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Ir Prof. NI Yi-Qing receives the Chinese Academy of Engineering’s 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award

Ir Prof. NI Yi-Qing, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), has recently been honoured with the 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award. Established by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award recognises Chinese engineers and scientists for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of engineering, technology and management. Presented biennially, the award comprises two categories: the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Achievement Award and the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award. Following a rigorous process involving nomination, preliminary assessment, public announcement and final review, CAE academicians selected 40 awardees from a pool of 471 outstanding candidates, including one recipient of the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Achievement Award and 39 recipients of the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award. The awardees span a wide range of disciplines, including mechanical engineering, information technology, chemical engineering, metallurgy, materials and energy. Among them, three awardees are from Hong Kong. Prof. Ni has devoted more than 30 years to the research and application of structural health monitoring technologies. He pioneered an integrated modular design approach for large-scale structural health monitoring systems and a life-cycle structural health monitoring paradigm. These innovations have been widely applied in the design and implementation of health monitoring systems for major civil engineering structures. Press release: https://polyu.me/4fnU1km   Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4bdy5Hi; https://polyu.me/4vRzYBJ Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4vnsnd4; https://polyu.me/4bzXQBN Lion Rock Daily - https://polyu.me/44ojtkF China News - https://polyu.me/3Tt14AL Sina - https://polyu.me/4pbUqLh China Daily - https://polyu.me/4wgawq1 People.cn - https://polyu.me/4vZNfZb Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/4gxPzBQ Qiaobaous - https://polyu.me/4yh3pPm World Journal - https://polyu.me/4w2CWDC Rednet.com - https://polyu.me/4yvvt1E 

RiFood honoured with Correctional Services Department’s “Rehabilitation Partner” Award

The Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received the “Rehabilitation Partner” Award from the Correctional Services Department (CSD) of the HKSAR in recognition of its outstanding contributions to supporting rehabilitation programmes for persons in custody (PICs).  Prof. WONG Ka-hing, Director of RiFood, represented the University in receiving the award at the presentation ceremony held on 17 June 2026. In February 2025, PolyU and the CSD signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly promote food waste upcycling and the development of environmentally friendly products, injecting new impetus into the sustainable development of the correctional industry.  Since the fourth quarter of 2025, PolyU’s related research outcomes have been applied to industrial production in correctional institutions.  PolyU has also provided vocational training to PICs in the design and production of environmentally friendly products, with a view to enhancing their employability.  The collaboration not only promotes environmental protection and the development of a circular economy, but also provides PICs with practical skills training and development opportunities that support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Environmentally friendly products upcycled from spent coffee grounds are now available on the CSD Sports Association’s online charity gift platform, Made in Prison, encouraging public support for rehabilitation and environmental protection.  All sales proceeds, after deduction of necessary costs, will be donated to various locally registered charities, providing PICs with opportunities to give back to the community.

Ir Prof. ZHANG Ming elected Fellow of Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering for 2026

Ir Prof. ZHANG Ming, Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, has recently been elected a Fellow of the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering (CSBME) for the year 2026, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to rehabilitation engineering and biomedical engineering. Ir Prof. Zhang took the lead in establishing the Society’s Rehabilitation Engineering Technical Committee and served as its inaugural Chair. Under his leadership, the committee has grown into one of the Society’s largest and most distinguished groups. While advancing the development of the branch, Ir Prof. Zhang has also actively fostered collaboration between PolyU and the Society. The PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering has long participated in the Society’s academic activities, promoting research and academic exchange in related fields. Established in 1980, CSBME is a national first-level academic society and the only professional academic organisation in the Chinese Mainland that integrates research, education, clinical practice and industrial development in the field of biomedical engineering. The Society has more than 45,000 individual members. Since launching its Fellow programme in 2024, a total of 45 scholars have been elected Fellows to date.

Four PAIR members awarded RGC Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme

Four PAIR members have been awarded the Research Grants Council (RGC) Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme, which supports their pursuit of immersive research at leading overseas institutions, enhancing insights into the latest global trends in scientific research and innovation. The awarded PolyU scholars bring wide-ranging expertise across Web3, digital finance, language sciences, physiotherapy and AI management.  Their research efforts exemplify PolyU’s robust research capabilities and unwavering commitment to driving innovation with global impact.  Each of them will be supported with a HK$368,000 grant for their overseas research trip. The four awardees are: Principal Investigators Research Plan Overseas Host Institution(s) Prof. LUO Xiapu Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI), Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, and Professor of Department of Computing Bridging Hong Kong and Europe for Secure Web3: DeFi Risk Detection and Blockchain Infrastructure Hardening University College London (UK) ETH Zurich (Switzerland) University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg) Prof. CHAN Wing Shan Angel Member of Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Associate Professor of Department of Language Science and Technology Advancing Culturally-Responsive Speech Therapy Practice for Children: From Technology Innovation to Person-Centred Care Griffith University (Australia) Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics (Germany) The University of Sydney (Australia) City St George’s University of London (UK) Prof. Arnold WONG Associate Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Member of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR) and Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), and Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences The Application of Co-Design and Non-inferiority Trial Design to Evaluate Effectiveness and Cost- Effectiveness of Direct Access Physiotherapy Services The University of Sydney (Australia) Prof. Crystal SHI Member of Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) and Associate Professor of School of Hotel and Tourism Management Cross-Cultural Insights on Human-AI Collaboration in Hospitality: Supporting Digital Transformation and Service Innovation in Multicultural Workforces Purdue University (USA)   The RGC Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme aims to encourage university faculty to visit overseas institutions/units for immersive international collaboration, thereby broadening their international perspective and deepening the Hong Kong research community’s exposure to trends elsewhere.  Selected fellows will be supported in visiting overseas institutional laboratories/research units/clinical set-ups to work on research projects or undergo research-related professional development.  

Professor CHEN Qingyan elected Fellow of the Royal Society

Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science. Election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society is one of the highest scientific honours in the world. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is the world’s oldest scientific academy in continuous existence, and its fellowship includes some of the most renowned scientists and thinkers in modern history. A globally recognised thought leader, Prof. Chen is renowned for his pioneering work in indoor air quality (IAQ), aircraft cabin environments, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and is among the very few scholars from the institution to receive this distinguished honour. His significant contributions have earned him recognition among the world’s leading scientists in the “Building and Construction” field, according to Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists list. His models for simulating indoor environments have been instrumental in shaping public policy and driving innovation in ventilation systems. He has also developed design guidelines and strategies that have become industry benchmarks, prioritising occupant well-being and fostering healthier, more energy-efficient environments. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President said, “We are proud of Prof. Chen’s contributions to the scientific community. His work has played an important role in advancing human well-being and safety. His research has also helped inform safety standards for public transportation, including efforts to reduce infectious disease transmission on airplanes and cruise ships.” Prof. Chen expressed his gratitude for the honour, saying, “I am deeply humbled to receive this recognition, which is truly one of the highest accolades a scientist can achieve. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to my research team and collaborators at PolyU, as well as my family, for their unwavering support over the years.” Throughout his career, Prof. Chen has received numerous awards and recognitions for his groundbreaking works, including the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology; the International Building Performance Simulation Association, the Scandinavian Federation of Heating, Ventilation and Sanitary Engineering Associations (SCANVAC); the Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Press release:https://polyu.me/4wJ0jCS   Online coverage: Fooshya - https://polyu.me/4f6ybTZ Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4wQ5TDs HK01 - https://polyu.me/4edlNk0

Prof. ZHANG Shuowen elected IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Lecturer

Prof. ZHANG Shuowen, Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Assistant Professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, has been elected as an IEEE Communications Society (IEEE ComSoc) Distinguished Lecturer for the Class of 2026–2027. Prof. ZHANG’s research focuses on next-generation wireless communications, including smart and reconfigurable 6G-and-beyond wireless networks enabled by intelligent reflecting surface, as well as integrated sensing and communication, unmanned aerial vehicles, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), and communication theory. The IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer Program (DLP) connects accomplished IEEE ComSoc senior members in the field of communications technology with ComSoc chapters worldwide to exchange knowledge, expertise and insights into the future of communications technology.

Ir Prof. ZHENG Pai elected Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Ir Prof. ZHENG Pai, Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Associate Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Wong Tit Shing Young Scholar in Smart Robotics, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and to the Society. Prof. Zheng has long been dedicated to advancing mutual cognitive human-robot collaborative manufacturing systems (MC-HRCMS).  His Research Group of AI for Industrial Digital Servitization (RAIDS) team has co-founded CobotAI Limited and introduced a novel multimodal human-robot interaction solution called TeleX.  The system combines precise motion tracking, advanced visual sensing, and touch-sensitive “robot hands” to synchronously collect multimodal human operation data in complex operational scenarios. TeleX has already been tested across a range of typical industrial scenarios, including egocentric or teleoperation in robotic assembly, dispensing process, and wire dismantling, etc., demonstrating its broad application potential.

Prof. SHOU Dahua’s “iAdapt” intelligent soft robotic clothing wins gold at 2026 Edison Awards

The innovative project “iAdapt: Intelligent Soft Robotic Clothing”, led by Prof. SHOU Dahua, Associate Director of the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF), Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Lee Family Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Associate Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles—and funded by The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited (HKRITA), has won the Gold Award in the “Consumer Solutions” category at the 2026 Edison Awards. iAdapt is an advanced intelligent garment designed to dynamically regulate its thermal performance in extreme cold and rapidly changing thermal environments. It effectively enhances the wearer’s thermal comfort while offering ultra‑high breathability, which is crucial for safeguarding the safety and health of wearers.  This breakthrough innovation provides personalised thermal comfort for a wide range of professional and general users, including outdoor workers, firefighters and athletes.  The invention not only represents a major advance in intelligent wearable technology, but also demonstrates strong market potential and broad application prospects.

Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN elected as Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts

Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Chair Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology in the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Director of the Yan Oi Tong Au Suet Ming Child Development Centre, and Co-Founder of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has been elected as a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) under Class V: Social Sciences, Law, and Economics. EASA is a learned society based in Salzburg, Austria, committed to promoting scientific and societal progress. Its members include leading scientists, artists, and practitioners of governance who are dedicated to innovative research, interdisciplinary and transnational collaboration, as well as the exchange and dissemination of knowledge. The Academy comprises seven distinct classes representing various academic and artistic disciplines: Humanities, Medicine, Arts, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Law and Economics, Technical and Environmental Sciences, and World Religions. Prof. Chen’s research spans personality and social psychology, cultural psychology, and mental health, with a focus on bilingualism and biculturalism, culture and globalisation, personality and social behaviour in cultural contexts, and the psychosocial and cultural dimensions of mental health. She is a Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society and a Registered Psychologist and Fellow of the Hong Kong Psychological Society.  Prof. Chen’s honours include the Outstanding International Psychologist Award from the American Psychological Association and the Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship from the Research Grants Council. She is a Fellow of major scholarly and professional societies, including The World Academy of Sciences, the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, as well as a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, UK. She has served as President of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, and is currently Editor‑in‑Chief of the Journal of Cross‑Cultural Psychology and General Editor of the Cambridge University Press Culture and Psychology Series.  

Prof. FAN Jintu appointed Editor-in-Chief of Textiles Journal

Congratulations to Prof. FAN Jintu, Director of the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF) and Chair Professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Engineering at School of Fashion and Textiles, on his appointment as Editor-in-Chief of the international academic journal Textiles, effective from 1 May 2026. Textiles is currently ranked second out of 31 journals in the “Materials Science, Textiles” category, placing it firmly in the top quartile (Q1) with an Impact Factor of 4.9.  The editorial board of Textiles consists of 39 outstanding textile scholars around the world.