Academic Responsibility
Editorship
• Associate Editor of Journal of Hydro-environment Research (Elsevier) (2018-present)
• Editor of Hydrogeology Journal, Official journal of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (April 2008-July 2015)
• Associate Editor of Hydrogeology Journal, Official journal of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (2004-March 2008)
• Associate Editor of Ground Water, Official journal of the National Ground Water Association of American (2002-2008)
• Editor of Special Sections of Ground Water (Vol 42, No 4 & 5, 2004) on “Ground Water Research in China”
• Associate Editor of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology (In Chinese) sponsored by Ministry of Land & Resources of China and China Institute for Geo-Environmental Monitoring (2002-present)
Journal Reviewer for other journals
Nature Geosciences; Nature Food; Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans; Geophysical Research Letter; Science of the Total Environment; Water International; Water Resources Research; Advances in Water Resources; Journal of American Water Resources Association; Journal of Hydrology; Engineering Geology; ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering; Geotechnical and Geological Engineering; Canadian Journal of Physics; Water International; Journal of Systems Science and Systems Engineering; Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management; Transport in Porous Media; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; Environmental Geology; Hydrological Processes; Hong Kong Engineer Transactions, ……
Grant Proposal Reviewer for major research funding bodies
• Member of the 13th Panel (Earth Sciences Group 1) for Evaluation of Proposals both for Key Program Projects and General Program Projects of National Nature Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) from 2010 to 2012.
• Earth Sciences Panel Member for Final Evaluation of Proposals for Key Program Projects of National Nature Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), Aug. 7-8, 2006, Beijing.
• Earth Sciences Panel Member for Final Evaluation of Proposals for General Program Projects of National Nature Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), Aug. 9-12, 2006, Beijing.
• Research Grant Council (RGC), Hong Kong Government
• National Science Foundation (NSF), USA
• Australian Research Council (ARC)
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada
• The Israel Science Foundation (ISF)
• Arab Science & Technology Foundation (ASTF)
• Leibniz Competition, Germany
Conference Organizing Committee and Panel Chair
23. 2019, Member of Scientific Committee, the 6th APCAMM (Asia-Pacific Coastal Aquifer Management Meeting), Chennai, India (December 11-13)
22. 2018, Member of Scientific Committee, the 45th International Association of Hydrogeologists Congress (IAH), Daejeon, Korea (September 9-14)
21. 2018, Member of Scientific Committee, The 25th Salt Water Intrusion Conference, Gdańsk, Poland (June 17 to 22)
20. 2017, Member of Scientific Advisory Board, China-Africa Water Forum Series No 5, Zimbabwe (July 31- August 3).
19. 2017, Member of International Scientific Committee, APCAMM (Asia-Pacific Coastal Aquifer Management Meeting), Da Nang, Vietnam.
18. 2016, Member of International Advisory Committee, SWIM-APCAMM (Asia-Pacific Coastal Aquifer Management Meeting), Cairns, Australia.
17. 2013, Member of Organizing Committee, APCAMM, Beijing, China
16. 2011, Member of Organizing Committee, APCAMM, Jeju, Korea
15. 2009, Member of Organizing Committee, Asia-Pacific Coastal Aquifer Management Meeting (APCAMM), Bangkok, Thailand
14. 2009, Member of Scientific Advisory Committee, ModelCare2009, The 7th International Conference on Calibration and Reliability in Groundwater Modeling, Wuhan, China, September 20-23, 2009
13. 2008, Member of Organizing Committee, 8th National Engineering Geology Conference, Shanghai, October 2008
12. 2007, session chair of 12th International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction (WRI-12), July 31 to August 5, Kunming, China
11. 2006, Member of Organizing Committee, International Symposium On Sustainable And Safe Water Supplies, January 15-16, 2007, Hong Kong
10. 2006, Member of Scientific Committee, The 34th Congress of International Association of Hydrogeologists, October 9-13, 2006, Beijing, China.
9. 2005, Member and session chair of Organizing Committee, International Symposium of Frontiers of earth sciences: tectonic evolvement of China margin seas and continent margin geology and its response of environment evolvement, June 20-25, Guangzhou, China
8. 2005, session chair of International Workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in the Chinese Groundwater Sciences, organized by Natural Sciences Foundation of China, June 16-17, Beijing
7. 2004, Member and session chair of Organizing Committee, International Symposium on Frontiers of Earth Sciences: Earth, Environment, and Human Impacts, IPACES 2004 Annual Meeting in June 14-17, Chengdu, China.
6. 2004, Member of Organizing Committee, 4th International Symposium on Environmental Hydraulics and 14th Congress of Asia and Pacific Division, International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research, December 15 – 18, Hong Kong, China.
5. 2003, Member of Organizing Committee of International Symposium on Environment Sustainability in West Development, November 4-6, Xi’an, China
4. 2003, Member of Organizing Committee of International Symposium on Water Resources and the Urban Environment, November 9-10, Wuhan, P. R. China
3. 2001, Member of Organizing Committee of The 3rd Two Coasts-Three Regions & World Chinese Conference on Geological Sciences, Hong Kong, China, December, 2001.
2. 2000, Co-convener, special session on “Groundwater and Geotechnical Engineering”, Western Pacific Geophysical Meeting, June 27 – 30, Tokyo, Japan
1. 2000, Member of Scientific Advisory Committee of International Symposium on Hydrogeology and the Environment, Oct. 17-20, Wuhan, China
Research Projects as PI
GRF, NSFC, HKU-ZIRI grants
45. Microbial-mediated nutrient cycle in the beach aquifer and benthic sediments and its effect on the algal blooms in Tolo Harbour, General Research Fund (GRF), Jan 2020 – Dec 2023. (Co-Investigator: X Luo, JD Gu, Y Liu and W. Moore)
44. Lacustrine groundwater discharge-derived nutrients to Taihu and their environmental and ecological implications, HKU-ZIRI Seed Funding, July 2018 – December 2019.
43. The investigation of carbon cycle and greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4) emission from aquifer-aquitard system in Pearl River Delta, National Science Foundation of China (NSFC), January 2019 – December 2022.
42. Response of groundwater system in the Badian Jaran Desert to future climate change, General Research Fund (GRF), Jan 2018 – Dec 2021. (Co-Investigator: XX Kuang, XS Wang, and C. Voss)
41. Groundwater discharge and lake evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert revealed by radium quartet and radon-222, National Science Foundation of China (NSFC), January 2016 – December 2019.
40. Effects of climate change on groundwater system of the Yangtze River source region, General Research Fund (GRF), September 2015 – August 2018. (Co-Investigator: ZH Liu, XX Kuang, JM Lemieux, and SH Liang)
39. Submarine Groundwater Discharge in South China Sea and its Implication on Nutrient Flux, National Science Foundation of China (NSFC), January 2014 – December 2017.
38. Isotopic and Geomicrobiologic Studies of Ammonium-Rich Aquitards in the Pearl River Delta, General Research Fund (GRF), January 2013 – December 2015. (Co-Investigator: JD Gu, R Aravena and JA Cherry)
37. Dynamics of flow, nutrients, radium, and radon in freshwater-saltwater mixing zones in coastal aquifers and its implications on estimation of submarine groundwater discharge, General Research Fund (GRF), January 2012 – December 2014. (Co-Investigator: HL Li, W Moore and J Cherry)
36. Hydrogeological and Geochemical Characterization of Clay-Rich Aquitards in the Pearl River Delta, General Research Fund (GRF), January 2011 – December 2013. (Co-Investigator: Dr XS Wang, Professor J Cherry, Dr Y Zong)
35. Generation and Migration of High-Salinity Groundwater in the Pearl River Delta, General Research Fund, Grants Council of Hong Kong, January 2010 – December 2012. (Co-investigators: JA Cherry and YQ Zong)
34. Subsurface airflow induced by pumping tests, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, January 2009 – December 2011. (Co-investigators: L Wan and KN Zhang)
33. Origin and evolution of abnormally high ammonium groundwater in the Pearl River Delta and its environmental impact, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, January 2008 – December 2010. (Co-investigators: JY Chen, FL Wang and JA Cherry)
32. Submarine Groundwater Discharge in Tolo Harbour and its Possible Ecological Influence, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, December 2006 – November 2009. (Co-investigators: John Leung, Ji-Dong Gu, and Willard S. Moore)
31. Subsurface air flow induced by sea tides, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, December 2005 – November 2008. (Co-investigators: Jinzhong Yang, Hailong Li and Edwin P. Weeks)
30. Impact of Deep Foundations in Extensively Urbanized Areas on Coastal Groundwater Regimes, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, December 2003 – November 2006. (Co-investigators: Dongxiao Zhang and Yanxin Wang)
29. Modification of Regional Groundwater Regimes by Large-Scale Land Reclamation, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, December 2002 – November 2005. (Co-investigators: Chongxi Chen and Chunmiao Zheng)
28. Origin and Evolution Of Abnormal Fluid Pressures In The Shiwu Area In Northeastern China, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, September 1999 – August 2002. (co-investigators: Z. Tang and C. Zheng) Other external peer-review research grants
27. Impact of land reclamation on groundwater flow regimes and its possible engineering and environmental consequences, the “Two Bases” Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China, March, 2004 – February, 2007, (Co-investigator: Professor Runqiu Huang, Environment and Civil Engineering College, Chengdu University of Technology) Internal peer-review research grants
26. Groundwater chemical responses in a hillslope to heavy rainfall, Seed Fund for Basic Research, HKU, April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2020,
25. Investigation of groundwater residence time and reactive transport in the coastal aquifer, Ting Kok, Tolo Harbour: Field monitoring, chemical analysis and numerical modelling, Seed Fund for Basic Research, HKU, May 1, 2017 – April 30, 2019,
24. Investigation of nutrient retention in a groundwater-fed headwater stream by stable and radiogenetic isotopes, The University of Hong Kong, Jan 1, 2016 – Dec 31, 2017.
23. Submarine Groundwater Discharge Estimates in Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong by Radon and Radium Isotopes, Seed Funding within the Faculty of Science, HKU, April, 2005 – March, 2006, (PI: Dr J Leung, Department of Physics, HKU).
22. Pore Pressure Response to Rainfall in Slopes of Weathered Igneous Rock with a Confined Groundwater Zone, Committee on Research and Conference Grants, The University of Hong Kong, November 1, 2003 – October 31, 2005 (Co-investigator: Xu-Sheng Wang).
21. Subsurface Air Flow Induced by Tidal Fluctuation, Committee on Research and Conference Grants, The University of Hong Kong, November 1, 2002 – October 31, 2004.
20. Groundwater Chemical Study in Mid-Levels Area, Hong Kong, Seed Fund in Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, November 2001-October 2002, HK$ (co-investigators: J Malpas and WT Chan)
19. Tide-Induced Groundwater Level Fluctuation in Multilayered Coastal Aquifer Systems in Hong Kong, Committee on Research and Conference Grants, The University of Hong Kong, November 2001- October 2003,
18. Preliminary study on confined groundwater zone in slopes of weathered igneous rock and its impact on slope stability, Dr. Stephen S. F. Hui Trust Fund, University of Hong Kong, March 2001 – February 2002,
17. Preliminary Study on Impact of Land Reclamation on Regional Groundwater Regime, Committee on Research and Conference Grants, The University of Hong Kong, November 2000- October 2002,
16. Delayed Slope Failures Caused By Hydrogeological Regimes, Committee on Research and Conference Grants, The University of Hong Kong, July 1999 – June 2001. (co-investigator: A. Malone)
15. Preliminary Study on the Dynamic Interaction between Seawater and Groundwater in Coastal Areas in Hong Kong, Dr. Stephen S. F. Hui Trust Fund, University of Hong Kong, Oct. 1998 – Sept. 1999. (co-investigator: H. Cheung)
14. Mechanisms of Underpressured Reservoir and Implications for Waste Disposal, Committee on Research and Conference Grants, The University of Hong Kong (July 1998 – June 2000).
13. Aquifer parameter identification by genetic algorithms, Committee on Research and Conference Grants, The University of Hong Kong (July 1997 – June 1998). Research Projects as Co-PI RGC & NSFC grants
12. Collaboration Agreement for Groundwater flow in the Yarlung Zanbo River and its evolution (NSFC major project), January 2018-December 2021 (PI: Dr Xingxing Kuang, SUSTech).
11. Coping with landslide risks in Hong Kong under extreme storms: Storm scenarios, cascading landslide hazards and multi-hazard risk assessment, the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF), Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, June 30 2016-June 29 2019, (PI: Prof Limin Zhang, HKUST).
10. Biological Methanogenesis of Alkanes: Thermodynamics and Microbial Ecology, NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme, Aug 2008-June 2011, (PI: Dr J Gu, School of Biological Sciences)
9. Stable Isotope Laboratory, UGC One-off Special Equipment Grant Scheme, Aug 2008-June 2011, (PI: Min Sun, Earth Sciences Department)
8. Hong Kong Radon Map, Hong Kong SAR, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, January 2006 – December 2009. (PI: John Leung, Physics Department)
7. Drowned and partially drowned relic landslide deposits on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong SAR, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, September 1999 – August 2002. (PI: WWS Yim, Earth Sciences Department)
6. Integrated physical and ecological management of rivers – with particular reference to the East River, NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme, Feb 2004 – July 2007. (PI: JHW Lee, Dept of Civil Engineering) Other external peer-review research grants
5. Studies on seawater intrusion and countermeasures in Shenzhen, supported by Land and Resources Department, Shenzhen Government, July 2007 to June 2008, (Key member of the research team headed by Shenkan Geotechnical Company, Shenzhen).
4. Sustainable water: one of the 21 Strategic Research Themes identified by University Research Council, Hong Kong Government, University Research Council, Hong Kong, June, 2005 – Dec, 2006, (PI: Professor HHP Fang, Civil Department, HKU)
3. Integrated Physical and Ecological Management of Rivers – with Particular Reference to the East River, (NSFC) / (RGC) Joint Research Scheme, HKU747/03, (Dec 2003 – Nov. 2006). (PI: Professor JHW Lee, Civil Engineering Department)
2. Modification of Water Environment in the Pearl River Delta Region due to Economic Development. (PI: Professor R Liu, Guangzhou Institute of Geography), Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province of China, June 2001 – May 2003.
1. HKU development fund for shorted listed AOE project, Area of Excellence in Water Environment Engineering (PI: Professor Joseph Hun-Wei Lee, Civil Engineering Department), co-investigator, and key investigator of the Problem Area of Surface Water-Groundwater Interaction in East River Catchment, May 2002 – April 2003.
Professional Affiliations
• American Society of Civil Engineers (Fellow)
• Geological Society of America (Fellow)
• Geological Society of London (Fellow)
• The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Member, Charted Engineer)
• National Ground Water Association (USA) (Member)
• American Society of Civil Engineers, Hong Kong Chapter (Member)
• International Association of Hydrogeologists (Member) • American Geophysical Union (Member)
• Hong Kong Geological Society (Member)
Awards, Honours and Professional Services
• 2011, Recipient of the John Hem Excellence in Science and Engineering Award (for outstanding scientific or engineering contributions to the understanding of ground water), National Ground Water Association (NGWA).
• 2011-2012, Recipient of Award for Teaching Excellence in the Faculty of Science in the University of Hong Kong.
• Elected: Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers, since December 2011
• Elected: Fellow, Geological Society of America, since May 2003 • Elected: Fellow, Geological Society of London, since May 1999
• Publication selected as an “AGU Journal Highlight” in Geophysical Research Letters, June, 2004 and reported by English media including CNN, ABC, MSNBC and media of other languages such as French, Italian, Spanish and Vietnamese
• 2001– 2002, Board of Directors, American Society of Civil Engineers, Hong Kong Section.
Consultant Work or Contract Research
• 2020-2021, Managed groundwater recharge for river revitalisation in Yuen Long South, Hong Kong, Drainage Services Department, HKSAR
• 2018-2019, Impact Study of the Cavern Sewage Treatment System on Regional Groundwater Flow, Drainage Services Department, HKSAR
• 2013-2019, Expert panel member for National Groundwater Resource Assessment in Singapore, Public Utilities Board, Singapore
• 2011 Expert for Water Resources Investigation in Mountainous Regions of Taiwan funded by Taiwan Central Geological Survey.
• 2009-2013, Studies on seawater intrusion and countermeasures in Shenzhen, funded by the Land and Resources Department, Shenzhen Government, China
• 2008, Expert advisor on coastal land reclamation, Water Resources Directorate, Bahrain
• 2007, Member of the international advisors on Landslide Research Centre in the University of Seoul Korea
• 2007, Field study on Permeability profile at Pak Kong landslide site (coordinated by Maunsell Geotechnical Services Ltd) • 2005, Numerical studies on impact of soil nailing works on subsurface flow in slopes, Agreement No. Ce 5/2004(Ge) LPM Project – Phase 5, Package A Special Study
• 2005, Review on “Review of Landslides at cut slope 8SW-C/CR175 at Pak Kong Treatment Works, Near O Long Village Sai Kung, Landslip Special Report, GEO, HK
• 2005, Review on “Document on Engineering Geological Practice in Hong Kong, GEO, HK”
• 2001, Infrastructure for Penny’s Bay Development – Site Investigation, Phase 1 – Guelph Permeability Test, CED Contract No. CV/2000/07
• Hydrogeological Advisor providing expert services to Halcrow China Limited, Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd, Maunsell Geotechnical Services Ltd, MTRC, Geotechnical Engineering Office, HKSAR, Courses Taught Hydrogeology (undergraduate), Engineering Geology (undergraduate), Soil and Rock Mechanics (undergraduate), Advanced Hydrogeology (MSc students).