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Prof. Christopher Chao is Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). He is responsible for the planning and development of research and innovation at PolyU, as well as steering its development in strategic research areas to enhance its leadership both regionally and internationally.

Prof. Chao received his BSc(Eng) degree in Mechanical Engineering (First Class) from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 1988. He was awarded the prestigious Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowship for Overseas Studies in 1990 and obtained his MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, USA, in 1992 and 1994, respectively.

Prof. Chao started his academic career as an Assistant Professor at PolyU from 1995 to 1997. He then joined The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 1997, moving through the ranks of Assistant Professor to Chair Professor in 2015. He was Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering at HKU as from 2018 and prior to joining PolyU in September 2021.

As an accomplished scholar in thermal and environmental engineering, Prof. Chao has published extensively in leading journals and has been serving as regional editor and member of the editorial board of several international journals in his field, including Energy and Buildings, Indoor Air, Building and Environment, etc. Prof. Chao has an excellent track record in securing external research grants from both the Government and the Industry, and is also active in entrepreneurship and technology transfer.

Prof. Chao has been making active contribution to the professional community and the HKSAR Government. He is Fellow of several major professional organisations, including The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (FASME), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (FCIBSE), UK, Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (FHKEng), The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (FHKIE), and International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (FISIAQ). He has been Vice President of the Hong Kong Institution of Science since 2019 and has served on different research assessment panels of the Research Grants Council (RGC) and the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the New Energy Transport Fund of the Environment Bureau, the Building Committee of the Housing Authority, and the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Cyberport.