News

Prof. WU Bo gives public lecture on lunar exploration and base construction

Prof. WU Bo, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science and Associate Head (Research) of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, delivered a public lecture on 7 December 2024, to give secondary school students an in-depth overview of lunar exploration achievements and potential strategies for lunar base development. The lecture attracted students from 94 secondary schools and international schools in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. The students participated enthusiastically in the interactive question-and-answer session, demonstrating their keen interest in space exploration. The lecture is one of the activities under the PolyU space-themed programme “Pioneering the Moon: From Exploration to Base Construction”, which includes thematic lectures and a Lunar Base Design Competition. Launched in the 2024/25 academic year, the programme is organised by PolyU and sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong), with the support of the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the Hong Kong Society of Astronautics. Two more online lectures will be held in mid-January 2025. Dr ZHAO Qi, RCDSE Management Committee Member and Assistant Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Mr Eno LAM, Engineer of RCDSE and Space Systems Engineer of the Industrial Centre, will speak on “Lunar Base Construction” and “Our Nation’s Space Aspirations, Impacts, and Local Involvements” respectively, introducing students with deeper knowledge of aerospace. Press release: https://polyu.me/4gjIcLe   Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3DstOSa Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/49I4T9f

PolyU research unveils critical role of humidity and indoor conditions in heatwave severity assessments

A research study led by Prof. WENG Qihao, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, Director of the PolyU Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG), and Director of the Jockey Club STEM Lab of Earth Observations, together with Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Pir MOHAMMAD, revealed that some existing heatwave indices are unable to accurately capture heatwave severity across diverse geographical regions and varying climate conditions. They study suggests that incorporating humidity and indoor environmental conditions is essential for accurately identifying a dangerous heatwave. It recommends the development of a comprehensive global heat risk framework and early warning systems to mitigate the adverse impact of heatwaves on human health. The research findings have been published in the international journal Nexus. The research team examined the effectiveness of six commonly used heatwave indices in identifying dangerous heatwave conditions, including maximum daily air temperature, humidity index, humidex, wet bulb globe temperature, lethal heat stress index and universal thermal climate index. The team conducted case studies on recent heatwave events observed in Spain and the United States in 2022, as well as in India in 2023. The results revealed that the lethal heat stress index, which combines temperature and humidity, is more effective in identifying dangerous heatwave days in a low-humidity environment compared to other indices. It can also differentiate between areas that are affected by extreme heat stress and those that are not. In contrast, the other five heatwave indices demonstrated limited efficacy in accurately detecting hazardous heatwave conditions across diverse climatic, geographical, and meteorological contexts. Heatwave lethality depends not only on the maximum air temperature, but also on relative humidity, particularly in sub-tropical regions like Hong Kong. The study showed that, in humid conditions, even if the ambient temperature is only 28 °C, the saturated air moisture makes effective sweat evaporation and heat dissipation difficult and causes body temperature to rise faster, potentially leading to fatigue, dehydration or heat stroke. The team suggested that evaluating heat stress in humid conditions is crucial for better understanding the impact of heatwaves on human health, particularly for construction workers and agricultural labourers who spend substantial time outdoors. In addition, the existing heatwave indices, such as the Hong Kong Heat Index, which is based on outdoor environment conditions, rely on outdoor heat mapping data provided by climate services. However, most heat-related mortalities occur indoors. In Hong Kong’s densely populated environment with many high-rise buildings, residents of rooftop houses and subdivided flats are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. With rapid global warming, the researchers emphasised that building morphology and material, overheating conditions, and air-conditioning are essential in calculating indoor heat stress. They also suggested revisiting thresholds to establish new global criteria for defining dangerous heatwave limits, considering varied climatic conditions and human adaptability based on age, gender and household conditions. The research team also discussed enhancing heatwave predictions to mitigate their impacts. They emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among climate scientists, health professionals, policy makers and communities to safeguard public health in a changing climate.   Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynexs.2024.100027     Online coverage: Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/49rBjVF (subscription required) Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3D8JeuO (subscription required) Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3D7DAJz Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/41lNXn5

RCSV partners with industry to explore Naked-Eye 3-Dimensional Vision Training for myopia control

The Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) has forged a partnership with Holo See Medical Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. to explore the potential applications of Naked-Eye 3-Dimensional Vision Training in myopia prevention and control, as well as other visual health areas. A collaboration agreement signing cum inauguration ceremony was held on 9 December 2024 at PolyU campus. The event was graced by the presence of Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR; Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of RCSV and Chair Professor of Ophthalmology and Optometry; Mr YANG Keqing, Director of Holo See Medical Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.; Ms HONG Wanjun, Managing Director of Holo See Medical Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.; Mr LIU Xiao, Director of Doctorglasses Chain Co., Ltd.; and Mr ZHU Hui, Director of Shenzhen Jinghu Investment Consulting Co., Ltd., and with other industry experts and partners. Naked-Eye 3-Dimensional Vision Training is an emerging method for controlling myopia progression. The two parties will collaborate to develop next generation of the technology by further improving the efficacy of the training and also its compliance. They will also conduct multiregional studies and trials to prove the improvement of efficacy and its translation into community benefits.   Online coverage: China Daily - https://polyu.me/41tTQyH Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4iscxZy Science and Technology Daily - https://polyu.me/3VyCAVb Dute News - https://polyu.me/4ilYKDI

Prof. CHAI Yang elected as IEEE Fellow

Prof. CHAI Yang, Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Science, and Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, has been elected to the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Fellow Class of 2025 for his contributions to bioinspired in-sensor computing.  Headquartered in the United States, IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. The IEEE Fellow grade recognises unusual distinction in the profession and is awarded to persons with outstanding record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest.    Online coverage: The Paper - https://polyu.me/3ZJRtXf NetEase - https://polyu.me/41lYdeY Sina - https://polyu.me/3ZKXrXW Sohu - https://polyu.me/4f4aub7 qq - https://polyu.me/3OHl90P

PAIR Newsletter · Issue 12 · December 2024 is now available online

We are excited to release the latest issue of the PAIR Newsletter! Issue 12 provides a summary of the noteworthy events and developments that took place over the past few months, including the launch of the PolyU–RMIT FutureLab, a new research collaboration between PAIR and RMIT University, and the PolyU InnoTech Open Day 2024 x Alumni Homecoming 2024. The Feature Stories section covers three leading scholars in the fields of mechanical engineering, polymer science, and bioinformatics, who share with us their pioneering research works and penetrating insights on the scientific challenges in their fields. The People section includes a number of extraordinary achievements at the Academy. We are proud to share that a total of 138 scholars at PAIR have been named in the 2024 World’s Top 2% Scientists list by Stanford University. The Research Achievements section covers a range of scientific findings and PAIR-led technologies that help improve daily living in different ways. These include soft robotic clothing that ensures worker safety in hot environments; a model that accurately predicts photovoltaic (PV) power; ultra-stable, ultra-bright perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs); and many more. Read on to find out the exciting updates at PAIR!   PAIR Newsletter · Issue 12: //LINK HERE//

RCDTT Associate Director Dr Dan WANG shares research insights on ESG development of hotels in China

Dr WANG Dan, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) and Associate Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, was interviewed by CCTV on the green development of China’s hospitality industry. She mentioned that the PolyU team has developed the “China hospitality industry green development index”, a comprehensive evaluation system with 9 dimensions and over 80 indicators to assess the green development level of hotels in areas such as energy use, water resource management and waste management. Data shows that energy conservation and emission reduction are currently the major highlights of the hotel industry, with many hotels adopting smart solutions to reduce operational costs and carbon emissions. However, many hotels need to enhance their environmental management systems. In addition, the gaps in environmental awareness between regions in China have created resistance to the implementation of some environmental protection measures. Dr Wang added that capital investment is the biggest challenge in driving green transition in the hospitality industry, especially for small and medium-sized hotels. She suggested the government to provide targeted support such as subsidies and tax incentives, and establish green awards to enhance the public recognition of green hotels. Industry associations can also help the sector in adopting green technologies and management method through training and experience sharing. She believes that consumer participation needs to be promoted in tandem with the overall enhancement of public environmental awareness, and that the government, businesses and consumers should work together to gradually promote sustainable development.   Online coverage: CCTV - https://polyu.me/4ifzJdt (Chinese only)

Symposium on Sports Science and Technology 2024 successfully held

The Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) organised the Symposium on Sports Science and Technology 2024 from 30 November to 2 December 2024 on PolyU campus, attracting more than 200 students, researchers and industry professionals. The three-day Symposium was co-organised with the Department of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU, AquaBloom International Sports Technology Group and the Samaranch Foundation, and brought together former Olympic and world champion athletes, scholars and industry leaders to share experiences and the latest research outcomes in sports technology. On the first day of the Symposium, six former Olympic or world champion athletes from the Hong Kong, China team and national teams shared their experiences with sports technology applications and their personal development and career after retirement. In the following two days, scholars and industry experts shared the latest research outcomes and products in sports science and technology, discussing how to integrate innovative technologies, such as sports biomechanics, intelligent wearable systems and artificial intelligence, to enhance training effectiveness. Additionally, representatives from the national swimming team shared the training regimes for elite swimmers. At the Symposium, Prof. ZHANG Ming, Director of RISports announced the establishment of the International Society of Sports Science and Technology, which aims to promote international exchange and collaboration between academic and industry institutions in sports science and technology. Moreover, PolyU will launch a new programme “Master of Science in Sports Technology and Management” in the coming year, to cultivate talents in sports technology. Press release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2024/1205_-polyu-risports-hosts-2024-symposium-on-sports-science-and-technology/   Online coverage: Hong Kong China News Agency - https://www.hkcna.hk/docDetail.jsp?id=100856007&channel=4372

PolyU start-up offers free liver disease screening for grassroots

The development and launch of Liverscan® by Eieling Technology Limited, a PolyU start-up led by Ir Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of the Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, has revolutionised screening technologies for liver diseases and given more hope for early diagnosis and treatment to patients, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Liverscan® introduces PolyU-patented real-time image guiding technique into transient elastography (TE) measurement of the propagation speed of ultrasound in liver tissues for the accurate and rapid assessment of liver fibrosis and fatty liver non-invasively. Liverscan® shortens the assessment time to just one minute, and its wireless palm-sized probe design further enhances the operation efficiency and convenience, making it easily acceptable by patients and operators, particularly for the early diagnosis and frequent assessment during treatment of liver diseases. In addition, the price of Liverscan® is only around one-third of traditional equipment for similar functions, making it affordable for primary care providers. In response to the healthcare resource shortages in poverty-stricken areas, Eieling Technology collaborates proactively with local governments and district health centres in conducting charity activities and providing free screening for fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis in neighbourhoods. Liverscan® has already obtained registration approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA510K) and NMPA medical device registration in Mainland China in 2024. Currently, around 30 sets of Liverscan® have been installed for clinical use in Hong Kong, Macao, and different cities in Mainland China. The company plans to install 100,000 devices worldwide in the next five years, especially in developing countries and poor areas, and this will significantly promote the adoption of liver disease screening to reduce severe liver problems, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. In addition, Eieling Technology also launched its five-year “LiverCare – Hong Kong 10 Million Liver Scans Program” at the Asia Summit on Global Health in May 2024, together with PolyU and a number of local partners. PolyU has formally launched its screening program for liver health for all full-time staff in December 2024.   Read more: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2024/0517_polyu-nurtured-startup-takes-lead-in-implementing-liver-disease-screening-programme/   Online coverage: ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/3ZeNMHq (Chinese only)

Ir Prof. ZHENG Yongping introduces Liverscan® on TV programme

Ir Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of the Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, was featured on i-Cable’s programme “InnoAction”, introducing Liverscan®, a palm-sized real-time ultrasound medical device developed by his team. The device can perform non-invasive liver assessment in ten minutes by measuring the stiffness of liver issue and assessing the status of liver fibrosis. This technology marks a major step in promoting the early and precise prevention and effective diagnosis of liver diseases. Online coverage: i-Cable - https://polyu.me/4ihiNTZ (18:36 - 22:09) (Chinese only)

Prof. ZHANG Ming shares “Taichi-Run” in Sing Tao Daily

Prof. ZHANG Ming, Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), was featured in Sing Tao Daily, introducing a study on “Taichi-Run” by his team.  Taichi-Run is an adaptive jogging style, with exercise load starting from a lower speed and heart rate (“Yin” state), followed by a gradual increase to a higher speed and heart rate (“Yang” state), and then returning to the “Yin” state, allowing joggers to maintain a comfortable target heart rate. Prof. Zhang mentioned that RISports hopes to establish a database of human body data in the long term, using quick scan technology to obtain human characteristics and identify potential health issues for further follow-up.  He further stated that the idea of “exercise prescription”, which aims at addressing heath issues through exercise rather than medication, has already been implemented in mainland China and overseas.  RISports is now studying the effects of different exercises on human, investigating if appropriate exercise can alleviate chronic diseases, and identifying exercises suitable for prescription.   Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/4i8GFsI Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/3CKOS65