Ir Chiang also highlighted the value of the academic qualifications he earned, which "opened multiple doors" for him when entering the job market. "The recognition of my qualifications by professional bodies like The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), and the Energy Institute (EI) facilitated my application for professional status."

Diverse Opportunities in Building Services Engineering

When asked about his choice to pursue a career in the building services engineering industry, Ir Chiang shared his fascination with the field. "I was attracted by the diverse and interdependent systems within the building services industry. This field offers a wide range of development opportunities and allows me to collaborate with professionals from various backgrounds, such as architects, structural engineers, contractors, and professionals from niche disciplines like acoustic consultants. It is an excellent setting to develop communication and social skills."

Carving a Successful Path and Embracing the Future

After honing his skills at a consultancy firm, Ir Chiang joined CLP, where he experienced a diverse career journey. "Under my job rotation, my roles at CLP encompassed business development, product development, and eCommerce."

Among his most memorable accomplishments, Ir Chiang proudly highlighted the development of an electric vehicle charging station to facilitate electric vehicle growth in Hong Kong, as well as collaborating with a local university to develop a new induction cooker that revolutionised cooking practices in the Food & Beverage industry.

Looking ahead, Ir Chiang acknowledged the significant changes driven by breakthrough technologies across disciplines like Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. "Staying updated with these advancements requires continuous self-learning and close engagement with professional bodies and academic institutions."

*The Faculty of Construction and Land Use was the predecessor of the Faculty of Construction and Environment

FCE academics to lead new research institute in climate-resilient infrastructure

In the context of global climate change and accelerated human activities, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and the associated natural disasters have increased significantly. This trend threatens natural ecosystems and agriculture, disrupts social and economic activities in both urban and rural communities, and impacts the health and safety of humanity. To mitigate these challenges, FCE academics commit their expertise to the Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure (RICRI), a newly established University-level research institute funded by a generous donation from the Otto Poon Charity Foundation, to research and develop resilient and sustainable solutions.

Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty and Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), will lead the RICRI as its Director. Prof. Huan-feng DUAN and Prof. Songye ZHU, both from CEE, will serve as the Associate Directors. The RICRI will offer a comprehensive and interdisciplinary research platform to build an effective and integrated scientific think tank for the broader society in Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.

Shortly after its establishment, the RICRI promptly embarked upon its mission and held a briefing session on 28 August 2024 to call for proposals from all PolyU academics for its Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Research Scheme.

FCE young scholars showcase their research excellence by winning funding support from NSFC

The Faculty has been sparing no effort in nurturing its young researchers’ capabilities to conduct independent research and contribute to the development of Hong Kong and the Nation, through organising various research workshops to facilitate interdisciplinary exchange and sharing sessions by senior academics to enhance knowledge in conducting outstanding research. Recently, a total of ten FCE Research Assistant Professors and Postdoctoral Fellows secured support from the Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in the 2024 exercise, demonstrating their ability to lead innovative projects in their areas of expertise independently.

The awarded projects cover a diverse range of topics, such as explosion dynamics, concrete bridge reliability against natural hazards, and nighttime light remote sensing. Each awardee will receive funding of up to RMB 300,000 to support their scientific research projects for three years.

LSGI researchers' study reveals limitations of existing heat wave indices for detecting dangerous outdoor conditions

Fuelled by global warming, heat waves are becoming more rapid and severe with intensifying health effects and environmental damage. However, there is currently no standard or global method to measure heat-wave severity, and existing indices define dangerous heat-stress conditions using different thresholds. In view of this, the research team led by Prof. Qihao WENG, Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), conducted a study titled “Comparing existing heat wave indices in identifying dangerous heat wave outdoor conditions".

Published in Nexus in August 2024, the research is co-authored by Prof. WENG and Dr Pir MOHAMMAD, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow of LSGI. This research examines the effectiveness of six commonly used heat wave indices in identifying dangerous conditions and found that five out of the six indices were unable to capture the severity and spatial distribution of recent lethal heat wave events observed in India, Spain, and the USA. The research results emphasise the necessity to develop a global heat wave framework that can effectively detect outdoor conditions across diverse climatic and geographic regions, so as to reduce impact on lives and properties.

Nexus is PolyU’s first interdisciplinary journal, published in collaboration with Cell Press. The open access journal covers cutting-edge research in multi-disciplinary fields that address pressing global challenges.

FCE engages collaborative effort from senior academics for next strategic plan

To enhance communication and gather insights from the leading scholars of respective disciplines for the Faculty’s next strategic plan, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, held a meeting with a group of Chair Professors on 30 August 2024 to solicit their unified efforts for FCE’s continued success.

During the meeting, the Dean and the Chair Professors reviewed the Faculty’s efforts and performance from multiple perspectives, including learning and teaching, research, and talent acquisition. They also discussed the corresponding new and major initiatives to drive sustained growth in these aspects. The Chair Professors generously shared their observations on various policies and offered constructive suggestions regarding FCE’s academic programme development and knowledge transfer endeavours. The meeting provided a platform for direct and enhanced communication among FCE’s senior academics and engaged their inputs for the Faculty’s strategic development.

As a part of FCE's new academic staff orientation, the Dean also met with a group of new joiners on 4 September 2024 to introduce them to FCE’s strategic foci and expectations of them.

FCE community appreciates Chinese culture at Mid-Autumn Festival Gala

On 13 September 2024, numerous FCE members and their family and friends joined the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala on PolyU campus and enjoyed a blissful night appreciating traditional Chinese culture and celebrating the festival for reunion.

They spent the night admiring Chinese music and dance performances, painting lanterns, solving riddles, and tasting mooncakes in the FCE zones with their loved ones. The Council Chairman, Court Chairman and Central Management Team also visited the FCE zones and shared the joyous moment with the FCE community.

The Mid-Autumn Festival Gala is a part of the PolyU Chinese Culture Festival organised by the Culture Promotion and Events Office.