Prof. Christopher Chao is Senior 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 strategic development of research and innovation, knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship activities at PolyU. As an accomplished scholar in thermal and environmental engineering, Prof. Chao has published extensively in leading journals and has an excellent track record in securing external research grants. He is a Fellow of several professional organisations, including the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering.
Beyond academic research, Prof. Chao has been making unwavering contributions to the professional community and the HKSAR Government. He currently serves in various leadership and advisory roles, including the Research Strategy Expert Group of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, the Gas Safety Advisory Committee of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Board of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Council of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, and the HKTDC Mainland Business Advisory Committee.
Prof. Chao received his BSc(Eng) degree in Mechanical Engineering (First Class) from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and obtained his MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He was Dean of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Hong Kong from 2018 to 2021. Before that he was Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.