Staff | #WeArePolyU

Explore the perspectives of our former and current staff members, from newcomers to dedicated long-serving faculty, about their work and research projects at PolyU. Some of them are even PolyU alumni who returned to work for their alma mater!

Prof. Li Xiangdong

“No matter what we do, our activity inevitably has impacts on the environment, and these impacts are intensified in an urban setting. Pollution is an example.”

“Energy crisis is a global problem. I’m interested in the conversion between light and electricity – to facilitate the efficient use of solar power which is a clean, sustainable energy source."

Prof. Raymond Wong

Smart buildings have the potential to use energy flexibly according to how much power is available from the power grid. “During peak hours or when the grid foresees a decrease in power supply, these buildings would cut back on energy usage smartly without disrupting essential services.”

Ir Prof. Wang Shengwei

PolyU has nurtured generations of research talents over the years. Check out the video to learn about the story of Prof. Yung Kai-leung, Chair Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Mr Ko Sui-man, Senior Scientific Officer of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, which demonstrates how two generations of PolyU researchers and alumni share the same sense of belonging and devotion to the University in their pursuit of research excellence.

Prof. Yung Kai-leung & Mr Ko Sui-man

Prof. Hector Tsang

“As professor of occupational therapy, I believe I was among the first researchers conducting scientific investigation on the psychological effects of the mind body exercise known as The Eight Section Brocades.”

“Chinese calligraphy entails planning and design, just like when we are doing research in data science. We have to research extensively and think every detail through as we design a framework.”

Prof. Cao Jiannong

Kenneth Lo

Service-Learning is often a life-changing experience for PolyU students and staff.

Watch the first episode of our Service-Learning series and be inspired by the story of Kenneth Lo who was a PolyU Year 1 undergraduate student when…

“In the future, it is our objective to make Hong Kong the hub of urban informatics. The HKSAR government is also committed to transfer Hong Kong into a world-class smart city.”

Prof. John Shi

What inspired you to conduct research related to renewable energy?

“As a scientist, I hope to make a positive impact on the world through the deployment of new technology.

Dr Wang Peng

“Hong Kong has its unique advantage to be an international design hub. Only 30 minutes away from Shenzhen where many of the world’s leading AI companies and production base are located, we have untapped resources and opportunities in our backyard.”

Prof. Lee Kun-pyo

Ir Prof. H.C. Man

“Although Hong Kong has shifted to a service-based economy, manufacturing engineering is vital to foster our role as a regional hub for innovation and technology development.”

“Energy is the world’s number one grand challenge. Smart conversion and storage of energy are crucial.”

Prof. Chen Guohua

Ir Prof. Albert Chan

“Infrastructure and real estate have been the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s economy, and construction workers are the unsung heroes silently contributing to our growth story.”

“The key to good mental health is social interaction, but this can be difficult for patients and older people with cognitive problems.”

Prof. David Shum

“Renewable energy is crucial for sustainable development; and solar energy, in particular, is abundant and environmentally friendly. But so far, the sun just provides 2% of the world’s electricity.”

Prof. Li Gang

As an internationally renowned figure in linguistics, what caused you to shift your research interest in the past decade to study the relationship between language and cognitive decline brought about by ageing?

“My friend, Charles (the late Nobel laureate in physics Prof. Charles Kao), succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in his later years. AD typically onsets decades earlier than it can be detected clinically, so by the time he received medical treatment, it was…

Prof. William Wang

Ir Prof. Yung Kai-leung

“Deep space exploration instruments have the most stringent requirements in terms of accuracy, efficiency, quality and stability.”

“After the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), we have been committed to developing research in the area of medical diagnosis, with the aim of equipping frontline healthcare providers with advanced tools for on-site diagnosis.”

Prof. Terence Lau

Prof. Johan Hoorn

What makes you keep thinking out of the box?

“I’m always fascinated with exploring innovative ideas and making the world a better place.”

How far would you go to advance education and research?

“Across the world, apparently! Not only did my research involve issues of worldwide significance, but it also took me to places where quality education and innovative research can be…

Dr Walid Saffar

What would you like to achieve as a scientist?

“I want to investigate not only fundamental science, but also niche applications of our research that can benefit our society.”

Prof. Feng Yan

What motivated you to develop your research in fire safety engineering in Hong Kong?

“The high-density living environment in this city makes fire risk potentially great, so I hope to make a meaningful contribution to the safety and resilience of structures here.”

Prof. Asif Usmani

Prof. Chao Lu

What does the word “research” mean to you?

“Research is a journey of exploration. While you start out trying to find something, in the end you may discover something else.”

How can a lamp help enhance family relationship?

“To address the issue of teenagers overusing mobile devices, this interactive lamp can divert their attention and invite the whole family to play interactive games together.”

Mr Benny Leong, Mr Brian Lee & Dr Kenny Chow

Dr Anne Schluter

What excited you about teaching at PolyU?

“The linguistic ecology here! As a scholar of multilingualism, I am fascinated by our multilingual students, in the ways they weave different languages together during the course of a day and, at times, even…

Why did you choose to be an educator instead of a hotelier?

“I hope to make impact on people’s lives. What could be more rewarding than watching my students grow professionally and become global leaders in the hotel industry?"

Prof. Kaye Chon