Prof. Fei CHEN, Professor of Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), has been invited to serve as the co-chair of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Weather Research Programme (WWRP)’s new urban prediction project.

The WMO WWRP aims to advance and promote research activities on weather, its prediction and its impact on society on a time scale ranging from minutes to months. The new urban project, which will be co-chaired by Prof. CHEN, focuses on predicting and mitigating weather-related hazards in urban environments, such as localized heavy precipitation, urban heat-island effects intensifying heat waves, and disintegrated air quality, etc. It is one top-level core project prioritized in the WWRP Implementation Plan for 2024-2027.

Given his extensive experience of over 27 years at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the United States, Prof. CHEN's expertise in the field of urban weather and climate makes him an ideal candidate for the co-chair position in the urban project. Over the next five years (2025-2029), he will spearhead the development, guidance, and implementation of the urban prediction project, with the goals of establishing a comprehensive research agenda that caters to the needs of urban communities, enhancing state-of-the-science modelling capabilities and recommendations for predictions at sub-kilometre scale, and providing improved tools for delivering relevant data on multi-impact hazards in urban environments to communities.

This prestigious appointment highlights the impact and significance of Prof. CHEN’s work on the international stage. It is also a great opportunity to integrate long-standing urban air quality and modelling research programs at ENVR and HKUST into international efforts.

With this new opportunity, we look forward to seeing Prof. CHEN’s valuable contributions to shaping the future of urban weather and climate research and its impact on society.