Excel x Impact 06/2020

Coming Together to COMBAT COVID-19

PolyU ranked 75th in the world Alumni series Big Data in a tiny package in latest league table Mr Alfred Sit, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Contents June 2020 09 17 39

President’s Message

Welcome to Excel x Impact, our new quarterly publication that celebrates the spirit of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) – to pursue world-class excellence and make a positive impact on society.

In this inaugural issue, readers will learn more

Photo source: China National Space Administration about PolyU’s achievements in education, 03 31 43 research and knowledge transfer. At the time of publication, the world has been contending with the COVID-19 pandemic. For our part, the PolyU Cover Story Knowledge Transfer and PolyU Community community has been harnessing innovation Entrepreneurship 03 Coming together to combat COVID-19 Staff and expertise to fight the virus, while extending 25 Beating the heat for construction workers 33 Major external appointments and awards care to those in need. This is the kind of positive Dialogue 27 Educating entrepreneurs and supporting of PolyU members impact we should all be striving for. start-ups 33 Senior staff appointments and promotions 09 Unleashing the power of education I would like to thank our alumnus, Mr Alfred Sit, - A conversation with Council Chairman 35 Professor Li Ping, the newly-appointed Secretary for Innovation Spotlights Dean of Faculty of Humanities 11 Excellence and impact and Technology of HKSAR, who in this issue - Brain, language and happiness - A conversation with President 29 PolyU ranked 75th in the world in latest shares his vision for innovation as well as some league table 37 Professor Asif Usmani, memorable moments from his school days. 29 Campus expansion to meet allied health Head of Department of Building Education I also thank the Editorial Committee, in professionals’ training needs Services Engineering particular, Chairman Professor H. C. Man and 13 Learning and teaching during a time of 30 Largest share of Research Impact Fund - Ablaze with curiosity Co-chairman Professor Kaye Chon, for their social distancing two years in a row Alumni dedication and contributions to the launch of 39 Mr Alfred Sit, 30 Collaborative research in quantum this university-wide publication. Research and Innovation information optics published in Science Secretary for Innovation and Technology 17 Big Data in a tiny package 31 Scholars named Leader of the Year for – An innovative vision for Hong Kong This new publication could not have been 19 A different kind of fish story their contributions to China’s lunar 41 Mr David Lau, successfully launched without the hard work of Founder of Popway Hotel colleagues at the Communications and Public 21 PolyU researchers create radiation-free exploration - A model of ingenuity and entrepreneurship Affairs (CPA) Office. Many thanks to our CPA device to assess scoliosis 32 Lee Hysan Foundation partners with 43 New Board of Directors to take alumni team for their excellent effort! 23 Experts join hands to tackle environmental PolyU to tackle elder abuse associations forward and energy challenges 32 Hotel ICON recognised for training and I wish you an enjoyable read. Students 24 New Futian institute boosts PolyU’s impact service excellence Jin-Guang Teng in GBA 43 Kudos to PolyU’s outstanding students President 24 Joint laboratory to explore innovation in 45 Students translate AI technologies to autonomous vehicles industry solutions 45 Students win gold with education project on personal finance Cover Story

PolyU partnered with the Hospital Authority to develop 3D-printed face shields for medical professionals.

COVID-19 with only one test, in just one hour. With its patent-pending microfluidic and biochemical technologies, this system can provide ultra- sensitive detection while simultaneously differentiating various pathogens with extremely high specificity.

P o ly “Early and accurate detection of pathogens U d e contributes to effective and efficient disease v el op control and management, and prevent s r eu sa spreading of any contagious pathogens,” said ble fac e sh Dr Terence Lau, Interim Associate Vice President ields f or both the public and healthcare service providers. (Innovation and Technology Development) and Adjunct Professor at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of PolyU. “It also benefits patients because timely therapy can then be applied to prevent complications.”

Coming Together ince the start of COVID-19 at the end of 2019, tens of millions of people across the world have been infected and hundreds of thousands of fatalities reported. During this difficult period, the Sentire PolyU family of staff, students and alumni has banded together in the fight against this virus, in to COMBAT keeping with the University’s motto: “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind.”

We have been serving the community in combating the epidemic by making use of our professional expertise and creativity to design protective face shields for medical staff and the public. We COVID-19 also developed the world’s most comprehensive How PolyU harnessed innovation automated multiplex diagnostic system for scanning respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19. This automated multiplex diagnostic system can lumni join fron and the technical expertise of its land a tline fii Beyond this, our staff, students, alumni have been provide rapid detection of the COVID-19 virus. Main ghte rs in Wu researchers to fight a deadly new virus combining their resources to support those in need ha n. in the community. Some alumni even took part in frontline anti-epidemic work in Wuhan during the Capable of detecting up to 40 infectious respiratory first few months of the outbreak. Together, we have pathogens as well as the novel coronavirus, the been upholding the spirit of human kindness in a diagnostic system comprises a fully automated world tormented by this deadly disease. machine and multiplex full-screening panel for point-of-care genetic testing (POCT). No manual Breakthrough technology for early detection handling is required at any time during the Rapid early detection is critical for containing testing process. the spread of COVID-19. In early February of this year, our researchers developed an efficient, cost PolyU has many years of experience conducting effective diagnostic method — the rapid automated innovative research on virus detection. Together multiplex diagnostic system — that can identify with the University of Hong Kong, it established

4 Cover Story

With support from local manufacturers, production Kong Christian Service to try them out. All users said lines began manufacturing up to 30,000 face shields the face shields provided a comfortable wearing per day in March so that the high demand for experience and were especially suitable for staff personal protective equipment among Hong Kong's working long hours. The feedback collected also frontline medical personnel could be met. helped to improve the design of the face shields.

Better protection for the public Taking the measure of COVID-19 Members of the public, especially caregivers for the In order to gain a better understanding of COVID-19, elderly, social workers, cleaning staff and customer scientists from around the world have been working services staff, also needed protection to reduce non-stop to identify transmission patterns. the risk of virus transmission. To meet their needs, Professor Man and his team designed two reusable At PolyU three associate professors, Dr He Daihai face shields — the General Use Face Shield and Extra and Dr Lou Yijun from the Department of Applied Protection Face Shield. Mathematics (AMA) and Dr Yang Lin from the School of Nursing (SN), together with their students

Dr Terence Lau (third left), together with (from fourth left) The General Use Face Shield fully covers the face and collaborators from Mainland China, began em st sy Professor Wong Wing-tak, Dean of the Faculty of Applied while the Extra Protection Face Shield also covers conducting a series of studies in the early stages ic Th st Science and Textiles, Professor Alexander Wai, Deputy e ra gno the forehead and hair. Made of lightweight, low- of the pandemic. The AMA and SN research team pid a x dia utomated multiple President and Provost, and Dr Manson Fok, Chairman of the Board of Avalon Biomedical Management Ltd. cost, environmentally-friendly PET (Polyethylene was among the first in the world to estimate the Terephthalate) plastic, the face shields were transmission rate, case fatality rate, and gender produced utilising the vacuum forming technique. disparity of COVID-19 cases. the Respiratory Virus Research Foundation in 2015 can be distinguished from other types of viral The new design resists fogging, provides a and has been working on a variety of innovative pneumonia and its severity level predicted in only comfortable wearing experience and allows the face In addition, Wang Yimin, an alumnus of PolyU’s technologies to tackle existing and emerging 20 seconds, with an accuracy of up to 90% or above. shields to be reused after cleaning. Master of Business Administration programme, respiratory infectious diseases. This research, This research was published in the prestigious sent his engineering team to Wuhan to set up new conducted over many years, is the reason why international journal, Cell. To test the new face shields, the Department of equipment — the Portable Digital Radiography (DR) PolyU was able to develop the diagnostic system Applied Social Sciences invited staff from the Hong system and Dynamic DR Tablet — developed by his for COVID-19 so quickly. Meeting the urgent demand for face shields company. With this equipment, medical staff are able When the COVID-19 outbreak hit Hong Kong at to make an early diagnosis of COVID-19 in patients The research team responsible for this system was the end of January, face shields were in critical and perform lung radiography imaging. led by Dr Lau and supported by Professor Yuen short supply. As PolyU has a strong reputation Kwok-yung, Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases for research, the Hospital Authority and Queen from the Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Elizabeth Hospital asked us in early February Professor H. C. Man (first left) explains how his team came up Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. to produce face and eye shields for medical with the final design of the PolyU face shield to (from right) PolyU Council Chairman Dr Lam Tai-fai, Professor Alexander Wai, and The team has also received valuable support from professionals in Hong Kong. President Jin-Guang Teng. a local biotechnology company, Avalon Biomedical

Management Ltd. Professor H. C. Man, Dean of the Faculty of

Engineering and Director of the University Research

T As the system can detect a variety of other diseases Facility in 3D Printing (U3DP), led a research team h e d l G e e i besides the novel coronavirus, including influenza A to design the new face and eye shields. In addition n h e S e ra c subtypes and severe acute respiratory syndrome to employing 3D printing technology, the team made l U Fa s n e io coronavirus (SARS-CoV), it promises to be a reference to studies by the PolyU School of Design Fa ct ce te Sh Pro powerful tool for infectious disease control, medical comparing the head sizes of Asians and Westerners ield tra (left) and the Ex diagnosis and treatment in the future. in order to design a face shield that would better fit Chinese wearers. In collaboration with the Macau University of Science and Technology and other Chinese Once a design had been settled, the U3DP team institutions, PolyU also developed an AI-assisted mobilised all of PolyU’s 3D printers and worked diagnostic system for the rapid diagnosis of around the clock to produce the first batch of COVID-19. The joint research team used a database face shields. In just 10 days, final production was of the computed tomography of the chest from completed thanks to the dedication and cooperation over 3,700 patients to develop this novel diagnostic of all team members. system. With the new system, COVID-19 pneumonia

5 Cover Story 1

Donations for relief operations • Under the leadership of PolyU alumnus Michael We care, Ross, Vice Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), CP Group donated 33 tons of disinfectants worth RMB1.2 million to Hubei province, which were distributed to hospitals we share and government units in the province. About RMB50 million in donations, including cash and supplies, were made towards virus prevention PolyU on work in Hubei province. 6 6 • Donations came from many alumni bodies, including the 2003 Master of Science in International Real Estate, Zhejiang University – 2 the frontline PolyU Joint Center Alumni Network. The PolyU Pearl River Delta Alumni Network also donated Care for the local community medical supplies to hospitals in various

• The Department of Applied Biology and Chemical mainland cities. Technology produced 400,000 ml of hand sanitiser and distributed them to those in need through the 4 Social Welfare Department. 1 2

• Dr Wang Peng, Associate Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering donated 10,000 face masks to PolyU in February, easing the shortage of face masks among staff and students. 5

• Our students donated anti-epidemic packs and face masks to people in need through the NGO Christian Concern for the Homeless Association. • Current students and graduates of the MSc in Joining the frontline Disaster Nursing programme at the Sichuan • PolyU alumnus Li Haijian headed to Leishenshan University–The Hong Kong Polytechnic Hospital in Wuhan as a volunteer in January. He University Institute for Disaster Management and supported the hospital by designing a negative Reconstruction (IDMR) joined frontline medical pressure isolation ward and supplying disinfectant staff at various hospitals in Wuhan and other cities equipment. What’s more, he helped establish a in Hubei and Sichuan in the battle against the medical waste incineration facility and personally epidemic. IDMR was established in 2013 after the helped burn infectious waste. 3 4 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. 5 With the spread of the novel coronavirus across the To provide timely help for students experiencing financial hardship globe, the PolyU community due to the pandemic, the University set up the PolyU COVID-19 Student has been responding to this Support Fund. As an initial step, the Senior Management team committed unprecedented crisis in a spirit to donating 10% of their salaries over a period of 12 months from April of generosity and unity. By 2020. It is encouraging to know that the PolyU community — including continuing to work together, we staff members, alumni and other supporters of PolyU — has responded can all play our part in the fight positively during this challenging period. The Fund has received over 800 against this pandemic. applications from students.

7 8 Dialogue

Unleashing the power of It is my wish to provide opportunities for every student to fully develop his or her own abilities. EDUCATION I truly believe in the A Conversation with Council Chairman Dr Lam Tai-fai power of education to change people’s lives. Dr Lam Tai-fai graduated from the then Hong Kong Polytechnic with a Higher Diploma in Textile Technology 40 years ago. He subsequently started his career as Dr Lam with PolyU student athletes a trainee in the fashion and clothing industry, rising to leading roles in business and industry, politics, community service, education and sports. In 2019, integral part of PolyU’s academic system and dedicated to achieving them. Our graduates have complement its strengths in education, research and always been valued by industry and society, and you he returned to his alma mater to take the helm of the knowledge transfer. We can also offer PolyU’s niche can see this is in our 400,000 alumni who have been PolyU Council. disciplines to students in the GBA in order to develop a driving force behind the development of Hong Kong. more talent for the region. Hong Kong students can You have gone from an alumnus to Chairman also enjoy new opportunities to learn about the GBA Could you share some memorable moments from of the University Council. What changes have through exchanges and activities. Furthermore, the your time studying at PolyU? you seen at PolyU during this time? branch campus can provide land on which to build My happiest memory was playing football with my I witnessed the transformation of the institution additional research facilities, creating a boost for teachers! Friendships and football — both continue from a polytechnic into a university in 1994. mission-driven research that meets society’s needs. to play a part in my life. My teachers have become my Since then, the tremendous efforts by PolyU lifelong friends, and I am now working on developing to provide advanced education and research In your time, you have built 30 primary schools in youth football. has taken it to a 75th place out of 1,600 rural areas in the Mainland, founded a secondary universities in the latest world university school (Lam Tai Fai College) in Hong Kong, and As the Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, rankings. This is a recognition of PolyU’s helped to advance higher education. Why is you are well known for your love of sports. What do strengths as a world-class university. supporting education so important to you? you think sports and education have in common? Credit for this achievement must go to the I truly believe in the power of education to change I think sports are part of a holistic education and can Management team and the efforts of our people’s lives. While society requires different shape a young person’s personality and character. distinguished scholars and researchers. types of talent to meet evolving needs, traditional Both sports and education can help them develop education may not be able to accommodate the desirable qualities, such as strategic and analytical What plans do you have for the next stage demand for the human capital, skills and knowledge thinking, leadership skills, team spirit, resilience and in your alma mater’s development? that are necessary in the 21st century. People indeed a positive attitude. In my view, participating in sports The University’s vision statement is to have different potential, and it is my wish to provide is not only about health but can also help with the “Be a leading university that advances and opportunities for every student to fully develop his development of society as a whole. transfers knowledge, and provides the best or her own abilities so that they can learn, grow and holistic education for the benefit of Hong become responsible citizens capable of making Over the years, you have excelled as an Kong, the nation and the world.” The Council positive contributions to society. industrialist, legislative councillor, advocate for and I will support Management to realise sports, and leader in education. What is the secret this vision. You first connected with PolyU as a student of your success? in 1978. What do you and your contemporaries Tolerance, hard work, and always being willing to In addition, the nation’s plan to develop the have in common with today’s PolyU graduates? make the extra effort, no matter what the challenges Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Do PolyU graduates have a particular set of are. I give my all to overcome difficulties and achieve Area (GBA) into an international technology attributes? my goals. In short, I am part of Hong Kong’s can-do and innovation hub has created significant I think a certain DNA has been passed down through spirit. I am always grateful for what I have and have opportunities for Hong Kong and PolyU. To that the generations of PolyU graduates. Like the seized every opportunity to give back to society. end, we plan to establish a branch campus in students of my generation, they have professional Guangdong province, which will become an knowledge and skills, set pragmatic goals and are

9 10 Dialogue

What is your ideal PolyU? My ideal PolyU is a world-class university with a strong emphasis on societal impact. It is a university with a strong culture of excellence and social responsibility, offering a holistic education My ideal PolyU is a to students and undertaking world-class research. It is a place where interdisciplinary collaboration, world-class university innovation and entrepreneurship are highly valued. with a strong emphasis It enjoys a world-leading reputation in many of on excellence, societal its disciplines, and fosters a caring and fulfilling environment where students and staff can realise Professor Teng meets students at a lunch gathering. impact and social their full potential. responsibility. What is your vision for the future development What is your advice to young scholars? of PolyU? I would like to share three observations. We are in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As a university with a strong focus on science, First, most research nowadays is funded to address engineering and technology, we need to ask ourselves societal challenges. As researchers, we should stay how PolyU should respond to the challenges and alert to the major challenges that society faces and opportunities brought about by the Fourth Industrial contribute effective solutions. Revolution which is characterised by emerging technologies such as AI, data science, robotics, new Second, for researchers to be recognised as leaders materials, additive manufacturing and biotechnology. in any field, they need to have impacted the field with We will develop our education and research to help creative ideas that lead to ground-breaking research advance these emerging technologies. or tackled challenging problems that have defied previous efforts. As a university with a strong emphasis on societal impact, we also need to develop innovations and Thirdly, they need to demonstrate a very high-quality EXCELLENCE technologies related to housing, health care, smart standard in all scholarly activities. The respect that cities, the environment and energy in order to scholars command in their field depends on not address major societal challenges. only what problems they have solved, but also how thoroughly, rigorously and elegantly they have How are you going to realise this vision? solved them. and IMPACT We need to upgrade our course offerings, recruit top A Conversation with President Jin-Guang Teng scholars, build up our research capabilities, broaden I would be pleased to exchange views on these issues our students’ outlook and innovate teaching. To with PolyU scholars. ensure that PolyU stays competitive over the long Professor Jin-Guang Teng is an As you pick up the mantle from your predecessors run, we must seize the opportunities offered by the Do you have a motto that you live by ? internationally renowned scholar in the as the new PolyU President, how would you Greater Bay Area development, which is opening up I have a number of them. I adopted 非志無以成學 enormous possibilities for PolyU’s education and (Without aspirations, learning will come to naught) field of structural engineering. Starting describe PolyU today? I joined PolyU in 1994 as a lecturer after spending research, while sustaining our leading position in from《誡子書》by 諸葛亮 (Zhuge Liang’s Exhortations his university studies at the age of 15, nearly 10 years in Australia and the UK for my the region and the world. For all of this, we need the to my son) as the name for the WeChat group for my he has gone on to forge an impressive doctoral studies and early career. Over the past concerted effort of the PolyU community. research team. career nurturing young talent and 26 years, I have witnessed and taken part in the momentous progression of PolyU from a polytechnic How would you engage the PolyU community to As a university president, I have been pondering the pursuing ground-breaking research into a full-fledged university and, now, a world- share your vision and follow your lead? line 大道至簡 (Great truths are always simple) from over a long period of nearly 40 years. class university. During this period, PolyU has Communication is obviously very important for 道德經 (Daodejing), which is similar to a famous quote Professor Teng assumed the office of been developing talent, advancing research and us to strengthen our shared vision and common from Bruce Lee: “Simplicity is the key to brilliance”. President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic addressing changing societal needs. These efforts understanding of the PolyU community and Here, “simplicity” is not to be misconstrued as being have borne fruit. A number of our disciplines are to work together as a team. I will continue to simplistic; rather, it stresses the importance of University in July 2019. today ranked among the top 50 in the world by QS, step up my efforts to communicate with staff, focussing on the essence of an issue. It is useful to be while PolyU is among the top 100 in the QS World students and alumni through regular updates reminded of this wise perspective in finding effective University Rankings 2021. and sharing sessions. solutions to complex problems.

11 12 Education LEARNING & TEACHING during a time of social distancing Mr Scott Chin from the School of Design uses a webcam to show his online students how to draw a complex object. After the first confirmed case of COVID-19 on 23 January 2020, social distancing quickly became the new norm across the city. And while many businesses and schools shut down, PolyU remained open by offering classes in what he transformation of PolyU from a physical How challenges were met has become one of the largest online teaching university into an online campus started The process of going online was an enormous in late January, when two high-level task challenge, given that PolyU has the largest student communities in Hong Kong. forces reporting directly to the President population (more than 25,000 full- and part-time — the Task Force on the Delivery of Online students) of all the publicly funded universities in TTeaching and the Task Force on Response Actions for Hong Kong. the Novel Coronavirus — were set up to ensure three conditions were met. Mr Andy Tong, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) and Chairman of the Task Force on These conditions stipulated that online teaching must Response Actions for the Novel Coronavirus, said that continue to deliver the same learning outcomes, even though students were not physically in class minimise any impact on the academic progress and during this period, a number of teachers and support graduation timeline of students, and maintain the staff still had to be on campus for online teaching or health and safety of students and staff at all times. preparation work. Therefore, maintaining stringent virus-preventive measures on campus was essential The first step was to understand the expectations for keeping everyone safe. of staff and students. “Our strategy was to collect feedback from frontline teaching staff, and many A key player in the University’s transformation to discussions were held among Deans of Faculty and online teaching was the Information Technology School, Heads of Department and teachers,” said Services Office. It was tasked with providing Professor Alexander Wai, Deputy President and equipment to support online teaching and finding Provost, and Chairman of the Task Force on the solutions for local and overseas students, as well as Delivery of Online Teaching. “We also communicated maintaining network stability and cloud capacity. with the Students’ Union and Staff Association.” Some teachers, such as Dr Rodney Chu, Assistant Professor Ben Young, Vice President (Student Professor, Department of Applied Social Sciences, and International Affairs), said, “We appreciated were able to apply their experience in online learning that students face challenges when abruptly immediately as PolyU had actually begun promoting switching to a new mode of learning. Therefore, we online teaching two years ago. communicated closely with them to understand their needs and did everything possible to minimise the “I had converted one-third of the subjects I taught impact of the pandemic on learning.” from a conventional classroom setting to an online

13 14 Education

mode. I also took discussions online so that A different approach for every discipline maintain physical or mental fitness. The products students could learn from their peers,” said Academics from different teaching units adopted were subsequently delivered by social workers to Dr Chu. “This was prior to the COVID-19 a customised approach to engage students in their the elderly and disabled. After students obtained outbreak. So when the pandemic struck, online teaching sessions. For example, Mr Scott feedback from the service recipients by these experiences came in handy.” Chin, Teaching Fellow of the School of Design, used phone or video, they will refine the design a webcam with good lighting to show his online for a better customised fit. In addition to traditional online students how to draw a complex object. Students platforms, many online tools would then follow suit and upload their drawings Online learning has also been applied were also used, including for his comments and advice. to internships. One example is Jessie Blackboard, uRewind, Wang, a student in the Tourism and Microsoft Teams, Zoom The School of Optometry, on the other hand, Events Management programme and mobile apps such as developed over 70 videos within a few weeks to of the School of Hotel and Tourism WhatsApp. All these tools demonstrate the use of sight screening equipment Management, who was able to allowed students and teachers to interact, exchange and patient cases to prepare students for practicum switch to an online internship at ideas, and express their opinions freely. sessions when face-to-face teaching resumes. the Pacific Asia Travel Association during the pandemic. She became For teachers and researchers who were unfamiliar Even laboratory experiments could be the School’s first student to serve in with the tools or the techniques for online teaching, accommodated online. As Professor Wong Kwok-yin, an online internship. PolyU’s Educational Development Interim Vice President Centre offered support and training, (Research and Innovation), Top marks for a new learning experience which included WhatsApp described it, “Teachers and Over the past few months, PolyU has overcome service support, e-Learning researchers could record the the challenges of teaching online while helping its Clinics and a one-stop steps in experiments in the students to continue their education safely. teaching website with laboratory. Although students Professor Ben Young, Vice President (Student and International information and resources could not conduct experiments In providing this unprecedented learning experience, Affairs) (second from right), says the University has been for online learning and themselves, they were able PolyU has shown itself to be resilient, resourceful communicating closely with students to understand their needs when switching to a new mode of learning and teaching during teaching, IT support, to access the online platform and innovative in meeting the needs of students. the pandemic. lesson planning, and anytime and take a closer look This is affirmed by Professor Bernadette Watson more. Online workshops at the demonstrations.” from the Department of English, who said, “I find it with live Q&A sessions were is sometimes easier to get the sharing in the class also organised. Service-Learning and online. The interactive activity is higher than it might “Frontline teachers did their best to prepare for the internship in a virtual world have been.” Mr Scott Chin from the School of Design task of teaching online while other departments Serving people in need has also added that students really enjoy online teaching. provided dedicated support behind the scenes.” continued during the pandemic. As “They said it is actually better than expected.” And although there have been challenges, the PolyU’s Service-Learning programme involves University has nevertheless succeeded in continuing work in the community, including face-to- Michael Ng, a student from the Department of Civil students’ education during the pandemic, without face contact, adjustments had to be made and Environmental Engineering, agreed, saying compromising quality of learning and teaching. to avoid the risk of infection. One example that “the online platform allows me to learn at was a Service-Learning project in which my own pace.” Korean student Jason Kim from students design and develop assistive the Department of Electronic and Information devices for the elderly and disabled, Engineering believes that online learning is better then visit them in their homes for than offline learning as it is easier for students to evaluation. In this case, the subject take part in anonymous polls and give anonymous Mr Darren Harbutt Professor Bernadette Watson Educational Development Centre Department of English leader Dr James Cheung redesigned answers to the professors. What’s more, Jessie Wang the programme to produce small from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management Dr Rodney Chu Dr Barbara Tam Department of Applied Social Sciences Educational Development Centre devices or mobile apps that help to said she would definitely recommend an online internship to fellow students as “it introduces a new way in which a future workspace might operate.” (top) Each step in an experiment is recorded so that students can look at the “This has been an unprecedented effort to move demonstrations online. all face-to-face teaching to an online platform,” said Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President. (bottom) Academic staff have taken a customised approach to engage students in online learning.

15 16 Research and Innovation

the entire collections of national libraries, in vials of peptides occupying the same space as a shoebox.

Creating impact Although the team has filed the patents of its new BIG method and received encouraging feedback, there are still challenges to be overcome. Mainly, these are related to the high cost of reading and writing data as well as the amount of time needed for sequencing, DATA which is still too slow for everyday usage. in a The research team, however, have set clear targets for overcoming these challenges. These include making further improvements in tiny package data density, designing a better encoding scheme and creating prototypes for this next-generation peptide-based storage system. A team of PolyU researchers is pioneering a new method To achieve these targets, the team has received a that could revolutionise how grant of more than HK$9.7 million from the Research Impact Fund of the University Grants Committee, in Compared with other data storage we store data devices, peptides offer much higher recognition of PolyU’s leadership and expertise in storage density, are more stable and this field. can last for millions of years. PolyU researchers pioneer the use of peptides as a medium for storing data. A particularly exciting prospect for the future of this Huawei, the multinational technology company, and project is space exploration, where massive amounts developing commercial applications for their project. hen scientists discuss peptides, it Fortunately, there is a solution in sight thanks to the of data must be stored and managed in a confined is usually in relation to biomedical efforts of a team at PolyU led by Dr Yao Zhongping, area for long durations. In fact, this is already Entering a new era of data storage research and the development of Associate Professor, Department of Applied Biology starting to happen with the launch of China’s Long New developments are anticipated for this project new pharmaceutical drugs. But and Chemical Technology, and Professor Francis March-5B rocket on 5 May 2020, when the spacecraft in the next few years that will involve sequencing now, a team of researchers at Lau, Associate Head, Department of Electronic and carried peptides encoding the PolyU motto, To learn optimisation and software development as well as WPolyU is investigating peptides for an entirely Information Engineering. Researchers from the and to apply, for the benefit of mankind and PolyU storage and retrieval of real-life data. different purpose — as a medium for storing vast Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 80th Anniversary. The purpose of this experiment quantities of data. and the Chinese University of Hong Kong are also is to test the stability and reliability of the peptides As Dr Yao points out, “We are very excited about this participating in this revolutionary new project. after exposure to the space environment. The PolyU opportunity to continue developing our project. We According to International Data Corporation (IDC), team will decode and retrieve the data after the believe it offers tremendous benefits to government the amount of data we generate worldwide is growing Converting data into peptides safe return to Earth of the spacecraft along with the agencies and corporations that generate and archive at an exponential rate — from 33 zettabytes in 2018 The approach developed by Dr Yao and Professor Lau’s experimental materials. large volumes of data — it truly has the potential to to 175 zettabytes by 2025. (One zettabyte is roughly team incorporates peptides as a storage medium for the radically transform the data storage industry and the equal to a billion terabytes or a trillion gigabytes.) first time. Compared with existing data storage devices In the meantime, the team looks forward to way we manage data.” and developing technologies such as DNA data storage, collaborating with organisational partners such as The question is, how can we store all this data? Most peptides offer much higher storage density, are more

magnetic storage devices today are not large enough stable and can last for millions of years. Dr Yao Zhongping (middle), Professor Francis Lau (second from left), with some researchers and last for only 10 to 20 years. Dr Albert Ng (left), and (from right) Dr Tam Wai-man and Dr So Pui-kin To write data with this new method, raw data is What exactly are peptides? encoded as 1s and 0s, translated into peptide Peptides are molecules consisting of two sequences, and finally stored as synthesised or more linked amino acids. They are the peptides in powder or solution. To retrieve the data, fundamental building blocks of cells, the peptides are sequenced using techniques such body tissue, proteins, enzymes, hormones as tandem mass spectrometry, and decoded back to (insulin) and toxins (bee venom). the raw data. Once the technology becomes mature, it would then be possible to store big data, such as

17 Research and Innovation

A different kind of FISH STORY While looking for the causes of leukaemia, Dr Alvin Ma of PolyU made a discovery that could change the way researchers investigate disease Dr Alvin Ma found zebrafish research of autophagy-related processes in the past could have produced invalid results.

or nearly 50 years, the zebrafish commonly What is more surprising, though, is that over 70% of introduced into the embryos, the autophagy levels field, and has since been frequently cited by peer seen in Hong Kong’s tropical fish stores human genes have a zebrafish counterpart, and 82% of went up. We tried to troubleshoot what was happening researchers, receiving a high ranking of 14 out of have been prized not so much for their human genes related to disease can be found in these and eventually found that conventional targeting of 193 in the category of Cell Biology. distinctive black and white markings but for tiny striped creatures. Zebrafish embryos are also easy to cells with PTU actually induces autophagy. their contributions to scientific research. observe as they are externally fertilised and transparent, “The major reason that the journal accepted my FAs test subjects, zebrafish are widely used in the which could be maintained using a chemical compound “This means that when we are using this model to paper is that it really tells the field you cannot use search for a better understanding of vertebrate called 1-phenyl 2-thiourea, or PTU. study any autophagy-related process like cancer, PTU anymore — you should avoid using this chemical development and human disease. it is a problem.” in autophagy-related research.” When observing zebrafish embryos, researchers But now, research findings based on studies of watch for a process called autophagy, or self-eating. The key takeaway from this discovery is that countless As a result of his findings, the chief editor of zebrafish embryos have been called into question Autophagy is one of the essential processes in living studies that have been using PTU in zebrafish embryos Autophagy has invited Dr Ma as a co-author in in a potentially ground-breaking project by a PolyU organisms, including humans, as it plays a vital role in the past could have produced invalid results. “It publishing new guidelines on autophagy research researcher, Dr Alvin Ma Chun-hang, Assistant in ridding cells of unwanted materials when, for might mask or interfere with your study,” Dr Ma said. using zebrafish embryos, a revision that takes place Professor in the Department of Health Technology example, they are not receiving enough nutrition. It every three or four years. and Informatics. is a vital element in anti-ageing, cell death, tumour Setting a new standard suppression and tumour growth. Dr Ma’s discovery was published in the April 2020 But there is still more that needs to be done before The role of zebrafish in research issue of Autophagy, the highest impact journal in the we can fully understand how autophagy works. Dr Ma did not originally set out to question the validity The problem with PTU “Autophagy is important for killing cancer cells of research using zebrafish embryos. Instead, he was In research using zebrafish embryos, the pigment and plays a key role in developing new treatments,” focused on investigating the causes of leukaemia, a in the embryos must be supressed in order to said Dr Ma. “We now know that autophagy is a form of blood cancer. While undertaking this research, increase optical transparency for better imaging of much more complex process than we had he uncovered a problem in the methodology in which processes such as blood flow. “We treat fish with previously thought.” zebrafish embryos are employed. PTU to inhibit Tyrosinase which is a key enzyme that produces melanin,” Dr Ma said. “By using PTU, the With the new guidelines in place, however, Dr Ma Normally, zebrafish embryos are used as test fish embryo will not develop pigment and will be is hopeful that other researchers will find better subjects because they contain blood cell types completely transparent.” methods of suppressing pigment without similar to those found in humans. What’s more, affecting autophagy, facilitating the use of the zebrafish are highly fertile, can be kept in large By making the embryos transparent, however, he unique zebrafish model and opening the door to Two-day old zebrafish embryos – numbers even in cramped laboratories, and are discovered a strange phenomenon. “When I tried to (top) with pigments in normal development, new treatments for a variety of deadly diseases, much easier to care for than mice. suppress the pigmentation in the cells that had been (bottom) transparent after PTU treatment including cancer.

19 20 Research and Innovation

can be used for both spinal imaging and spinal device, which is composed of a palm-sized wireless deformity measurement, with the team’s novel ultrasound probe with an optical tracking device and PolyU researchers create volume projection method able to generate a a laptop or tablet computer with dedicated software, radiography-like image of the spine. weighs just 5 kg and fits into a suitcase.

Benefitting patients in HK and beyond The device uses a unique 3D optical tracking method to Based on their pioneering research work, the capture the movements of the probe, giving real-time RADIATION- team developed a 3D ultrasound imaging system ultrasound images of the spinal tissues. The software specifically for scoliosis assessment, which was programme then uses these images to reconstruct successfully licensed for commercialisation under images of the whole spine and obtain accurate the trademark Scolioscan in 2010. measurements of spinal deformity. A typical scanning FREE DEVICE of the back of an adolescent patient using Scolioscan to assess scoliosis Because it is radiation-free and more cost-effective Air takes only 30 seconds, and can be done anytime, than X-ray imaging technology, Scolioscan can be anywhere as needed. used for mass screening and frequent follow-up Researchers at the University have found monitoring. Clinical trials conducted by multiple Improving public awareness of spinal health a safer and more cost-effective way of research groups have also proven that it is reliable, The portable nature of the Scoliocan Air enables it to assessing and monitoring the spinal with the accuracy of spinal curve measurements be used for scoliosis assessments in schools, youth comparable to that of X-ray assessments. The 3D and community centres, helping to increase public deformity in children and adolescents images of the spine produced by Scolioscan also awareness of spinal health. It also enables real-time enable healthcare professionals to understand the assessments to be conducted, optimising the outcomes condition of their patients better. of non-surgical treatment for scoliosis patients. team of researchers from PolyU’s Another shortfall of Department of Biomedical Engineering X-ray imaging is that the Scolioscan is seen as a breakthrough in the Scolioscan Air is a prime example of PolyU’s has invented a way to harness 3D technology can only take 2D diagnosis and monitoring of scoliosis, and is being commitment to conducting research that has real- ultrasound imaging technology to images of the spine. As most spinal deformities in used in medical centres in multiple countries and world benefits. The innovation received a Grand monitor the spinal condition scoliosis patients with scoliosis are 3D, this does not provide cities, including the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Award, Gold Medal with the Congratulations of Jury, inA children. Their innovative solution makes the enough information for non-surgical treatment of the Poland, Romania, Bosnia, Beijing, Guangzhou, and a Special Merit Award at the 47th International assessment of scoliosis both easier and safer. condition. These shortcomings prompted scientists at Shenzhen, Macau, and Hong Kong. More than 6,000 Exhibition of Inventions Geneva in 2019. PolyU to find an alternative solution for assessing and scoliosis patients have been scanned by Scolioscan, Scoliosis is a medical condition in which sideways monitoring scoliosis. while a total of 24 patents for the related technology The research team is currently working on curvature of the spine occurs. It affects millions of have been awarded to, or filed by, PolyU and the automating the process of creating 3D spinal people worldwide and is the most common spinal The research team, led by Ir Professor Zheng company with which it is collaborating. models, in the hope that the new software will help diseases among adolescents. Health professionals Yongping, Head of the Department of Biomedical predict the progression of spinal curvature and have traditionally used X-ray imaging to diagnose and Engineering, and Henry G. Leong Chair Professor A device that fits in a suitcase assist in the design of orthosis devices and exercises monitor scoliosis, with rapidly growing teenagers in Biomedical Engineering, has been working on Professor Zheng’s team has also developed a to treat scoliosis. requiring regular X-ray check-ups. However, the development of a 3D ultrasound solution for portable version of the technology, repeated exposure to X-rays increases the risk of scoliosis diagnosis since 2006. Their research has known as Scolioscan Air. The portable cancer, limiting the frequency at which they can be demonstrated that 3D ultrasound technology carried out on patients. The research team that developed Scolioscan Air

Ir Professor Zheng Yongping demonstrates the use of Scolioscan Air.

21 22 Research and Innovation

Experts join hands to tackle environmental and energy challenges New Futian institute boosts PolyU’s impact in GBA

Scheme). The Institute will add impetus to the impactful research produced by PolyU.

The first project under the Pilot Scheme will be led by Professor John Shi, Head of Department of Land Surveying and Geo- Informatics, and will investigate “Theories of Geo-Artificial Intelligence and Reliable Spatial Data Analytics”. This project, which Under the Pilot Scheme, Professor John Shi will lead a research project benefits from a start-up grant and on Geo-Artificial Intelligence spatial Big Data analytics. rent-free office from the Futian Government, will contribute to PolyU is strengthening its research collaboration with Chinese Academy of Sciences. Professor Peng Ping’an PolyU is launching a new research and Innovation Research Institute smart city development in Hong institutes in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) through the from GIG and PolyU’s Professor Li Xiangdong, Chair institute in Futian to leverage the (Futian) will run research projects Kong and GBA cities, as well as establishment of two joint laboratories focusing on Professor of Environmental Science and Technology opportunities offered by the Greater supported by the Shenzhen-Hong other cities in Mainland China and environmental and energy challenges. Experts from and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Bay Area (GBA) development. Kong Science and Technology around the world. PolyU will serve as Co-Directors at both laboratories. Environment, will serve as Co-Directors of the joint lab. The PolyU-Shenzhen Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (Pilot The Laboratory is focusing on large-scale collaborative Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of research to address pressing environmental issues Environmental Pollution Processes and Control in the GBA, such as air quality improvement, the The University has co-founded the Guangdong- environment and health in city clusters, the remediation Joint laboratory to explore innovation in autonomous vehicles Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Environmental of contaminated urban land, municipal solid waste and Pollution Processes and Control in Guangzhou with sewage treatment in rural areas, and the ecological PolyU has joined forces with an the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIG) of the management of estuary and coastal areas. institute in Guangzhou to conduct research into autonomous vehicles Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory and intelligent navigation systems. for Photonic-Thermal-Electrical Energy Materials Technological advances mean and Devices vehicles will soon be able to PolyU and Southern University of Science and exchange information with other Technology (SUSTech) have joined forces to establish vehicles and smart devices the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory along roads. for Photonic-Thermal-Electrical Energy Materials and Devices. Professor Zhao Yusheng, Associate To explore innovations in this Vice President of SUSTech, is serving as Director and area further, the University has Professor Chen Guohua, Associate Vice President partnered with the Institute of (Research Support) of PolyU, is Co-Director. The Software Application Technology, Laboratory’s research will focus on solar cells, fuel Guangzhou and Chinese Academy ICVs and autonomous vehicles are a promising area of cells, thermal energy conversion and storage, and of Sciences (GZIS) to create a technological development in China. advanced batteries for energy storage. With support Joint Laboratory of Collaborative from the Guangdong provincial government and Communication, Navigation, and positioning, vehicle Guangzhou, but also across other industrial partners, as well as the University of Macau, Positioning and Sensing. networking, and vehicle-road major Mainland cities, after the the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Dr Hsu Li-Ta, Assistant Professor collaborative sensing technologies central government highlighted and the University of Hong Kong, the Laboratory offers of Interdisciplinary Division and equipment. its support for the industry in a platform for experts in the GBA to work together of Aeronautical and Aviation the Strategy for Innovation and to tackle major energy challenges, expediting the Engineering, is leading a team from Research from the Laboratory will Development of Intelligent Vehicles, transfer of technology from universities to solve PolyU to work with GZIS, focusing not only foster the development issued by the National Development real-world problems. on intelligent navigation and of Intelligent Connected Vehicles and Reform Commission of China unmanned vehicle communication (ICVs) and autonomous driving in earlier this year.

23 24 Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship

When taking a break increases productivity The team has also researched the impact that rest periods can have on construction workers’ wellbeing. “To reduce the risk of heat stress, our team developed a model to scientifically determine an optimal work-rest schedule that strikes a balance between productivity and workers’ health,” Professor Chan says.

Researchers found that productivity could be maximised and the incidence of heat stress minimised if workers took a 15-minute break after working Professor Albert Chan (front row, third from left) continuously for 120 minutes in the morning, and a with his research team, and Dr Francis Wong 20-minute break after working continuously for 115 (third from right), Director of Hong Kong Institute of Construction minutes in the afternoon. Their recommendations have been adopted by the CIC in its Guidelines on BEATING Site Safety Measures for Working in Hot Weather.

more effectively because of a larger surface area The research of Professor Chan and his team is while heat is absorbed from the skin. That is why the just one example of how PolyU commercialises its THE HEAT uniform also feels cooler,” Professor Chan explains. innovation to help change the world for the better. In order to give back to the community, PolyU for construction workers Made from nano materials, the Anti-heat licensed the technology for the multi-award winning Stress Uniform has been adopted as a standard uniform to the CIC for a nominal fee. The Council workwear for construction workers. ordered 20,000 sets of AHSU for its trainees and recommended the uniform as the standard attire in esearchers from PolyU’s Department of Professor in Construction Health and Safety, and his all training centres. In 2017, the Civil Engineering Building and Real Estate have spent the team have spent the past decade looking for ways to and Development Department of the HKSAR past decade finding innovative ways to reduce the risk of heat stress. Government included a term in all public works help protect construction workers from contracts specifying AHSU as a standard uniform the heat. Solutions produced by the Creating an early warning system for all workers. Within the first year of its launch, RDepartment range from smart alert systems that The team’s most recent innovation has seen it partner contractors and other organisations in Hong Kong detect if workers are in danger of overheating, to with a mobile communications company to develop had ordered around 100,000 sets of the uniform, specially designed clothing, to the creation of optimal an early warning system that monitors heat stress while it has also been licensed to government work schedules. The Department’s contributions levels in workers. One of the devices the system agencies and manufacturers in Macao, the Middle have won multiple awards, influenced industry uses is a smart helmet which monitors workers’ vital East and Cambodia. guidelines and even been adopted internationally. signs, including body temperature and heart rate, in real time to detect early signs of heat stress. The The project won the 44th International Exhibition Heat stress danger innovation won first prize in the Construction Industry of Inventions of Geneva: Grand Prize and Gold Hong Kong’s hot and humid summers put Council’s (CIC) Construction Innovation Award 2019 Medal, the Innovation Achiever’s Award at the construction workers at risk of developing heat in the Construction Safety category. UK’s Chartered Institute of Building’s International stress, which can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke Innovation and Research Awards 2015, and the Local and even death. Heat stress occurs when the body is Anti-heat stress clothing made from nano materials Grand Prize of the CIC’s Innovation Award 2015. no longer able to get rid of excess heat, and regulate In another project, researchers from the Department its internal temperature. A range of factors contribute collaborated with experts in occupational safety, In 2013, the team also carried out a pilot study with to the condition, including age, temperature, textile science and sports science to develop an the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) humidity, habit of cigarette and alcohol intake, the Anti-heat Stress Uniform (AHSU) for construction to test different models of cooling vests for workers. type of clothing worn and work intensity. workers. “The uniform is made up of a polo shirt top The study found that wearing a cooling vest helped to and cargo pants bottom, both made with advanced protect people working in high temperatures, leading As part of an ongoing effort to improve the safety of fabrics that leverage nanotechnology to wick sweat to the Labour Department and OSHC launching a construction workers, Professor Albert Chan, Head of away from the skin so that they feel drier and more pilot scheme promoting their use in four industries. the Department of Building and Real Estate and Able comfortable. At the same time, sweat is evaporated

25 26 Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship

PolyU supports students and graduates through different entrepreneurship funding schemes Educating Start-ups Entrepreneurs Follow-on supported nurtured funding secured

~300 ~1,000 HK$ 430+million ENTREPRENEURS (2011 - 2019)

and supporting prototyping and market testing. Meanwhile, the PolyU also partnered with Shanghai Technology Tech Launchpad Fund provides gap funding of up to Entrepreneurship Foundation for Graduates START-UPS HK$1.5 million per project to accelerate the growth between 2013 and 2019 to offer the first ever China- of technology start-ups founded by PolyU members. Hong Kong cross-border matching fund for PolyU graduates to start new businesses in Shenzhen and PolyU has long incorporated Support is not limited to funding, with aspiring Shanghai, with RMB200,000 of funding available per entrepreneurship training into entrepreneurs also offered credit-bearing courses, project. The scheme benefitted 59 projects which its holistic education model to extra-curricular activities and entrepreneurship went on to raise more than HK$226 million in further training programmes to hone their skills. The PolyU funding support. help students excel in today’s InnoHub acts as a nurturing ground for young dynamic environment and make entrepreneurs, with major partners engaged in International recognition a difference to society. regular local collaborations including MIT Hong Products and technologies developed by PolyU- Kong Innovation Node and Hong Kong Science and supported start-ups have gained impressive Technology Parks Corporation. Students can also industry recognition, receiving more than 200 Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President (middle of second row), meets with local, seek advice and guidance from PolyU alumni. The awards over the years, while some of the enterprises mainland and overseas students from the University has coined the term “Poly-preneur®” for have expanded beyond Hong Kong into Greater entrepreneurship training programme. a network of venturous graduates who created their China and ASEAN countries. own companies. There are now 800 Poly-preneurs® who regularly take part in seminars and workshops Going forward, the University plans to further dwin Wong was in his third year of studying Institute for Entrepreneurship, which forges closer organised by the University to share their insights reinforce its programmes to continue to provide a marketing at PolyU when he set up an online links between academics and business, was set up and experience with the aspiring entrepreneurs. multidisciplinary, comprehensive and experiential sales platform for restaurants and small- back in 1999. entrepreneurship education. It will also offer to-medium sized brands with HK$120,000 Supporting start-ups beyond Hong Kong academic support to deep tech start-ups to of seed funding he received from the PolyU Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President, says: The University also fosters entrepreneurship in the bring researchers closer to markets, and market E Micro Fund. The experience led to him co-founding “Entrepreneurial mindsets and skills are very much Greater Bay Area (GBA) through PolyU InnoHub opportunities closer to the University, thereby social media analysis platform Cloudbreakr, which needed in today’s dynamic and ever-changing (Shenzhen) and the GBA International Institute for promoting ‘Do Well Do Good’ entrepreneurship uses big data to help companies understand market environment. PolyU therefore offers holistic Innovations, which it established with the Shenzhen within PolyU and the start-up community at large trends. Today Cloudbreakr operates in Hong Kong, education, seed grants, incubation and acceleration University. The latter offered a seven-week, first- to advance social and economic developments. Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia. support to foster innovation and ‘Do Well Do Good’ of-its kind Start-up Internship and Immersion entrepreneurship development among students, Programme in May last year, giving students from Cloudbreakr is just one of many enterprises founded alumni and research staff to generate social and Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas insights Founders of PolyU-supported start-ups by students who have benefitted from PolyU’s community impact.” into entrepreneurship and innovation in the GBA. exchange views on the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs at PolyU support for entrepreneurship. To date, more than InnoHub (Shenzhen). 145 start-up ventures have received pre-incubation From skills to seed funding assistance and funding from the PolyU Micro Fund The University has put in place a comprehensive since its launch in 2011. Not only are 75% of these framework to incorporate entrepreneurial training organisations still in operation, but they have into its education model. collectively secured more than HK$118 million of further funding and investment support. It has a range of funds that disburse more than HK$10 million every year to support 40 to 50 start- Pioneering entrepreneurial education ups and student innovation projects. Alongside PolyU is a pioneer in recognising the importance of the PolyU Micro Fund, the Student Entrepreneurial promoting entrepreneurial culture among students. Proof-of-Concept Fund supports students’ in- It was the first university in Hong Kong to provide classroom entrepreneurship learning through financial support for student-led start-ups, while its awards of up to HK$20,000 per project for

27 28 Spotlights

PolyU ranked 75th in the world in latest league table 6th 25th 75th QS Top 50 QS Asia QS World Under 50 University University Rankings 2021 Rankings 2020 Rankings 2021

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which In addition, PolyU was named as being the best constantly strives for excellence in education, place in the world to study Hospitality and Tourism research and knowledge transfer, was ranked 75th Management by the ShanghaiRanking's Global out of more than 1,600 universities globally in the Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020. Its Faculty of recently announced QS World University Rankings Business was also rated as being the world’s 61st 2021. It was also ranked 25th in the QS Asia best business school in the latest University of Largest share of Research Impact Fund two years in a row University Rankings 2020. Texas in Dallas Top 100 Worldwide Business School Rankings, which is based on research contributions. Recognition of the significance The Research Impact Fund is In 2018/19, 10 out of 30 projects PolyU has previously been recognised as one of the The University also ranked first in the world in of PolyU’s research endeavour administered by the Research supported by the Fund were leading young universities in the world. Granted full Operations Management and Management Science to society received a major boost Grants Council (RGC), which headed by PolyU. These university status in 1994, PolyU was ranked sixth in in 2018, according to the Korea University Business when the University gained the operates under the University proposals were granted more the QS Top 50 Under 50 in 2021. School Worldwide Business Research Rankings. most support among Hong Kong’s Grants Committee. The Fund than HK$65 million, around one- publicly funded universities from seeks to encourage universities third of the Fund’s total support Highly rated in a number of disciplines These impressive rankings are achieved through the city’s Research Impact Fund in Hong Kong to conduct more for the year. PolyU was also ranked highly for individual the concerted efforts of the university community. in the number of projects and collaborative research projects subjects, with the QS World University Rankings Going forward, PolyU will continue its pursuit of level of funding in 2019/20. that benefit the wider community. The funding results testify to by Subject 2020 rating six disciplines at PolyU as excellence and impact through its education and the University’s strength in being among the top 50 in the world. Hospitality and research endeavours, strengthening its position This achievement marked the In the 2019/20 exercise, five undertaking impactful and Leisure Management led the way being ranked 7th, as a world-class university, while making second year in a row that PolyU PolyU-led projects were awarded translational research projects followed by Art and Design at 15th, with Civil and significant contributions to Hong Kong, the nation led the way in these two criteria, more than HK$32.6 million from that meet society’s needs and Structural Engineering placed 19th, Architecture/ and the world. with more than HK$97 million the Fund, representing 45% of improve people’s well-being. Built Environment 22nd and Nursing, and Linguistics secured for its impact-related the projects supported and ranked 31st and 45th respectively. proposals over the two years. funds granted.

Campus expansion to meet allied health professionals’ Collaborative research in quantum information optics training needs published in Science

the Legislative Council on 26 June 2020. The proposal Normal University, and National Information Engineering, is one of for a new academic building, which is needed to United University to conduct the leading academics in this field meet the increase in UGC-funded healthcare training cutting-edge research into contributing to the breakthrough places, was supported by both the Secretary for Food quantum information optics. research. The research will help and Health and the Secretary for Education. The research findings are to realise many applications of detailed in a research paper quantum information science in The project involves the construction of an 11-storey titled “Metalens-array-based people’s daily lives in the future,

academic and administration building, providing An illustration of metalens-array-based high-dimensional and multi- in areas such as quantum mobile over 10,000 square metres for classrooms, lecture high-dimensional and multi-photon photon quantum source”, which communications, email access, theatres, teaching and research laboratories, quantum source was recently published in top online transactions, cashless An artist’s impression of the academic building and hostel study spaces, amenities and additional facilities for international journal Science. payments, ATMs and e-banking, building at the Ho Man Tin Slope students of optometry and rehabilitation sciences. PolyU has joined forces with internet security, machine It also includes the provision of a hostel building Nanjing University, University of Professor Tsai Din-ping, learning, artificial intelligence, PolyU is pleased to announce that its funding providing 1,279 places, which is being partially Science and Technology of China, Chair Professor and Head neural networks and other proposal for a campus expansion project at Ho Man funded by Government’s Hostel Development Fund. National Taiwan University, of Department at PolyU’s applications related to security Tin Slope was approved by the Finance Committee of The project is planned to be completed in 2026. Academia Sinica, East China Department of Electronic and and confidentiality.

29 30 Spotlights

Lee Hysan Foundation partners with PolyU to tackle elder abuse

Lee Hysan Foundation, as a The project will be spearheaded strategic partner, has made a by the Faculty of Health and Social generous gift to The Hong Kong Sciences, with expert input from Polytechnic University to launch its five disciplines of Applied Social a four-year project “Collaborative Sciences, Nursing, Optometry, Efforts to Intervene and Prevent Rehabilitation Sciences, Elder Abuse”. The project will create and Health Technology and the first evidence-based protocol Informatics. It will also for detecting, intervening and collaborate with external preventing elder abuse. partners, including six NGOs and two medical By 2038, it is estimated that 32% professional bodies. Professor Yung Kai-leung (left) of Hong Kong’s population will and awareness programme to with the Camera Pointing System and Dr Wu Bo with a 3D map showing be aged 65 or above. The rapidly PolyU’s project team will develop equip 2,000 elderly people and We encourage young the landing location of the lander ageing population could lead to a set of screening tools, a practice their caregivers, as well as 600 increased cases of elder abuse, manual and training procedures to professionals and students, with the people with an interest with victims at risk of suffering better handle and manage cases of knowledge to detect elder abuse. in scientific research to mental distress, physical harm, elder abuse. The abuse assessment for the Chang’e-4’s landing. In 2016, Dr Wu and his and even death in extreme cases. service will initially be made In the long run, we hope the project explore the universe, to team began amassing large volumes of lunar remote Without timely and effective available to 1,500 elderly people, will raise community awareness of potentially help reveal, sensing data to create topographic models and intervention and mitigation, elder with 400 at-risk and confirmed the issue and train up professionals geomorphological maps of potential landing regions, abuse could become a serious abuse cases also receiving a follow- to detect suspected cases, not only the secrets of the with the aim of finding an area that was flat enough social issue and a huge public up service from the project. In contributing to the prevention of origins of humanity, but to enable the lander to touch down safely and for the health problem. addition, the team will run a training elder abuse in society. also the earth’s future. rover to explore freely. Meanwhile, Professor Yung’s team, in collaboration with the China Academy of Space Technology, Hotel ICON recognised for training and service excellence developed a Camera Pointing System which was mounted on the upper part of the probe’s lander, Meanwhile, Forbes Travel Guide Scholars named Leader of the enabling the spacecraft to send back stunning 2020 has granted Hotel ICON a four- images – providing the world with the first-ever star rating – the sixth consecutive Year for their contributions to glimpse of this uncharted region. Weighing just 2.8kg, year that the hotel has earned China’s lunar exploration the system was designed to be able to perform a wide this distinctive accolade from the range of motion functions despite the Moon’s low- global authority on luxury travel. Two PolyU scholars have won the Leader of the Year gravity and hostile environment. The Forbes award, which is based Award 2019 presented by Sing Tao News Corporation on thorough inspections by highly- for their outstanding contributions in the historic Dr Wu said the success of the landing was due to trained professionals, recognises landing of the nation’s Chang’e-4 lunar probe on the combined efforts of numerous scientists and Hotel ICON as an outstanding hotel the far side of the Moon. Professor Yung Kai-leung, engineers working behind the project. Professor PolyU students undertake internship at Hotel ICON to gain with a stylish design, polished Associate Head of the Department of Industrial Yung added that the award would have a positive management experience. service, and modern facilities. and Systems Engineering and Sir Sze-yuen Chung effect in attracting talent to aerospace research. Professor in Precision Engineering, and Dr Wu Bo, PolyU’s Hotel ICON, the world’s Association (PATA) Gold Award 2019 Furthermore, the premier hotel Associate Professor in the Department of Land PolyU is the only university in Hong Kong that has first fully-integrated teaching and (Education and Training category) is consistently placed among top Surveying and Geo-informatics, won the award in contributed to this space mission. The University has research hotel, has consistently for its ‘We Love to Care’ training hotels in Hong Kong by TripAdvisor the Education/Professions/Technology and adopted a cross-disciplinary approach, integrating earned recognitions from major programme. The programme aims and is currently rated among top Innovation category. its pool of expertise and resources to develop international travel industry bodies. to inspire and develop talents for three in the city. It showcases work sophisticated and effective solutions to assist the the hospitality industry, enhance from celebrated local designers and The research team led by Dr Wu Bo developed a nation’s space missions, including the Chang’e-5 The hotel, part of the School of their self-awareness and emotional acclaimed international architects, lunar topographic mapping and geomorphological lunar exploration and China’s first mission to explore Hotel and Tourism Management, intelligence at work, and drive guest and sits among the top 16 luxury analysis technique to help find the best location Mars later this year. has won the Pacific Asia Travel service excellence. hotels in Hong Kong.

31 32 PolyU Community

Major external appointments and awards of PolyU members Professor To Chi-ho Professor Hector Tsang Wing-hong as Chair Professor of Experimental as Chair Professor of Rehabilitation In the first quarter of 2020, the following PolyU members were Optometry on 1 July 2019 Sciences on 1 July 2019 either appointed significant duties to share their scholarly expertise to benefit the wider community or had their academic efforts duly recognised. Ir Professor Alexander Ir Professor Zheng Yongping Professor Chetwyn Chan Wai Ping-kong as Chair Professor of Biomedical Associate Vice President (Learning and Teaching) as Deputy President and Provost Engineering on 1 July 2019 Chair Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences on 1 March 2020 Director of the University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience

Appointments • Member, Quality Assurance Council, University Grants Committee Appointments • Member, Employees Retraining Board (ERB) • Convenor, Quality Assurance and Review Committee, ERB

Award Professor Chen Guohua Dr Cheng Siu-kei • Second Class Prize, State Scientific and Technological Progress Award 2019 as Director, Research Institute for Smart as Director of Chinese Language Centre Energy on 1 May 2020 on 1 July 2019 Professor David Shum Dean, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences Chair Professor of Neuropsychology Yeung Tsang Wing Yee and Tsang Wing Hing Professor in Neuropsychology Professor Han Xiaorong Professor Leung Yun-chung Appointments as Director of Confucius Institute of as Director, University Research Facility • Chairman, Regional Advisory Committee of Hong Kong, Hospital Authority Hong Kong on 1 November 2019 in Life Sciences on 1 March 2020 • Member, Hospital Governing Committee, Hong Kong Eye Hospital & Kowloon Hospital

Professor John Xin Chair Professor of Textile Chemistry Professor Li Ping Professor Liu Wu Lee Family Professor in Fashion and Textiles as Dean, Faculty of Humanities and as Head, Department of Management Chair Professor of Neurolinguistics and and Marketing on 1 January 2020 Award Bilingual Studies on 2 September 2019 • Second Class Prize, State Scientific and Technological Progress Award 2019

Professor Lu Haitian Dr Grace Ngai as Director of Chinese Mainland Affairs as Head, Service-Learning and Senior staff appointments and promotions on 1 February 2020 Leadership Office on 1 March 2020 (between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020) Congratulations to the following PolyU members who have recently taken up a new capacity at the University. (listed in alphabetical order) Professor Poon Chi-sun Professor Shi Wenzhong Promotions as Head, Department of Civil and as Director, Smart Cities Research Environmental Engineering on 1 July 2019 Institute on 1 May 2020

Professor Lau Shu-ping Professor Ni Yiqing as Chair Professor of Nanomaterials as Chair Professor of Smart Structures on 1 July 2019 and Rail Transit on 1 July 2019 Professor Sun Defeng Professor Tsai Din-ping as Head, Department of Applied as Head, Department of Electronic and Mathematics on 1 July 2019 Information Engineering and Chair Professor of Nanophotonics on 1 August 2019

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Emeritus for Bilingualism: Language and Cognition and Journal of Neurolinguistics, among other Brain, language and editorships.

Humanities matter Professor Li believes that the study of humanities is central to PolyU’s mission to provide a holistic education to the younger generation. He points out HAPPINESS that all world-class universities, including those known for their technical orientation, such as MIT and Caltech, are very strong in the humanities. rofessor Li Ping, Dean of the Faculty projects looks at the effect the excessive use of He explains that students need to be armed with of Humanities and Chair Professor of electronic devices has on the brain’s ability to imagination and curiosity, critical thinking and Neurolinguistics and Bilingual Studies of absorb and interpret the hierarchical knowledge communication skills, and a broad perspective to the Department of Chinese and Bilingual structures used in scientific writings. Equally look at the world and to understand what it means Studies, is an internationally renowned interesting is the Virtual Reality (VR) Language to be ‘human’. Pscholar. He was appointed Changjiang Scholar Chair Laboratory he has set up at PolyU, which uses Professor by the Ministry of Education of China and technology to facilitate language learning. He points out that having a broad perspective not only was a recipient of a US National Science Foundation Professor Li found that VR learning induces prepares students for a fruitful career but also makes (NSF) grant through the Obama White House Brain positive brain changes, meaning that with the them globally-minded citizens. When Professor Li Initiative in 2015. He also served as President of same amount of time and learning materials, a VR reflects on the state of divisiveness that plagues many Professor Li with his family the Society for Computation in Psychology in 2012, setting promises to be much more conducive to the societies in the world today, he sees that many groups and as Director at NSF for the Programmes in acquisition of a new language than a conventional are locked stubbornly in their own position and are A life of passion, commitment, and optimism Perception, Action and Cognition from 2007 to 2008 classroom setting. unable to communicate, let alone reconcile, with one When he has free time, which is admittedly rare, and in Cognitive Neuroscience from 2008 to 2009. another, which may be due to their lack of empathy. Professor Li likes to curl up with a good science Professor Li describes his career as being The study of humanities can help to find future fiction book, where imagination merges with With an impressive record of obtaining research interdisciplinary, leading to diverse perspectives solutions to these issues, for example, by scientific curiosity. He lives by two mottos, one in grants from national and international funding and approaches. Prior to joining PolyU, he was collaborating with neuroscience and psychology, to Chinese and the other in English: “老老實實做人， bodies, Professor Li focuses his research on Professor of Psychology, Linguistics, and unlock the mysteries of the human brain and to help 認認真真做事 (Be earnest with your life; be serious understanding the developmental, neural and Information Sciences and Technology at people become more open and receptive to other with your work)” and “Don’t worry, be happy”, computational bases of language learning and Pennsylvania State University in the US. He is points of view. respectively reflecting a responsible and optimistic representation, and the relationships between currently Editor-in-Chief of Brain approach to life. He suggests pursuing a virtuous language, culture, and technology. and Language, Associate Professor Li regards his present appointment at PolyU circle of passion, commitment, and optimism: if Editor of Frontiers as an opportunity, as well as a challenge as he breaks we are passionate about what we do, we become In laymen terms, he is exploring the way the brain in Psychology: out of his comfort zone. For him, the spirit of PolyU responsible; because we are responsible, we handles and stores language, considering not just Language Sciences, is best captured by the bricks with which it is built. A perform well in our work and life, which makes us one, but multiple languages. One of his on-going and Editor brick is solid and resilient and has many angles, edges happy; and because we are happy, we become all and faces. It symbolises for him the gravitas and multi- the more passionate about what we do. faceted character of this University.

Professor Li and his students Professor Andrew Li Ping • MA in Theoretical Linguistics, Peking University • PhD in Psycholinguistics, University of Leiden, The Netherlands • Assistant Professor, CUHK, 1992-1996 • From Assistant Professor to Full Professor, University of Richmond, 1996-2008 • Professor of Psychology, Linguistics, and Information Sciences and Technology, Pennsylvania State University, 2008-2019 • Joined PolyU in 2019 as Chair Professor

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Ablaze with

CURIOSITY PolyU is an exciting university with an Professor Asif Sohail Usmani amazing future ahead • MS in Structural Engineering, Stanford University • PhD from University of Wales, Swansea as a leading research • From Lecturer to Professor of Structural Engineering, university, particularly University of Edinburgh, 1995-2015 Professor Usmani with son, Mrs Usmani, daughter and • Head of the Division of Civil Engineering, son-in-law in a family gathering in infrastructural Brunel University London, 2015-2016 engineering. • Joined PolyU in 2016

Professor Usmani’s research work has already yielded or someone who buildings, just like weather forecasting, albeit on a over 300 peer reviewed publications, authored and has spent his career much shorter time scale,” he explains. He adds that edited books, as well as technical reports resulting working in structural fires are too complex for computers to analyse in real- from research funding in excess of HK$100 million. buildings and high-octane urban environments,” engineering and time. As a result, the project will investigate whether he says. fire safety, the 9/11 AI can be used to match live fires to ones that have 30 years in UK academia Fterrorist attacks in New York been previously simulated, to predict how the fires Professor Usmani became interested in architecture He has been particularly impressed by graduates from stand out as a pivotal event. will develop. “We want to make sure cities like Hong and engineering at an early age walking to primary the Department of Building Services Engineering. Professor Asif Sohail Usmani, Kong have state-of-the-art, smart firefighting.” school flanked by the Red Fort and the Jamia Mosque “When I go out, I am amazed to see how many of our Head of the Department of The research project is the latest in his long career in Delhi, India. His father taught civil engineering at the alumni are running Hong Kong. I would say 50% of Building Services Engineering, combining structural engineering, computational Karachi Polytechnic in Pakistan, and Professor Usmani Hong Kong’s building services engineers are probably particularly remembers that many methods and fire safety. remembers being fascinated by a town planning graduates of PolyU.” * of the firefighters who died that project his father did with his students. day were killed after entering An enormous research contribution A curiosity for life and languages the World Trade Center Twin Professor Usmani’s predominant research interest After studying civil engineering at university, he In his spare time, Professor Usmani has a passion for Towers shortly before they collapsed. over the past 20 years has been to understand the worked in Saudi Arabia, before going to Stanford languages. He already speaks English, Hindi, Urdu, “They had no clue what was going to happen. thermo-mechanical behaviour of structures in real University to do a Master of Science in Structural as well as some Persian, Arabic and French, and he is Firefighting is still a relatively conservative field and fires using analytical and computational methods Engineering. It was while he was at Stanford that currently learning Putonghua. He also enjoys taking there haven’t been significant changes in the way it is validated with experimental data. The aim of this Professor Usmani first became interested in the city breaks with his wife, and tries to visit his son and done for a long time,” Professor Usmani says. work is to move away from the prevalent prescriptive finite element method, a mathematical technique daughter, both in their 20s and working in London, practice for the design of structural fire resistance by that is used to analyse large and complex structural once a year. Harnessing AI to predict and control fires developing new and rational design methods in which frameworks. He went on to do a PhD in this area at His current research focuses on forecasting in realistic representations of demand (fire and loads) the University of Wales. Professor Usmani says he has always been driven by real-time how fires will behave, to enable firefighters are set against scientifically-robust estimates of curiosity, and his advice to students is to keep their to be better informed about the hazards they face. structural capacity (resistance) in order to ensure Professor Usmani’s research on fire safety began eyes open for new opportunities and find a niche After being awarded HK$33 million for his project a reliable performance. in 1995 when he took up his first lectureship at the they can explore. “While the world is becoming more “SureFire: Smart Urban Resilience and Firefighting” University of Edinburgh, when he used the finite competitive, there are a great deal of opportunities by the Theme-based Research Scheme of the He has found that the prevailing one-size-fits- element method to see if the behaviour of steel-frame becoming possible with the growth in new knowledge University Grants Committee last year, Professor all approach to fire resistance design is potentially buildings in fires could be predicted. and technologies,” he says. Usmani is leading an international team to conduct this unsafe, and he has introduced an alternative approach research in fire prediction, prevention and control, for large structures. This approach was used by Arup in Working in the best place in the world and emergency management. Plantation Place, London. The structure met all safety After working in Edinburgh for more than 20 years, an * The Department of Building Services Engineering has nurtured more standards while saving £250,000 in fire protection opportunity arose for Professor Usmani to join PolyU. than 10,000 graduates since it was established in 1981. Graduates have worked in the fields of consultancy, contracting, operations and “We have proposed using artificial intelligence (AI) costs. Large consulting firms have since applied this “I think my career path has finally brought me to the maintenance, and facilities management, for employers including the technologies to predict the growth of fires in large approach to many of their projects. best place in the world. I love civil infrastructure and Government, developers, builders and public utilities.

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two InnoHK research clusters, which will focus on excellence and professional competencies but also healthcare, and artificial intelligence and robotics, developing positive values, something he learnt at with the first batch of R&D laboratories due to open PolyU. He adds that there are more opportunities AN later this year. The initiative has already received 65 for students today than in his time, such as through research proposals from universities and research exchange programmes and internships, and young institutes around the world, including PolyU. people must make the most of these to broaden their horizons. INNOVATIVE The Greater Bay Area initiative, with its aim to develop an international I&T hub, also creates significant Giving back opportunities for Hong Kong. Mr Sit points out that Mr Sit looks back on his days at the Hong Kong while Hong Kong has strong R&D capabilities, it lacks Polytechnic with great fondness, remembering VISION for Hong Kong the advanced manufacturing facilities that Mainland everything from queueing up outside the library GBA cities have, while the region provides a sizeable before it opened to get a space to study for the day, market to commercialise R&D results. Locally, the to the food he ate in the canteen. “I do not come from Mr Alfred Sit Wing-hang Government is also promoting reindustrialisation and a well-off family. Back then, it cost only HK$2.50 for • Appointed Secretary for Innovation and Technology of will inject HK$2 billion into subsidising manufacturers a lunch at the canteen and, therefore, I very much HKSAR in April 2020 setting up smart production lines. enjoyed having lunch on campus.” • Former Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services • Alumnus, Department of Electrical Engineering, “Hong Kong, with its good infrastructure, legal Mr Sit describes himself as a naughty student who Hong Kong Polytechnic system, and copyright and patent protection, can would sometimes run away from classes to do private • Chairman, Departmental Advisory Committee, act as a bridge between the East and the West, tutoring and earn money for his own studies. But in Department of Building Services Engineering, PolyU facilitating technology transfer and the flow of fact, he was a hard-working and motivated student, • Chairman, Departmental Advisory Committee, talent,” Mr Sit says. who spent most of his time in the library studying. He Department of Electrical Engineering, PolyU was also the youngest in his class and regarded his Nurturing talent in Hong Kong classmates as big brothers. Even 40 years later, he is A key aspect of developing I&T in Hong Kong involves still in touch with many of his classmates, and they nurturing talent. To encourage this, the Government have supported each other in their careers. lfred Sit, Secretary for Innovation and that it is part of the engineering spirit to provide subsidises enterprises recruiting graduates and Technology (I&T), reflects on how his solutions and fix problems. postdoctoral talent for R&D projects through the His alma mater also inspired him to give back time studying Electrical Engineering Researcher Programme and Postdoctoral Hub. By to society by doing volunteer work tutoring at the then Hong Kong Polytechnic Mr Sit also sees the current crisis caused by the the end of April 2020, funding worth HK$1.33 billion underprivileged students and serving NGOs, such (predecessor of PolyU) instilled in him COVID-19 epidemic as an opportunity for research and HK$580 million respectively had been allocated as Heep Hong Society. In his capacity as Chairman of theA values that continue to guide him today. He still and development (R&D), such as through providing to the two programmes. the Departmental Advisory Committees of PolyU’s remembers one of his PolyU classmates showing the software and hardware required for conducting Department of Building Services Engineering, and him how to withdraw HK$50 from an Electronic business remotely and for e-learning. Determined STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Department of Electrical Engineering, Mr Sit has Teller Card machine. It was the first time it had been to turn the crisis into an opportunity, the Government Maths) education is also being promoted in schools given valuable advice on various aspects of the possible to get cash without queueing at the bank. has been adopting local R&D outcomes to help to nurture young people’s interest in I&T. Yet Mr Sit departments' development. “I received a lot of help Despite occurring in the late 1970s, it is an experience control the epidemic and has approved stresses that education is not just about academic and support, so it is time to return it,” he says. that has stayed with him because it encapsulated HK$65.2 million of funding for products and what he considers to be the purpose of I&T: namely applications to combat COVID-19 under the Public Mr Alfred Sit (right) and Professor H.C. Man, Dean of to improve people’s daily lives and boost the Sector Trial Scheme. the Faculty of Engineering and Chairman of the economy, something that was as true back then as Editorial Committee of Excel x Impact it is today. Building the future through innovation Mr Sit says universities play a key role in innovation. Mr Sit sees I&T as the future of Hong Kong, and He points out that PolyU has been highly praised he encourages young people to participate actively and is widely regarded as a forerunner in technology Have faith and trust in our rapidly changing knowledge-based society, transfer, topping the list of eight local universities in people, build good and to pursue further studies or careers in fields in terms of the total number of licences granted in related to I&T. “The development of I&T requires 2018/19. He also commends PolyU’s capabilities in credit over time. collaboration among Government, industry, knowledge transfer for improving the community. academia and research institutes to create synergies. We need to think out of the box to improve people’s To help facilitate synergies between universities lives,” he says. An engineer by profession, he adds and other sectors, the Government is establishing

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Unfortunately for David, when his hotel opened expanding into the nap lounge business a few in 2015, Hong Kong was seeing a slowdown in the years ago. “Even though there are gains and losses growth of mainland visitors. Undeterred, David in life, the important thing is to learn from your decided to expand his customer base for the hotel mistakes,” David said. “When there is a crisis, there A model of to new markets in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. is an opportunity. Always sharpen your skills and be ingenuity and prepared for when your opportunity comes.” Winning and losing David has used his expertise to provide management David believes education can change a person’s life ENTREPRENEURSHIP services. He set up a business venture to provide and, for that reason, he has been sponsoring the comprehensive hotel management and marketing tuition fees of grass-root university students through services for local hotels in Hong Kong to help them a scholarship programme. “Education is all about Mr David Lau weather the current business downturn caused by finding your direction and passion, about knowing • MSc in International Hospitality COVID-19. He also founded a company which started what you want to do”, he said. He stays connected Management, PolyU, 2013 managing a hotel in Osaka earlier this year, and has with his alma mater by sharing his experience as • General Manager, Popway Hotel plans to operate another hotel in Japan next year. a successful entrepreneur at talks organised by • Managing Director, Popsible faculties and schools, and at conferences and Hospitality Management Limited Doing business has not all been plain sailing for activities targeted at young entrepreneurs. • Managing Director, Ocean Sky Hotel David, and he also experienced a setback when Management Limited From running small hostels to managing a boutique hotel, David’s adventures in the hospitality industry really embody the entrepreneurial spirit that PolyU advocates. Popway is located only a short distance from the PolyU campus. When at the hotel, David often SHTM’s MSc programme has remembers when strengthened my knowledge he divided his time between overseeing avid Lau Ka-wai, a graduate of PolyU’s night to attend classes in hotel management,” in design concepts, revenue his dream hotel School of Hotel and Tourism Management David said. He studied hard and completed the management, inventory project and studying (SHTM), started running his first guest programme in one year, half the time usually at his alma mater. house in 2008 while he was still an required. His diligence paid off and he graduated with management and marketing, Both were memorable undergraduate student. Hong Kong’s hotel distinction in 2013. all of which have proved to moments that marked a Dindustry was booming at the time as a result of the turning point in his life. be highly useful in my new launch of Mainland China’s Individual Visit Scheme SHTM’s programmes put a strong emphasis on in early 2000, and David was keen to capture the students being able to utilise what they learn in business venture. opportunity. He opened a second guesthouse in 2011. class in a workplace setting. David credits the MSc But after running his hostels for several years, during programme for strengthening his knowledge in David believes mutual trust is which time he relied on his intuition, he wanted to design concepts, revenue management, inventory essential for maintaining team spirit. increase his knowledge of hotel operations to enable management and marketing, all of which have proved him to expand his business further. to be highly useful in his new business venture. “I was able to apply what I learnt from PolyU in my hotel Putting learning into practice project,” David said. David already had a plan to open a new 20-storey boutique hotel - Popway Hotel - in Tsim Sha Tsui, Alongside teaching practical skills, PolyU also but in order to make it a success, he felt he needed strives to instill an innovative and entrepreneurial to sharpen his entrepreneurial skills. This ambition mindset in its students. David reflected this approach led him to enrol on the SHTM’s MSc in International in his novel idea of sharing a fixed portion of the Hospitality Management because of the world-class hotel’s income with its staff. This application of teaching hotel facility - Hotel ICON - that SHTM entrepreneurship in management - known as provided. “While I worked on my hotel project during intrapreneurship - increases the sense of ownership the daytime, I rushed to the nearby PolyU campus at among David’s staff, motivating them to excel.

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New Board of Directors to take alumni associations forward Most Outstanding PolyU Student Award 2019 The Federation of The Hong Kong • 3 Gloria Ip Ching-tung Polytechnic University Alumni Associations elected its new Board Outstanding Student Award 2019 1 of Directors for 2019-2021 earlier • 1 Ren Zhihao, Faculty of Applied this year. Dr David Ng Kin-ching Science and Textiles assumes duties as the President, • 2 Tao Shiyu, Faculty of Business while Ms Susanna Chan Sau-ha and Ir Yau Kwok-fai serve as the • 3 Gloria Ip Ching-tung, Faculty of First and Second Vice Presidents Construction and Environment respectively. They are joined •4 Chan Kai-sum, Faculty of Engineering by 17 other alumni association • 5 Lam Tsz-to, Faculty of Health and representatives to form the Board, which strives to Wearing face masks in a photo marks an Social Sciences promote the welfare and common interests of all of the unusual, yet memorable inauguration. 40 member associations, and to support the further • 6 Cheuk Wing-tung, Faculty of Humanities development of the University. Congratulations to all of • 7 Yuen Lau-kwan, School of Design the new Directors. 8• Gerald Chen Cheukchun, School of Hotel and Tourism Management

Kudos to PolyU's outstanding students 2

3 That summer, she became At times upsetting, as she learned of the 4 one of the 20 delegates hardships faced by people who struggle from PolyU to join the to earn a living, receive an education, 8th University Scholars and drink a sip of clean water, it was also Leadership Symposium held highly rewarding to apply the engineering by the United Nations on knowledge and design skills developed at the theme of “Building Life, PolyU to help. “The time there made me Giving Hope”. really appreciative of and grateful for my own chances in life,” she said. “The symposium allowed me When Gloria Ip Ching-tung to develop a more dynamic As such, the recipient of five different joined the Department of Civil and mindset, to think from multiple scholarships and a member of Environmental Engineering as an perspectives, and gain a more the Dean’s Honours List for undergraduate in 2016, little did she comprehensive global view towards two consecutive years imagine that four years later she would be different issues,” she said, adding that it has found her student named the Outstanding Student for the Faculty helped her realise such qualities are essential experience at PolyU to of Construction and Environment and even less that she for those keen to play leadership roles. be far more than just would be awarded the Most Outstanding PolyU Student an academic success honour for 2019. In Year 3, Gloria’s overseas student exchange to the story. In addition, it has University of Manchester in the UK introduced her to been a fascinating inner She puts such results down to the on-going support wider perspectives on different cultures, religions, and journey and a voyage and encouragement she has received from teachers political outlooks. of discovery as to how and university friends, and the varied opportunities she to make a positive has benefited from as a PolyU student. Adding to such insights, she went to Myanmar as difference to others. an organising committee member of the voluntary Right from the start, Gloria decided to take part in programme Engineers Without Borders, along with activities beyond the curriculum, inspired by her new pro-bono engineers and a group of 15 engineering understanding of work-life balance after joining the students. The eight-day Service-Learning trip proved PolyU Mental Health Ambassador Programme in Year 1. life-changing.

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Students translate AI technologies to industry solutions The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Magazine

The team applied their professional knowledge and internship experience to create an artificial intelligence application in the field of video/vision.

The three students, Zeng Hui, Yang Xi and Steering Board Liang Jie, who have previously completed President’s Executive Committee internships at the Alibaba DAMO Academy’s Artificial Intelligence Centre, Editorial Committee explored the performance of the 4K high Chairman Ir Professor H.C. Man dynamic range standard in terms of image Dean, Faculty of Engineering resolution, details, colour and dynamic Co-Chairman Professor Kaye Chon range, and designed practical solutions Dean, School of Hotel and Tourism Management based on their research. Members Professor Wong Wing-tak, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles Since winning the competition, the Ir Professor Edwin Cheng, Dean, Faculty of Business A group of PhD students from PolyU’s Department of students have been collaborating with the DAMO Ir Professor Y.L. Xu, Dean, Faculty of Construction and Environment Computing beat more than 3,000 teams from Academy to implement their research in practical Professor David Shum, Dean, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences 13 countries and regions to win a First Class Award applications with a view to meeting upcoming demand Professor Li Ping, Dean, Faculty of Humanities in the first National Artificial Intelligence Challenge. as 4K displays grow in popularity. Professor K.P. Lee, Dean, School of Design Professor Esmond Mok, Dean of Students Ms Belinda Chow, Director, Alumni Affairs and Development Office Mr Joseph Chan, Head, Campus Sustainability Office Students win gold with education project on personal finance Professor Lu Haitian, Director, Chinese Mainland Affairs Office Ms Eunice Cheng, Interim Director, Communications and Public Affairs Office A team of five students from the BSc (Hons) Scheme in financial management. Their creativity and adaptability Mrs Ivy Leung, Director, Culture Promotion and Events Office Logistics and Enterprise Engineering of the Department were commendable. Alongside winning a trophy and Ms Blanche Lo, Director, Human Resources Office of Industrial and Systems Engineering has won the Gold cash prize, the team was also awarded the Personal Dr Terence Lau, Director, Innovation and Technology Development Office Award in the “Excellent Financial Education Project”, Finance Ambassador Certificate. Congratulations! Mr Kelvin Wong, Interim Director, Institute for Entrepreneurship Personal Finance Ambassador Programme 2019/20 Mr Eric Lo, Interim Director, International Affairs Office co-organised by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, Investor and Professor Chen Guohua, Interim Head, Research Office Financial Education Editorial and Communications and Public Affairs Office Council, and St James’ Design Special thanks to the School of Design for design advice Settlement.

Based on the theme of e-payments, the team, comprising Chan Kam-fai, is published quarterly to keep the local and international communities informed of Kwok Chun-yin, Li Tsz- PolyU’s activities, people and achievements. For contributions and enquiries, please contact the chung, Wong Chun-hoi Communications and Public Affairs Office at [email protected]. and Yu Shun-kit, built an online platform of videos www.polyu.edu.hk and games, which they @HongKongPolyU promoted through social @The Hong Kong Polytechnic University media channels, such as @HongKongPolyU_Main YouTube and Instagram, to educate other students about key concepts in ©The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Printed on environmentally friendly paper

45 PolyU Motto To learn and to apply, for the benefitof mankind