The team of Miss Zhou Yujing, Miss Xiao Lingran, Mr. Wan Ho Ching and Mr. Choi Lai Yun, (three second-year-undergraduates and one third-year-undergraduate majoring in Energy Science and Engineering) won Second Prize in “Technology Innovation” at the 11^th Competition of National University Student Social Practice and Science Contest on Energy Saving & Emission Reduction held on 9 August 2018.

Organised by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, since 2008 the competition has served as a platform for academic exchange among universities, and has provided an opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students to create innovative energy saving and emission reduction technologies.

Under the guidance of China Initiative committee members of Dr. Chunhua Liu, Dr. Wen Zhou and Dr. Jin Shang, and SEE faculty members of Dr. Denis Yu and Dr. Patrick Sit, as well as the PhD student of Mr. Yang Xiao, the four undergraduate students worked on the project "Development of Smart Air-Quality Monitoring System based on Drones and Renewables". The student team designed a new air monitoring system that utilises drones, wireless power transfer technology, solar PV modules, and smart sensors for air-quality monitoring. The project aimed to provide accurate and real-time air-pollutant data, which can effectively track pollutant sources in a broader area by using re-chargeable drones. It well demonstrated the students' capabilities in engineering design and innovative ideas. Throughout the competition, the students gained valuable experience and bolstered their research interests and communication skills.