News

Prof. WENG Qihao co-authors study on spatiotemporal analysis of urban transformations in Austin, Texas

Prof. WENG Qihao, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Director of the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics, Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) and Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence, and his team published a paper titled “Spatiotemporal analysis of underlying factors in urban transformations: Quantifying the importance of urban plan intentions in the Austin Metropolitan Area, Texas” in Science Direct. Urban planning has widely become a key policy tool for managing urban growth. However, understanding the role of urban planning in shaping land development and directing urbanization is still contentious across various socioeconomic and geographical contexts. The research team conducted an in-depth analysis of urban spatial transformation in Austin, Texas across three distinct periods: the pre-planning period (1992–2001), the Envision Central Texas (ECT) period (2001–2011), and the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan (IACP) period (2011–2019). The findings reveal a marked decline in urban sprawl and the construction of new low-intensity development zones after 2001. Simultaneously, there was a noticeable increase in the percentage of newly transitioned high-intensity developed land.  Employing Geographically Weighted Logistic Regression (GWLR) modelling, the study provides a nuanced understanding of how spatially varying planning intentions guided spatial planning practices since the mid-2000s. The results indicate a diminishing influence of traditional factors on urban transformation while the role of planning intentions saw increasing prominence over time. Amongst the different planning intentions, those related to 'development centers' had less impact compared to those tied to protected areas and transport systems. The study establishes that IACP had a profound influence on Austin's urban spatial transformation, primarily due to its more clearly defined and explicit planning intentions compared to ECT.  The research contributes to a deeper understanding of urban spatial transformation dynamics, which is vital for future planning initiatives aimed at sustainable urban development.   Read the full paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837724003685

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences shares reflections on interdisciplinary innovative research at PAIR distinguished lecture

Prof. ZHENG Quanshui, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Founding Principal of X-Institute and Professor of Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, China, delivered the 31st PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Reflections and suggestions from 20 years’ interdisciplinary innovative research” on 21 November 2024 on the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted about 100 participants to join in person and captivated an online viewing audience of over 11,800 from different countries and regions to watch the live broadcast on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili, WeChat, Weibo and YouTube. The lecture commenced with a warm welcome and a brief introduction of the speaker by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR. Prof. Zheng kickstarted his presentation by outlining the key driving forces of innovation and technologies. He shared that achieving success in the “from zero to one” and the subsequent “from one to N” innovation stages often come with the inevitable “valley of death” period, which spans over a decade. He then elaborated on how he and his team have spent 20 years of relentless effort overcoming the “valleys of death” in studying structural superlubricity, building a model for talent development, and entering into the next “one-to-N” development phase. Prof. Zheng also shared the key turning points in his academic and research journey and outlined how the X-Institute nurtures interdisciplinary research talents. Following the presentation, Prof. Chen moderated a lively and insightful question-and-answer session. The audience engaged in a productive discussion with Prof. Zheng.  Please click here for an online review.

Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN elected as Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)

Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Chair Professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Interim Director of the Mental Health Research Centre, and Director of the Yan Oi Tong Au Suet Ming Child Development Centre at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has been elected as a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). Prof. Chen is the only elected fellow in Hong Kong, and the only Chinese scholar elected in the field of Social & Economic Sciences this year. TWAS is a global science academy based in Trieste, Italy, dedicated to promoting scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in developing countries. Elected TWAS fellows represent the world’s distinguished scientists in various disciplines, including some Nobel laureates. This year, a total of 74 new fellows from 28 countries and regions worldwide have been elected for 2025, and 10 are from Chinese institutions. Prof. Chen is a Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society, a Registered Psychologist of the Hong Kong Psychological Society, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, the flagship journal of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, and General Editor of Cambridge University Press Culture and Psychology Series. Her research focuses on personality and social psychology, cross-cultural psychology, as well as the psychosocial and cultural aspects of mental health. She investigates the social psychology of bilingualism and biculturalism, globalization and multiculturalism, personality and social behavior in cultural contexts, as well as cultural diversity and mental health. Her research team established the framework of immigration-based acculturation and globalisation-based acculturation, and developed the theoretical construct of Global Orientations, which have been empirically extended to 35 countries and regions, significantly contributing to the study of social integration and post-COVID cooperation. She is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities, the Association for Psychological Science, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and the Hong Kong Psychological Society, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE), United Kingdom. She served as President of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, and received various academic awards, including the Outstanding International Psychologist Award conferred by the Division of International Psychology (Division 52) of the American Psychological Association, and the Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme awarded by the Research Grants Council (RGC).

Prof. Benny C.F. CHEUNG elected to College of Fellows of American Society for Precision Engineering

Congratulations to Prof. Benny C. F. CHEUNG, Associate Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, on his election as a member of the College of Fellows of the American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE) during the 39th ASPE Annual Meeting held in Houston, Texas, USA, on 7 November 2024. Prof. Cheung is the first Chinese scholar elected to the ASPE College of Fellows. The prestigious honour recognises his sustained and ongoing advancements in cutting mechanics and surface generation mechanisms, modelling and simulation of ultra-precision machining processes, ultra-precision surface measurement, and the design and development of innovative ultra-precision machining processes and instrumentation. The ASPE strives to advance arts, science, and technology of precision engineering. The Society elects exceptional members to the College of Fellows in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the art and practice of precision engineering through original research, significant innovations, education and outreach, or services to the profession.

PolyU establishes eight JC STEM Labs to drive Hong Kong’s I&T developments

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received a generous donation of over HKD 74 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to establish eight Jockey Club (JC) STEM Labs. Spearheaded by distinguished PolyU scholars selected for the HKSAR Government-initiated Global STEM Professorship Scheme, these JC STEM Labs aspire to advance innovative research in the fields of machine learning and computer vision, healthy built environment, innovative light therapy for eye diseases, quantum technology, 2D quantum materials, earth observations, digital oncology care enhancement and genomics in healthcare. PolyU held an inauguration ceremony for the JC STEM Labs on 13 November 2024. The ceremony was officiated by Prof. TENG Jin-Guang, PolyU President; Prof. WONG Wing-tak, PolyU Deputy President and Provost; and Ms Elsie TSANG, Executive Manager, Charities (Talent & Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, together with eight JC STEM Lab Directors. Five labs were led by scholars at the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), including Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR; Prof. ZHANG Weixiong, Associate Director of PAIR; Prof. LIU Ai-qun, Director of the Research Institute for Quantum Technology (RIQT); Prof. WENG Qihao, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS); and Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV). Press Release: https://polyu.hk/tBGPs   Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3YIQTXR Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/3ADUui4 (subscription required) Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3O4gw0i Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/4hENG4j Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3UMMSQV Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4hGON3s Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3UHTj83 Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/48M4uSR Line Today - https://polyu.me/3YIQTXR CCTV - https://polyu.me/3UM8Ljm China News Service - https://polyu.me/4flH617 ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/4fo71oQ sohu - https://polyu.me/3Z27c3B Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/4euUnmA

Prof. CHAI Yang wins BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize 2024

Congratulations to Prof. CHAI Yang, Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Science and Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, on winning the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize 2024 (Artificial Intelligence and Robotics). Prof. Chai was honoured for his contribution to disruptive in-sensor computing paradigms for artificial vision sensors, which enables information processing directly within the sensors.  The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize is a non-governmental merit-based award that aims at rewarding outstanding scientists and research teams in Hong Kong or research-related institutions set up by Hong Kong higher education institutions and located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, for their significant achievements in scientific and technological innovation and transformation. Each awardee will receive a HK$2 million cash prize. Prof. Chai is currently a Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), and a Member of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI), the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Internet of Things (RIAIoT).   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/3AEvyXz China Daily Hong Kong - https://polyu.me/4hM5Gdg Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/4hGz1Wm Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3Cm13pP Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/40Biay5 Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3YLX4KI Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/3YHSKfB Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/4fHjm7f Orange News - https://polyu.me/40NB9Fw Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/3UMz8Wv Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/4eqXwUL Quamnet - https://polyu.me/4fHz6XX Sina HK - https://polyu.me/4ep9Ft5 Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/40AUycW China News Service - https://polyu.me/48MKTC1 ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/3YG1Mtz Science Net - https://polyu.me/48Pd5nN  

Prof. YUNG Kai-leung vows PolyU’s continuous contributions to China’s space missions

Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), stated that the Nation has trust in Hong Kong and supports Hong Kong to take part in space missions, during his visit to the National Security Exhibition Gallery on 8 November 2024. He said PolyU will continue its space exploration research and contribute to the Nation in the areas like new exploration payloads.  The Gallery, organised by the Committee for Safeguarding National Security, displays precious exhibits, including the lunar soil gathered from the Chang’e-5 mission, which is on exhibit until the end of November 2024.   Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3O1ZvDW Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/48FiJsu Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4fg6Bkv Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3AxmFPz Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/4fB4l72 Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/4elkHiX Orange News - https://polyu.me/3YYqR4r Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/3Azn8AM Xinhua Net - https://polyu.me/3Z8miEN Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3UIuyso ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/3UERatN Macao Daily - https://polyu.me/3ULuEPP qq - https://polyu.me/40xZ7Vo Sohu - https://polyu.me/3YFP6CT

Prof. WU Bo studies data from Zhurong and uncovers evidence of ancient ocean on Mars

A team led by Prof. WU Bo, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science and Associate Head (Research) of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), studied data from China’s Zhurong rover and orbiting satellites and gathered fresh evidence that Mars was home to an ocean billions of years ago. Prof. Wu said these findings not only provide further evidence to support the theory of a Martian ocean but also present, for the first time, a discussion on its probable evolutionary scenario. The findings were recently published in Scientific Reports (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75507-w).   Online coverage: Reuters - https://polyu.me/4hGxwaq Nature - https://polyu.me/3YW7vgd SCMP - https://polyu.me/4hBxDEm DayFR Euro - https://polyu.me/4hH3ZNV NDTV - https://polyu.me/3Cs7WWy Daily Mail - https://polyu.me/4ffDu0F The Strait Times - https://polyu.me/3YGpPID New Scientist - https://polyu.me/4er7uVP Gulf News - https://polyu.me/40JlNlo Guam Pacific Daily News - https://polyu.me/4fD2gaB Saipan Tribune - https://polyu.me/3UGJVkU Khaleej Times - https://polyu.me/4hGuFhK Nation - https://polyu.me/3AzD99U RTE - https://polyu.me/3YZPTyX Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/4eqU10m NetEase - https://polyu.me/4fh2qF0 qq - https://polyu.me/3YHZpq2 Metro Radio - https://polyu.me/4hGM8ql Hong Kong Herald - https://polyu.me/4hHMLzU Xinhua Net - https://polyu.me/3AzmRxK CGTN - https://polyu.me/4fHlFaB People’s Daily - https://polyu.me/3ClTOhM The Star Online - https://polyu.me/4ellTmr The Times of India - https://polyu.me/4emd3F5 Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3ChhDHj Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/3CubF5X (subscription required) Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/4fozwTl China News Service - https://polyu.me/3CjoYX3 ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/4fBxDlP Science Net - https://polyu.me/3CnJBBy Qianlong.com - https://polyu.me/40Dmg8Y NetEase - https://polyu.me/48FzFzc USA News Hub - https://polyu.me/3Z3gHPL The Japan News - https://polyu.me/4frfjfD Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4fBSIwG 亞省新聞網 - https://polyu.me/4fNjPVp

Sharing of Research and Application on Photonic Crystal Fiber Waves by Prof. Philip Russell

Prof. Philip RUSSELL, Scientific Director of the Russell Centre for Advanced Lightwave Science (RCALS), Hangzhou, China, delivered the 30th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Three decades riding the photonic crystal fibre wave” on 5 November 2024 on the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted over 80 participants to join in person and captivated an online viewing audience of over 12,500 from different countries and regions to watch the live broadcast on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili, WeChat, Weibo and YouTube. The lecture commenced with a warm welcome and brief speaker introduction by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR. Prof. Russell kickstarted his presentation by giving a brief overview of the historical development of photonic crystal fibre (PCF), highlighting how advancements in optical fibres, Bragg scattering, photonic bandgaps and drawing towers laid the foundation for PCF breakthroughs. Prof. Russell shared that he proposed in 1991 a glass fibre with a periodic array of microscopic hollow channels running along its length might guide light in novel ways, and many PCFs emerged from drawing towers at universities in subsequent years. Next, he elaborated on the advantages of PCF, explaining how it offers enhanced control over the propagation light, and how this property has enabled valuable applications. He shared his research in light-guiding PCF, hollow core PCF filled with gas, and twisted PCF, reviewing how some of the scientific discoveries made possible by PCF have evolved into real-world applications. Following the presentation was a lively and insightful question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. LU Chao, Director of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and Chair Professor of Fiber Optics. The audience engaged in a productive discussion with Prof. Russell.  Please click here for an online review.

Prof. KEE Chea-su introduces world’s first portable high-definition corneal topographer

Prof. KEE Chea-su, Associate Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Head and Professor of the School of Optometry, was featured on HOY’s TV programme “InnoAction” to introduce the world’s first portable High-Definition Corneal Topographer “K-Shape” developed by his team. The innovation leverages artificial intelligence-driven algorithms to accurately measure corneal power, provide early diagnosis of vision problems such as corneal astigmatism and corneal ectasia, and simplify the diagnosis process, enabling it to be completed in as little as one minute. The innovation was awarded the Prize of the Saudi Arabian Delegation and Gold Medal in the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. Online coverage: HOY TV - https://polyu.me/4edh4LZ (12:30 - 19:03)