The Faculty of Engineering proudly announces that Professor Zhou Renjie from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Professor Sun Xiankai from the Department of Electronic Engineering have been elected as Fellows of the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) for the 2026 class.

Professor Zhou is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he directs the Laser Metrology and Biomedicine Lab. His research is focused on advancing light microscopy technologies, specifically the field of quantitative phase imaging, and demonstrating the impact across fields.

Professor Sun is currently a Professor of Electronic Engineering and an Associate Director for Center of Optical Sciences. He is an expert on chip-scale integrated photonic, electronic, and mechanical devices and systems. His current research focuses on novel photonic and optomechanical nanodevices for both fundamental research and practical applications.

SPIE, the leading global society advancing light-based science and technology, recognizes Fellows for their outstanding scientific and technical contributions in optics, photonics, and imaging, as well as their dedicated service to the community. This year, 40 high-profile leaders in academia, industry, and government worldwide have received this prestigious honor. Professors Zhou and Sun are the only recipients from Hong Kong.

The SPIE Fellow designation is a testament to their pioneering research and impact in their respective fields. New Fellows will be formally acknowledged during SPIE conferences throughout 2026.

For the complete list of 2026 SPIE Fellows, please visit:
https://spie.org/news/spie-announces-2026-fellows

About SPIE
SPIE is an international society dedicated to advancing light-based technologies through interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and innovation.

Professor Ren Wei from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering has been awarded HK$7.14 million under the Research Grants Council (RGC)’s Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2025/26. 

The project “Development of an in-situ sensing platform for deep-sea exploration”, coordinated by Professor Ren Wei from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, who is also Assistant Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering, will develop high-sensitivity deep-sea detection technologies, overcoming scientific and technical bottlenecks in ocean exploration.

The RIF aims to encourage local academics to articulate the potential of research to deliver benefits to the wider community; and to encourage more impactful and translational research projects.

“Development of an in-situ sensing platform for deep-sea exploration”

Exploring the deep sea, Earth’s last frontier, is vital for understanding the origins of early life, sustainable resource development and ecosystem dynamics. Dissolved gases such as CO₂, CH₄ and H₂S, along with their isotopes, reveal hidden chemical and biological processes. However, conventional methods relying on discrete seawater sampling fail to capture fine-scale spatial and temporal variations. The research team will develop a novel sensing platform by integrating fibre-enhanced photothermal gas sensors with manned submersibles. These miniature sensors, based on hollow-core fibres and fibre-tip cavities, enable high-sensitivity detection with microlitre-scale samples. Encased in titanium-alloy vessels, the system will undergo rigorous laboratory and simulated deep-sea testing. Field deployment will target cold seeps and hydrothermal zones, including a trial at the Haima cold seep (1,400 m) and expeditions to hadal trenches (up to 10,000 m). The platform will provide unprecedented insights into dissolved gas distributions, biogeochemical cycles and global climate processes. Led by CUHK, the collaborative research team involves the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai), Leibniz University Hannover, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and LaSense Technology Limited.

The funding results of Research Impact Fund 2025/26 are available at:

https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/rif/funded%20research/rif2526.html

The Sophie and Sean Foundation (“the Foundation”), established by Ms Yang Qiumei, Sophie, held its inauguration ceremony on 10 December 2025. In response to the country’s call to build a nation that leads in education, science and technology, and talent cultivation, the Foundation has made an initial donation of HK$20 million to establish an endowed professorship and scholarships at four universities including The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), focusing on supporting research breakthroughs and nurturing innovation and technology talent in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative also aligns with the strategic direction of "supporting Hong Kong and Macao in developing into an international hub for high-calibre talents" as outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan.

The inauguration ceremony brought together distinguished guests from the political, academic, and business circles to witness the Foundation's launch. Officiating guests included: Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education, HKSAR Government; Mr Liu Maozhou, The First-level Inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; The Hon. Duncan Chiu, Legislative Council Member (Technology and Innovation Constituency), HKSAR; Prof Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, Vice-Chancellor and President, CUHK; Ms Yan Mei Mei, Salina, Permanent Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury (Financial Services), HKSAR Government; Ms Bonnie Y Chan, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; and Dr Xu Li, Chairman of the Board and CEO of SenseTime, and Council Member of the Sophie and Sean Foundation. Prof Eric Grimson, Chancellor for Academic Advancement, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), also delivered congratulatory remarks online.

Initial Donation Focuses on AI, Establishing an Endowed Professorship and Scholarships

The use of the initial donation has been specified: HK$10 million is donated to CUHK to establish the "Xiaoou Tang Professorship in Engineering", aiming to recruit outstanding international scholars, advance cutting-edge research in engineering, and continue Prof Tang's philosophy of nurturing talent. Another HK$10 million is allocated to establish the "Xiaoou Tang Scholarship", planned to be awarded to outstanding PhD students engaged in AI research at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), CUHK, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore (under discussion). It is expected to benefit over 30 students to foster industry-academia collaboration and youth innovation and entrepreneurship.

The inauguration ceremony also featured a panel discussion, titled "Inheriting Legacy, Inspiring Innovation: Fostering the AI and Talent Ecosystem", where distinguished experts and scholars discussed how to promote the talent profile, the transformation of university education, and pathways to successful industry-academia-research collaboration in the AI era. The panel discussion was moderated by Prof Wang Xiaogang from CUHK, who serves as a Council Member of Sophie and Sean Foundation. Prof Yike Guo, Provost, HKUST; Prof Irwin King Kuo-chin, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), CUHK; Prof Wen Yonggang, Associate Provost (Graduate Education) and Dean, Graduate College, NTU; and Prof Ma Yi, Chair Professor in Artificial Intelligence, Director of the School of Computing and Data Science, and Director of the Institute of Data Science, HKU, served as panellists and shared their insightful views. Over 30 students from the aforementioned universities participated in the discussion, gaining insights into cutting-edge developments and future directions.

About the Foundation

The Foundation’s Chinese name “銘新” symbolises the vision of “Plum Codes, an Eternal Lore; Gull's Flight, New Logics Soar,” and the mission to create “A Legacy, Kindling Hope; A Future, Nurturing Scope.” Its English name, Sophie and Sean, is derived from the English names of Ms Yang and her husband, Prof Xiaoou Tang, a pioneer in AI. It reflects Ms Yang's dedication to supporting technology education and Prof Tang's aspiration to serve the country through technology.

Ms Yang is an expert in economics with extensive experience across academia, regulatory bodies and the international financial sector. She has long been actively engaged in philanthropy and advocates a cycle of goodwill. Prof Tang, formerly served as a Professor in the Department of Information Engineering at CUHK and founded the Multimedia Lab (MMLab) and SenseTime, mentoring more than 130 PhD students, making outstanding contributions to AI research and public welfare.

Source: The Sophie and Sean Foundation 

More details: https://www.sophieandsean.org/en/activity/64.html