Meet Our Academicians

Between 2020 and 2022, Professor Chao ranked in the top 1% of the engineering research field according to Clarivate Analytics. In 2021 and 2022, he was listed among the top 2% of scientists globally in building environment and design in an index compiled by Stanford University. To date, Professor Chao has published over 200 journal and archival papers, as well as more than 100 conference papers and technical reports. He has been a regional editor and editorial board member for several major journals. He has been elected to the Fellowship of seven professional organisations. In addition, Professor Chao is actively involved in entrepreneurship and technology transfer. Since the early 2000s, he has been granted over ten patents and has played a role in establishing several start-ups.  

Owing to his extensive knowledge and expertise, Professor Chao has served as a member of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council. Currently, he serves in various organisations, including the Tripartite Taskforce on Manpower Training (Aviation) of the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Gas Safety Advisory Committee of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Research Strategy Expert Group of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit of the HKSAR, the Assessment Panel of the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme and the Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme, the Council of the Joseph Needham Foundation for Science & Civilisation (Hong Kong), the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Board of Directors of Cyberport, the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Engineering Forum, and the Council of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. He also holds noteworthy positions, such as Honorary Secretary of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences and Vice President of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Alliance. 

Last but not least, with an aim to nurture the next generation of researchers, Professor Chao has been managing numerous research projects and has guided over 26 PhD and 25 research master’s students to graduation. Many of these students now contribute to energy and environmental engineering, with some holding teaching positions at prominent research universities in Hong Kong, Australia, the UK, Singapore and Pakistan. Others have become successful entrepreneurs.