News

PAIR scholars visit Futian Shenzhen

On 30 March, Prof WONG Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, and Prof Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, led a delegation of PolyU scholars, including Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and directors of PAIR’s constituent research units, to visit “Shenzhen–Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Co-operation Zone” located in Futian district to learn about its latest development. The delegation joined a meeting chaired by Mr OUYANG Huiyu, Vice-District Mayor of the Futian District People’s Government, exploring research projects suitable for Futian and relevant support needs. The delegation also visited Jinjiang Municipal People's Government Office in Shenzhen to explore how to strengthen university-industry cooperation.  In February, PolyU and the city government of Jinjiang signed a framework agreement to jointly establish the PolyU–Jinjiang Research Institute to strengthen interdisciplinary industry-academia research collaboration to support the development of the Belt and Road Initiatives. Read more about the collaboration: https://polyu.hk/LZBkJ

PAIR Debut Conference Coming in May! Registration is Now Open!

The PAIR Conference 2023 – Research Excellence for Societal Impact is the very first conference organised by the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) in hybrid mode (online and on PolyU campus) on 8–11 May 2023 (Monday–Thursday). Watch our latest promotional video to learn about the main highlights and eminent speakers of the upcoming conference!   https://polyu.hk/xahJF Register now to grab your opportunity to learn about the latest happenings in interdisciplinary research and development! https://polyu.hk/JIGuV

SCRI project awarded in ETNet Smart Living Partnership Awards 2022

An interactive platform for COVID-19 status and risk prediction developed by the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) won the “Outstanding One-stop Virus Decision Support Platform” award in the “Health Technology (HealthTech)” category of the ETNet Smart Living Partnership Awards 2022.  An award presentation ceremony was held on 27 February 2023 at Cyberport. Funded by the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), the platform provides spatiotemporal predictions for COVID-19 symptom onset risk in future three days for Hong Kong, other cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Taiwan, Malaysia, etc.

DoMHRC introduces PolyU’s COVID-19 research and tech-aided cognitive training for elderly on RTHK radio programme

Prof. David MAN, Director of the Mental Health Research Centre and Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU, was featured on RTHK radio programme “Under the Sun” on 12 and 19 March. He introduced respectively, research studies on COVID-19, including viral tracing, post-infection rehabilitation, and the Prevention-Protection-Promotion approach in preventing infection and enhancing recovery, as well as how technologies like VR, AR, MR (Mix Reality) and AI can be applied in the cognitive training for elderly.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/3nBfTOH (12 March 2023 04:00 - 24:20) (Cantonese only) RTHK - https://polyu.me/3nBfTOH (19 March 2023 0:55 - 21:55) (Cantonese only)

Prof. David Cardwell of University of Cambridge shares insights on future higher education in PAIR Newsletter

In Issue 5 of PAIR Newsletter, PAIR was honoured to have invited Prof. David CARDWELL, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning) of the University of Cambridge, to share his insights on the way forward for global higher education and his vision for learning, research and engagement. Prof. Cardwell visited PolyU in January 2023 and had previously delivered PAIR Distinguished Lecture “The Future of Global Universities” online. Read the feature story now: https://polyu.hk/McRpZ

PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series: Designing the university for modern research teams

PAIR cordially invites you to join our Distinguished Lecture on 12 April 2023 (Wednesday) at 4:00-5:30pm (HKT) on PolyU campus and via Zoom. The lecture "Designing the university for modern research teams” will be delivered by Prof. Kathryn Ann Moler, Vice Provost and Dean of Research, Marvin Chodorow Professor, Professor of Applied Physics, of Physics and of Energy Science Engineering of Stanford University, U.S.A.  Prof. Moler has held numerous leadership positions at Stanford University and served as the transition dean of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. She is a world-renowned materials physicist and develops tools that image nanoscale magnetic fields to study quantum materials and devices. Among other honours, she received a national Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering, the William L. McMillan Award, and the Richtmyer Award for Outstanding Leadership in Physics Education. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Don’t miss the chance to learn from distinguished scholar! Find out more and register at:  https://polyu.hk/IzWhb

RISA member reveals therapeutic music-with-movement programme improve dementia symptoms

Dr Daphne CHEUNG, Member of the Research Institute for Smart Ageing and Associate Professor of the School of Nursing, explained how therapeutic music-with-movement intervention helps improve cognition and psychosocial symptoms of patients with dementia on a TVB programme “Vital Lifeline”. According to Dr Cheung, patients with dementia participating in a 12-week therapeutic music-with-movement intervention demonstrated improvement in both social skill and mental health condition. Online review: TVB - https://polyu.me/3mJ3Txg (14:26 - 16:24)(Cantonese only)

RISE member granted 2023 Guangdong Natural Science Fund

The three-year project “Rational Design of Advanced Pd-based Electrocatalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction” by Dr Bolong HUANG, Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), was awarded a grant of RMB100,000 from the 2023 Guangdong Natural Science Fund (General Program) under the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology (GDST). The Fund encourages young researchers from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau regions to conduct basic research with a view to facilitating the development of an international innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

MHRC Member named as Rising Star by Association for Psychological Science

Dr Bryant P. H. HUI, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre, has been selected as one of the 48 Rising Stars of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), among 200 candidates from 18 countries. This year, he is the only researcher in Hong Kong receiving the honour. The APS Rising Star designation recognises outstanding APS members in the earliest stages of their post-PhD research career. The Rising Stars are selected for their research excellence based on six criteria, including publications, recognitions, theoretical or empirical contributions, breadth of research impact, commitment to diversity in science, and demonstrated independence from mentors.  Dr Hui is dedicated to examining the key factors that underpin human prosocial behavior and well-being. His research findings have been published in internationally-renowned journals and cited extensively. Currently, Dr Hui is focusing on translational research that promotes societal development. He is now developing effective interventions to promote acts of kindness, along with several projects that are likely to transform into innovative practices that benefit humanity and bring positive social impacts. The full list of the APS 2023 Rising Stars is available at: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/members/awards-and-honors/aps-rising-stars/news-rising-stars

RIAIoT Leading Member speaks on edge AI at a science popularisation programme

Prof. GUO Song, Leading Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Professor in the Department of Computing (COMP), PolyU, presented a keynote speech on edge AI in an educational and science popularisation programme led by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences on 2 March 2023. Prof. Guo explained the indefinite potential of edge computing in driving the development of smart cities.   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3J7mqMx Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/3JdQdDv