News

Prof. Hai Guo Appointed as Chairman of the Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management in Hong Kong SAR

Congratulations to Prof. Hai Guo, Professor of CEE, on his appointment as the new Chairman of the Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management (ACC-AQSM) in Hong Kong SAR, starting in 2024. The ACC-AQSM, launched on 5 December 2014, brings together leading research universities from Australia and China in the field of air quality science and management. Over the past decade, the center has played a pivotal role in advancing air quality improvements in China, providing essential support for air pollution control efforts. The annual meeting of the ACC-AQSM was successfully held at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences in Beijing on 31 October 2024 with Prof. Tao Wang, Chair Professor of CEE, Prof. Hai Guo and Dr Yu Wang, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, attended the meeting. Both Prof. Wang and Prof. Guo shared their insights on urban and regional air pollution during discussions on new goals and future research directions. With the intensification of air pollution control efforts, the challenges facing China's atmospheric environment have become increasingly complex. As the new Chairman of the ACC-AQSM in the new phase, Prof. Guo will serve Hong Kong members wholeheartedly and promote in-depth cooperation in the field of atmospheric environmental protection. It is hoped that Australia and China will continue to strengthen their collaboration, expand the center's reach, attract more international research talent, and jointly tackle future challenges. For more information about the meeting, please visit http://www.accaqsm.com/the-2024-annual-meeting-of-the-australia-china-centre-for-air-quality-science-and-management-was-hosted-by-the-chinese-research-academy-of-environmental-sciences.  

CEE One-Day Seminar Innovating Towards a Sustainable Built Environment

The CEE One-Day Seminar – Innovating Towards a Sustainable Built Environment was successfully held on 23 November 2024, attracting over 280 participants, including alumni, industry partners and students, joining the day filled with ground-breaking ideas of innovative and sustainable approaches to shape a greener future for the built environment. The seminar was graced by keynoted speaker Ir Ricky Lau, alongside with nine distinguished speakers, including Ir Dr Johnny Cheuk, Ir Prof. Kwok Fai Chung, Ir Dr Goman Ho, Ir Hailong Liu, Ir Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Dr Alessandro Stocchino, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Mr Eddie Tse and Ir Ricky Wong. Our keynote speaker, Ir Ricky Lau, delivered an enlightening speech, highlighting the pivotal role of fostering innovation in creating a carbon neutral environment as well as underscoring the importance of embracing both sustainability and development. A special Thank You to all our esteemed speakers for sharing the expertise and insights on their respective fields, all aligned with the common goal of paving the way for a more sustainable future. Congratulations to Ir Ricky Wong for being honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award of CEE 2024, recognizing his exceptional contributions to both the department and the field of civil engineering. The seminar also featured the award presentation ceremonies to the winners of the Asia-Pacific Design for Safety Award Competition organized by the Research Centre for Design for Safety of CEE, and the CEE Entry Scholarships Awardees who attained HKDSE with flying colours.  We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all speakers and participants for contributing to a dynamic and insightful seminar, igniting a spark towards a greener and more sustainable future. We look forward to a closer collaboration among the government, industry and academia to overcome challenges ahead and continue the journey towards a thriving and safe future.  

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Halogen Chemistry and Implications for Air Quality and Climate

Dr Qian-Jie CHEN delivered a seminar with the topic of “Halogen Chemistry and Implications for Air Quality and Climate” on 13 November 2024. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division. Find the full version of the webinar in the below link: https://youtu.be/bhcfeqdvjGo.  

Ir Dr Vincent Ho Elected as Secretary General of Asia Pacific Occupational Safety and Health Organisation

Congratulations to 𝐈𝐫 𝐃𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐨, CEE Professor of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health, for being elected as the 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 of the 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐎). Dr Ho's unanimous election by all members underscores the trust and confidence placed in his leadership abilities. As a former President of the Institution of Occupation and Health (IOSH), he is set to assume the role of Secretary General at the upcoming APOSHO conference in 2025, where he will continue to drive positive change and advancements in the field. APOSHO is an organisation with a mission to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among communities in the Asia-Pacific region and to enhance occupational safety and health through the exchange of information and views among competent people, including top-level managers of member organisations.  We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Ho on this well-deserved achievement and we look forward to witnessing his continuous commitment to the future of occupational safety and health.  For more information about APOSHO and its mission, please visit their official website at https://www.aposho.org/.  

CEE Members Received “Best Oral Presentation Award” in The 2024 Annual Workshop of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory on Environmental Pollution and Control

Congratulations to Mr Beining Zhou from Prof. Hai Guo’s group, Miss Qian Yang from Prof. Xiangdong Li’s group and Mr Yuchen Wu from Dr Yi Jiang’s group, on receiving the “Best Oral Presentation Award” in the 2024 Annual Workshop of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory on Environmental Pollution and Control. The conference was organized by the School of Marine Science of Sun Yat-sen University to promote the construction of ecological civilization, the cooperation and conversation of environmental technology in the Greater Bay Area. Congratulations again to our talented students. We look forward to their groundbreaking research and continuous endeavour in fostering a better future for the living environment.  

30th Congregation in 2024

The 30th Congregation Ceremony held on 17 November 2024 (Sunday) was a resounding success! The ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Mr Tony Yau, JP, Director of Highways, who attended as the Guest of Honour. His inspiring speech and word of wisdom will undoubtedly encourage the graduates as they embark on their next chapter. Celebrating this momentous occasion together were Ir Dr Goman Ho, President of Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association (CEEAA) and Ir Kenny Lok, Vice President of CEEAA. Their warm blessings and support to the students will serve as a beacon of light, guiding these young minds towards a future filled with promise and success. To the graduating class of 2024, may your journey ahead be filled with courage, passion, and endless opportunities. May you continue to grow, learn, and make a positive impact on the world around you. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement, and may your futures be as bright as the smiles on your faces!  

CEE UG Field Trip cum BBQ Gathering

To foster stronger connections between our undergraduate students and academic staff, we organized a meaningful student event, the CEE Field Study and BBQ Dinner Gathering on 8 November 2024 (Friday) at Tai Mei Tuk. We are delighted to share that approximately 70 participants, including CEE undergraduate students, academic staff, and general staff, came together to embrace diverse cultures. We had the privilege of having Dr Alessandro Stocchino, Associate Professor of CEE, and Mr Hoi Yung Lin, Instructor of CEE, lead an insightful field study at Plover Cove Reservoir Dam and Lung Mei Beach. Mr Lin offered an engaging overview of the reservoir's history and development, while Dr Stocchino explained the creation and diverse habitats of Hong Kong's first artificial swimming beach. This experience provided our students with valuable real-world learning in both civil and environmental engineering. The evening culminated in a fantastic BBQ dinner, where participants had the chance to socialize, network, and forge new connections. It was heart-warming to see everyone enjoying a delicious meal together. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants for their enthusiastic involvement. Your contributions made this event truly special. It was a wonderful evening, and we look forward to organizing more events like this in the future to continue building our community.  

CEE Shines in Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024

In a recent announcement by the ShanghaiRanking, CEE continues to soar in global rankings, marking significant progress in three pivotal research areas. The latest Shanghai Ranking league table reveals CEE's exceptional achievements in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2024. CEE has secured remarkable positions globally, clinching the 2nd spot in Civil Engineering, 2nd in Transportation Science and Technology, and 22nd in Environmental Science and Engineering. These rankings not only highlight our international standing but also reaffirm our leading position in Hong Kong. This success underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence in education and research within these disciplines. The GRAS uses a range of objective academic indicators and third-party data to evaluate the performance of over 5,000 world universities across various criteria, including research output, research influence, international collaboration, research quality, and international academic awards. Among the listed 1,900 universities hailing from 104 countries and regions, CEE stands out for its consistent dedication to advancing knowledge and research in the field.  Heartfelt congratulations to all CEE members whose persistent efforts have propelled us to these commendable positions.  The full version of GRAS 2024 can be found here:  https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/gras/2024   

CEE Departmental Visit - Tsang Pik Shan (Sung Lan) Secondary School (6 Nov)

A group of 35 students from Tsang Pik Shan (Sung Lan) Secondary School visited CEE on 6 November 2024 (Wednesday). Dr Siwei Liu, Assistant Professor of CEE, introduced the admission information of BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development as well as the recent developments of the civil engineering industry to the students.  After the programme talk, the students visited our Noise and Safety Laboratory, where they got a clear picture on both noise reduction and road safety through the demonstration of laboratory equipment and experiments. To arouse the students’ concerns on environmental sustainability, an Air Purifier Model DIY Workshop was arranged to the group. The students had the chance to build their own air purifiers and found the visit informative and fruitful.  

Establishment of Research Centre for Nature-based Urban Infrastructure Solutions

We are thrilled to announce the establishment of Research Centre for Nature-Based Urban Infrastructure Solutions (NBUIS) in September 2024. Led by Prof. Yuhong Wang, Professor of CEE, NBUIS is dedicated to advancing sustainable practices in urban development by integrating ecological principles with innovative urban infrastructure design. The centre comprises experts from various universities, including eight professors from CEE. Through a collaborative approach that involves academic institutions, industry partners, and local communities, the multidisciplinary team at the center is committed to crafting effective solutions that tackle the challenges posed by contemporary urbanization to fortify urban resilience, enhance environmental quality, and nurture community well-being. Moving forward, NBUIS and CEE will continue to pursue high-caliber research to develop cutting-edge nature-based infrastructure solutions, fostering a more sustainable and equitable future for urban residents. Stay tuned for further updates on the transformative work being carried out by this pioneering research center! Visit the below link for the detailed insights and impactful mission of NBUIS: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/cee/~nbuis/index.html