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Media interview: PolyU's AI chatbot received the Global Education Award for transforming the learning experience

An interdisciplinary team led by Dr Rodney Chu Wai-chi, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), achieved remarkable success at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2024. Their project, "Engage, Empower, Excel: PolyU's Smart Campus Innovation," performed outstandingly and won multiple awards, including the Gold Award in the Smart Omnichannel Campus category and the Global Education Award. This achievement highlighted PolyU's commitment to innovation in educational technology and established it as the first Hong Kong institution to receive the overall award. The project features the development of a generative AI chatbot, Virtual Assistant TIMS (VAT), which provides students with accessible learning resources. VAT responds to student inquiries anytime and anywhere. Its Dialogue Podcast System utilises advanced natural language processing technology to transform challenging academic content into engaging conversational podcasts to improve students’ learning efficiency.  In a recent media interview, Dr Chu and Dr Pauli Lai Po-yan, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of PolyU, discussed how this technology significantly reduces teachers' administrative workloads and enhances student engagement. There is also the Artificial Intelligence Review Assessment System (AIReAS) that offers immediate feedback and feedforward on assignments, enabling students to engage in cycles of continuous improvement that align with their progress.  Students have been positively received by the integration of AI learning tools, and report that it effectively boosts their motivation and fosters a relaxed environment for asking questions. This innovation not only enhances the overall quality of education but also has a transformative impact on the future learning environment.  

PolyU scholar elected as a Fellow of the Cognitive Science Society in recognition of interdisciplinary research impact

Academics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have received recognition in the international scientific community for their outstanding research capabilities. Prof. LI Ping, Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology & Chair Professor of Neurolinguistics and Bilingual Studies, has been elected as a Fellow of the Cognitive Science Society (CSS). The presentation ceremony is scheduled to take place at the CSS Annual Meeting in San Francisco this summer.  Prof. LI’s research is focused on the neurocognitive and computational bases of language acquisition, bilingualism, and reading comprehension. He uses cognitive neuroscience approaches and emerging technologies to study the neuroplasticity and individual differences in both children and adults, aiming at understanding the relationships among language, culture, technology, and the brain. To learn more about his recent research achievements, you can read, for example: PolyU research finds improving AI large language models helps better align with human brain activity PolyU research reveals significant effects of instructors onscreen during video classes in aiding student learning The Cognitive Science Society is a non-profit professional organisation established in 1979 with the mission to promote Cognitive Science as a discipline and to foster scientific integration among researchers in various areas of study, including Artificial Intelligence, Linguistics, Anthropology, Psychology, Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Education. Fellows of the Cognitive Science Society are elected by the Cognitive Science Society Governing Board, to recognise individuals whose research has exhibited sustained excellence and had sustained impact on the Cognitive Science community.  (Source: Faculty of Humanities)  

16 PolyU projects receive support from Health and Medical Research Fund, recognising the University’s interdisciplinary research achievements

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to promoting interdisciplinary research and transforming scientific achievements into impactful inventions to meet the rapidly changing demands in areas such as healthcare. 16 PolyU projects have received support from the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) in its latest funding exercise, with a total funding amount of HK$14.3 million. These projects cover various research areas related to health technology and biomedical engineering, showcasing PolyU’s interdisciplinary proficiency in medical and healthcare research. The funded projects span multiple disciplines, including nursing care, rehabilitation sciences, health technology and informatics, optometry, biomedical engineering, and biology and chemical technology. They have developed innovative solutions to address the ever-evolving global healthcare challenges, aiming not only to benefit individuals’ physical health but also to take into account the overall well-being of patients, medical professionals and caregivers. In the field of nursing, PolyU’s funded projects are diverse. Research topics include music-with-movement training for people with cognitive frailty, mountain craft training to improve the psychological well-being of children with cancer, mindfulness-based intervention for caregivers of people with dementia, as well as robot-mediated interactive intervention for the elderly living alone. Health technology and informatics research focuses on improving disease diagnosis and management by integrating advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The projects cover various areas, including thyroid dysfunctions, the transmission of foodborne antimicrobial resistance in Hong Kong, type 2 diabetes, early-pregnancy prediction of preeclampsia and an AI-empowered pulmonary perfusion imaging technique for lung cancer. In rehabilitation sciences, the funded projects explore topics including diabetic management, online exercise programmes for older people with chronic low back pain, addressing insomnia in the older population, and specific dance intervention to reduce the risk of falls in older adults. The research outcomes intend to help overcome the pressing healthcare challenges brought on by a rapidly ageing population. Projects in other health science and engineering areas also encompass a wide range of pioneering research and invention, involving drug development for biofilm infections, biosensors for dysphagia screening, myopia control for school children and more. For more details about the 16 PolyU projects funded by HMRF, please refer to the Appendix. Established by the Health Bureau in 2011, the HMRF aims to build research capacity and to encourage, facilitate and support health and medical research to inform health policies, improve population health, strengthen the health system, enhance healthcare practices, advance the standard and quality of care, and promote clinical excellence, through the generation and application of evidence-based scientific knowledge in health and medicine. In addition to health and medical research, the HMRF also provides support for health promotion projects, research infrastructure and research capacity building initiatives.  

PolyU develops low-carbon marine self-healing concrete to achieve carbon neutrality with supports from Green Tech Fund

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing green technology to help tackle the pressing need for global sustainability. A team of interdisciplinary experts from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has developeda low-carbon marine self-healing concrete, which holds promising potential for marine construction materials and coastal engineering applications.Contributing to carbon neutrality,this initiative has received approximately HK$6.03 million from the HKSAR Government’s Green Tech Fund for a duration of 24 months. The project “Marine self-healing concrete with biomineralisation-enhanced construction waste for long-term decarbonisation” is led by Prof. LI Xiangdong, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology, and Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development at PolyU. The team members are Prof. Chi Sun POON, Head of Department, Chair Professor of Sustainable Construction Materials, and Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering, Prof. YU Tao and Prof. LENG Zhen, with Dr SUN Xiaohao, Research Assistant Professor as the co-principal investigator. Due to the scarcity of natural aggregate, scientists have been seeking effective alternatives.This project aims to design and develop low-carbon marine self-healing concrete by incorporating biomineralisation-enhanced recycled aggregates made from waste concrete. By employing biomineralisation technology, the marine carbon-capturing bacteria will utilise carbon dioxide (CO2) to accelerate carbonisation and improve the performance ofrecycled aggregates. This approach helps reduce CO2 emissions and facilitates the recycling of construction waste, offering a broad application in marine construction materials and coastal engineering. In addition, this microbial concrete structure possesses self-healing properties that enhance its durability, providing a significant advantage in achieving long-term decarbonisation and sustainability. Field testing and lifecycle assessments will be conducted to ensure that the new concrete meets the stringent standards of durability and marine ecosystem quality. Anticipated results include comprehensive design guidelines for marine self-healing concrete, optimised mixing techniques, and valuable insights into the influence and environmental performances of low-carbon marine self-healing concrete on marine ecology. Prof. Li said, “Through the innovative use of biomineralisation and recycled aggregates in marine concrete, this project drives progress in the production of marine construction materials and  pioneers new solutions in sustainable construction to accelerate the development of related industries. Our goal is also to address global environmental challenges such as reducing carbon emissions from construction waste, and promoting its recycling to alleviate landfill pressures. This approach conserves land resources and mitigates environmental hazards, making a contribution towards achieving carbon neutrality and the long-term sustainable development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.” The Green Tech Fund was established in 2020 to provide better and more focused funding support to research and development projects which help Hong Kong decarbonise and enhance environmental protection.

Hong Kong SAR Space Science and Utilization Conference opens a new era of space collaboration

Hong Kong SAR Space Science and Utilization Conference was held at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 14 January. Hosted by the Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CSU), the event aims to introduce the prospects of China's space science missions and the progress and achievements of scientific experiments on China's space station, encouraging researchers from Hong Kong and Macau to participate. Over 140 attendees, including government officials and representatives, joined the event. Prof. Zuankai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, highlighted the university's commitment to space research through talent cultivation, project support, and international collaboration. Experts from the CSU discussed advancements and planning in space station science, covering topics like biotechnology, materials research, space exploration, and interdisciplinary experiments. The audience engaged actively and asked questions about research participation and promoting space science education for the next generation. The delegation also visited PolyU Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) and the Aviation Services Research Centre. Prof. WU Bo, Associate Director of RCDSE, and Prof. ZHAO Qi, Management Committee member of RCDSE, had fruitful discussions, aiming to foster future collaborations and contribute to global space science technology.

PolyU researchers develop breakthrough method for self-stimulated ejection of freezing droplets, unlocking cost-effective applications in de-icing

Water droplets under freezing conditions do not spontaneously detach from surfaces as they do at room temperature due to stronger droplet-surface interaction and lack of an energy transformation pathway. Since accumulated droplets or ice have to be removed manually or with mechanical equipment, which is costly and inefficient, preventing droplet accretion on surfaces is both scientifically intriguing and practically important. Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have invented a ground-breaking self-powered mechanism of freezing droplet ejection that allows droplets to shoot themselves away, paving the way for cost-efficient and promising technological applications. Published in Nature Chemical Engineering as the cover feature for its last December issue, the research project “Freezing droplet ejection by spring-like elastic pillars” is led by Prof. Zuankai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering and Chair Professor of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Prof. Haimin YAO, Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering. First co-authors include Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Huanhuan ZHANG, PhD student Mr Wei ZHANG, Research Assistant Professor Dr Yuankai JIN, and PhD student Mr Chenyang WU. The discovery of the self-ejection phenomenon in freezing droplets was inspired by a fungus capable of shooting its spores away through osmosis-induced volume expansion. Noting that a similar volume expansion occurs when water droplet is freezing, the research team has replicated the self-shooting mechanism found in the fungi and developed a structured elastic surface (SES) with spring-like pillars and wetting contrast that allows for the spontaneous ejection of freezing water droplets. The SES structure is designed to accelerate the ejection velocity and enlarge the kinetic energy transformation of freezing droplets. When the freezing droplet undergoes volume expansion, it compresses the pillar of SES. The volume expansion work is first converted to and stored as elastic energy in the pillar within tens of seconds, and then to be transformed into the droplet’s kinetic energy rapidly within milliseconds. This thousandfold reduction in timescales leads to sufficient kinetic energy to drive freezing droplet ejection. The simple SES structure, after parameter design, is effective in ejecting freezing droplets without external energy input and even against the forces of wind and gravity. It can be applied to aircraft, wind blades or cable lines to prevent hazards caused by ice accretion. Dr Huanhuan Zhang said, “It is exciting that we, for the first time, introduce a self-powered ice removal concept that will offer a wide range of innovative solutions. We will continuously improve the design of SES, allowing it to be manufactured at various scales and at a low cost to meet societal needs.” Furthermore, the theoretical model developed in the research elucidates the factors determining the successful onset of the freezing droplet ejection phenomenon, with scalable design exhibiting potential practicability in various fields. Prof. Wang envisions, “This nature-inspired research paved the way for numerous impactful applications. We believe that the freezing droplet ejection, as a prototype, could stimulate the development of self-powered concepts and methods for a wide range of purposes such as de-icing, energy harvesting and soft robotic applications.” Specifically, droplet ejection induced by volume expansion enhances understanding of multi-phase freezing dynamics for anti-icing applications. Prof. Yao remarked,“Our research demonstrates a strategy to efficiently harness and utilise the volume expansion work of freezing droplets to generate ballistic motion. This could subsequently expand the application of energy conversion phenomena, and inspire the development of droplet-based energy generators and soft robotic catapults.”  

PolyU-nurtured startups shine at CES 2025 winning two CES Innovation Awards

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has made a remarkable impact at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, held from 7 to 10 January in Las Vegas, US, showcasing ten PolyU startups and their groundbreaking innovations in healthcare, smart cities, artificial intelligence, and Internet of things (IoT)sensing. As part of Hong Kong’s largest-ever delegation at the event and the City’s only university representative, PolyU’s participation manifested its commitment to translating cutting-edge research into impactful social solutions. Supported and nurtured by PolyVentures, PolyU’s signature start-up ecosystem, these outstanding PolyU startups are at the forefront of technological innovation and societal impact. The Show provided an international platform for them to connect and interact with global business leaders, industry experts and investors, seeking collaboration opportunities and promoting international business development. This year, two innovations from PolyU startups received CES 2025 Innovation Awards in the Accessibility and AgeTech category. The award-winning Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton, a multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation designed for stroke patients,has been developed by a research team led by Dr Xiaoling HU, Associate Professor of PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineeringand Co-founder of PolyU startup Thecon Technology (HK) Limited. This pioneering device aids stroke patients in improving motor function and walking ability. Another winning project “Seekr”, a compact wearable device for elderly and visually impaired individuals was developed by PolyU startup Vidi Labs Limited.It provides real-time, intuitive services for elderly, acting as their loyal companion and helping them achieve independence in life. This marks the second consecutive year that PolyU has wonthe awards at CES, underscoring the University’sleadership in innovative healthcare solutions. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) remarked, “PolyU is committed to empowering its startups by connecting them with global innovation stakeholders and research institutions through participation in international exhibitions and competitions. These platforms not only facilitate valuable networking opportunities, but also accelerate the startups’ growth and broaden their international horizons. I am glad to see our startups shine on the CES stage, impressing global visitors with their innovations and their determination to changing the world for the benefit of mankind.” Organised by the Consumer Technology Association, CES is recognised as the largest and most influential consumer electronics technology exhibition in the world, attracting over 4,500 global exhibitors. It aims to demonstrate the integration of cutting-edge electronic technology with modern living. The PolyU startups participating at CES 2025 are listed below. To learn more about their innovations and inventions, please refer to the Appendix.   FeaturedProduct PolyU Start-up Principal Investigator(s) Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton (CES 2025 Innovation Award) Thecon Technology (HK) Limited Dr Xiaoling HU Associate Professor,Department of Biomedical Engineering, PolyU; Co-founder, Thecon Technology (HK) Limited Seekr (CES 2025 Innovation Award) Vidi Labs Limited Mr Turzo BOSE Director, Vidi Labs Limited Stretchable and Washable Textile-based Devices Easenory Technology Limited Dr Yingsi WU Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, PolyU; Founder and Director of Easenory Technology Limited GOOD Vision/Wellsees: Portable Corneal Topographer     GOOD Vision Technologies Co., Limited Prof. Chea-su KEE Head and Professor, School of Optometry, PolyU; Deputy Director of CEVR; Co-founder, GOOD Vision Technologies Co., Limited/Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd. Integrated Eye Tracking System   Guardian Glow Limited Prof. Tommy Minchen WEI Professor,Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering;Director of the Colour Imaging and Metaverse Research Centre, PolyU;Vice President of Technology, Guardian Glow Limited IMU+ Collection Immune Materials Limited Prof.Chris Kwan-yu LO Professor, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, PolyU; Co-founder, Immune Materials Limited Prof. Chi-waiKAN Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles, PolyU; Co-founder, Immune Materials Limited LungRT Pro: Advanced Radiotherapy Support System InsightRT Limited Prof. Jing CAI Headand Professor,Department of Health Technology and Informatics, PolyU;Technical advisor,InsightRT Limited allcareAI Smart Anti-Infection Mobile Dry Toilet PREN Limited Mr Phil WOO PolyU alumnus from the Faculty of Humanities;Co-founder, PREN Limited IoT-based Sensing System for Construction-induced Vibration SHAKE Limited Dr Qiuhan MENG Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, PolyU;Director,SHAKE Limited im-Studio Vizzle Limited Mr Ingo LAU Chief Executive Officer, Vizzle Limited  

18 PolyU research projects awarded RGC Collaborative Research Fund and Research Impact Fund, highlighting leadership in impactful interdisciplinary innovations

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing impactful research through its robust interdisciplinary collaborations, pioneering innovative solutions that benefit the world. In the latest 2024/25 grants from the Research Grants Council (RGC), 18 PolyU projects have received approximately HK$91.76 million in funding from the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) and Research Impact Fund (RIF), the highest amount among the UGC-funded universities. PolyU also outperformed its counterparts in both the number of funded projects and total CRF funding received. To uphold its motto “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind,” PolyU researchers have transformed novel research outcomes into practical solutions that address global challenges. The funded research projects showcase PolyU’s diverse research capabilities across various fields that impact every aspect of human life, including innovative building and construction technologies, environmental sustainability, biochemistry, drug discovery, cancer treatment, sustainable aviation fuel engineering, photonics, artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, optical technology and visual care. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) said, “PolyU leads the way in fostering a robust culture of knowledge transfer and real-world applications, leveraging its academic expertise, dedicated researchers, state-of-the-art facilities,and interdisciplinary collaborations. These achievements not only demonstrate PolyU’s research excellence but also highlight its strong partnerships with government bureaux and industry sectors to promote translation of research outcomes into practical solutions. The successes in securing RGC funds further illustrate PolyU’s strength in basic research and its capacity to lead innovative projects with significant societal impact, delivering valuable benefits.” PolyU has received funding for 14 projects from CRF, totaling approximately HK$71.36 million. Among these, eight projects are supported by the Collaborative Research Project Grant with a total grant value of about HK$44.4 million. Three projects under the Collaborative Research Equipment Grant have obtained a total grant value of aboutHK$15.62 million. Three projects from the Young Collaborative Research Grant have collectively been awarded about HK$11.34 million to support early-stage academic staff member on their research. The successful projects are listed below.   Project Title Project Coordinator Collaborative Research Project Grant Unraveling the Mechanisms of Targeted Therapy Resistance as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prof. LEE Kin-wah Terence Associate Head and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (in collaboration with HKU) Data Storage with Proteins Prof. YAO Zhongping Associate Head and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (in collaboration with CUHK and HKUST) Integrating Machine Learning, Behavioral Analysis and Multimodal Neuroimaging Techniques to Investigate the Comorbidity of Specific Learning Disabilities in Hong Kong Prof. SIOK Wai Ting Head and Professor, Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies (in collaboration with HKU and EdUHK) Seeing like Dragonflies: Optical-fiber-based Artificial Compound Eyes for 3D Vision Prof. ZHANG Xuming Associate Head and Professor, Department of Applied Physics (in collaboration with HKU) Next-generation AI-XR Empowered Surgical Planning and Intraoperative Guidance System via Effective Fusion of Empirical Knowledge, Human Interaction, and Machine Inference Prof. QIN Jing Harry Professor, School of Nursing (in collaboration with CUHK and HKU) Optimising Spinal Curvature Corrective Outcomes in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Investigation into Spinal Flexibility, Biomechanical Behavior and Predictive Modeling Prof. YIP Yiu-wan Joanne Associate Dean (Industrial Partnership) and Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles (in collaboration with CUHK and HKU) Ultrahigh-resolution Optical Vector Analysis for Broadband Photonic Devices Prof. YU Changyuan Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (in collaboration with CityU and CUHK) Advancing Compound Hazard Resilience and Adaptation for Urban Building Community in a Changing Climate Dr DONG You Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (in collaboration with CityU, HKUST and HKU) Collaborative Research Equipment Grant A Multifunctional Time-space-energy-helicity Resolved Transient Absorption Microscopy Imaging System for Advanced Materials and Devices Research Dr LI Mingjie Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Physics (in collaboration with CityU, CUHK, HKUST, HKU) State-of-the-art Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation Enhanced Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy Prof. YUNG Ka Fu Associate Dean, Faculty of Science; and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (in collaboration with CityU, HKBU, CUHK, HKUST, HKU and EdUHK) Development of a Colorimetric and Photometric Characterisation Platform for Binocular VR/AR Headsets Prof. WEI Minchen Tommy Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (in collaboration with CityU and HKUST) Young Collaborative Research Grant Organic/two-dimensional Materials Heterostructure based Memristor Array for Flexible Retinomorphic System Dr HAN Suting Associate Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (in collaboration with CityU and HKU) Design of Ultrastrong, Ductile, and Thermally Stable Nanocrystalline Dual-phase Alloys via Coherent Nano-honeycomb Architectures Dr JIAO Zengbao Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering (in collaboration with CityU and HKUST) AI-empowered Wind Field Simulation for Sustainable Urban Microclimate Design Dr YOU Ruoyu Assistant Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (in collaboration with HKU) In addition, four PolyU projects have secured aroundHK$20.4 million in funding from RIF. These impactful projects cover a wide spectrum of research areas, including sustainable aviation fuel engineering, cancer immunotherapy, modular integrated 3D-printed concrete construction (MI3DC), and optimaldesign in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets. The projects are listed below.   Project Title Project Coordinator Project Details WASTESto WINGS– Constructing aHigh-throughputSustainableAviationFuelResearchPlatform toFacilitateZeroCarbonAirTravel in Hong Kong Dr Shao-Yuan LEU Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering   In promoting net-zero-carbon air travel in the future, this project aims to establish the first and foremost platform for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) study in Asia. It focuses on the production, testing and validation of key SAF precursors from various organic waste biomass in Hong Kong. The team will collaborate with the Environmental Protection Department, Sinopec and Cathay Pacific to advance the research outcomes. TargetingAutophagy toPotentiateCancerImmunotherapy – aNovelCombinationStrategy Prof. ZHAO Yanxiang Associate Head and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology   Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients face limited therapeutic options, with targeted therapeutics showing limited survival benefits. This project aims to develop antibody-autotide-conjugates that tether the patented autotides to immune checkpoint inhibitors such as the anti-PD-L1 antibody, enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy for HCC. Development ofModularIntegrated 3D-printedConcreteConstruction (MI3DC) Prof. POON Chi-sun Chair Professor and Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering   The construction industry ismovingtoward digitalisation and automation, with 3D concreate printing emerging as an innovativeconstruction solution.Thisproject seeks to develop MI3DC technology for structural elements, integrating a 3D-printed permanent framework with conventionally cast concrete.   CreatingDelightfulExperience in Virtual Reality and Augmented RealityHeadset throughOptimalOpticalDesign Prof. WEI Minchen Tommy Professor,Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering   To enhance the VRandAR experience for users with diverse visual conditions,thisproject aims to createanadvanced lens design for delightful experiences.An interdisciplinary team of experts in optometry, ophthalmology, display technology and optics will develop new methods for designing prescription lens inserts tailored for VR/AR headsets. Established by RGC, theCRFsupports multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary projects to encourage research groups to engage in creative and high-quality cross-disciplinary/cross-institutional projects. Meanwhile, the RIF encourages academics to harness the potential of their research to deliver benefits to the wider community, spurring impactful and translational research projects.

Diversity fosters innovative solutions for climate change challenges

Originally from the Philippines, Dr Elizaldy Acebu Maboloc, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has lived in Hong Kong for nine years. His work has included coral restoration programmes, culture production and the impacts of climate change on ecologically and commercially important organisms. Besides his research, Dr Maboloc is an avid SCUBA diver and a hiker. Dr Maboloc was drawn to PolyU due to its world-class training and research programs, which address both scientific and societal challenges. He appreciates PolyU's commitment to fundamental research and practical applications, particularly in marine ecology and sustainable food production. Concerned about food shortages resulting from climate change, Dr Maboloc conducts research at the Marine Ecology & Aquaculture Lab (MEAL), focusing on sustainable solutions such as the larval culture of pearl oysters and sea urchins, and exploring other local invertebrates for mass production, conservation efforts and eco-nutrition study.  He is also a member of a regional network that monitors microplastics in oysters and mussels across Asia, emphasising the importance of understanding pollution's impact on marine life. Dr Maboloc values PolyU's diverse support in funding and facilities, which are crucial for achieving his research goals. He believes embracing diverse perspectives fosters creativity and innovation, leading to sustainable solutions for complex environmental challenges.

PolyU scholars innovations celebrated at CES 2025

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is shining at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025) held in Las Vegas from 7 to 10 January 2025, showcasing its latest innovations in healthcare, smart cities, AI, and IoT sensing. This global powerful tech event provides an opportunity to connect with technology prospectors for potential collaborations, successfully transforming excellent research into impactful social solutions. PolyU unveils the future of technology alongside global participants at CES. One of our highlights in CES 2025 is a groundbreaking multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation, developed by a research team led by Dr Xiaoling HU, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU. It has been recognised as an Honouree in the CES 2025 Innovation Awards. The invention named “Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton,” has been awarded for its effectiveness in helping stroke patients improve motor function and walking ability. PolyU has continued its excellence by winning the Accessibility & Aging Tech award for the second consecutive year, making it the only university in Hong Kong to achieve this recognition. The CES Innovation Awards programme recognises outstanding design and engineering across 33 consumer technology categories, with an elite panel of industry judges evaluating submissions based on innovation, engineering, functionality, aesthetics, and design. Visit us at CES 2025 to see how PolyU is shaping the future of health technology. Eureka Park, Booth #63001, Level 1, Hall G, Venetian Expo Global Pavilion, Booth #50832, Level 2, Hall A-D, Venetian Expo   For more information: PolyU multimodal robot for post-stroke ankle-foot rehabilitation wins CES 2025 Innovation Award