Prof. Wang Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, received a Croucher Senior Research Fellowship 2023 in recognition of his outstanding achievements in nature-inspired engineering and breakthrough research on inhibiting the Leidenfrost effect. 

Nature-inspired innovation is an interdisciplinary science drawing inspiration from living creatures and nature for innovative solutions. Specifically, Prof. Wang’s research explores the surface properties of natural creatures with the aim of developing novel nature-inspired materials for a wide range of applications such as water energy harvesting, thermal cooling, fluid transport and flexible electronics. 

Prof. Wang achieved his scientific breakthrough by identifying an innovative solution to addressing the liquid cooling of high-temperature surfaces by suppressing the classical physical phenomenon - the Leidenfrost effect, a challenge that scientists have been unable to overcome for centuries. 

 “I hope this recognition will motivate more scholars to seek inspiration from nature and draw innovation in related research,” said Prof. Wang. 

Upon receiving the Fellowship, he is awarded funding of HK$2 million over one year for research expenses.

Prof. Wang is a founding member of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the International Society of Bionic Engineering (ISBE), Croucher Senior Research Fellow (2023), RGC Senior Research Fellow (2022), Highly Cited Researcher (Cross-field) as recognized by Clarivate Analytics (2022), and Changjiang Chair Professor as conferred by the Ministry of Education of China (2016).