Prof. Dan TSANG and PhD Student ZHANG Yuying Won Bronze Award at Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards 2023
Prof. Dan TSANG and his PhD student ZHANG Yuying, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, earned the Bronze Award (Second Runner-Up) at the Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA) 2023 for their project titled “Biochar Thermal Insulating Plaster: A Sustainable Building Solution”.
The 2023 HKGIA received 78 entries – five times that of 2011 when the awards were first launched, highlighting the growth of the Hong Kong green industry and the competitive nature of the prestigious award scheme.
The project adopts a groundbreaking approach to integrating carbon-negative biochar derived from local biomass waste into green thermal insulating plaster. This innovative solution not only enhances the thermal insulation properties of construction materials, but also significantly reduces their carbon footprints, offering a scalable solution for urban carbon dioxide removal and sustainable building practices. The project has been implemented through CharCOOL Limited, a start-up founded by Prof. Tsang.
The HKGIA is part of the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE), which, organized by the Environmental Campaign Committee, Environment and Ecology Bureau, as well as nine other organizations, is one of Hong Kong’s preeminent platforms for recognizing innovations that contribute to environmental sustainability.
Dubbed the city’s “Green Oscars”, HKAEE honors exemplary initiatives that drive green innovation and environmental protection. Prof. Tsang’s project epitomizes the significant role that HKUST researchers play every day in pioneering green technologies and fostering impactful collaborations, exemplifying the University’s mission to translate cutting-edge research into practical solutions that address global sustainability challenges.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. We were ranked 3rd in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2022, and our graduates were ranked 23rd worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global Employability University Ranking and Survey 2021.
