News

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

RISE member proposes Guangdong–Hong Kong collaboration on renewable energy development towards “double carbon” goals

Ir Prof. YANG Hongxing, Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Professor in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of PolyU, suggested Hong Kong to collaborate with Guangdong on renewable energy development, including constructing offshore wind energy generator facilities and investing in photovoltaic power projects in Guangdong, at the 2nd Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao–Greater Bay Area New Energy Industry International Summit Forum held on 1 March 2023. Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3KPUG0q (Chinese Only) Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3SMOxUr (Chinese Only) ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/3SEp7bD (Chinese Only) China News Service - https://polyu.me/3SDQ9Qx (Chinese Only)

Turing Award Laureate Professor Joseph Sifakis delivers lecture on AI and autonomous systems

The PAIR Distinguished Lecture delivered by Turing Award Laureate Professor Joseph Sifakis, Emeritus Senior CNRS Researcher at Verimag Laboratory, was successfully held on 3 March 2023. The webinar attracted about 800 participants from more than 50 countries and regions, including Australia, Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was also broadcasted live on multiple social media platforms, including Bilibili and Weibo, and viewed by over 12,000 online audience in total. The webinar was kick-started by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering at PolyU, followed by a welcome speech by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering at PolyU and a speaker introduction by Prof. CHEN Changwan, PAIR Management Committee Member and Chair Professor of Visual Computing at PolyU. Prof. Sifakis shared his major work on the formalisation of system design as a process leading from given requirements to trustworthy, optimised and correct-by-construction implementations. He first presented an analogy between human and machine intelligence, followed by a review of the transition from automation to autonomy in the development of trustworthy autonomous systems, and summarised the lecture by discussing the impacts of the artificial intelligent systems. A question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. Chen Qingyan and Prof. Chen Changwen followed. The audience was inspired to have a fruitful exchange with Prof. Sifakis. Online review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqxZ5Zu6-Co  

PAIR Newsletter ∙ Issue 5 ∙ March 2023 is now available online!

In this issue, we are delighted to share PAIR’s latest innovations and endeavours. A significant highlight of this issue includes a dialogue with Prof. David Cardwell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning), The University of Cambridge, about the future of global higher education. You can also read about feature stories with the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) to learn their contributions to sustainability challenges, our latest #research findings, knowledge transfer, award recognitions, and scholarly events. If you find any articles or links in our newsletter that are especially enlightening and applicable, please share the relevant content with your friends and colleagues. Happy reading!