News

BSE Associate Professor Awarded Global Innovation Award at the TechConnect World Conference and Expo 2017

The Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is proud to announce that Dr. Vivien LU’s innovation Multi-functional nano-coating for glass1 has been awarded the Global Innovation Award at the TechConnect World Conference and Expo 2017 (TechConnect World). PolyU is the first and only university awardee from Hong Kong. TechConnect World is one of the largest multi-sector gathering of technology IP, technology ventures, industrial partners, and investors in the world. The purpose of TechConnect World is to bring together the world’s top technology transfer offices, companies, and investment firms to locate the most promising technologies and early stage companies from across the globe. The TechConnect Innovation Awards identify the top 15% of submitted technologies as ranked by the TechConnect Corporate & Investment Partner Committee. Innovation rankings are based on the potential positive impact the submitted technology will have on a specific industry sector. Innovations are submitted from global academic technology transfer offices, early-stage companies, small business innovative research awardees, and government and corporate research laboratories. Congratulations to Dr. LU and her team for this excellent achievement and hope Dr. LU keeps moving onwards and upwards. 1 See Annex for details. Annex Multi-functional nano-coating for glass – Dr. Vivien LU With large amount of outdoor near-infrared light transmitting through windows, drawing indoor temperature rise, many buildings in Hong Kong suffer from high-cost air-conditioning. In recent years, there were also repeated fatal accidents arising from cleaning windows in high-rises. The novel multi-functional transparent nano-coating for glass developed by PolyU researchers can help address the two problems at the same time. The super-hydrophilic self-cleaning coating has thermal insulation and photo-catalysis properties. Besides blocking over 90% of near-infrared light and 99% ultra-violet light, the coating can also break down organic pollutants. The highly cost-efficient coating can be widely used in building glass curtains (including shopping malls, offices), smart homes, aircrafts, etc. It is developed mainly with nanoscale TiO2 and Cesium Tungsten Bronze mixture particles. The two materials are synthesized respectively by low-cost hydrothermal method and high-temperature calcination technique.

New Assistant Professor Announced – Dr. Cao Sunliang

Dr. Cao Sunliang Assistant Professor Department of Building Services Engineering The Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) is pleased to announce that Dr. Cao Sunliang has been appointed the new Assistant Professor of BSE, starting on 20 March 2017. Dr. Cao Sunliang obtained his Doctor of Science (Technology) from the School of Engineering at Aalto University, Finland in 2014. He obtained his master’s degree (MSc) from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland in 2010, while his master’s thesis project was conducted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway. Before joining The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Dr. Cao was successively employed as a research assistant, doctoral researcher and postdoctoral researcher at Aalto University since 2010. In January and February 2016, Dr. Cao also worked as a Visiting Scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (Fraunhofer ISE), Germany, for a joint research between Fraunhofer ISE and Aalto University. Dr. Cao’s main research expertise is in the fields of low-energy and zero-energy buildings, advanced on-site renewable energy systems (solar heating and cooling, PV, ground source heat pump, micro-CHP, and micro-wind turbine), building integrated energy storage solutions, HVAC technologies, and the integrations between buildings, hybrid smart grids and new energy vehicles. He participated in the International Energy Agency (IEA) “Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC) Task 44”/ “Heat Pump Programme (HPP) Annex 38” (Solar and Heat Pump Systems) and the IEA “Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme (EBC) Annex 67” (Energy Flexible Buildings) as a Finnish representative and a Finnish observer, respectively. So far, Dr. Cao has published more than 20 scientific publications, including 13 high-IF (impact factor) international SCI journal papers.

BSE Visited by Khon Kaen University on 6 March 2017

The Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to report that a visit group from Khon Kaen University of Thailand had paid a visit to the Department on 6 March 2017. The Head of Department, Prof. Asif Usmani, warmly welcomed and gave a brief introduction of the Department to the visit group.   The group had demonstrated a strong interest in BSE's programmes and raised meaningful questions regarding course structure and career prospect in the building services engineering industry.

The HKIE Control, Automation & Instrumentation Division Student Paper Competition 2016/17

The Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that our BSE student has been awarded in Student Paper Competition 2016/17 organized by The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Control, Automation & Instrumentation Division.   Mr. Li Wai Lok, our current MEng student under the supervision of Dr. Chan Ming Yin, won the Champion with his project titled “A Thermal Comfort Study of Bed-based Task/Ambient Air-conditioning System”,   The award presentation will be held in the Annual Symposium of the Division on 17 March 2017.   The Student Paper Competition is organized by the Control, Automation & Instrumentation Division with the aim to promote the Control, Automation & Instrumentation technologies and to encourage young / potential engineers and technologists to join them.   BSE would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Li’s on his academic success and achievement on winning the award.

The HKIE Safety Specialist Committee Students Project Competition 2016

The Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that two of our BSE students have been awarded in the HKIE-SSC Students Project Competition 2016, which is organized by Safety Specialist Committee (SSC) of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). Dr. LIU Jing won the Runner-up (MTR Award) in the Doctorate Degree Group with her project titled “A Study on Fires & Associated Provisions in Open Kitchens in Small Residential Units of Tall Buildings”. Mr. CHEUNG Ka-ming, MSc student, won the Champion (Towngas OSH Award) in the Master Degree Group with his project titled “A Study on the Evacuation Strategies for Deep Underground Subway Station”. Both students were supervised by Professor W.K. CHOW. Professor CHOW was invited to the Annual Dinner cum Award Presentation of the HKIE/SSC - Students Project Competition 2016 held on 13 January 2017 at YMCA, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.     Prof. CHOW representing the winning students to receive awards The aims of the Student Projects Competition are to promote safety and health in the field of engineering and science regime, and to provide an open and competitive platform for engineering students to demonstrate their engineering capabilities and share their learning process in the aspects of safety and health.

BSE Mentorship Programme 2016-17 Kick-off Meeting on 3 February 2017

The Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held its Mentorship Programme 2016-17 Kick-off Meeting on 3 February 2017. A total of 47 mentees and 14 mentors enthusiastically participated in the event. The Head of Department, Prof. Asif Usmani extended a warm welcome to all mentors (practitioners from the BSE industry) and mentees (BSE students) at the beginning of the meeting. To begin with, a concise introduction of the programme was given by Prof. C.M. Mak, the leader of the BSE Mentorship Programme.   The Mentorship Programme has been established since 2002 in the BSE Department. The programme aims to allow each full-time BSE student to have the opportunity to learn from a mentor, who is a mature, wise and sensitive practitioner. Mentoring is a structured relationship between the mentee and the mentor, such mentor-mentee relationship is expected to last until the graduation of the mentee. The kick-off meeting gave a good chance for mentees and mentors to have face-to-face interaction. Certainly, the regular and constant contacts between the two parties were also encouraged in future.   The objectives for such interaction are: • to foster a caring and supportive relationship • to encourage the mentee to develop to his/her fullest potential • to help the mentee develop his/her vision and aspiration for the future • to help groom the mentee to be a "preferred graduate"   To express gratitude for the mentors’ support to the Mentorship Programme, Prof. Usmani presented the souvenirs and certificates of appreciation to the mentors as recognition of their contribution and efforts to the programme. Immediately after presenting the certificates, a lively sharing session was held between the mentors and mentees. The mentors shared their valuable learning and working experience. The mentees showed strong interest in knowing more about the challenges that they might encounter in the work place.   BSE would like to take this opportunity to thank all parties for their contribution to the Mentorship Programme and their support in the kick-off meeting.

Mainland High School Students Demonstrated Strong Interests to BSE on 16 January 2017

A group of students from several high schools in Guangzhou visited the Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 16 January 2017. The high schools included The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University (華南師範大學附屬中學), Guangdong Experimental High School (廣東實驗中學), Guangzhou Zhixin High School (廣州市執信中學) and Zhuhai No. 1 High School (珠海市第一中學). Around 80 students and teachers joined the visit.   The Associate Head of BSE, Prof. S.K. Tang, warmly welcomed and showed a brief introduction of the Department to the visit group, after which BSE’s programmes were presented by the Associate Professor of BSE, Dr. Vivien Lu. Prof. Tang and Dr. Lu introducing BSE to the high school students The students were very attentive. They showed a strong interest in BSE's undergraduate programmes, raised meaningful questions regarding course structure and career prospect in the building services engineering industry in the Q&A session. Students from Mainland High Schools in Guangzhou BSE and Mainland high school representatives exchanged souvenirs to express thanks. Exchanging Souvenirs The visit group further explored BSE in a guided laboratory tour led by our technical officer, Mr. Michael FUNG. Experimental set-ups and laboratory facilities were demonstrated. Mainland students actively participating in the guided laboratory tour BSE believes that the visit has successfully deepened the Mainland students’ understanding about BSE and its academic programmes. We look forward to seeing them again in the near future.

Outstanding Student Award 2016, Department of Building Services Engineering 3 January 2017

The Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that BSE student Miss Li Xinchang has been selected to receive the Outstanding Student Award 2016, BSE under the PolyU’s Outstanding Students Award Scheme. The Scheme carries the objectives to motivate students to excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits while they are studying at PolyU, and to help cultivate a campus culture and communicate a public image favourable to the development of all-round graduates. The Outstanding Student Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held on 21 February 2017 at the Chiang Chen Studio Theatre. Miss Li will be awarded a certificate and a cash prize of $2,000 from Professor Timothy W. Tong, President of PolyU. The Outstanding Student Awards are given annually to full-time final-year students in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement, strong leadership ability, active involvement in extra-curricular activities, substantial community service experience and exposure, and good personal qualities. Miss Li is the awardee of the Departmental Entry Scholarship for Non-Local Students and the Dean’s Honours List 2013-15 in recognition of her excellent academic achievement during her studies in PolyU. She leads in various academic projects, competitions and campus-wise student development programmes. She also takes profound interests in theatre and performing arts: has co-directed and performed in multiple productions from PolyU English Drama Club, Students’ Union Choir and Illini Student Musicals (during her exchange study in UIUC). Besides her personal development, she also shows care to the community by actively participating in voluntary services for ethnic minorities, PolyU freshmen, non-local and exchange students. She was featured in PolyU SPECIAL Portfolio of Student Achievements 2015 for her extensive engagement in ethics and moral education activities. BSE would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Miss Li on her academic success and achievement on winning the award.

Happy new year greetings from BSE Department Head on 1 January 2017

Dear BSE colleagues, students and friends, I would like to wish you a very happy new year! I was told that that it is a tradition for the head of the department to offer a message to all members of the department for the new year. It reminded me of the Christmas message that the British Queen delivers in the UK every year in a time-honoured tradition, so I sort of liked the idea! Humour aside, I feel that this BSE tradition offers me an excellent opportunity to write to all of you as members of one large and happy family in an informal and personal manner. It has been over four months since I joined BSE and took on the responsibility of leading it to greater heights. It is a tribute to all staff and students of department and the able leadership of Prof Chow and the previous management team that this department has been very successful in creating a brand which is highly valued and admired as any of our alumni, who form the backbone of the BSE profession in Hong Kong, will tell you. However, success does not allow us to rest on our laurels, in fact it is quite the opposite, we must strive ever harder to maintain and further improve our standing once we have set high standards. It requires constant reflection and reevaluation of our priorities, strengths and weaknesses. This is especially true in the context of our uncertain and changing world where emerging social, environmental, demographic and infrastructural challenges will require innovative solutions through the genesis and exploitation of new and disruptive ideas and technologies. It is therefore a serious responsibility to provide an exciting vision, astute direction and effective leadership that will build substantially upon our previous success. This will not be an easy task given the highly competitive university sector of Hong Kong and the growing competition from our regional and international peers. We will not just have to work harder but think harder and work smarter in order to deliver the highest quality teaching and research in our field. I and my management team (Prof Tang, Prof Du and Dr Lee) would be looking for your active assistance and cooperation so we can all work together as one team and lead BSE to greater future success in the year 2017 and beyond. While you will no doubt work hard, please also try and maintain a better work-life balance this year for a happy, prosperous and successful 2017. Best wishes, Asif Usmani Head of Department

BSE Assistant Professor and His Team Members Were Granted the Faculty Award for Outstanding Performance/Achievement 2015/16

The Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) was pleased to announce that Dr. Chan Ming Yin and his team members were granted the Faculty Award for Outstanding Performance/Achievement 2015/16 in recognition of his team’s outstanding performance and achievement in Services for their project titled “Maintain Thermal Comfort Using Box Fans in an Energy Saving Project”.   The project was developed by Dr. Chan Ming Yin, Ir Vincent Luk and Ir Jeffrey Wong of Facilities Management Office. This was a self-initiated project done by Dr. Chan Ming Yin for a better and greener campus. He made use of his expertise in thermal environment to formulate an investigation on the subject. The project was about the use of box fans to maintain thermal comfort in lecture theatres while a higher indoor temperature setting was adopted. According to the Award System of the University, in order to motivate staff members to excel in their work performance and give recognition to those with distinguished achievements, academic/teaching/clinical staff in Faculties (or academic units not affiliated with the Faculties) with outstanding performance/achievement will receive the Faculty/School Awards for Outstanding Performance/Achievement, which will be conducted annually. The Department would like to congratulate Dr. Chan and his team members for their accomplishments.