PAIR Seminar
PolyU OER CollectionsA collection of seminars orgnaised by the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR).
Works (16)
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Video
Prof. CHE Chun-tao of the University of Illinois Chicago, USA, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Chinese Medicines and Geriatric Health – A Research Perspective” on 14 January 2026. The event drew around 90 in-person participants and an online audience of more than 15,850 across various social media platforms.
Prof. Che opened his presentation by addressing the global challenge of an ageing global population. He emphasised that society will face substantial healthcare costs if precautionary measures for ageing are not undertaken. Against this backdrop, Chinese Medicine (CM), grounded in the principles of “preventing illness before it arises” and “nurturing life”, offers a complementary perspective that aligns with modern strategies for healthy ageing and geriatric care.
Prof. Che went on to discuss five areas that CM may benefit geriatric health: supporting cognitive function and brain health, managing pain and mobility issues, strengthening immunity and preventing illness, improving digestive health and nutrient absorption, and managing sleep and emotional well-being. He noted that rigorous research projects, modern technologies, collaborative efforts have demonstrated that herbal formulations, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and movement therapies such as Tai Chi and Qigong—when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle—offer safe and effective ways to help individuals achieve a higher quality of life. He also introduced the audience to some CM herbs that support geriatric health.
In conclusion, Prof. Che affirmed that CM can foster holistic and integrative approaches in preventive and geriatric wellness programmes, highlighting the need for robust evidence-based validation, quality control and safety in herbal and integrative care, while underscoring the importance of integrating both biomedical and traditional models to optimise elderly care.
Event date: 14/1/2026
Speaker: Prof. CHE Chun-tao
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Subjects:
- Health Sciences
- Keywords:
- Older people -- Health hygiene Older people -- Diseases -- Treatment Geriatrics Medicine Chinese China
- Resource Type:
- Video
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Video
On 9 December 2025, Prof. John D. SPENGLER from Harvard University delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “If you think it is hot now – just wait a few years”. The seminar explored innovative approaches to cooling neighbourhoods, saving lives, and strengthening local economies. The event attracted over 70 in-person participants and an online audience of more than 13,000 across various social media platforms.
Prof. Spengler began his presentation by highlighting warnings from experts regarding the climate crisis and global warming. He emphasised that transitioning from fossil fuels—such as coal, oil and natural gas—to renewable energy, including wind, solar and other green alternatives, is a key solution to these challenges.
Using the analogy of the Earth as a patient visiting a doctor, Prof. Spengler described how his team and collaborators monitor the planet’s vital signs. This includes measuring ground and sea temperatures; collecting fluid samples from seas, lakes, rivers and water pipes; and monitoring moisture and relative humidity. The findings indicate that a significant portion of the world’s population will experience, for the first time in human history, prolonged exposures to uncompensable extreme moist heat.
As urban heat islands contribute to increased heat-related mortality, Prof. Spengler warned that the widespread use of air-conditioning, dark surfaces and high glaze materials are among the main culprits. To address these issues, he advocated for the adoption of smart surfaces, such as trees, solar panels, bioswales, urban meadows, porous pavements, reflective pavements and cool roofs.
Prof. Spengler went on to share recent collaborations with industry partners and universities on smart surface projects. He asserted that smart surfaces offer cost-effective and scalable tools for climate adaptation, and that global urban adoption of current reflective surface technologies could reduce up to 78 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Smart surfaces can also cool cities by up to 5°F, providing a powerful, systemic public health intervention. These measures help protect outdoor workers, reduce electricity costs for families and businesses, and sustain economic activities such as tourism, construction and recreation. Furthermore, under-invested, low-income communities and communities of colour are typically 10–15°F hotter than wealthier areas; smart surfaces can help redress these inequalities.
Prof. Spengler emphasised the importance of working together with young people and the wider community to create a cooler world. The objectives are to assess the accrued health benefits and costs for cities adopting extreme heat mitigation strategies, as well as to examine differential impacts and benefits through the lens of environmental justice.
Event date: 9/12/2025
Speaker: Prof. John D. SPENGLER
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Subjects:
- Environmental Engineering
- Keywords:
- Environmental protection -- Technological innovations Urban heat isl Climate change mitigation
- Resource Type:
- Video
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Video
At the PAIR Seminar on 26 November 2025, Prof. Alex MIHAILIDIS from the University of Toronto shared his latest tech-enabled rehabilitation projects at the AgeTech Futures Institute (AgeTech). His presentation, titled “Supporting and rehabilitating older adults through AgeTech: from prevention to personalised care” explored how technology and artificial intelligence (AI) drive elderly care and rehabilitation services to go beyond the institution-based, recovery-focused model and move towards home-based, personalised care, while also providing support to caregivers and alleviating their burden. The seminar attracted over 110 in-person participants and an online audience of more than 13,000 across various social media platforms.
Prof. Mihailidis began his presentation by highlighting AgeTech’s pioneering projects, which include sensors for fall detection and home safety; a home-based reminder system called “Remindful” for people living with dementia and their caregivers; AI-driven predictive systems; and AI-driven solutions for generating synthetic memories for helping people with dementia to reclaim lost memories and improve cognitive functions. Drawing on practical case studies and early machine-learning insights, he demonstrated how integrated data, user-centred design and systems-level approaches can shift rehabilitation from a passive, reactive model to an active, anticipatory one.
Prof. Mihailidis further explained how AgeTech, as an independent think tank, is advancing global policy, education and partnerships to scale equitable, human-centred innovation. Collectively, these efforts outline a path towards a more responsive and empowering future of ageing—one in which technology complements, rather than replaces, care and supports older adults in leading healthier, more connected lives.
Event date: 26/11/2025
Speaker: Prof. Alex MIHAILIDIS
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
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Video
Prof. Cui began his presentation by outlining the current progress of ATMPs, including tissue engineering, stem cell and cell therapies, and gene therapies. Biomanufacturing of ATMPs presents a range of complexities and challenges due to the intricate nature of these therapies. The manufacturing processes often require highly specialised facilities and equipment to ensure product safety, consistency and efficacy. Maintaining stringent quality control is particularly challenging, as ATMPs are predominantly patient-specific or involve living cells that are sensitive to environmental conditions. Regulatory requirements are rigorous and continually evolving, necessitating robust documentation and validation procedures. Additionally, scaling up production from laboratory to clinical and commercial levels can be difficult, as processes that work on a small scale may not translate seamlessly to mass production. These factors, combined with the need for skilled personnel and high production costs, make ATMP biomanufacturing a complex and demanding endeavour.
Prof. Cui therefore suggested that AI has significant potential to reduce the costs of biomanufacturing ATMPs by optimising various stages of the production process. AI-driven analytics can streamline process development by rapidly analysing large datasets to identify optimal conditions for cell growth, gene editing or tissue engineering, thereby reducing the need for costly trial-and-error experimentation. Machine learning algorithms can predict and prevent manufacturing deviations, improving batch consistency and minimising waste. AI can also enhance supply chain management by forecasting demand and optimising inventory, thus reducing storage and material costs. Furthermore, automation powered by AI can reduce labour costs and increase throughput by enabling real-time monitoring and control of complex bioprocesses. Collectively, these advancements can make ATMP production more efficient, scalable and affordable, ultimately increasing patient access to these cutting-edge therapies.
Event date: 18/11/2025
Speaker: Prof. CUI Zhanfeng
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Subjects:
- Biology
- Keywords:
- Stem cells Tissue engineering Artificial intelligence -- Biological applications Gene therapy Biotechnology -- Data processing
- Resource Type:
- Video
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Video
Prof. Bahnfleth commenced his presentation by outlining his research focus on the development of intelligent building systems that monitor and respond to changes in indoor air quality, aiming to create a healthy air environment for public health. Drawing upon his extensive experience, he emphasised four key elements for successful research: clearly defining research objectives, fully engaging with the processes required to achieve them, breaking down disciplinary silos, and fostering effective communication with practitioners, the public and regulators. He noted that the indoor air quality challenges faced by society during the COVID-19 pandemic are not new; they have existed throughout the history of the field.
Prof. Bahnfleth further explained that a significant gap remains between scientific knowledge and practical application. He asserted that this gap can be bridged, but only if we recognise that the major obstacles are not scientific nor technological, but pertain to human behaviours, risks and uncertainty, standards and regulations, regulatory processes and policy considerations. He stressed that improving indoor air quality depends on broader engagement and cooperation, which is grounded in the shared vision and collective efforts of all stakeholders.
In summary, Prof. Bahnfleth expressed his firm belief that the success we pursue is attainable, provided we understand our current landscape, chart a clear path towards our goals, and persevere in the face of obstacles and setbacks.
Event date: 14/11/2025
Speaker: Prof. William P. BAHNFLETH
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Subjects:
- Environmental Engineering
- Keywords:
- Environmental health Indoor air quality
- Resource Type:
- Video
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Video
At the PAIR Seminar on 14 October 2025, Prof. Sara DOLNICAR of The University of Queensland, Australia, shared her pioneering theory of consumer behaviour during leisure. Her presentation, titled “Habit-Enjoyment-Effort Theory – Changing Consumer Behaviour in Hedonic Contexts”, explored human behaviours in settings where the pursuit of pleasure is paramount. The seminar attracted over 170 in-person participants and an online audience of more than 13,800 across various social media platforms.
Prof. Dolnicar began her speech by providing an overview of the global tourism industry, highlighting its contribution to global carbon emissions and the significance of behavioural theories in enticing pro-environmental behaviours in tourists. She noted that prevailing theories, such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Value-Belief-Norm Theory, are predominantly cognitive-focused: they assume that human behaviours are guided by cognitive processes and are therefore predictable. However, these theories are less adept at explaining behaviour in hedonic contexts, where pleasure-seeking is the primary motivation.
Introducing her Habit-Enjoyment-Effort Theory, Prof. Dolnicar offered an alternative to the existing cognitive-focused models. Drawing on real-world survey studies conducted in hotels around the world, she demonstrated that this new theory outperforms the Value-Belief-Norm Theory and shows considerable promise in field experiments, where the competing theories were assessed for their construct validity.
In summary, Prof. Dolnicar argued that the current dominant theories adequately support the design of effective behavioural change interventions. She emphasised the need for ongoing development of new theories, such as the Habit-Effort-Enjoyment Theory, and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary and university-industry collaborations. She concluded that preliminary research results generally provided empirical support for this new theory, highlighting that the theory has great potential for further refinement and deserves continued attention and uptake by the industry.
Event date: 14/10/2025
Speaker: Prof. Sara DOLNICAR
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Subjects:
- Hotel, Travel and Tourism
- Keywords:
- Travelers Consumer behavior Tourism
- Resource Type:
- Video
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Video
At the PAIR Seminar on 10 October 2025, Prof. David Y. H. PUI of University of Minnesota, USA, shared insights that have contributed to his career success in both academia and industry. His talk, titled “Preparing for a Successful Career Starting with Your Graduate Theses”, focused on the essential personal qualities and skill sets for completing university education and excelling as an educator or technologist. The seminar attracted over 100 in-person participants and an online audience of more than 15,000 across various social media platforms.
To begin his presentation, Prof. Pui briefly introduced his works at the Particle Technology Laboratory and his contributions to research on Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) as well as his longstanding collaborations with industry. He then went on to highlight some of his former postdoctoral students, who are now prominent figures in both academia and industry in the world.
Reflecting on his own remarkable academic journey, Prof. Pui emphasised that successful individuals should possess personal qualities such as Passion, Independence, Teamwork, Creativity, Hard Work (PITCH), and skill sets including Critical Thinking, Communication and Collaboration (CCC). He also recounted on his experiences with international collaborations, which have not only advanced his career but also fostered lifelong friendships with his collaborators and their families. Finally, he provided an example of how he continues to cultivate PITCH and CCC in his work, demonstrating their positive impact on society.
Event date: 10/10/2025
Speaker: Prof. David Y. H. PUI
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Keywords:
- Career development Vocational guidance Success
- Resource Type:
- Video
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Video
Green hydrogen, produced from water using renewable energy, is anticipated to become a leading fuel of the future, offering clean, carbon-free energy for a wide range of industrial applications. It also has the potential to provide complementary energy storage when combined with intermittent solar power. However, achieving economically competitive, large-scale solar-generated hydrogen production remains a significant challenge. Photochemical water splitting, a process that uses light-absorbing nanoparticle semiconductors to drive redox reactions on their surface, offers a promising solution.
At the PAIR Seminar on 2 October 2025, Prof. Iain McCULLOCH of Princeton University, USA, shared the latest developments in photochemical water splitting. His talk, titled “Harnessing the Sun for Chemistry”, focused on the use of light-absorbing nanoparticle semiconductors capable of driving redox reactions on their surface. The seminar attracted over 80 in-person participants and an online audience of more than 15,500 across various social media platforms.
To begin his presentation, Prof. McCulloch briefly introduced the development of photo-catalysts fabricated from organic semiconductors, which can be chemically tuned to absorb strongly throughout the UV-visible spectrum. His research has demonstrated that these organic semiconductor nanoparticles, featuring an internal donor/acceptor heterojunction between two organic semiconductors with a type II energy level offset, achieve higher solar-to-hydrogen efficiency than traditional inorganic photocatalysts. The donor/acceptor heterojunction significantly enhances charge generation within the nanoparticles, thereby greatly improving their hydrogen production efficiency. Furthermore, his team has also shown that adjusting the nanoparticle composition can substantially increase hydrogen production efficiency.
Prof. McCulloch’s research team also observed that the high efficiency of these nanoparticles stems from their ability to generate exceptionally long-lived reactive charges upon illumination, increasing their likelihood of participation in photocatalytic reactions. In addition, he discussed solution-processable, linear conjugated polymers of intrinsic porosity for gas-phase carbon dioxide photoreduction, highlighting the potential of such polymers in transforming carbon dioxide into solar fuels.
Event date: 2/10/2025
Speaker: Prof. Iain McCulloch
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Subjects:
- Electrical Engineering and Chemistry
- Keywords:
- Nanoparticles Solar energy Hydrogen as fuel Clean energy Photocatalysis
- Resource Type:
- Video
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Video
The seminar commenced with a warm welcome and introduction of the speaker by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR. Prof. Pui began his presentation by outlining the recent advancements in nanoparticle technologies, covering instrumentation developments, ISO standards and industry partnerships. He then delved into the applications of nanoparticle technologies in four interdisciplinary areas:
Microelectronics: Contamination control in Extreme UV Lithography (EUVL) systems;
Air Quality: PM2.5 mitigation, respirators, and indoor and urban pollution controls;
Health Effects: Nanomedicine, bioaerosol sensors, UV-C decontamination; and
Filtration: Prediction of filter media performance and wildfire impacts on electret filter efficiency, and large-scale direct-capture of atmospheric CO2 to combat climate change.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Pui highlighted that nanoparticles are involved in multiple disciplines, bringing both benefits and potential harm to the environment, human health and semiconductor manufacturing. He underscored the importance of collaborative fundamental and applied research between academia and industry to foster a sustainable future, urging stronger partnerships among governments, industries and researchers to create a healthier and more prosperous society in the long run.
Event date: 13/06/2025
Speaker: Prof. David Y. H. PUI
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Subjects:
- Environmental Engineering
- Keywords:
- Environmental health Nanotechnology Nanostructured materials Environmental engineering
- Resource Type:
- Video
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Video
Prof. Yao began his presentation with an overview of microwave photonics (MWP), emphasising that the technology uses light as a carrier and photonic and optoelectronic devices for the generation, transmission, control and processing of microwave signals. He compared the properties of four major material systems including indium phosphide (InP), silicon nitride (Si3N4), lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) and silicon on insulator (SOI), highlighting that SOI, Si3N4, and LNOI are playing important role in implementing photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
Prof. Yao further explored current applications of photonic integrated MWP systems. These included: true time delay networks for wideband beamforming, optoelectronic oscillators for low-phase-noise, high-frequency microwave generation, programmable signal processors for versatile photonic signal processing, high-sensitivity optical sensors and integrated MWP radar, etc.
Event date: 11/06/2025
Speaker: Prof. YAO Jianping
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
- Subjects:
- Electrical Engineering
- Keywords:
- Optical communications Microwave communication systems
- Resource Type:
- Video