Prof. Wang Zuankai elected as HKAES Fellow 2023

Congratulations to Prof. Wang Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) on election as 2023 Fellows of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES), in recognition of his distinguished achievement and commitment to serving society. Prof. Wang, also Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is a distinguished academic and expert in nature-inspired engineering and surface science. Prof. Wang has received numerous accolades, including the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship (2023), BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (2022), Green Tech Award (2021), and Xplorer Prize (2020). His work has also been acknowledged by the Guinness World Records and his innovations have won the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva Gold Medal with Congratulations of Jury and Gold Medal, as well as the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2023 (Engineering and Technology). HKAES is a professional engineering organisation in Hong Kong dedicated to serving Hong Kong, Mainland China and the region, and to establishing Hong Kong as an international leader in the development and application of science, engineering and technology for the benefit of society. HKAES Fellows are from various engineering disciplines and are recognised leaders in their professions with distinguished achievements in engineering sciences and their applications.  

ME Alumni Mentorship Dinner 2024

The PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering Alumni Mentorship Dinner for the 2023/24 academic year was successfully held on January 26, 2024. The event saw an impressive turnout, with over 180 participants including approximately 90 alumni, distinguished guests, ME academic and teaching staff, and around 90 students from the graduating classes of BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Product Analysis and Engineering Design. The evening was truly memorable and meaningful. The Alumni Mentorship Dinner is a cherished tradition within the ME community, aimed at fostering strong connections between alumni and the Department. More importantly, it provides a valuable platform for our final-year students to gain practical experience and receive professional advice from alumni mentors. During the welcoming remarks, Prof. Su Zhongqing, the Head of the Department, expressed deep gratitude to all the alumni and industrial friends for their unwavering support throughout the years. This year's dinner was particularly special, as it marked the resumption of the event after a hiatus of several years. Following the opening remarks, we had the privilege of hearing from one of our esteemed senior alumni, Ir Dr Angus HW Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of Aerovision Technology Limited and Chairman of the ME Departmental Advisory Committee. Dr. Cheung shared his personal journey as an aviation engineering expert, imparting valuable insights and guidance to prospective graduates on planning for their future. Dr Lawrence CK Poon, Head of Innovative Technology and CEO Advisor at the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, was recognized as the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement of PolyU ME, as well as the PolyU Graduate School Outstanding Research Postgraduate Alumni Award. He shared his inspiring success story and showcased the limitless possibilities that come with being a mechanical engineer. Lastly, Dr Yau Wing Kwong, JP, the President of the Mechanical and Marine Engineering Alumni Association, delivered words of wisdom and encouragement to all the final-year students, leaving them with a valuable motto to guide them on their journey. Ir Winky KW Lui, the Treasurer of the Mechanical and Marine Engineering Alumni Association (MMEAA), introduced how to join MMEAA. The Association has an extensive alumni network, with graduates spanning 85 years. It is this strong alumni support that has enabled generations of students to thrive. Throughout the dinner, alumni from various industries generously shared their valuable experiences and provided guidance to our final-year students, helping them prepare for their future careers upon graduation. The evening concluded with a toast and a lucky draw, led by the Head, Associate Heads, Scheme and Programme Leaders, to express our gratitude to the guests. The dinner ended on a joyful note, and we eagerly look forward to the next year's event.   For more photos of the event, please click HERE.  

Dr Yiyuan Zhang received Microfluidic Award 2023

Dr Zhang Yiyuan, Research Assistant Professor, received the Microfluidic Award 2023 in the category of New PhD researchers for her outstanding research output entitled “Magnetic-actuated ‘capillary container’ for versatile three-dimensional fluid interfaces manipulation” (published in Science Advances, 2021). The Award, sponsored by Microblox & Fluigent, is to honor outstanding works on microfluidics that not only involve cutting-edge academic innovation but also have a high prospect of industrial transformation and application. The award-winning announcement can be found at https://25870031.hs-sites-eu1.com/winners-of-the-2023-microfluidics-award.

ME Retreat in Jan 2024

The Department successfully hosted its staff retreat in Macau on January 4th and 5th, 2024. The retreat commenced with an overview by the Head, Prof. Su Zhongqing, who provided the latest updates on the Department. The primary focus of the retreat was to address the challenges of curriculum reform and discuss strategies for departmental development. During the retreat, we also took the opportunity to pay tribute to Dr Wong Wai On, who will be retiring soon. Prof. Su expressed gratitude for Dr Wong's dedication and contributions to the department. Before delving into discussions, Dr Choy Yat Sze, Chairlady of the Publicity Committee, reported on the efforts made to promote local undergraduate recruitment and presented new initiatives that are being pursued. Additionally, Dr Yao Haimin, Associate Head (Teaching and Learning), introduced the newly proposed undergraduate programme. Dr Henry Chu, Scheme Leader of BEng programme, further explained similar programmes offered by a number of overseas universities. Following these presentations, Dr Tang, the Associate Head (Research), led a discussion on the restructuring of three disciplines and four research areas. Colleagues were also updated on the mock Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and the preparations for RAE 2026. Prof. Mai Yiu Wing, Distinguished Chair Professor of Composites Science and Engineering, shared his mock RAE experience and recommendations. Another topic that sparked heated discussions was the admission policy for research postgraduate students and the allocation of departmental places. In the evening, three promoted colleagues, Dr Henry Chu, Dr Jiao Zengbao, and Dr Curtis Ng, hosted a lavish dinner for all the colleagues. Delicious food and wine were served, creating a thoroughly enjoyable evening for everyone. The following day, the meeting continued, and Dr Curtis Ng, as the Secretary of the Space Allocation Committee, addressed the space issue and provided an update on the progress of lab renovations. Towards the end of the retreat, Prof. Su led an open forum that stimulated a vibrant discussion among the staff members. The responses and feedback received during the forum will offer valuable insights for the future development of the Department. With over 30 staff members in attendance, the retreat was deemed insightful and constructive, setting a promising tone for the year ahead.   For more photos of the event, please click HERE.  

Prof. Cheng Li honoured with First-Class Award from Chinese Society of Vibration Engineering

The research project led by Prof. CHENG Li, Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been honoured with the First-Class Award of the Chinese Society of Vibration Engineering Science and Technology Awards 2023.  Prof. CHENG’s awarded project is titled “Acoustic black holes and applications to vibration and noise control in equipment engineering.” Vibration and noise are major concerns and challenging problems in numerous engineering applications. His research team has conducted a series of work that has systematically unveiled the fundamental physical principles of slow wave phenomena in vibrating structures. They have also established a comprehensive analysis and design methodology, and devised new structures suitable for diverse vibration and noise control applications in equipment engineering. The project entails collaboration with Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Nanjing University of Science and Technology. The Chinese Society of Vibration Engineering Science and Technology Awards aim to promote innovative technology the field of vibration engineering. A total of four First-Class Awards and 12 Second-Class Awards were granted to the universities and institutions in 2023. 

Dr Zhang Xiao receives national outstanding impact award

Congratulations to Dr Zhang Xiao, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, for winning the “2023 China Rising Stars in Science and Technology – Outstanding Impact Award” (中国新锐科技人物卓越影响奖). The results of this year’s selection were announced at the China New Technology Forum held in Zhejiang on 14 December 2023. Launched by ScholarSet in 2015, the programme elects winners of the “2023 China Top Ten Rising Stars in Science and Technology Award” and other special prizes, based on public and experts’ votes, to recognise outstanding young scholars in China for their remarkable achievements in scientific research and promoting the transformation and popularisation of scientific research outcomes. It is very encouraging to see that the young scientist from the Department was acclaimed by the Nation to further develop scientific research in cutting-edge technologies and made remarkable contributions to the community. Online coverage: 2023中国十大新锐科技人物评选结果揭晓！_大学_中心_华西 (sohu.com) 2023中国十大新锐科技人物评选结果揭晓！_腾讯新闻 (qq.com)  

ME Graduates win Special Prize and Gold Medal at 3rd Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Award Hong Kong

This year, PolyU has achieved outstanding results at the 3rd Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Award Hong Kong. Our ME graduates received prestigious recognition, including the Special Prize from Technopol Group and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury. Among the recipients were Lam Yuen Yik (Graduate 2021, BEng (Hons) in Product Analysis and Engineering Design) and Yau Pang Yeung (Graduate 2021, BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering), who, along with three other student/graduates, established Libpet Tech Limited as a PolyU startup. Together, they are dedicated to developing innovative products by translating research excellence into real-world solutions that benefit society. The award-winning project is called AIoT Empowered All-Terrain Personal Vehicle for People with Disabilities. The invention incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) technology and cutting-edge features to overcome the challenge of gaps, stairs, sand, and grass. An anti-collision system and precise remote control make it convenient and safe for users to operate. The Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong (AEII) is the Asia’s annual exhibition cum competition exclusively devoted to innovations and inventions from Asia to be hosted in Hong Kong, by partnering with Palexpo, Geneva, organizer of the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. The 3rd Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Award Hong Kong was held on 7 to 8 Dec 2023 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. (https://www.inventions-asia.hk/index.html) Learn more about Libpet and its project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clVC4BkDdRs  

Dr David NAVARRO-ALARCON appointed IHERD Fellow

Dr David Navarro-Alarcon, Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been appointed as a Fellow in the Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD) at PolyU. The fellowship will span a period of three years, starting from December 1, 2023, and ending on November 30, 2026. As an IHERD Fellow, Dr Navarro-Alarcon will actively participate in the planning and execution of education research and development projects. He will also share his expertise and experiences in these endeavors with his colleagues. Moreover, he will demonstrate a commitment to fostering an engaging learning environment for students and contribute to the cultivation of a vibrant teaching and learning culture across the campus. Dr Navarro-Alarcon will have the opportunity to lead or co-lead various university-wide initiatives in educational research and development, and he will also be involved in IHERD think-tanks aimed at policy development in teaching and learning to support the strategic goals of the University. Given Dr. Navarro-Alarcon's extensive experience and enthusiasm for teaching and learning, we are confident that he will inspire the campus community with a revitalizing spirit for education. His contributions will have a positive impact on students' learning experiences and outcomes.

ME Research Projects acclaimed HKIOA Acoustics Awards 2023

Two research projects by ME researchers have been chosen as the winners of the HKIOA (The Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics) Acoustics Awards 2023 for their outstanding performance and contribution to the acoustics industry.         Product / Material Invention Category - Bronze Award Awardee:         Dr Randolph LEUNG Chi Kin, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Awarded Project Name: Novel Technology for Quantification of Tyre/Road Noise for Urban Noise Management Project Description: Road traffic noise is receiving increased attention in contemporary urbanized cities such as Hong Kong, for its wide-ranging detrimental effects on health, society, and the economy. With the rising popularity of EVs, tyre/road noise is recognized as the dominant contributor to traffic noise pollution. An advancement has been developed in enhancing the quantification capability of widely-used close-proximity (CPX) technology for measuring tyre/road noise on urban roads. This development enables real-time measurement of the sound power level of tyre/road noise, which represents an absolute metric for noise sources and is less susceptible to variations in the measurement environment in urbanized cities.         Other Excellence Category - Merits Award & Student Award Awardee: Dr ARIF Muhammad Irsalan, PhD Graduate, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Awarded Project Name: Design and Development of a Novel Low Noise Airfoil / Wind Turbine Blade for Environmental Noise Reduction Project Description: The World Health Organization recognizing noise pollution as the second largest environmental contributor to health problems. Environmental noise can originate from diverse engineering applications, including the production of green energy, the building services industry, and aviation. The objective of the project was to develop an innovative approach to designing low- noise airfoils, capable of significantly reducing flow noise power while maintaining the original aerodynamic performance during operation. The outcomes of the project present a readily implementable concept that advances quiet technology for contemporary low-speed flow- mechanical systems, such as wind and tidal turbines, wings for small-to-medium-sized aircraft, and propellers for air taxis.   It is very encouraging to see that ME researcher and young alumnus from the Department were acclaimed by the Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics to further develop scientific research in cutting-edge technologies and made remarkable contributions to the community.

The 9th ME Research Presentation Competition

The 9th PolyU Mechanical Engineering Research Presentation Competition was successfully held on November 28, 2023. This annual event provides research students with a platform to showcase their project results and share knowledge with the PolyU community. Dr Li Mengying, the Research Student Liaison Officer, introduced the competition and emphasized the importance of academic pitching skills. The aim is to train research students to effectively communicate their academic ideas to both peers and non-experts. Dr Tang Hui, the Associate Head (Research), addressed the opening of this 9th annual competition, noting its significance in providing invaluable opportunities for ME research students to showcase their talents. This year, fifteen academics from three main discipline areas (Control, Acoustics and Dynamics; Materials and Solid Mechanics; Thermofluids and Combustion) were invited to form the panel of judges. As one of the panel members, Prof. Wang Zuankai, the Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), emphasized that presentations serve as a means to convey ideas, concepts, and visions to others. He expressed his wish for students to deliver their talks effectively, logically, and authentically. Each of the twenty research student participants delivered a high-impact three-minute presentation. Through their professional and engaging presentations, they successfully bridged the gap between academic and technical terminology and the layman's understanding. Many participants showcased outstanding academic pitching skills. Prof. Wang Liqiu encouraged students to brainstorm precise project titles and deliver vivid presentations. Prof. Zhang Dan, another Chair Professor who recently joined the Department, appreciated the students' dedication and passion for research and was deeply impressed by the wide spectrum of research areas they covered and their ability to integrate theories into practical applications. Following the oral presentations, participants engaged with the audience during the research posters exhibition. The displayed posters not only highlighted their research project results but also provided an opportunity for participants to convey their ideas and interact with viewers and professionals. The event was attended by other research students and PolyU staff members, who also had the chance to vote for the People's Choice award. The participants actively sought support from the large audience in securing votes. Prof. Su Zhongqing, the Head of the Department, concluded the competition by quoting Einstein, stating, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." Congratulations to all the participants on their fabulous presentations and excellent research work!   Champion: Mr ZHANG Wanglinhan (Supervisor: Prof. SU Zhongqing) Title: Medical AI-Assisted Wearable Hydrogel Microneedle Array for Ultrasound Continuous Glucose Monitoring 1st Runner-Up: Mr LI Weisong (Supervisor: Dr ZHANG Xiao) Title: Electrochemical CO2 capture 2nd Runner-Up: Miss DENG Nan (Supervisor: Dr LI Mengying) Title: The life of photons in atmosphere and in water  2nd Runner-Up: Mr WU Lizhen (Supervisor: Dr AN Liang) Title: Bubble Management in Water-splitting Reactors for Green Hydrogen Production Merit: Miss HU Xiaodan (Supervisor: Dr MA Yuan) Title: A new bionic sweating finger for tuning friction actively Merit: Mr HAN Yu (Supervisor: Dr CHENG Song) Title: On the experimental characterization and modeling of trans-/super-critical spray combustion People’s Choice: Miss BAI Yuran (Supervisor: Dr AN Liang) Title: Operation of Fuel Cells under Extreme Conditions