News

MHRC member delivers talks at universities in Mexico

Dr Dalinda Isabel Sanchez Vidana, member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), was invited to deliver two talks at prestigious universities in Mexico for the promotion of mental health and well-being. To review the webinar on 22 July 2022: https://www.facebook.com/malinguaq/videos/450969083545107/?extid=CL-UNK-UNKUNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C-GK2C&ref=sharing To review the webinar on 20 September 2022: https://fb.watch/gwhODp8BbP/ Besides, Dr Sanchez will be the keynote speaker at two major events at the Universidad de Guadalajara: the XLII Chemist Scientific and Cultural Event on 9 November 2022 and the 5th Symposium on Materials Science and Engineering on 24 November 2022. Through her talks, Dr Sanchez will facilitate an open discussion on mental health promotion in higher education, emphasising the importance of students practising self-care activities that are conducive to mental well-being, alongside knowledge acquisition and skills development in universities. Dr Sanchez’ efforts focus on addressing mental health stigma in higher education. She will also discuss how self-awareness enables understanding of one’s own limits, identification of signs and sources of emotional distress, knowledge of coping strategies, as well as cultivation of self-care habits, thus forming an essential part of students´ learning. Know more about the XLII Chemist Scientific and Cultural Event, Universidad de Guadalajara: https://sites.google.com/cucei.udg.mx/42eccq-cucei/conferencias?authuser=0 Know more about the 5th Symposium on Materials Science and Engineering, Universidad de Guadalajara: http://fisica.cucei.udg.mx/simposiomateriales/index.php

Ir Prof. Yung Kai Leung featured in Bauhinia Magazine

Ir Prof. Yung Kai-leung, Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, was interviewed by the Bauhinia magazine sharing his passion and contributions to the country’s aerospace industry, including the Camera Pointing System (CPS) for the Chang’e 3, Chang’e 4 moon missions, the Lunar Surface Sampling and Packaging System for the Chang’e 5 mission, as well as the Mars Landing Surveillance Camera for the Tianwen-1 Mars mission. Speaking on China’s space mission, Prof. Yung said that the country had attained remarkable achievements with limited resources. From the moon to Saturn, China has its ambitious plans in space exploration in the future, all of these will be with many challenges. He pointed out that Hong Kong people were open-minded and enthusiastic about innovation and technology. He believed that scientists in Hong Kong could contribute to the national aerospace industry in various aspects. Online coverage (Chinese version only): 新十年@香江｜容啟亮：中國航天用有限資源做成大事業 盼香港科學家運用知識貢獻國家 (bau.com.hk)

VP(RI) urges Hong Kong to proactively build a green economy

The just-concluded 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasised the promotion of green development and the acceleration of green transition towards the achievements of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, showing nation's determination to tackle climate change and transition to a green economy. Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said in an op-ed in HK01 that Hong Kong should assist the Greater Bay Area (GBA) in building an international standard carbon market to achieve the nation's dual-carbon goal. He also supported exploring the feasibility of hydrogen power generation in Hong Kong.  As the largest interdisciplinary research platform in the GBA, PAIR will continue to make unremitting efforts in promoting interdisciplinary research and encouraging innovation, for the country's sustainable development, planning and building of new energy systems, as well as promotion of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Online coverage (Chinese version only): 趙汝恒｜低碳未來有賴於科技創新 把握綠色轉型 (hk01.com) 

PAIR IAC Member Dr Lin Chao-hsin visits PolyU

Dr Lin Chao-hsin, Technical Fellow of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Member of National Academy of Engineering, and Member of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) of PAIR, visited PolyU on 24-25 October 2022.  Dr Lin was warmly received by Prof. Teng Jin-Guang, President of PolyU, Prof. Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Prof. Chen Qingyan, Director of PAIR.  During the visit, Dr Lin had a fruitful discussion with PAIR’s Management Committee members, and other scholars in the areas of aircraft cabin environment, textile fabrics, catering, energy conservation, and floating infrastructure, etc.  Moreover, Dr Lin also met with PolyU aviation experts, including Ir Prof. H.C. Man, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Cheng Yick-chi Chair Professor of Manufacturing Engineering, Chair Professor of Materials Engineering, Director of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and Director of University Research Facility in 3D Printing; Mr Robert Voyle, Chief Executive Officer of Aviation Services Research Centre; as well as Prof. Wen Chih-yung, Head of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering and Chair Professor of Aeronautical Engineering.  Dr Lin also paid a visit to the laboratories of PAIR’s research institutes to understand more about the advanced research facilities and recent research accomplishments in the areas of building environment and energy engineering, smart energy, artificial intelligence of things. 

Six PAIR research projects awarded the Health and Medical Research Fund

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has recently awarded a total grant of HK$19.26 million from the Health Bureau for 19 projects in the 2020 Exercise of the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF).  PolyU’s success in grant application demonstrates the University’s strength in health and medical research and health promotion in the society. These awarded projects cover a wide spectrum of research areas including biomedical technology, rehabilitation sciences, nursing care and optometry and vision sciences.  Out of the 19 projects, six of them are granted to three PAIR’s constituent research units, including the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), the Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) and the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV). Read more: PolyU awarded with 19 Projects by the Health and Medical Research Fund in 2020 Exercise | Research and Innovation Office

PolyU welcomes 2022 Policy Address initiatives on I&T, education, and talent development

PolyU welcomes the Chief Executive’s recent Policy Address, which laid out comprehensive policies and measures for strengthening Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, enhancing the talent pool, improving people’s livelihood, and fostering the city’s participation in the Nation’s development. The University is also encouraged by the newly published China’s 20th Party Congress Report, which outlined the distinctive role and enormous opportunities of Hong Kong in national development under the “one country, two systems” principle. As the largest research platform in the Greater Bay Area, PAIR will continue to make unremitting effort in promoting the Nation’s new industrialisation, accelerating the building of a digital China with strengths in aerospace and transportation, expediting the planning and construction of a novel energy system, as well as the striving for carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

Five PAIR researchers received NSFC’s Young Scientists Fund 2022

Thirty-nine research projects led by young researchers at PolyU have been recognised by the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s (NSFC) Young Scientists Fund 2022, with PolyU ranking as the top grant recipient in terms of the number of projects awarded funding among local universities. The successful PolyU research projects cover a wide spectrum of topics, including environmental protection, green living environment, climate change, construction technology and innovation in AI-assisted medical devices, fostering a better future for our changing living environment. Among the 39 projects, 5 projects are led by PAIR researchers, including Dr Yi Wen and Dr Frank Zou Fangxin, Members of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD); Dr Lyu Xiaopu, Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS); Dr Huang Qi-yao, Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR); and Dr Fan Di, Member of the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE). The Fund is open for applications by Hong Kong researchers and universities for the first time. Each project will be granted funding of RMB 300,000 to support basic research work for three years. More: Thirty-nine PolyU research projects granted the NSFC’s Young Scientists Fund 2022, with PolyU ranking as the top recipient among local universities | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

MHRC in Collaboration with University Health Service to Refer and Recruit Research Subjects

It is with great pleasure that the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) will collaborate with the University Health Service (UHS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in providing client referral services and subject recruitment support for MHRC projects and initiatives. The UHS established a Mental Wellness Clinic in September 2016 to support the mental health needs of students and staff of PolyU. Since its establishment, the Clinic has supported around 1,400 cases and more than 7,000 consultations. About 80% service users are students, who mainly report issues of anxiety and depression. Learn more: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/uhs/preventive-care/mental-wellness-clinic/

PAIR co-organises Distinguished Lecture with Faculty of Humanities

PAIR co-organised a Joint Distinguished Lecture titled “AI, Consciousness and Ethics: Towards a Principled and Empathic AI” with the Faculty of Humanities on 18 October 2022, with 200 online audiences attended. Prof. Manuel Blum and Prof. Lenore Blum, Professor Emeritus and Emeritus of Computer Science of Carnegie Mellon University, discussed the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) based on the Conscious Turing Machine (CTM), a framework for a conscious AI, and examined consciousness from the perspective of Theoretical Computer Science (TCS).  

PolyU reaches new heights in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, ranking 79th globally

PolyU has attained an encouraging result in the newly released Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, ranking 79th in the world, up 12 places from the 2022 rankings, and rising in the rankings for three consecutive years! With 85 years of proud tradition and ranking among the world’s top 100 institutions, PolyU aspires to be a leading university with world-class research and education. As a university with a strong focus on science, engineering and technology and emphasis on societal impact, PolyU responds to major societal challenges, developing cutting-edge, practical solutions to issues related to housing, health care, smart cities, the environment and energy; and seizes new opportunities brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, promoting the development and application of emerging technologies such as AI, data science, IoT, robotics, new materials, advanced manufacturing and biotechnology. PAIR researchers are committed to uncovering knowledge and transforming research excellence into impactful innovation through interdisciplinary research, with a view to addressing pressing global problems for a better world.   Times Higher Education (THE) - https://lnkd.in/gf2UwbCT Press release: https://polyu.me/3yCIatY