News

Hong Kong SAR Space Science and Utilization Conference opens a new era of space collaboration

Hong Kong SAR Space Science and Utilization Conference was held at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 14 January. Hosted by the Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CSU), the event aims to introduce the prospects of China's space science missions and the progress and achievements of scientific experiments on China's space station, encouraging researchers from Hong Kong and Macau to participate. Over 140 attendees, including government officials and representatives, joined the event. Prof. Zuankai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, highlighted the university's commitment to space research through talent cultivation, project support, and international collaboration. Experts from the CSU discussed advancements and planning in space station science, covering topics like biotechnology, materials research, space exploration, and interdisciplinary experiments. The audience engaged actively and asked questions about research participation and promoting space science education for the next generation. The delegation also visited PolyU Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) and the Aviation Services Research Centre. Prof. WU Bo, Associate Director of RCDSE, and Prof. ZHAO Qi, Management Committee member of RCDSE, had fruitful discussions, aiming to foster future collaborations and contribute to global space science technology.

PolyU researchers develop breakthrough method for self-stimulated ejection of freezing droplets, unlocking cost-effective applications in de-icing

Water droplets under freezing conditions do not spontaneously detach from surfaces as they do at room temperature due to stronger droplet-surface interaction and lack of an energy transformation pathway. Since accumulated droplets or ice have to be removed manually or with mechanical equipment, which is costly and inefficient, preventing droplet accretion on surfaces is both scientifically intriguing and practically important. Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have invented a ground-breaking self-powered mechanism of freezing droplet ejection that allows droplets to shoot themselves away, paving the way for cost-efficient and promising technological applications. Published in Nature Chemical Engineering as the cover feature for its last December issue, the research project “Freezing droplet ejection by spring-like elastic pillars” is led by Prof. Zuankai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering and Chair Professor of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Prof. Haimin YAO, Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering. First co-authors include Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Huanhuan ZHANG, PhD student Mr Wei ZHANG, Research Assistant Professor Dr Yuankai JIN, and PhD student Mr Chenyang WU. The discovery of the self-ejection phenomenon in freezing droplets was inspired by a fungus capable of shooting its spores away through osmosis-induced volume expansion. Noting that a similar volume expansion occurs when water droplet is freezing, the research team has replicated the self-shooting mechanism found in the fungi and developed a structured elastic surface (SES) with spring-like pillars and wetting contrast that allows for the spontaneous ejection of freezing water droplets. The SES structure is designed to accelerate the ejection velocity and enlarge the kinetic energy transformation of freezing droplets. When the freezing droplet undergoes volume expansion, it compresses the pillar of SES. The volume expansion work is first converted to and stored as elastic energy in the pillar within tens of seconds, and then to be transformed into the droplet’s kinetic energy rapidly within milliseconds. This thousandfold reduction in timescales leads to sufficient kinetic energy to drive freezing droplet ejection. The simple SES structure, after parameter design, is effective in ejecting freezing droplets without external energy input and even against the forces of wind and gravity. It can be applied to aircraft, wind blades or cable lines to prevent hazards caused by ice accretion. Dr Huanhuan Zhang said, “It is exciting that we, for the first time, introduce a self-powered ice removal concept that will offer a wide range of innovative solutions. We will continuously improve the design of SES, allowing it to be manufactured at various scales and at a low cost to meet societal needs.” Furthermore, the theoretical model developed in the research elucidates the factors determining the successful onset of the freezing droplet ejection phenomenon, with scalable design exhibiting potential practicability in various fields. Prof. Wang envisions, “This nature-inspired research paved the way for numerous impactful applications. We believe that the freezing droplet ejection, as a prototype, could stimulate the development of self-powered concepts and methods for a wide range of purposes such as de-icing, energy harvesting and soft robotic applications.” Specifically, droplet ejection induced by volume expansion enhances understanding of multi-phase freezing dynamics for anti-icing applications. Prof. Yao remarked,“Our research demonstrates a strategy to efficiently harness and utilise the volume expansion work of freezing droplets to generate ballistic motion. This could subsequently expand the application of energy conversion phenomena, and inspire the development of droplet-based energy generators and soft robotic catapults.”  

PolyU-nurtured startups shine at CES 2025 winning two CES Innovation Awards

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has made a remarkable impact at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, held from 7 to 10 January in Las Vegas, US, showcasing ten PolyU startups and their groundbreaking innovations in healthcare, smart cities, artificial intelligence, and Internet of things (IoT)sensing. As part of Hong Kong’s largest-ever delegation at the event and the City’s only university representative, PolyU’s participation manifested its commitment to translating cutting-edge research into impactful social solutions. Supported and nurtured by PolyVentures, PolyU’s signature start-up ecosystem, these outstanding PolyU startups are at the forefront of technological innovation and societal impact. The Show provided an international platform for them to connect and interact with global business leaders, industry experts and investors, seeking collaboration opportunities and promoting international business development. This year, two innovations from PolyU startups received CES 2025 Innovation Awards in the Accessibility and AgeTech category. The award-winning Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton, a multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation designed for stroke patients,has been developed by a research team led by Dr Xiaoling HU, Associate Professor of PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineeringand Co-founder of PolyU startup Thecon Technology (HK) Limited. This pioneering device aids stroke patients in improving motor function and walking ability. Another winning project “Seekr”, a compact wearable device for elderly and visually impaired individuals was developed by PolyU startup Vidi Labs Limited.It provides real-time, intuitive services for elderly, acting as their loyal companion and helping them achieve independence in life. This marks the second consecutive year that PolyU has wonthe awards at CES, underscoring the University’sleadership in innovative healthcare solutions. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) remarked, “PolyU is committed to empowering its startups by connecting them with global innovation stakeholders and research institutions through participation in international exhibitions and competitions. These platforms not only facilitate valuable networking opportunities, but also accelerate the startups’ growth and broaden their international horizons. I am glad to see our startups shine on the CES stage, impressing global visitors with their innovations and their determination to changing the world for the benefit of mankind.” Organised by the Consumer Technology Association, CES is recognised as the largest and most influential consumer electronics technology exhibition in the world, attracting over 4,500 global exhibitors. It aims to demonstrate the integration of cutting-edge electronic technology with modern living. The PolyU startups participating at CES 2025 are listed below. To learn more about their innovations and inventions, please refer to the Appendix.   FeaturedProduct PolyU Start-up Principal Investigator(s) Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton (CES 2025 Innovation Award) Thecon Technology (HK) Limited Dr Xiaoling HU Associate Professor,Department of Biomedical Engineering, PolyU; Co-founder, Thecon Technology (HK) Limited Seekr (CES 2025 Innovation Award) Vidi Labs Limited Mr Turzo BOSE Director, Vidi Labs Limited Stretchable and Washable Textile-based Devices Easenory Technology Limited Dr Yingsi WU Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, PolyU; Founder and Director of Easenory Technology Limited GOOD Vision/Wellsees: Portable Corneal Topographer     GOOD Vision Technologies Co., Limited Prof. Chea-su KEE Head and Professor, School of Optometry, PolyU; Deputy Director of CEVR; Co-founder, GOOD Vision Technologies Co., Limited/Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd. Integrated Eye Tracking System   Guardian Glow Limited Prof. Tommy Minchen WEI Professor,Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering;Director of the Colour Imaging and Metaverse Research Centre, PolyU;Vice President of Technology, Guardian Glow Limited IMU+ Collection Immune Materials Limited Prof.Chris Kwan-yu LO Professor, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, PolyU; Co-founder, Immune Materials Limited Prof. Chi-waiKAN Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles, PolyU; Co-founder, Immune Materials Limited LungRT Pro: Advanced Radiotherapy Support System InsightRT Limited Prof. Jing CAI Headand Professor,Department of Health Technology and Informatics, PolyU;Technical advisor,InsightRT Limited allcareAI Smart Anti-Infection Mobile Dry Toilet PREN Limited Mr Phil WOO PolyU alumnus from the Faculty of Humanities;Co-founder, PREN Limited IoT-based Sensing System for Construction-induced Vibration SHAKE Limited Dr Qiuhan MENG Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, PolyU;Director,SHAKE Limited im-Studio Vizzle Limited Mr Ingo LAU Chief Executive Officer, Vizzle Limited  

18 PolyU research projects awarded RGC Collaborative Research Fund and Research Impact Fund, highlighting leadership in impactful interdisciplinary innovations

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing impactful research through its robust interdisciplinary collaborations, pioneering innovative solutions that benefit the world. In the latest 2024/25 grants from the Research Grants Council (RGC), 18 PolyU projects have received approximately HK$91.76 million in funding from the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) and Research Impact Fund (RIF), the highest amount among the UGC-funded universities. PolyU also outperformed its counterparts in both the number of funded projects and total CRF funding received. To uphold its motto “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind,” PolyU researchers have transformed novel research outcomes into practical solutions that address global challenges. The funded research projects showcase PolyU’s diverse research capabilities across various fields that impact every aspect of human life, including innovative building and construction technologies, environmental sustainability, biochemistry, drug discovery, cancer treatment, sustainable aviation fuel engineering, photonics, artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, optical technology and visual care. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) said, “PolyU leads the way in fostering a robust culture of knowledge transfer and real-world applications, leveraging its academic expertise, dedicated researchers, state-of-the-art facilities,and interdisciplinary collaborations. These achievements not only demonstrate PolyU’s research excellence but also highlight its strong partnerships with government bureaux and industry sectors to promote translation of research outcomes into practical solutions. The successes in securing RGC funds further illustrate PolyU’s strength in basic research and its capacity to lead innovative projects with significant societal impact, delivering valuable benefits.” PolyU has received funding for 14 projects from CRF, totaling approximately HK$71.36 million. Among these, eight projects are supported by the Collaborative Research Project Grant with a total grant value of about HK$44.4 million. Three projects under the Collaborative Research Equipment Grant have obtained a total grant value of aboutHK$15.62 million. Three projects from the Young Collaborative Research Grant have collectively been awarded about HK$11.34 million to support early-stage academic staff member on their research. The successful projects are listed below.   Project Title Project Coordinator Collaborative Research Project Grant Unraveling the Mechanisms of Targeted Therapy Resistance as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prof. LEE Kin-wah Terence Associate Head and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (in collaboration with HKU) Data Storage with Proteins Prof. YAO Zhongping Associate Head and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (in collaboration with CUHK and HKUST) Integrating Machine Learning, Behavioral Analysis and Multimodal Neuroimaging Techniques to Investigate the Comorbidity of Specific Learning Disabilities in Hong Kong Prof. SIOK Wai Ting Head and Professor, Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies (in collaboration with HKU and EdUHK) Seeing like Dragonflies: Optical-fiber-based Artificial Compound Eyes for 3D Vision Prof. ZHANG Xuming Associate Head and Professor, Department of Applied Physics (in collaboration with HKU) Next-generation AI-XR Empowered Surgical Planning and Intraoperative Guidance System via Effective Fusion of Empirical Knowledge, Human Interaction, and Machine Inference Prof. QIN Jing Harry Professor, School of Nursing (in collaboration with CUHK and HKU) Optimising Spinal Curvature Corrective Outcomes in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Investigation into Spinal Flexibility, Biomechanical Behavior and Predictive Modeling Prof. YIP Yiu-wan Joanne Associate Dean (Industrial Partnership) and Professor, School of Fashion and Textiles (in collaboration with CUHK and HKU) Ultrahigh-resolution Optical Vector Analysis for Broadband Photonic Devices Prof. YU Changyuan Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (in collaboration with CityU and CUHK) Advancing Compound Hazard Resilience and Adaptation for Urban Building Community in a Changing Climate Dr DONG You Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (in collaboration with CityU, HKUST and HKU) Collaborative Research Equipment Grant A Multifunctional Time-space-energy-helicity Resolved Transient Absorption Microscopy Imaging System for Advanced Materials and Devices Research Dr LI Mingjie Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Physics (in collaboration with CityU, CUHK, HKUST, HKU) State-of-the-art Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation Enhanced Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy Prof. YUNG Ka Fu Associate Dean, Faculty of Science; and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (in collaboration with CityU, HKBU, CUHK, HKUST, HKU and EdUHK) Development of a Colorimetric and Photometric Characterisation Platform for Binocular VR/AR Headsets Prof. WEI Minchen Tommy Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (in collaboration with CityU and HKUST) Young Collaborative Research Grant Organic/two-dimensional Materials Heterostructure based Memristor Array for Flexible Retinomorphic System Dr HAN Suting Associate Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (in collaboration with CityU and HKU) Design of Ultrastrong, Ductile, and Thermally Stable Nanocrystalline Dual-phase Alloys via Coherent Nano-honeycomb Architectures Dr JIAO Zengbao Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering (in collaboration with CityU and HKUST) AI-empowered Wind Field Simulation for Sustainable Urban Microclimate Design Dr YOU Ruoyu Assistant Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (in collaboration with HKU) In addition, four PolyU projects have secured aroundHK$20.4 million in funding from RIF. These impactful projects cover a wide spectrum of research areas, including sustainable aviation fuel engineering, cancer immunotherapy, modular integrated 3D-printed concrete construction (MI3DC), and optimaldesign in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets. The projects are listed below.   Project Title Project Coordinator Project Details WASTESto WINGS– Constructing aHigh-throughputSustainableAviationFuelResearchPlatform toFacilitateZeroCarbonAirTravel in Hong Kong Dr Shao-Yuan LEU Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering   In promoting net-zero-carbon air travel in the future, this project aims to establish the first and foremost platform for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) study in Asia. It focuses on the production, testing and validation of key SAF precursors from various organic waste biomass in Hong Kong. The team will collaborate with the Environmental Protection Department, Sinopec and Cathay Pacific to advance the research outcomes. TargetingAutophagy toPotentiateCancerImmunotherapy – aNovelCombinationStrategy Prof. ZHAO Yanxiang Associate Head and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology   Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients face limited therapeutic options, with targeted therapeutics showing limited survival benefits. This project aims to develop antibody-autotide-conjugates that tether the patented autotides to immune checkpoint inhibitors such as the anti-PD-L1 antibody, enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy for HCC. Development ofModularIntegrated 3D-printedConcreteConstruction (MI3DC) Prof. POON Chi-sun Chair Professor and Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering   The construction industry ismovingtoward digitalisation and automation, with 3D concreate printing emerging as an innovativeconstruction solution.Thisproject seeks to develop MI3DC technology for structural elements, integrating a 3D-printed permanent framework with conventionally cast concrete.   CreatingDelightfulExperience in Virtual Reality and Augmented RealityHeadset throughOptimalOpticalDesign Prof. WEI Minchen Tommy Professor,Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering   To enhance the VRandAR experience for users with diverse visual conditions,thisproject aims to createanadvanced lens design for delightful experiences.An interdisciplinary team of experts in optometry, ophthalmology, display technology and optics will develop new methods for designing prescription lens inserts tailored for VR/AR headsets. Established by RGC, theCRFsupports multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary projects to encourage research groups to engage in creative and high-quality cross-disciplinary/cross-institutional projects. Meanwhile, the RIF encourages academics to harness the potential of their research to deliver benefits to the wider community, spurring impactful and translational research projects.

Diversity fosters innovative solutions for climate change challenges

Originally from the Philippines, Dr Elizaldy Acebu Maboloc, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has lived in Hong Kong for nine years. His work has included coral restoration programmes, culture production and the impacts of climate change on ecologically and commercially important organisms. Besides his research, Dr Maboloc is an avid SCUBA diver and a hiker. Dr Maboloc was drawn to PolyU due to its world-class training and research programs, which address both scientific and societal challenges. He appreciates PolyU's commitment to fundamental research and practical applications, particularly in marine ecology and sustainable food production. Concerned about food shortages resulting from climate change, Dr Maboloc conducts research at the Marine Ecology & Aquaculture Lab (MEAL), focusing on sustainable solutions such as the larval culture of pearl oysters and sea urchins, and exploring other local invertebrates for mass production, conservation efforts and eco-nutrition study.  He is also a member of a regional network that monitors microplastics in oysters and mussels across Asia, emphasising the importance of understanding pollution's impact on marine life. Dr Maboloc values PolyU's diverse support in funding and facilities, which are crucial for achieving his research goals. He believes embracing diverse perspectives fosters creativity and innovation, leading to sustainable solutions for complex environmental challenges.

PolyU scholars innovations celebrated at CES 2025

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is shining at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2025) held in Las Vegas from 7 to 10 January 2025, showcasing its latest innovations in healthcare, smart cities, AI, and IoT sensing. This global powerful tech event provides an opportunity to connect with technology prospectors for potential collaborations, successfully transforming excellent research into impactful social solutions. PolyU unveils the future of technology alongside global participants at CES. One of our highlights in CES 2025 is a groundbreaking multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation, developed by a research team led by Dr Xiaoling HU, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU. It has been recognised as an Honouree in the CES 2025 Innovation Awards. The invention named “Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton,” has been awarded for its effectiveness in helping stroke patients improve motor function and walking ability. PolyU has continued its excellence by winning the Accessibility & Aging Tech award for the second consecutive year, making it the only university in Hong Kong to achieve this recognition. The CES Innovation Awards programme recognises outstanding design and engineering across 33 consumer technology categories, with an elite panel of industry judges evaluating submissions based on innovation, engineering, functionality, aesthetics, and design. Visit us at CES 2025 to see how PolyU is shaping the future of health technology. Eureka Park, Booth #63001, Level 1, Hall G, Venetian Expo Global Pavilion, Booth #50832, Level 2, Hall A-D, Venetian Expo   For more information: PolyU multimodal robot for post-stroke ankle-foot rehabilitation wins CES 2025 Innovation Award  

PolyU Industrial Centre pioneers innovative research to create significant social impacts

The Industrial Centre (IC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been transforming for nearly fifty years, serving as a hub for innovative research across all disciplines and offering comprehensive research and development (R&D) and production support. The IC has also evolved from a training workshop into a cutting-edge facility for innovation and technology education.  Its services have expanded beyond conventional industrial engineering to encompass diverse disciplines in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence and data analysis, and more.  Dr WAI Hon-wah, Director of the IC said a highlight of the IC’s latest technology is the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab (AIR Lab), also described as a “Creativity Accelerator”.  The AIR Lab is not only equipped with advanced facilities but also provides an open scientific research environment to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. Supported by a team of over 60 professional engineers, the AIR Lab is dedicated to cultivating future leaders in AI, collaborative robotics, and digital transformation, fostering innovation and collaboration across various fields.  PolyU places strong emphasis on translating scientific research into impactful social applications. In a collaborative effort with the IC, Dr Thomas Lee, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU, developed a portable nucleic acid testing device. Following cooperation with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in 2017, the third generation of the device underwent rapid advancement in response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. This progress led to a partnership with the Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital for real-time testing. In response to urgent pandemic needs, the IC assisted the team in optimising instruments and timely production of a large number of portable devices, significantly contributing to Hong Kong's epidemic prevention efforts. By utilising the Hybrid Immersive Virtual Environment (HiVE) at the IC, Dr Vincent Leung, Associate Professor of Practice from the Department of Health Technology and Informatics of PolyU, and his team introduced the "HEROCARE" project. This initiative provides a virtual environment for children with cancer before they undergo radiotherapy, effectively addressing their anxiety. This project successfully demonstrates the fusion of healthcare and engineering within the IC, using innovative technologies to improve medical services and promote holistic care in the digital technology era.  Guided by PolyU’s motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind,” the IC effectively transforms scientific research across diverse disciplines, delivering impactful solutions to society. The commitment lies in ensuring that our research serves the community and remains accessible to all.    Full Interview Coverage on HK01 Watch the Video  

PolyU collaborates with international experts to study urban air pollution, revealing disparities in pollution exposure and advocating for targeted mitigation measures

To foster a sustainable public health environment, a research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has collaborated with experts from international universities, utilising big mobility data and advanced sensor technology to study urban air pollution. Their study has highlighted the significance of daily travel patterns, and race and ethnicity in assessing differences in residents’ exposure to air pollution, offering new insights for authorities worldwide when developing air pollution mitigation measures. The findings have been published in the international journal Nature Cities. Dr An WANG, Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, collaborated with scientists from the Senseable City Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brown University in the USA, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and University College Cork in Ireland, to measure air pollution exposure across different areas and ethnic groups in the Bronx, New York City. The Bronx, known for its dense population and ethnic diversity, faces severe long-standing air pollution issues and has the worst air quality among the New York City boroughs with asthma cases 2.5 times higher than in other boroughs. The health effects of air pollution depend on the concentrations of air pollutants and the duration of exposure. The study tracked three months of daily mobility data from over 500,000 mobile device users, utilising 500 million anonymous location records from the Bronx. The team also installed solar-powered, Internet-of-Things-enabled environmental sensing platforms on government service vehicles, which travelled over one-third of major roads in the Bronx, measuring the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air and successfully collecting 600,000 valid data. Based on these mobility and air pollution data, the team trained an empirical model for air quality prediction to extrapolate the air quality levels across the region and differences in pollution exposure among Bronx residents. The study revealed that the southeast Bronx, where expressways and industries meet most intensively, has the highest levels of particulate matter, indicating the impact of land use and infrastructure planning on air pollution. Unlike previous studies, the team’s analysis considered both air pollutant concentrations and people’s mobility patterns in places like restaurants, schools, and malls to more comprehensively assess their exposure to air pollution. The results showed that citizens who work long hours or live on highly polluted streets have higher exposure to PM2.5. Among these, people from Hispanic-majority and low-income neighbourhoods were the most severely and disproportionately exposed to the pollution. The greatest differences in exposure by ethnic groups were found in Hispanic-majority communities. The results highlighted that race and ethnicity are much stronger indicators of air pollution exposure disparity than income. The team suggested developing more granular mitigation plans to target high-exposure individuals from socially disadvantaged groups, alongside general air quality improvement efforts. Dr An Wang said, “Our long-term goal is to utilise composite environmental sensing technologies to address urban environmental problems such as vehicle emissions, noise pollution, urban heat island effects and lack of greenery. The findings of this study can be applied to public health research in dense urban environments like Hong Kong. By quantifying air pollution exposure, we can develop cost-effective strategies for targeted emission control, health impact assessment, clean air action and urban design, helping Hong Kong and other cities worldwide to achieve the vision of ‘One Health’.” Looking ahead, Dr Wang will expand the research by developing new data sources and sensing technologies. This will broaden its scope to include a wider range of air pollutants, lay the groundwork for more precise toxicity analyses, advance future air quality research, and provide innovative solutions to urban environmental challenges.

PolyU research underscores the importance of interdisciplinary services in paediatric palliative care

Medical advancements have extended the lifespans of children and adolescents diagnosed with life-limiting conditions, resulting in a greater need for healthcare resources and expanded caregiver services. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) researchers have studied the physical and non-physical needs of patients, parents and healthcare providers to enhance the provision of holistic healthcare services. The Strategic Service Framework for Paediatric Palliative Care (PPC) developed by Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority (HA) aims to provide comprehensive treatment services from hospital to community care. Aligning with this framework, a research team led by Prof. Frances Wong Kam-yuet, Chair Professor of Advanced Nursing Practice of the School of Nursing and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Science at PolyU and Ms Jacqueline Ho Mei-chi, Assistant Professor of Practice at the School of Nursing at PolyU, conducted a pioneering qualitative study to identify the perceived care needs of children with life-limiting conditions, their parents, and healthcare providers. Funded by the government under the Health and Medical Research Fund, the team conducted 65 individual interviews between 2019 and 2021 at the paediatric departments under the HA. Twenty-five sets of participants were interviewed, with each set comprising a child or adolescent aged 8-19 with a life-limiting condition, along with their parents and healthcare providers. The research uncovers the multifaceted needs from children with life-limiting conditions and their parents, which include medical care and daily life support. A holistic approach to coordination and service maintenance, supported by an interdisciplinary team of caregivers and healthcare professionals, is essential for assisting patients and their parents who face complex challenges. Prof. Wong, Principal Researcher of the study, said, “Paediatric palliative care should include support to those parents giving day-to-day care to their children with life-limiting disease. Parents, sick children, and healthcare professionals are all key members of paediatric palliative care.” The research titled “Importance of parental involvement in paediatric palliative care in Hong Kong: qualitative case study,” has been published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, which is an official journal of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Another study titled “Needs of paediatric patients with life-limiting disease,” was published in the Hong Kong Medical Journal. Three main themes for PPC are identified in the research as follows: The first theme, “Information and Understanding about the Disease,” highlights the need for cohesive disease information. Children and parents primarily rely on doctors for information, but they often receive fragmented details from various specialists, complicating their understanding of the disease and its treatment. The second theme, “Living with the Disease,” reveals the challenges faced by sick children and their parents, encompassing both physical and non-physical aspects of daily living. The different perspectives of children, parents, and healthcare providers also influence how they cope with the disease. The third theme, “Care Support and Palliative Care,” emphasises the need for better coordination and interpersonal collaboration, especially during the transition from paediatric to adult services. Nurses play a crucial role in coordinating palliative care and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration. The research underscores the importance of early intervention in PPC and the increased involvement of parent caregivers. It also highlights the vital role of specialised paediatric nurses in improving the well-being of parents and families, reducing healthcare costs and alleviating social burdens.

PolyU research reconstructs ancient Chinese geographic and ecological environment using AI technologies, awarded Top 10 Innovative Exploratory Projects in Tencent’s Tanyuan Scheme 2024

Innovative digital technology is opening up new possibilities for the preservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. Promoting the synergy between technologies and the humanities, a research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to distil, represent and visualise geographic and ecological knowledge from ancient Chinese texts. Their approach has helped to overcome the limitations of traditional text studies, while fostering the digitisation of ancient texts to enable more innovative models of knowledge inheritance. The pioneering project - “Knowledge Integration of the Classic of Mountains and Seas: Reconstructing Ancient Ecological and Geographical Knowledge Heritage with Artificial Intelligence” - is led by Prof. HUANG Chu-ren, Chair Professor of Applied Chinese Language Studies of the PolyU Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies. The only winning endeavour from a tertiary institution based in Hong Kong and Macao this year, the project was recognised as one of the “Top 10 Innovative Exploratory Projects” in the Tanyuan Scheme 2024, among 79 submissions from 48 universities and research institutes. The Scheme was initiated by Tencent and various cultural units in the Mainland and guided by the Department of Science, Technology and Education of the National Cultural Heritage Administration. As the first part of the pre-Qin classic text Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing), the Classic of Mountains (Shanjing) comprises approximately 20,000 characters of geographic information relating to mountains and rivers, as well as the natural resources therein. It is regarded as China’s earliest attested compendium of geo-ecological information. Existing studies of the text remain within the classical humanities paradigm. This research project has however proposed a knowledge integration approach to present an innovative solution for modernising and transmitting the knowledge content of the Classic of Mountains, with the aim of arousing greater research interest in the field. The research team uses various AI technologies including information extraction, knowledge graphs, graph retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and large language model (LLM), to analyse, organise, integrate, and present the geographical and ecological knowledge embedded in the text. Their goal is to establish a systematic knowledge platform that can serve as a blueprint for the development of diachronic geo-ecological knowledge systems of ancient China through future studies into other ancient texts and documentation from different dynasties. This will enable research into the geo-ecological changes and variations in China over the past two millennia and provide appropriate environmental information to better understand historical events. As a first step, the team is developing a Q&A platform that consolidates information about the landmarks in Classic of Mountains, together with a digital map that visually illustrates the geographical features described in the text. Prof. Huang said, “A deep and systematic understanding of ancient geography and ecology provide us with longitudinal information about how our environment has changed. This is also crucial for contemporary ecological governance. The project represents an interdisciplinary effort to integrate digital technology in humanities studies to address the challenges of the fragmentation of ancient literature and the usability of traditional knowledge in today’s evidence-based studies, which will ultimately enhance the transmission, integration and application of historical knowledge in contemporary contexts.” Prof. Huang is the first Chinese permanent member of the International Committee for Computational Linguistics. He has also been recognised as one of the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists 2024 by Stanford University in the field of AI with his long-standing expertise in computational linguistics and digital humanities. His team members include PhD student Ms Ke LIANG and postdoctoral researcher Dr Xuemei TANG from the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies. Dr Qi SU, Associate Professor from the Research Center for Digital Humanities at Peking University, and Dr Jinghang GU, Research Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies are co-principal investigators.