News

PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series: Developing a Science of Cities

PAIR cordially invites you to join our Distinguished Lecture on 1 September 2023 (Friday) at 3:00–4:30pm (HK Time) on PolyU campus and via Zoom. The lecture “Developing a Science of Cities” will be delivered by Prof. Michael BATTY, Bartlett Professor of Planning at University College London, Chair of the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, and Fellow in the Alan Turing Institute.   Prof. Batty is amongst the most highly-cited urban planners worldwide, contributing significantly to urban design and planning as well as related technology development with his influential publications, extensive research works and global network engagements. Prof. Batty’s excellence in the field has been recognised nationally and internationally by many awards as well as fellowships. Among the many honours, he received the 2013 Vautrin Lud Prize (as known as the “Nobel” for Geography).   In the lecture, Prof. Batty will share on the rudiments of a science of cities building on ideas in social physics, economics, transportation and a wide array of techniques and tools that are being developed using new methods of computation and big data. He will illustrate how large scale computer models that are now being built for systems of cities. Prof. Bay will also speculate on some of the dilemmas of prediction that dominate the field and discuss the way forward for our urban future.   Don’t miss the chance to learn from distinguished scholar!   Find out more and register at: https://polyu.hk/ZcQjg

RCRE Director featured in Master Insight’s exclusive interview: Waste incineration is not a comprehensive solution to waste management, and Hong Kong needs to promote producer responsibility

Ir Prof. C. S. POON, Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering, Chair Professor of Sustainable Construction Materials, Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality, in an exclusive interview with Master Insight, shared his views on the global efforts on municipal waste management and Hong Kong’s waste incineration strategy in recent years. Prof. Poon pointed out that landfills in Hong Kong will phase out in nearer future, and the new “land mining” technology, which is currently being developed in Europe and mainland China, may be the future development direction for Hong Kong. The technology aims to excavate closed landfills so that the “emptied” landfills are converted back to its original state for use again. He emphasised that incineration is not a comprehensive solution to waste management and recommended the government to promote producer responsibility, introducing a waste levy to encourage recycling in the public. “If there is a waste levy, citisens or enterprises may try to avoid paying so by setting up some recycling networks to reduce the cost of waste disposal, reducing the use of disposable products, and formulating some policies for waste sorting. This is how economic incentives can bring real effects.”   Online coverage: Master Insight - https://polyu.me/47kAxbx (Chinese only)

RI-IWEAR researcher featured in Sing Tao Daily, introducing novel bone graft to expedite bone healing

Dr ZHAO Xin, Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Biomedical Engineering, in an interview with local news Sing Tao Daily, introduced her award-winning research project “Biomimicking Photocrosslinkable Nanocomposite Bone Grafts”. Mirroring the structure of natural bone, the grafts developed by Dr Zhao’s team can load and release bioactive molecules and activate cell-signaling pathways to simultaneously promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis while providing optimal mechanical support to the injured area to expedite the bone healing process. The project has won the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo 2023 Global Innovation Awards in the area of “medical devices and materials. Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3DvtgrC (Chinese only; subscription required)

RILS supports organisation of International Conference on Urban Renewal and Future Urban Development

The International Conference on Urban Renewal and Future Urban Development under Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals was held successfully during 28–30 July in Anji, Zhejiang province, China. The Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) of PolyU was a supporting organisation. Prof. TENG Jin-Guang, President of PolyU and academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a speech and shared his views on future city development. Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS gave an invited presentation on the development of elevated cities in Hong Kong.      Hosted by Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, China Construction Eighth Engineering Division and Dalian University of Technology, the Conference focused on the development of future cities. It was attended by over 200 participants from universities, research institutions and industry, including a number of academicians.   Online coverage: China Youth On Line - https://polyu.me/3OBpbse (Chinese only)

MHRC member awarded funding from Health and Medical Research Fund to conduct study for early detection of postpartum depression

A project “A Mobile Application for Early Detection and Symptoms Trajectories of Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): A Prospective Cohort Validation Study” led by Dr Jessie LIN, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was awarded a grant of about HK$500K from the Health and Medical Research Fund of the Health Bureau, HKSAR.   The project aims to evaluate the validity of using a mobile-based ecological momentary assessment (mEMA) for studying the changes in mood symptoms among pregnant women during and after pregnancy, thus enabling the early identification of postpartum depression and the trajectories of depressive symptoms and associated factors. The study will follow a sample of 120 pregnant women for six months, and assess their mood, sleep, exercise, physical wellbeing and environmental context via a mobile application. Findings of this project will facilitate the future development of effective digital interventions for maternal mental health.

Universities should develop students into innovative leaders, says PolyU President at World University Presidents Forum

PolyU President Prof. TENG Jin-Guang, at the World University Presidents Forum held 30–31 July in Yanqi Lake, Huairou district, Beijing, delivered a keynote speech on universities’ responsibilities in an era of change, sharing PolyU’s exploration and practices in fostering student innovation and advancing interdisciplinary research. Prof. Teng said that PolyU is positioned as an innovative world-class research university, and the University aspires to do well in the fields of engineering and technology and be world leading in distinctive disciplines. PolyU has been at the forefront in distinctive disciplines including design, fashion and textiles, hotel and tourism management, rehabilitation sciences, physiotherapy, optometry, geomatics, building environment and energy engineering, etc.  “Innovation is always on the way. Universities should develop students into innovative leaders, so that research can bring innovation that contributes to the society. Teaching, research, social services, as well as management systems and mechanisms are innovating constantly. For everything we do, we should ask whether it can be done better, using better and newer methods.” He also highlighted the importance university research, introducing the University’s establishment of PAIR in recent years, with an aim of providing solutions to significant societal challenges through interdisciplinary research. Online coverage: Sohu - https://polyu.me/3qifhlX (Chinese only)  

RCSV Member featured in Xinhua Net, sharing on repeated low-level red-light therapy for controlling myopia progression

Prof. He Mingguang, Member of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology in the School of Optometry, in an interview with Xinhua Net, shared his insights on the use of repeated low-level red-light therapy for controlling myopia progression in children and young persons. “The emergence of red light has enabled the light therapy as a new type of treatment for myopia control, in addition to the two conventional methods of drug treatment and optical control,” Prof. He said. He further explained the principles underlying the therapy: the light feeder uses red light with a wavelength of 650 nanometres, to stimulate and improve the blood circulation on the ocular fundus using safe power and effective duration, thereby thickening the choroid, improving oxygen supply to the scleral, and thus, inhibiting the increase of axial length in eyes and controlling the progression of myopia. Online coverage: Xinhua Net - https://polyu.me/44M6OXb (Chinese only) ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/3O9BYAR (Chinese only) Global News - https://polyu.me/476lZvT (Chinese only) People.cn - https://polyu.me/3QcTo25 (Chinese only)  

RISUD Member conferred as RGC Senior Research Fellow

Prof. NI Meng, Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment and Professor in the Department of Building and Real Estate, has been awarded in the Research Grants Council (RGC)’s Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS).   Prof. Ni was conferred the title “RGC Senior Research Fellow”, and awarded funding for his interdisciplinary project which aims to promote sustainable and clean energy generation. The project “Protonic ceramic fuel cells for clean power generation: From new cathode materials to new stack designs” will integrate engineering, chemistry, physics and material science in developing new cathode materials for enhancing the performance of protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) for clean power generation.   The SRFS aims to provide sustained support to exceptionally outstanding researchers at the UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. It provides ten places to scholars from all academic disciplines. The supporting university of each awardee will receive a fellowship grant at around HK$7.8 million for a period of 60 months.   Press release: https://polyu.me/3q5zewd   Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3QbxtIq (Chinese only; subscription required)

RIAM researchers develop 3D-printed high-performance titanium alloys with universities in Australia

Two PolyU researchers from the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), in collaboration with RMIT University and the University of Sydney, have successfully produced a new strong, ductile, and sustainable titanium alloy (α–β Ti-O-Fe alloy) using 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing). The research study, titled “Strong and ductile titanium-oxygen-iron alloys by additive manufacturing”, was recently published in Nature. The new titanium alloy exhibits immense potential for diverse applications, ranging from aerospace and marine engineering to consumer electronics and biomedical devices. Dr CHEN Zibin, Assistant Professor in the ISE Department, and Prof. Keith K.C. CHAN, Associate Director of RIAM, Associate Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Manufacturing Engineering in the ISE Department, are the leading author and the co-author of the study, respectively. The new titanium alloy produced by the research team was made through the use of 3D printing and the incorporation of oxygen and iron. The 3D printing method involved the recycling of off-grade sponge titanium, a waste product in traditional manufacturing, which were converted into powders as raw materials for producing high-performance titanium alloy. Oxygen and iron are inexpensive and abundant elements and can increase the stability and strength of α–β phase titanium alloys. “Our work can facilitate the recycling of more than 10% of the waste generated by the metal alloy production industry. This can significantly lower both material and energy costs for industries, contributing to environmental sustainability and carbon footprint reduction,” said Dr Chen. Read more: https://polyu.me/3OCEJfz   Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3O9ACGl (Chinese only) Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3Kd40u9 (Chinese only)  

MHRC members awarded funding from Quality Education Fund to develop digital physical quotient and learning platform

A three-year project “Digital Physical Quotient and Learning Platform” led by Members of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) including Dr Cynthia LAI, Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS) and Prof. Shamay NG, Associate Head and Professor of RS Department, was awarded a grant of HK$5.9 million under the e-Learning Ancillary Facilities Programme of the Quality Education Fund. Dr Lai and Prof. Ng are the project’s Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator, respectively.   The project aims to develop a digital learning platform for promoting children’s physical and cognitive development. The platform will include motor and cognitive skills developmental assessment and training for children, as well as online learning programmes for children, parents and teachers. The platform will apply multi-media, internet of things (IoT) tools and cloud technologies to enhance the learning and teaching experiences.