PolyU scientist honoured with prestigious European research award and Academy membership

Prof. Xiao Lin ZHAO, Chair Professor of Civil Infrastructure at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been bestowed with the Humboldt Research Award 2023 and elected a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, in recognition of his achievements in civil engineering.

The Humboldt Research Award is granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany for up to 100 leading international researchers whose discoveries, findings or insights have made significant impact in their disciplines and beyond with cutting-edge achievements. While the Award is open to researchers in all disciplines, Prof. Zhao’s Award is for research excellence in civil and structural engineering.

Prof. Zhao has also been elected a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts in the field of technical and environmental sciences. An esteemed non-governmental association, the Academy’s 2,000 members comprise leading scientists, artists and practitioners of governance, and among their members are 37 Nobel Prize winners.

As a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at PolyU, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Prof. Zhao’s research focuses on improving the resilience and safety of engineered structures, developing innovative and environmental-friendly construction materials, and the strengthening of ageing metallic infrastructure.

He said, “These two achievements are encouraging for me in my endeavours to achieve impactful research and translational innovation. In collaboration with researchers in various PolyU research institutes, I am now undertaking initiatives to develop floating structure technology for innovative land creation as well as floating farms for food sustainability in Hong Kong. These aim to increase Hong Kong’s capacity for sustainable growth and liveability with reduced environmental impact and construction costs.”