University Grants Committee members visit PolyU

A University Grants Committee (UGC) delegation visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 12 September 2024, where they met with university management, faculty members and students to gain valuable insights into the University’s latest developments.

Mr Tim Lui, Chairman of UGC, was accompanied by 24 UGC members and Secretariat staff. They received a warm welcome from Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost; Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President; Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education); Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs); and Mr Kar-kan LING, Interim Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities).

The UGC delegates embarked on a guided campus tour, during which they visited the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab (AIR Lab) at the University’s Industrial Centre; the Hong Kong Branch of the Chinese National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Center (CNERC-Rail); and the Space Resources Laboratory at the Research Centre for Deep Space Exploration (RCDSE). During the visit, PolyU researchers and faculty members also showcased the University’s cutting-edge teaching and research facilities, as well as highlighting impactful research projects.

• Prof. Xiaoming TAO, Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textile Technology, Chair Professor of Textile Technology of the School of Fashion and Textiles, and Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems introduced her research project “Wearable System with Alternating Cooling and Heating for Sport Recovery and Safe and Eco-friendly Antimicrobial Materials with High Efficiency”.
• Prof. KEE Chea-su, Head and Professor of the School of Optometry, and Co-founder of GOOD Vision Technologies Company Limited/Wellsees Technologies Company Limited introduced his team’s award-winning research project “K-Shape”, the world’s first portable high-definition corneal topographer.
• Dr WAI Hon-wah, Director of the Industrial Centre introduced AIR Lab’s teaching and research facilities, and the fencing robot and robotic exoskeleton developed by PolyU scholars.
• Prof. Yi-qing NI, Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Professor in Smart Structures, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Director of CNERC-Rail shared details of two CNERC-Rail research projects on aerodynamic noise resistance control for Maglev trains and metro rail noise control.
• At RCDSE’s Space Resources Laboratory, Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Director of RCDSE, shed light on the lunar “Surface Sampling and Packing System”. This system supported the Nation in completing its first lunar sample return mission, Chang’e 5, and the world’s first lunar far-side sampling for the Chang’e-6 lunar exploration mission. The custom-built lunar regolith storage and analyser has also been introduced.
• Prof. WU Bo, Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science, Associate Head of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics and Associate Director of RCDSE, explained how his team utilised planetary mapping and remote sensing techniques to support landing site analysis and selection for the Nation’s lunar missions and the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars. He also introduced the ongoing research project “Finding Water in Lunar Soil”, which aims to analyse the water content and sources in the lunar soil samples. The findings will shed insights into the formation of soil on the lunar surface and lunar water resources induced by solar wind implantation.

The UGC members also engaged in face-to-face dialogue sessions with more than 40 faculty members and nearly 50 undergraduate, master’s and PhD students from different faculties, schools and departments. These interactions provided them valuable insights into PolyU’s laudable teaching and research achievements, as well as its dynamic student community and vibrant learning environment.

Prof. Xiaoming Tao introduced her research project “Wearable System with Alternating Cooling and Heating for Sport Recovery and Safe and Eco-friendly Antimicrobial Mate-rials with High Efficiency”.	Prof. Kee Chea-su introduced his team’s award-winning research project “K-Shape”, the world’s first portable high-definition corneal topographer.
Dr Wai Hon-wah introduced AIR Lab’s teaching and research facilities, and the fencing robot and robotic exoskeleton developed by PolyU scholars.	Prof. Yi-qing Ni shared details of two CNERC-Rail research projects with the delegation: aerodynamic noise resistance control for Maglev trains and metro rail noise control.
Prof. Yung Kai-leung shed light on the “Surface Sampling and Packing System”, and the lunar soil storage and sample analyser.	Prof. WU Bo explained how his team utilised planetary mapping and remote sensing techniques to support landing site analysis and selection for the Nation’s lunar missions and the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, and introduced the ongoing research project “Finding Water in Lunar Soil”.