.   Press release: https://polyu.hk/NUiRP   Online coverage: TVB - https://polyu.me/46sfBj9 Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/4mnvnls Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/4njdZiT (subscription required) Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/4gtzLxV Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4n9ykqZ Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3KeeewZ Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/467fTNw Line Today - https://polyu.me/48kEsry