PolyU academics receive national awards in teaching and research

Three academics of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have recently been honoured with national awards for their teaching and research excellence.

Professor DING Xiao-li and Professor XIA Yong from the Faculty of Construction and Environment received the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award (Second Class Prize) and State Technological Invention Award (Second Class Prize) respectively from the State Council while Dr Shirley NGAI from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences was awarded the 2018 National Teaching Achievement Award (Higher Education) (Second Class Prize) by the Ministry of Education.

The State Scientific and Technological Progress Award is meant to recognise outstanding contribution in applying and disseminating advanced research results or completing major R&D projects, plans and programs. Professor Ding won the award with the project entitled "Key InSAR Technologies for Millimetre-Level Ground Deformation Monitoring and Their Applications". His research has helped advance the interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), one of the most important satellite-based remote sensing technologies, which is especially useful for monitoring grounds and infrastructural deformations including those related to earthquakes, landslides, construction and structural health conditions. Researchers from Central South University, China University of Mining and Technology, Guangdong Institute of Geological Survey, and Chang’An University have participated in this research.

The State Technological Invention Award is meant to recognise individuals who have made major technological inventions that led to products, technologies, materials and systems, etc. Professor Xia won the award with the project entitled “Safety Assessment and Precise Local Damage Detection Technologies for Long-span Bridges”. These technologies have been applied to over 30 bridges around the world, and to skyscrapers such as the 632m high Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in the mainland. Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and China Railway Bridge Science Research Institute Ltd have participated in this research.

The National Teaching Achievement Award (Higher Education) is presented to individuals or teams who have made great contribution to either education theory or practice and achieved significant improvement in education quality and learning outcome. Dr Ngai is among the first academics from Hong Kong to receive this top honour in education at the national level.

Dr Ngai specialises in research and teaching in cardiopulmonary physiotherapy. To enhance the confidence of her students in the real clinical scenarios, she has designed and introduced various innovative pedagogical methods including converting the classroom into a simulated “ward” to allow students applying their professional knowledge in a “simulated” clinical setting.

“The awards are clear manifestations of the dedication and excellent capabilities of our faculty members. They have helped turn our vision for education and research into reality.” said Professor Philip C. H. CHAN, Interim President, PolyU.

*****END****