Woh Hup Distinguished Lecture
Modelling Hydro-Environmental Dynamics in Hong Kong Waters
Hosted by
Professor Karina Gin
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering / Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Singapore
Date/Time:
22 January 2026 | 2:30PM-3:30PM (registration starts at 2PM)
Venue:
Lecture Theatre (LT) 2
Block 10, Kent Ridge Crescent
National University of Singapore
Singapore 119260
Notes:
- Please feel free to reach out at cfisg@nus.edu.sg for any queries.
Abstract
Hong Kong coastal waters constitute a dynamic and complex environment under significant pressure from urbanization, climate change, and pollution. Effective management of this vital resource requires robust predictive tools. This seminar presents an integrated modelling framework developed to understand and forecast two critical aspects of the region’s marine health. The presentation will cover both a machine learning model and a process-based model for analysing historical trends and predicting hypoxia risks, followed by a particle-tracking model used to trace the transport and fate of emerging contaminants. Together, these tools provide a scientific foundation for forecasting water quality and informing environmental policy in urbanized coastal systems. By bridging historical reconstruction with forward-looking contamination tracking, this research offers a comprehensive toolkit for evidence-based policy and sustainable coastal management in Hong Kong and similar urbanized estuaries worldwide.
About Speaker
A/Professor Xuneng Tong
Assistant Professor at School of Energy and Environment
Member of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health
City University of Hong Kong
Dr. Xuneng Tong is a tenure-track assistant professor at the School of Energy and Environment and a member of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health at the City University of Hong Kong. Dr. Tong’s research is centred on developing water quality models with in-depth scientific and practical understanding. His models have been successfully applied in local reservoirs and coastal waters and delivered to the local agencies. Dr. Tong obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore and Bachelor degrees from Hohai University. Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Tong has received several awards and honors, including the prestigious Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad, and Lee Seng Lip Medal, etc. As a leading author, Dr. Tong has contributed to over 25 peer-reviewed publications in renowned journals such as Environmental Science & Technology and Water Research, and has authored one book chapter. Dr. Tong has been actively engaged in securing external funding and has served as PI or Co-PI on several research projects with total funding of over 30 million HKD. Dr. Tong also serves as Editorial Board Member with several international journals, e.g., Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances (I.F. = 7.7, JCR Q1) and session Co-chairs at international conferences.
