News & Stories

A recent study by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has revealed a startling public health threat: About 17 million people are at risk of gastrointestinal problems due to excessive sulfate levels in groundwater. This alarming finding emerged from the world’s first high-resolution global groundwater sulfate distribution map, launched by the university’s School of Engineering.

 

HKUST Dean of Engineering Prof. Hong K. LO and his team have developed an award-winning smart traffic control plan to mitigate the notorious congestion in Kwun Tong District, Hong Kong. And they have a broader vision to share in this story.

Becoming a leading-edge early career faculty member in smart mobility has proved transformative professionally and personally for Prof. JIAN Sisi, a journey she is now encouraging others to try.

A widely used disinfectant worldwide, chloroxylenol, has been associated with eco-toxicological threats in water environments due to its relatively high chemical stability and massive consumption. Researchers at the School of Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have discovered a promising alternative known as 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone (2,6-DCQ), which works more effectively in combating certain common bacteria, fungi and viruses, and can be rapidly degraded and detoxified in receiving waters. This groundbreaking study is led by Prof. ZHANG Xiangru from HKUST’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who has been studying disinfection byproducts (DBPs) for many years. During the pandemic outbreak, Prof. Zhang noticed that chloroxylenol is structurally similar to some halo-phenolic DBPs previously discovered by his team, which have been shown to rapidly degrade by solar photolysis.

With the help of HKUST’s exciting satellite remote sensing technology and data advances, School of Engineering faculty are seeking more accurate weather forecasts and greater understanding of climate change to enable more effective planning and decision-making by policymakers, companies and individuals.

In the face of increasing extreme rainfall events that often trigger further dangers, School of Engineering civil engineers are setting out to develop a pioneering city-scale slope digital twin to boost forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of Hong Kong’s number one natural hazard: landslides.

HKUST alumna Janice PANG is an excellent example of the sought-after candidates with which HKUST is keeping construction companies on track,