PolyU places great effort in promoting interdisciplinary research and nurturing future researchers
Over the years, PolyU has been committed to promoting interdisciplinary research to address the pressing needs of society. Under this backdrop, the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) was established to facilitate interdisciplinary research, transfer technologies to stakeholders, inspire innovation across disciplines, and collaborate with top institutions in the world.
Under PAIR, there are currently ten research institutes (RIs) and five research centres (RCs). One of the institutes established recently is the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood). Dr Wong Ka-hing, Director of RiFood and Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, said in a media interview that RiFood is currently conducting research on converting food waste into 3D printing materials with nanotechnology. The institute is also conducting projects about AI food authentication and food sustainability.
According to Professor Wing-tak Wong, PolyU’s Deputy President and Provost, PolyU will invest HK$400 million in the next three years in 15 new research institutes and centres focusing on areas like smart cities, wearable smart devices and Chinese medicine.
The University has furthermore introduced the Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS), to nurture undergraduate students who demonstrate a keen aptitude for research. “The aim of the scheme is to encourage undergraduate students to start research early,” said Professor Wong.
Undergraduate students are encouraged to submit their proposals individually or in a group of less than five. Since the launch of the scheme, 117 projects involving 200 students have been approved, with a total of more than HK$5 million in funding being granted so far. Participants of the scheme also gain auto admission to the College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI), and are given priority in the allocation of hostel places at PolyU’s new Residential College in the Homantin Student Halls of Residence.
Take a closer look at the media reports to learn more about these new initiatives:
