Professor Xunli Wang, Chair Professor in the Department of Physics at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), has been awarded the 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) recently, in recognition of his outstanding research achievements in neutron scattering technology, material science and engineering, as well as his significant contributions to the development of world-leading neutron scattering instrumentation.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award,” said Professor Wang. “This award recognises both my individual contributions and the dedication and perseverance of my research team and collaborators over the years. Looking ahead, I hope to continue advancing neutron scattering technology, nurturing the next generation of researchers, and helping Hong Kong to become an international innovation and technology centre.”
The Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award is a prestigious national biennial award that honours Chinese engineering experts and scientists who have made outstanding achievements and significant contributions to engineering science, technology and engineering management. This year, 40 engineering experts and scientists received the award. Professor Wang is one of three awardees from institutions in Hong Kong.
Professor Wang has devoted his career to applying neutron scattering techniques to research in materials science and engineering. By leveraging advanced neutron scattering technology, he has uncovered phase transformations and deformation mechanisms of complex materials, including metallic glasses and high-entropy alloys, providing important theoretical foundations for the design of advanced materials and high-end manufacturing.
He has also made outstanding contributions to the development and application of the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). As Chief Scientist, he led the development of the first user collaborative instrument, i.e., the Multi-Physics Instrument, at CSNS, helping to establish the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a world-leading centre for neutron science and technology.
Professor Wang’s research achievements have received wide international recognition. He has received numerous prestigious honours, including the Second-Class Award in the Natural Science category at the Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (Science and Technology) from the Ministry of Education, the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship, and the Lee Hsun Lecture Award from the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Neutron Scattering Society of America.
This article originated from CityUHK News Centre.