April 2025

Young Scholar TechTalk – From Grains to Landslides: An Efficient Particle Method for Simulating Large Deformation of Geomaterials

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

May 13 2024 (Tuesday) 4:30-5:30pm
Mr Shuaihao Zhang is currently a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong, supervised by Professor Sérgio D.N. Lourenço. He previously obtained his B.Eng. and M.Eng. degrees from Central South University. During his Ph.D. studies, he spent one year as a visiting researcher at the School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, under the supervision of PD Dr. Xiangyu Hu. His research focuses on improving the stability and accuracy of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) algorithms and applying them to simulate large deformation problems in geotechnical engineering.

HKAE TechTalk – Environmental Analytical Microbiology and its Applications

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

May 20, 2024 (Tuesday) 4:00-5:00pm
Environmental Analytical Microbiology integrates advanced sequencing, absolute quantification, and standardization to address microbial pollution and antibiotic resistance. This talk traces microbial ecology’s evolution from microscopy to metagenomics, highlighting innovations like cellular internal standards for cross-study comparisons. Case studies demonstrate applications in wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion, and microbial risk assessment, emphasizing quantification of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The global resistome analysis reveals anthropogenic impacts on ARG distribution, while frameworks prioritize high-risk genes. Future efforts focus on the Environment–Microbiome–Health axis, advocating for microbiome-informed urban design to enhance public health. By merging cutting-edge technologies with interdisciplinary collaboration, this field aims to mitigate environmental risks and promote sustainable co-evolution with microbial ecosystems.

HKAE TechTalk – Interdisciplinary Energy Transition for Carbon Neutrality

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

May 16, 2024 (Friday) 4:00-5:00pm
Transitioning to renewable energy and efficient energy systems is paramount for achieving carbon neutrality, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach. Energy research must encompass a wide array of factors, including temporal aspects, geographical considerations, and data analysis. This discussion delves into the complexities of energy transitions, illustrating their interconnectedness with the global energy landscape. Challenges such as integrating renewable energy sources, managing demand fluctuations, and overcoming research barriers are explored. By forging connections between energy and various sectors, comprehensive and sustainable solutions can be developed. A focus on interdisciplinary research is crucial for advancing future energy endeavors and addressing broader environmental imperatives.