William Mong Distinguished Lecture cum Workshop (December 4, 2025)
Oct 26, 2025
Date: December 4, 2025 (Thursday)
Time: 9:30 am - 12:45 pm (Registration starts at 9:15 am)
Venue: Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing Two, G/F, Run Run Shaw Building
Keynote Speaker: Professor Leroy Gardner, Imperial College London
All members of the HKU community and the general public are welcome to join. Seats for on-site participants are limited. Interested parties please register through the link below by December 3, 2025, 18:00:
https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?guest=Y&ueid=103873
A confirmation email will be sent to participants who have successfully registered.
Abstract:
This lecture explores the latest advancements in metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) for structural applications, including material behaviour, component optimisation, and full-scale case studies. It will highlight Professor Leroy Gardner’s pioneering work, such as the world’s first fully functional metal 3D-printed bridge and his highly cited research in the field. Prof. Gardner will share his achievements and insights, showcasing the integration of 3D printing into construction. The lecture will conclude by outlining a roadmap for the future of resilient, resource-efficient infrastructure enabled by metal 3D printing and industry collaboration.
About the keynote speaker:
Professor Leroy Gardner, Imperial College London
Professor Leroy Gardner is a world-leading expert in Structural Engineering, specialising in steel structures, metal 3D printing, and innovative design. He is Head of the Structures Section at Imperial College London, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the youngest ever Professor in the Civil Department at Imperial. Prof. Gardner directs a renowned research group, has supervised over 60 PhD students and authored more than 500 technical papers. He is Editor-in-Chief of two international journals, chairs major committees, and has received prestigious awards, including the IABSE and ASCE Shortridge Hardesty prizes.
Panellists:
Professor Barbara Rossi, University of Oxford
Professor Barbara Rossi is Associate Professor and Tutorial Fellow in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, where she leads the Sustainable Metal Structures Research Group. Her research integrates analytical, computational, and experimental methods to advance the sustainability and resilience of metal structures, covering topics such as corrosion, fatigue, and additive manufacturing. Recognized as a Carbon Champion and Bev Waugh Medal recipient by the Institution of Civil Engineers, Barbara is also a Fellow of the Institution. She has published over 80 papers in the last five years and co-founded Oxford Sustainability, offering consultancy and training to promote low-carbon, nature-positive construction practices.
Professor Man-Tai Chen, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Professor Man-Tai Chen is Associate Professor in Civil Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He specializes in intelligent and high-performance steel structures, integrating advanced manufacturing, innovative forms, and smart design. As Principal Investigator for several major research projects, he has published over 100 papers (80+ in SCI journals) and holds an h-index of 39. Prof. Chen has received top awards, including the First Prize of the China Award for Science and Technology in Construction and the Grand Prize of the Scientific and Technological Award in Steel Structures in Guangdong. He serves as Associate Editor for Journal of Structures and an Editorial Board Member of Thin-Walled Structures.
Professor Lan Kang, South China University of Technology
Professor Lan Kang is Deputy Director of Civil Engineering at South China University of Technology and a key member of the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science. Recognized as a "Top Young Talent in Science and Technology Innovation" by Guangdong Province, her research focuses on using metal additive manufacturing to repair and reinforce damaged steel structures. Over the last four years, she has published more than 20 articles in SCI and EI journals, secured 6 invention patents, and received funding from two General Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and one General Project of the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation.
Professor Xiaowei Deng, The University of Hong Kong
Professor Xiaowei Deng is Associate Professor and Structural Group coordinator in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. He obtained his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology. Prof. Deng’s research focuses on numerical simulations, artificial intelligence applications in renewable energy systems, and intelligent materials and structures across civil, mechanical, and biomedical engineering. He has published over 100 high-impact SCI papers and received more than HK$15 million in research grants. He was recently awarded the First Prize of the Chongqing Science and Technology Progress Award and the Technical Innovation Award from the China Steel Construction Society (CSCS).