Prof. WANG Zhe, Associate Professor in the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR), has been awarded the inaugural Research Grants Council (RGC)’s Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme (ORFS), in recognition of his outstanding research achievements and commitment to tackling global environmental challenges.  

Supported by the ORFS, Prof. Wang will receive HK$368,000 to visit Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology in the United States for immersive international collaboration and knowledge exchange, further broadening his global perspective on research and innovation.

Prof. Wang's research focuses on the chemical and physical processes that govern air quality and atmospheric composition. His work combines field measurements, laboratory experiments, and numerical modeling to investigate key air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), contributing to improved air quality forecast and pollution mitigation strategies. His research is widely published in international journals such as Nature Geoscience, National Science Review, and Environmental Science & Technology. He was also named a 2021 Excellent Young Scientist by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Beyond research, Prof. Wang has actively contributed to the field of atmospheric and environmental science by serving as a Council Member of the Hong Kong Society of Mass Spectrometry and as Deputy Secretary-General of the Ozone Pollution Control Professional Committee of the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences. He also serves as Associate Editor of Atmospheric Environment and Guest Associate Editor of Science Bulletin.

The ORFS is a new initiative launched by the RGC on a pilot basis for three academic years from 2026/27 to 2028/29, with 40 awardees selected annually. It aims to promote the internationalization of University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities, and support mid-career scholars in visiting overseas institutions or units for collaborative research projects and professional development activities. These visits will help deepen the Hong Kong research community's global exposure while boosting the visibility of the Hong Kong universities as a whole.

Congratulations to Prof. Wang on this well-deserved recognition!