Prof. Karen Scrivener, who is a female scientist specializing in LC3.

Prof. Scrivener is the pioneer of LC3. She organized a LC3 seminar at HKUST in 2018 and I attached this interesting seminar.

In 2018, during a research chat with Prof. Scrivener, I introduced my recent research on the combined effect of metakaolin and silica fume in mortar. We chatted some questions about calcined clay and metakaolin and their differences. She explained patiently and advocated her LC3. An interesting researcher.

In 2023, I collaborated with Dr. Jiang on the development of LC3 with the inclusion of recycled cement powder to further enhance the sustainability.

Stories on LC3 is ongoing.

Prof. S.P. Shah, the most senior researcher in the world, has a Google Citation of 72,482 (still growing).

In 2015, I knew Prof. Shah in Hong Kong for the first time when he delivered a talk at Hong Kong PolyU. At that time, I knew he is famous, but I did not know he is so famous.

I visited Prof. Shah at IAS of HKUST (2019) for fruitful discussions. Based on the discussions, I have been working with Prof. Shah on several research topics, such as linking packing density and porosity of hardening paste), novel FRC and so on.

In 2019, Prof. Shah indicated that he could recruit me as his team member in the USA. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 disturbed all such plans due to the difficulty in visa application.

At HKUST, Prof. S.P. Shah and I initiated the innovative research on the 'Time-dependent evolution of wet packing density and porosity of hardening cement paste', on which I am working now.

In 2021, Prof. S.P. Shah helped me edit my important work on the 'Bond of reinforcing bars in bio-inspired fiber reinforced cementitious composites' because Prof. Shah is a pioneer in this area (bond of reinforcement in FRC).

In 2022, I moved to Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA. I greeted Prof. S.P. Shah who is at Northwestern University, and Prof. Shah sent his regards to me.

In 2025, C3 conference happened in Chicago, United State in honor of Prof. Shah's 90th birthday. 

Prof. Poon is a world-renowned professor. His research excellence has been reported in various prestigious channels. Prof. Poon is ranked the top, if not the top, in the world's top 2% Scientists by Stanford University.

Prof. C.S. Poon is famous for his research on the re-utilization of waste materials.

In 2014, I knew Prof. Poon because of his PhD students (Prof  B. Li, Prof. TC Ling; Dr. S. Fang; B.Y. Zhang) who were also my colleague at NAMI.

In 2015, I was involved in a project on fire-resistant hybrid FRC where  Prof Poon is one of the project collaborators in the project proposal (later sponsored by ITC HK).

In Dec 2019, I attended the conference (FRP structures in seawater sea-sand concrete) held in Shenzhen. I went back to Hong Kong with Prof Poon and his students. During that journey, I introduced my research on FRC and particle packing and he invited for a postdoc student at PolyU with him.

In Aug 2020, I joined Prof. Poon's research group. My research is quite versatile, mainly focusing on recycling materials (recycled aggregate, waste glass powder) for concrete production. I am also involved in the project seawater sea-sand led by Prof. J.G. Teng at HK PolyU.

I established extensive collaboration with Prof. C.S. Poon and the team members.

Prof. Poon has the intention to promote me to Research Assistant Professor.

In 2021 and 2022, Prof. Poon and I published a number of important works, including the foundation work titled 'Packing density of ternary cementitious particles based on wet packing method ' in the outstanding journal of Powder Technology.

In 2025, Prof. Poon visited the United States. We met in New York City and chatted for an hour while I walked with him from the hotel to Penn Station, before he departed for UPenn to meet Prof. Shu Yang. 

Prof. V.C. Li is the inventor of ECC.

In 2014, I knew Prof. Shah in HKUST for the first time when he visited his former PhD student Prof. C.K.Y. Leung of HKUST.

I visited Prof. Li at IAS of HKUST (2017) for in-depth discussions on SHCC/ECC/FRC and possible Fulbright scholar. His first question is: what is the motivation of my research. During the talk, Prof Li let me show the intellectual aspects behind my on-going research.

After a fruitful talk, he said confirmly that "I have a sense that you will be an excellent researcher in the future." This word encouraged me a lot.

Prof. Z. Li is a former PhD student of Prof. S.P. Shah.

In June 2014, I knew Prof. Li (came from the same province of Shandong) at HKUST and sent an email to him. Later, he recommended me to NAMI at HKUST.

In Sep 2014, I joined NAMI accordingly. This is the very start of my research career on concrete materials and structures.

His former PhD student Prof. C.L. Hu is my best friend in NAMI and afterwards.

From 2014 to 2019, we maintained contact and met many times on different occasions, like conferences, and seminars held in HKUST of Shenzhen.

In 2022, I moved to Columbia University, and I discussed with his Ph.D. student (Dr. Hongyan Ma) who is now a faculty member at Missouri S&T. His junior (form Ph.D. student Dr. Kawashima supervised by Prof. S.P. Shah at Northwestern University) is also working at Columbia University.

In early 2025, Prof. Li and I had a long call to discuss research and share recent updates. 

Prof. Caijun Shi, is one of the most famous scientists in mainland China.

In June 2015, I heard about Prof. Shi because one of my colleague Prof T.C. Ling joined his research group at Hunan University.

Later, I learned his papers on geopolymer, UHPC and so on. 

In Aug 2018, I met Prof Shi and talked to him for the first time in Gordon conference.

In Dec 2018, I met Prof Shi for the second time in Science Park (NICOM6 conference). After the conference, he walked with me from Science Park to CUHK (my alma mater) and I served as a tour guide for him in CUHK and invited him for a dinner in Lee Woo Sing College. During the 4-5 hours meeting, we talked a lot of things about future research directions. I introduced my research and asked him one question: what are the most promising research in the coming years or decades for construction materials. He replied to me 3 key topics: chemical additives, (ulta-) high performance concrete and sustainable concrete. 

In the same month of Dec 2018, Prof Shi invited me to join a Young Scholar forum held at Hunan University. I went there for 3 days and met Dr. Lei Wang (working in Germany), Dr K.Q. Yu (working in Tongji), Junjie Wang (working in Tsinghua).

Later, Prof Shi invited me to join a Internation Conference of SCC9 and Rhe2 held in Dresden, Germany.

In Sep 2019, I went to Dresden, Germany to attend the conference and knew many famous professors (Prof K.H. Khyat; Prof. Johann Plank; Prof. Nicolas Roussel; Prof Robert Flatt (Editor in Chief of CCR); Prof. Geert DE SCHUTTER; Prof. Viktor MECHTCHERINE; Prof. Liberato Ferrara) and good friends (Prof. Jae H. KIM (KAIST); Prof. Jon Elvar Wallevik) and so on.

We are keeping in close contact.

On Feb 22, 2023, Prof. Nicolas Roussel came to Columbia University and delivered an interesting talk on the rheology of cement paste.

Prof. Buyukozturk, is a world-renowned professor in MIT.\

His research interests are: structural engineering, infrastructure mechanics, sustainable materials, sensing and monitoring: 

I knew Prof. Buyukozturk because of his research and MIT and his former PhD student who is now an associate professor Prof Lau at CityU.

In Jul 2023, I met Prof. Buyukozturk again in ASCE EMI conference in Atlanta. 

During the conference, we engaged in meaningful conversations while comfortably seated on the couch. Professor Buyukozturk reminisced about our shared experience of visiting the peak in Hong Kong, and I delighted him by showing our photo from that excursion. He then proceeded to mention various researchers, including Dr. Denvid Lau, and shared insights into topics such as peridynamics and the history of EMI. Professor Buyukozturk spoke highly of EMI, emphasizing his involvement in it during the early stages of his career. He showed genuine interest in my current research and offered valuable insights, making our conversation a delightful reunion. 

Prof. Wittmann is a world-renowned professor from ETH Zurich.

In 2017, I met Prof. Wittmann and talked to him. He was a visiting Professor in Qingtao, Shandong, my hometown.

Professor Folker Helfrid Wittmann, born in 1936, was a Full Professor for building materials at Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) from 1988 to 2001. He retired by the end of October 2001.

He did excellent research with Prof. Z.P. Bazant on the topic of creep and shrinkage in concrete structures, fracture properties of concrete.