PolyU Research Student Conference 2023: Research with Impact
7 Jun 2023
President, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, celebrated the vibrant research community at PolyU in his opening address.
Group photo at PRSC's opening ceremony with the central management team, academic deans and keynote speakers.
Vice President (Research and Innovation), Professor Christopher Chao, delivered an opening remark on I&T at PolyU during the celebratory banquet cum award presentation ceremony.
Dean of the Graduate School, Professor Jiannong Cao, shared the missions and visions of the GS.
Best Student Paper awardees and runners-up took a group photo with award sponsor representatives from Sinopec and the conference’s Technical Programme Co-Chairs.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Graduate School is pleased to celebrate the resounding success of the PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC), held on 8 and 9 May 2023. This first flagship student conference, themed “Research with Impact”, provided a platform for research students and undergraduate researchers within the University to demonstrate their research achievements and build a collaborative research community. Around 300 research students and undergraduate researchers attended the Conference. A celebratory banquet cum award presentation ceremony was held on the first day at Hotel Icon. The banquet was attended by senior management representatives from the Conference award sponsor, China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec).
The two-day conference featured keynote presentations, student paper presentations and discussions, and various networking opportunities. Student research project posters were also exhibited. PRSC served as an excellent opportunity for young researchers to present and disseminate their innovative research findings, interact and connect with peers from diverse disciplines, expand their knowledge, and gain insights into the latest trends and technologies shaping their fields of study. A total of 126 presentation submissions were accepted from more than 330 submitted, spanning the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), the Humanities, Health and Social Sciences, Business and Finance, Design and Fashion. The breadth of topics reflects the University's dedication to research and innovation by fostering an interdisciplinary and supportive research environment.
At the opening ceremony, PolyU President and Honorary Conference Co-Chair, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, "The PolyU Research Student Conference is an excellent platform for young researchers to showcase their work, exchange ideas and build collaborations. We are delighted to witness our students' achievements and the vibrant research community that we have cultivated at PolyU."
The keynote presentations highlighted global research interests in artificial intelligence and energy sustainability. In the first keynote, ChangJiang Chair Professor Yunhao Liu from Tsinghua University focused on the industrial Internet of Things, illustrating the importance of transiting from the digital follow-up to digital lead-off. In the second keynote, PolyU Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Conference General Co-Chair, Professor Zuankai Wang, encouraged students to achieve great things through persistence and having an open mind.
Six candidates competed for the best paper awards, sponsored by Sinopec, through presentations and question-and-answer sessions. The awardees were honoured at the banquet award ceremony.
Completed Research track awardees
Best Paper Award
Yezhou Hu and Ye Zhu in Applied Physics
Paper Title: A Co pre-embedding strategy induced highly efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction
Award Prize: HK$20,000
Two Best Paper Runners-up
i) Nga-Yin Dik, Paul Wai-Kei Tsang, Ah-Pun Chan and Kwan-Yu Lo in Fashion and Textiles
Paper Title: Developing a Prediction Model for Virtual Garment Fitting Size with Psychographic Characteristics and 3D Body Measurements
ii) Yiteng Li and Ling Zhu in Logistics and Maritime Studies
Paper Title: The Technical and Regulatory Aspects of Unmanned Merchant Ships Reconsidered
Award Prize: HK$10,000 per team
Work-in-Progress track awardees
Best Paper Award
Xintong Liu and Ling Jin in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Paper Title: Unexpected Discovery of an Algal Toxin as a Major Toxicity Contributor in Hong Kong Marine Waters Impacting the Finless Porpoise
Award Prize: HK$15,000
Two Best Paper Runners-up
i) Hao Wang and Songye Zhu in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Paper Title: Dynamic Behaviour of Latched Tuned Mass Damper
ii) Shuai Zhou and Mengyu Wang in Applied Social Sciences
Paper Title: Window Dressing or Change Making? Party Building in Chinese Social Work Organisations
Award Prize: HK$8,000 per team
At the banquet, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Conference Honorary Co-Chair, Professor Christopher Chao, highlighted the significance of research and innovation and the role of the University, saying, "With our research expertise and global reach, we are well-positioned to contribute to knowledge advancement and society's betterment, and to reinforce the city’s development into an international I&T hub in the Greater Bay Area."
Dean of the Graduate School and Conference General Co-Chair, Professor Jiannong Cao, shared the missions and visions of the School, expressing his view that, "PRSC highlights the strong research postgraduate education at PolyU. We sustain meaningful research impact by nurturing aspiring researchers through nurturing creativity, critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration."
In closing, special gratitude was extended to the generous donors, while PolyU's faculties and schools were commended for their continued support and the Graduate School for making the conference a success.
