News

PAIR Successfully Hosts Its Second Distinguished Lecture Series by Professor David Cardwell of University of Cambridge

The PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series was successfully held on 17 May 2022. We were honoured to have renowned scholar, Prof. David Cardwell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning), University of Cambridge, UK, as the invited speaker.  The webinar was hosted by Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).  It attracted over 430 participants from 30 countries and regions.  Honourable participants include: (In alphabetical order of their last names) Prof. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia Prof. Kent Anderson, Deputy Vice Chancellor Global of The University of Newcastle, Australia Prof. Sean Brawley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy & Planning) of University of Wollongong, Australia Prof. Chetwyn Chan, Vice President (Research and Development) of The Education University of Hong Kong Prof. Caroline Chan, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Partnerships of The University of Newcastle, Australia Prof. Haydn Chen, Chief Strategy Officer of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan Prof. Tim Cheng, Vice-President for Research and Development of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Prof. Archie Clements, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Health Sciences of Curtin University, Australia Prof. Lianzhen He, Vice President of Zhejiang University, China Prof. Peter Høj AC, Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Adelaide, Australia Prof. Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) of The University of Hong Kong Prof. Elizabeth Johnson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic of Deakin University, Australia Dr Chao-Hsin Lin, International Advisory Committee Member of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research Prof. Yu-hon Lui, Vice President (Resources and Development) of Hong Kong Metropolitan University Prof. Charlie Xue, Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) of RMIT University STEM College, Australia Prof. Man-Sung Yim, Associate Vice President, International Office of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea Prof. Qingyan Chen, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering of PolyU, briefed the audiences about the establishment of PAIR aiming to address societal challenges as outlined in the 2030 agenda for 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. In the introduction, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, expressed appreciation for Prof. Cardwell to be speaker of PAIR’s distinguished lecture, he said, “As the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and Planning at the University of Cambridge with a wealth of valuable experience, the vision of Prof. Cardwell is not only important for Cambridge and the United Kingdom, but also for the entire world.” Prof. Cardwell began with an overview of the challenges posed to modern day universities by the breadth and diversity of international further education curricular of pre-university students in which results in evolving of the university curriculum of moving towards problem-based learning. Subsequently, Prof. Cardwell presented his views in the implications for higher education within the context of both teaching and research.  He pointed out that the key to the future of global universities would be their response to education post Covid-19, the move towards on-line and hybrid teaching and reformation of established examination and assessment processes. Universities need to place increased focus on widening participation, transferable skills in teaching and learning, partnerships with industry, and on subject-based innovation as move to an environment-led economy.  Prof. Cardwell further explained that metrics such as gender balance, ethnicity, employability, and diversity of academic content would become increasingly indicative of good university performance, the reason is universities become more selective in the range of courses that they offer.  All of these would lead to wider collaborations between universities and industries to deliver sector specific training for graduate students. To conclude, Prof. Cardwell advised that the future of global universities would be on the basis of their ability of engagement, especially in the increasingly large, collaborative international projects and talent recruitment. Besides, the reduced need for physical travel underpinned by artificial intelligence, mental health and well-being pivotal of students and staff, the ability to demonstrate diversity and quality, as well as the imminence of addressing global warming are also the major factors. The lecture was followed by a 30 minutes fruitful discussion, which was moderated by Prof. Wong Kwok-yin, Vice President (Education) and Chair Professor of Chemical Technology of PolyU, and Prof. Andrew Cohen, Director of HKUST Jockey Club Institute of Advanced Study, Lam Woo Foundation Professor and Acting Dean of Science of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.  Please click here for online review.  

MHRC Associate Director receives funding to develop digital platform for pandemic support

Congratulations to Prof. Hector Tsang, Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre, Chair Professor and Head of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, for receiving HK$500,000 from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charity Trust - COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund 2.0! The fund aims to provide fast-track grants to NGOs for offering quick, specific and innovative services to people hard-hit by the pandemic and fostering mutual help in the community to fight against the pandemic. In view of the rapid and serious fifth wave of the COVID-19 since early this year, the Hong Kong Government has tightened the social distancing measures and raised the response level to Emergency, people who are financially deprived and from vulnerable or disability groups are seriously affected. The funded project titled “Development of a digital platform (Electronic Mental Evaluation, Resources and Information Toolkit; e-MERIT) for pandemic support on the mental health of the vulnerable groups” aims to provide imminent support in mental health context for the betterment of local vulnerable communities. It is our great pleasure to join hands with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charity Trust to fight against COVID-19! We wish the mental health digital platform every success! 

Establishment of the Task Force on Campus Carbon Neutrality in PolyU

Climate change and high carbon emissions are among the world’s most pressing problems. To help achieve carbon neutrality on campus and support Hong Kong’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, PolyU has established a Task Force on Campus Carbon Neutrality. The Task Force is under the chairmanship of Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation), with expert members from different Faculties of PolyU as well as from various Research Institutes and Centres under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR). Read the whole story from: https://polyu.hk/DBnHL    

Dr Ning LI Visited PolyU for Industrial Cooperation

Dr Ning LI, Chairman of Li-Ning Company Limited, visited PolyU on 5th May 2022 to seek further cooperation with PolyU. Li-Ning Company Limited is a famous Chinese sportswear and sports equipment company founded in 1989 by Ning LI, a former Chinese Olympic gymnast.   Professor Xiaoming TAO, Director of RI-IWEAR, Professor Jintu FAN, Professor Li LI, and Dr Tracy MOK, members of RI-IWEAR gave introductions on the research related to sportswear and health care for sportsmen, displayed the examples of the latest textile technology, and demonstrated the monitoring and rehabilitation technology for the sportsman, respectively.   Dr Ning LI detailed consulted on the relevant technical requirements and the possible development directions. The whole process of technology introduction and demonstration was broadcasted to the R & D team of Li-Ning Company Limited at the same time. This is communication for research and development knowledge transfer.

MHRC Member Receives HK$ 1.7 Million Funding from Innovation and Technology Fund

Congratulations to our proud member of MHRC, Dr Sonata Yau, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, receives HKD 1.7 million in funding from Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme (MHKJFS), one of the funding schemes under Innovation and Technology Fund, which aims to support and encourage research and development collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in Hong Kong and the Mainland. The funded project entitled "Advancing application of the active compounds of Chinese Herbal Medicine formulas on counteracting depression: Investigation of the synergistic activation on PACAP-mediated rapid and lasting antidepressant effects" which will focus on advancing the clinical application of Yueju (越鞠丸), a Chinese multiherbal medicine formulated 800 years ago to treat syndromes associated with mood disorders, through examining the mechanistic action of its extracted active ingredients. The results will provide mechanistic insights of the synergetic action of extracted active ingredients from Yueju on antidepressant treatment target and will facilitate modernization of Yueju-based antidepressant formula with an optimal therapeutic dosage on treating depression patients. Congratulations again to Dr Yau!   

PAIR is featured in the latest issue of Excel x Impact Spring 2022

PAIR is featured in the latest issue of Excel x Impact published by PolyU! Let's read the full story: https://polyu.hk/QlgKX  

RI-IWEAR member appointed as Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies

Congratulation to Dr Dahua Shou, member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems was appointed as Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies. An awardee of many prestigious awards, including TechConnect Global Innovation Awards for two consecutive years and those conferred by the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, Dr Shou has published over 60 SCI papers in impactful journals such as Science Advances, PNAS, Advanced Energy Materials, and Advanced Functional Materials. Currently he serves on the editorial boards of four SCI journals and is a lead guest editor for several SCI journals.   The Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies is donated by Dr Harry LEE, Chairman of TAL Apparel Limited and member of the Industrial Advisory Committee for RI-IWEAR.   Click the link for more information of the Endowed Young Scholars Scheme.

PAIR Hosts Its First Distinguished Lecture by Professor Catherine P. Koshland of UC Berkely a Big Success

The PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series was successfully held on 22 April 2022. We are honoured to have renowned scholar Prof. Catherine P. Koshland, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost at University of California, Berkeley, USA, as the invited speaker.  The webinar attracted over 350 participants from over 10 countries and regions. Honourable participants include: (In alphabetical order) Prof. Chetwyn Chan, Vice President (Research and Development) of The Education University of Hong Kong Prof. Leonard Kwok-hon Cheng, President of Lingnan University Mr Richard Leung, Council Member of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Prof. Paul Poon, Vice Chancellor of CLP Power Academy Prof. James Tang, Secretary-General of University Grants Committee Secretariat Prof. Christian Wagner, Provost of City University of Hong Kong Prof. Wang Wei, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (China) of Edith Cowan University; and Prof. Kwan-Leung Wong, Associate Academic Vice President (Teaching & Learning Development) of Hong Kong Shue Yan University. The webinar was hosted by Professor Qingyan Chen, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering at PolyU. He briefed the audience about the establishment of PAIR with the aim to address societal challenges as outlined in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations General Assembly, Agenda 2030. “Universities have traditionally been places where scholars and students delve into individual research topics. Their research has been conducted along disciplinary lines in various faculties and departments, with the aim of expanding knowledge within disciplines. However, this approach cannot meet the needs of today. Thus, PolyU established ten Research Institutes (RIs) and five Research Centres (RCs) under PAIR that aim to generate unique knowledge, develop joint innovative projects, and achieve the SDGs” he explained. Prof. Koshland was then introduced by Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU. “I remember that in 2009, when I was the Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Land Use (now, it has been renamed as Faculty of Construction and Environment, FCE), we had invited Prof. Koshland to be the guest of honour in the PolyU 15th Congregation Ceremony. I am very pleased to meet her again today and would like to thank for her great support to PAIR.”   Using UC Berkeley as an exemplar, Prof. Koshland gave us a distinguished lecture on ‘Lighting the Way with Interdisciplinary Research since 1868’.  One of the hallmarks of UC Berkeley has always been engagement of its faculty and students in research and education that expand in cross disciplines, joining on multiple approaches to address major challenges facing the world today, which is also what we are seeking to do at PAIR of PolyU. Moreover, Prof. Koshland shared with us the ways in which individuals and institutions can engage in interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary research and education and how they can be creatively intertwined.  At the beginning of the webinar, Professor Koshland briefly presented the collaboration of co-authored and published of over 45,000 papers in peer reviewed journals with colleagues at over 6,000 universities and research institutions in the world including PolyU. She then explained why, when and how to establish interdisciplinary academic structures and research collaborations in UC Berkeley. “Obviously, to address a problem, you can’t solve without a diverse team, and no single individual can do that, and again, those efforts require collaborative efforts,” she claimed. She further explained that such interdisciplinary team can develop a powerful tool or method that can address many questions across many disciplines. After that, Prof. Koshland talked about the importance of establishing Organised Research Units, connecting with other world leaders via transformational partnerships and transforming the professoriate to recruit the best minds to define new fields of collaborative research.  UC Berkeley faculty can engage in collaborative, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research through its 50 multidisciplinary institutes and centers, 41 UC Natural Reserve sites, and 7 Research Museums. The University also engages a lot with national laboratories, UC San Francisco and even National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Such transformational partnership with NASA not only enables collaborative research in aeroscience, astrobiology, space and earth sciences, AI for flight systems, etc., but also helps attract new faculty and student talent to the University.  To conclude the lecture, Prof. Koshland gave advice on opening competitions between faculty members which can help identify the best ideas, and top management should lead with faculty ideas and strengths.  It is also important to invest in a sizable and manageable set of initiatives strategically.  A panel discussion session was followed.  The session was moderated by Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering at PolyU, and joined by two panellists, Prof. Xiang-dong Li, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment and Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology at PolyU as well as Prof. Yuguo Li, Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Building Environment at The University of Hong Kong.  The audience was impressed and inspired by Prof. Koshland and had a fruitful discussion with her in the areas of teaching capacity and compensation of faculty members, key factors of success in interdisciplinary research and education, how can faculty and students overcome the barrier of communication. Please click here for online Review. 

RCSV-SO Joint Distinguished Lecture - “How the Baby Learns to See: Critical Periods Re-visited”

Award-winning Project by RiFood member: AkkMore™: a Fungus and Plant Based Supplement Against Obesity or Prediabetes

Dr Gail Jinhui Chang, Core Member of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), developed AkkMore™: a fungus and plant-based supplement against obesity or prediabetes which received the silver medal at the Geneva Inventio Expo earlier. AkkMore™ is a nutritional supplement formula drink that improves users’ body conditions by building a healthy #microbiome. The drink boosts 𝘈𝘬𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢 in human guts, reduces #metabolic disorders and therefore helps users to #loseweight. Please click the link to watch the video for this award-winning project: https://bit.ly/3NUwYz4