The Department of Materials and Energy (MSE) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Yong Wang as Chair of Catalysis for Sustainability. He also assumes the role of Associate Dean (Industry Engagement) in the Faculty of Engineering.
Previously a Laboratory Fellow and Director of the Institute for Integrated Catalysis (IIC) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and now Emeritus Regents Professor of Chemical Engineering at Washington State University (WSU), Professor Wang is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in catalysis, reaction engineering, and sustainable chemical manufacturing.
Advancing Sustainable Energy and Chemical Technologies
Professor Wang's research focuses on improving atom and energy efficiency in the conversion of carbon resources, including fuels, biomass, CO₂, and plastic waste, into fuels and chemicals with minimal environmental impact. An accomplished researcher and inventor, he holds 111 U.S. patents, more than 90% of which have been licensed to industry, reflecting an exceptional record of translating scientific discoveries into real-world technologies. He has published nearly 500 papers in leading journals including Nature, Science, and Nature Catalysis, achieving an H-index of 110 and more than 55,000 citations.
Professor Wang is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).
In his new role at HKU Engineering, Professor Wang will drive strategic industry engagement, foster academic-industrial collaborations, and advance HKU’s innovations in decarbonization, green materials, and sustainable energy technologies.
Learn More: https://mse.hku.hk/people/yongwang
