News

RCRE Seminar: Foam Concrete for Energy Absorbing Applications

Prof. David Lange from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign delivered a seminar entitled “Foam Concrete for Energy Absorbing Applications” on 28 January 2026. The seminar was jointly organized by the RCRE and the CEE of PolyU, the HKIE Civil Division and the Hong Kong Concrete Institute (HKCI). Over 90 participants joined the seminar.      

RCRE Showcases at the HKGIA Exhibition of 2025 HKAEE Information Sharing Seminar

RCRE participated in the HKGIA exhibition of the 2025 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) Information Sharing Seminar, where they showcased their innovative technology in sustainable high-strength lightweight concrete. The exhibition took place at the Hong Kong Productivity Council on 19 January 2026.  

RCRE Director Wins Silver Award at the 2024 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards

We are delighted to announce that a research project led by Ir Prof. Chi Sun POON, Director of RCRE and Distinguished Research Professor of CEE, along with team members Dr. Jian-xin LU (RCRE Member and Research Assistant Professor of CEE), Mr. Chunpeng ZHANG (PhD student of CEE), and Mr. Dingqiang FAN (PhD student of CEE), has received the Silver Award at the 2024 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA). This prestigious recognition celebrates the team’s outstanding contributions to green innovation.  The award-winning project, titled “Sustainable High-Strength Lightweight Concrete: Reshaping the Future of Modular Construction”, focuses on developing advanced lightweight concrete solutions for Modular Integrated Construction (MiC). The research features two key innovations: a core-shell lightweight aggregate concrete for load-bearing structural elements, which significantly reduces structural weight while maintaining high strength, and a CO2-foamed concrete for non-load-bearing components, enabling carbon utilization and storage during both production and curing. Together, these complementary materials address both structural performance and environmental sustainability. Notably, the technologies have progressed beyond laboratory research and have already been successfully implemented in real construction projects in Hong Kong, demonstrating their practical feasibility and readiness for industry adoption. The Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards recognize exceptional achievements in green innovation and sustainable development. This recognition highlights RCRE’s commitment to translating research excellence into impactful solutions that support the construction industry’s transition toward low-carbon and sustainable building practices. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ir Prof. Poon and his team on this remarkable achievement.      

RCRE Seminar: Research Needs for Cementitious Materials

Prof. Karen Scrivener from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne delivered a seminar entitled “Research Needs for Cementitious Materials” on 8 January 2026. The seminar was jointly organized by the RCRE and the CEE of PolyU. Over 60 participants joined the seminar.    

RCRE Public Lecture: Realistic Strategies for Decarbonising Construction

Prof. Karen Scrivener from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne delivered a lecture entitled “Realistic Strategies for Decarbonising Construction” on 6 January 2026. The event was jointly organized by the RCRE and the CEE of PolyU, the HKIE Civil Division and the Hong Kong Concrete Institute (HKCI). Prof. Scrivener’s insightful presentation attracted more than 90 participants.    

Industry Delegation Visits RCRE

A group of visitors from the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), Arup, and Gammon Construction visited the RCRE on 6 January 2026. During their visit, Prof. Chi-sun Poon, Director of RCRE, presented recent advancements in low-carbon high-performance lightweight concrete and explored opportunities for collaborative research and application. The visit also featured a guided tour of the concrete printing laboratory, where ongoing projects and innovative technologies were showcased.      

RCRE Seminar: The Promise of Nano-Materials as Functional Additives in Concrete

Prof. Nemkumar Banthia of University of British Columbia delivered a seminar on the topic of “The Promise of Nano-Materials as Functional Additives in Concrete” on 19 December 2025. The seminar was jointly organized with CEE of PolyU. Over 50 participants joined the seminar.    

Delegation Visit of Swire Properties

A delegation from Swire Properties visited the RCRE on 18 December 2025. During their visit, Prof. Chi-sun Poon, Director of RCRE, introduced the center’s research activities. Opportunities for collaborative research on low-carbon and green concrete materials were discussed. The visit also included a tour of the concrete printing laboratory, where ongoing projects and technologies were showcased.    

PAIR Distinguished Lecture - Toward Carbon-Neutral Cities: Sensors and Cyber-Physical Networks for Green Infrastructure

On 17 December 2025, Prof. Nemkumar BANTHIA from the University of British Columbia delivered a PAIR distinguished lecture titled “Toward Carbon-Neutral Cities: Sensors and Cyber-Physical Networks for Green Infrastructure” at PolyU. The lecture was jointly organized by PAIR and RCRE. Prof. Bathina’s presentation attracted over 90 in-person participants and an online audience of more than 17,900 across various social media platforms.  Following the presentation was a lively question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. Chi-sun POON, Director of RCRE. The audiences engaged in an in-depth discussion with Prof. Banthia.    

RCRE Seminar - Mechanistic Understanding of Carbonation: Coupling among Moisture, Pore Structure, and Practical Approaches for Reliable Accelerated Testing

Dr Luge Cheng of The University of Tokyo delivered a seminar on the topic of “Mechanistic Understanding of Carbonation: Coupling among Moisture, Pore Structure, and Practical Approaches for Reliable Accelerated Testing” on 10 December 2025. The seminar was jointly organized with CEE of PolyU. Over 60 participants joined the seminar.