News

PAIR scholars honoured by National Natural Science Foundation of China

Dr HUANG Xinyan, Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Associate Professor in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, has been awarded the 2023 Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macao) by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), to support his research. Three research projects led by Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space and Chair Professor of Geomatics, and Prof. XU Zhao, Management Committee Member of the RISE, respectively, have been selected as NSFC Key Programmes.   Online coverage (Chinese only): Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/45WNVBt Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3PDxDHQ

RCMI Member explains sleep and insomnia from Chinese medicine perspective

Dr Jerry YEUNG, Management Committee Member of the Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing (SN), was featured in RTHK’s TV programme “Healthpedia”, sharing traditional Chinese medicine perspective on sleep and insomnia. Dr Yeung mentioned that Chinese medicine believes in the connection between emotions and organs, and five organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney) are linked to five basic human emotions (anger, joy, anxiety, sorrow, melancholy, fright); insomnia is most closely linked to the heart, and is also related to the liver, spleen and kidney. Dr Yeung also explained the relationship between dreaming and insomnia, and introduced the traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulae, acupuncture and acupoint massage that can effectively relieve insomnia.   Online review (Chinese only): RTHK – First Episode on 5 September 2023: https://polyu.me/3wGUIjF (03:42 - 18:00)  RTHK – Second Episode on 12 September 2023: https://polyu.me/3wGUIjF (03:42 - 18:00)

PolyU research team develops liquid metal microelectrodes for implantable bioelectronics

The interdisciplinary research team led by Prof. ZHENG Zijian, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute of Smart Energy (RISE), Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices, and Professor in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, has developed liquid metal microelectrodes (μLMEs) which are suitable for skin-attachable and implantable electronic devices. The pioneering study “Wafer-patterned, permeable, and stretchable liquid metal microelectrodes for implantable bioelectronics with chronic biocompatibility”, was published in Science Advances. Wearable or implantable bio-electronic technology requires unique properties that are different from conventional electronics. The developed μLMEs are stretchable, soft and permeable, and can therefore be worn or implanted without causing discomfort or harm to the users. The conductive component of the μLMEs was made from eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn), a liquid metal alloy which allows the μLMEs to retain high conductivity under strain. Read the research article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg8602 Read the press release: https://polyu.hk/tPoIF   Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3Ex3gwH Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3Z9YFKh Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3sOOe2F Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3Ljk8ea Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3Pb62fT Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3LnClHh Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/48aex3q Line Today - https://polyu.me/3Phe0nT Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/46by1CP

PolyU-developed smart car defense system showcases at Smart & Secure City Hall

The Smart Defense System for Connected Vehicle and Smartphone Security developed by Prof. Daniel LUO Xiapu, Leading Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Professor of the Department of Computing, and his team, is now being showcased at Hong Kong Productivity Council’s newly launched Smart & Secure City Hall. At the launching ceremony on 4 September, Prof. Luo shared that cyberattacks on cars has surged by 225% from 2018 to 2021; as intelligent automobile network gains prevalence in recent years, it provides hackers with an attack surface that is more convenient and hidden. The smart defense system by the team can provide real-time defense with prompt responses, and state-aware detection capable of detecting various attacks.    Online coverage: Southcn.com - https://polyu.me/3P7o4zw (Chinese only) Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/3L7gOm9 (Chinese only) IT Pro - https://polyu.me/45YyckU (Chinese only)

PolyU’s satellite remote sensing research drives Hong Kong’s smart city development

In a local media interview, Prof. Charles WONG, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE), Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), and Professor in the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), and Dr XU Bing, Assistant Professor in the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering (AAE), shared PolyU’s recent signing of MoU with the Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group for enhanced collaboration on remote sensing and aerospace research to facilitate smart city development. The conventional optical remote sensing and synthetic aperture radar observation data obtained in the future will be of high-definition, with an image resolution of less than 1 meter. PolyU was also granted the right to name the satellite which will be launched next year, and will be able to operate and use the satellite at that time.   Online coverage (Chinese only): Ming Pao Daily News -https://polyu.me/48476L1 Hong Kong Economic Times -https://polyu.me/3R8KtPM(subscription required) Sing Tao Daily -https://polyu.me/45TS4pt Headline Daily -https://polyu.me/3RatM6m Wen Wei Po -https://polyu.me/3Pzj6xb;https://polyu.me/47XZ4U2 Ta Kung Pao -https://polyu.me/44LF8Ba Hong Kong Commercial Daily -https://polyu.me/483PNdk

Prof. Michael BATTY from University College London delivers distinguished lecture on science of cities

The PAIR Distinguished Lecture delivered by Prof. Michael BATTY, Bartlett Professor of Planning at University College London, was successfully held on 1 September 2023. The lecture was moved completely online given special arrangements under Super Tyhoon Saola. The webinar attracted over 300 participants from more than 30 countries and regions. It was also broadcasted live on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili and Weibo, and viewed by over 11,000 online audience in total. In the lecture, Prof. Batty began by giving an overview of the development of science of cities in the last 50 years. Drawing on the system approach and complex theory, he shared how urban science involves top-down and bottom-up thinking, and is a systematic, complex and evolving discipline built on knowledge in social physics, economics, transportation and many scientific methods that yield theories. He illustrated this with city morphology examples from the UK and the Greater Bay Areas (GBA) generated by large-scale computer models. He concluded the lecture by speculating on some of the challenges with fractal geometry, size and scaling, networks, and building models in the field and suggesting the way forward for the discipline. A question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research and Prof. John SHI Wenzhong, Director of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute, followed. The audience was inspired to have a fruitful exchange with Prof. Batty. Please click here for an online review.

Excel x Impact is now available online!

Check out the latest issue of Excel x Impact for articles featuring the interdisciplinary research and recent developments at PAIR: Research on sports science and technology to make sports safe, interesting and rewarding for all https://polyu.hk/DuokJ PAIR Conference to promote interdisciplinary research excellence https://polyu.hk/lklOw Competition staged in search of excellent future public housing designs https://polyu.hk/szpTm Fostering urban sustainability through innovative technologies https://polyu.hk/aYifG PolyU research finds baicalein a promising glaucoma treatment https://polyu.hk/CdueM A record 19.31% power-conversion efficiency for organic solar cells https://polyu.hk/VotGL Establishment of China Harbour-PolyU Joint Research Centre for Land Development https://polyu.hk/JrmyO PolyU and China Resources collaborate on carbon neutral new materials research https://polyu.hk/RbLYf PolyU impactful startups to commercialise medical devices for societal benefit https://polyu.hk/vSSWA UGC delegation visits PolyU’s innovative teaching facilities https://polyu.hk/fJPsM  

PAIR Newsletter ∙ Issue 7 ∙ June 2023 is now available online!

We are thrilled to announce the release of the 7th issue of the PAIR Newsletter, offering a comprehensive overview of the latest interdisciplinary research at PAIR. Enjoy reading our "Feature Stories" covering perspectives on interdisciplinary success, additive manufacturing and smart city development, and getting to know our latest happenings in "Research Achievements", "People", and "News & Events" sections! We welcome you to share captivating articles or valuable links from our Newsletter with your friends and colleagues. Your sharing of the latest news in science and technology and PAIR impact stories will spread valuable knowledge, spur inspiration and keep PAIR motivated for interdisciplinary excellence! Happy reading! https://polyu.hk/eHzRS

PAIR researcher led-startups on Forbes Asia 100 to Watch

Three PolyU-backed startups have been listed in this year’s Forbes Asia 100 to Watch. The three startups are Eieling Technology and Telefield Medical Imaging, both co-founded by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of the Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), and Fleming MedLab, which was co-founded by Dr Kelvin HEUNG Ho-lam, Member of the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE).   Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/47UCKL4 Chinese Press - https://polyu.me/3R0aKj8

PAIR and China Resources foster interdisciplinary dialogue at PAIR Salon

The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and the China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology (CRRIST) jointly organised the PAIR SALON (“the Salon”) at Hong Kong Science Park on 31 August 2023. The Salon, themed on “Interdisciplinary Dialogue”, aims to encourage PAIR researchers and industry to collaborate in the forthcoming Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+ Scheme), a HK$10 billion initiative by the HKSAR government to provide matching funding to at least 100 university research teams with good potential to become start-ups, with an aim of promoting the transfer and commercialisation of R&D outcomes by university research teams. The RAISe+ Scheme will be launched in fall this year, and local designated universities including PolyU will be eligible for application. The Salon started with welcome speeches by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR, and Mr LI Nan, Vice Dean of China Resource Research Institute of Science and Technology. Next, Mr Kelvin WONG, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office of PolyU introduced the RAISe+ Scheme. It was then followed by presentations by 22 PAIR members, sharing PAIR’s research progress and outcomes in various fields, including textile technology, energy technology, optical communication, civil infrastructure engineering, urban informatics, traditional Chinese medicine, logistics, mental health and medical imaging, etc. Attendees coming from different sectors also exchanged views and ideas with fruitful outcomes. The Salon was concluded with a closing remark by Prof. LI Li, Associate Director of PAIR. Launched in February 2023, the PAIR SALON is an initiative to provide a platform for closer exchange between academia and industry, with a view to encouraging university-industry research collaboration and facilitating knowledge transfer.