On the afternoon of September 5 local time in Panama, at the 38th IAHR World Congress, “IWHR Scholar” Professor Joseph H.W. Lee from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was elected as the new President of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR).
This is the first time a Chinese scholar was elected as President since IAHR was founded 85 years ago, marking an important breakthrough of China’s further involvement in international organizations.
Professor Joseph H.W. Lee
Professor Joseph H.W. Lee obtained his doctorate in civil engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He started teaching at Hong Kong University in 1980 and was promoted as the Vice President of the university in 2004. From 2010, he began to serve as the Vice President of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and at the same time was a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, senior member of American Society of Civil Engineers, and Dean of Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Science. He was also the former Vice President of IAHR and President of its Asia-Pacific Division.
A world-famous expert on environmental hydraulics, Professor Lee has long been engaged in studies about hydraulics, jet flow, environmental management, pollution emission control, etc. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the internationally renowned Journal of Water Environment Research and deputy editor-in-chief of several SCI journals such as the Journal American Water Works Association. He also won China’s National Science Progress Award in 2010.
The 38th IAHR World Congress was held in Panama City during September 1-6, 2019. As required by the IAHR charter, this year’s Congress held a general election of its council, during which Professor Lee was voted by IAHR members the new President.
Opening ceremony of the 38th IAHR World Congress
Professor Lee said it was his great honor to become the first Chinese President of the organization. He delivered his desire to lead IAHR to better play its strength in academic research, talent resources and platform building, so that the organization can provide high-quality service for its members as well as the water and environment science community. He would also like to further promote global partnership in water-related fields and expand IAHR’s international influence.
The “IWHR Scholar” International Talent Program was established this year, and Professor Lee has already been engaged in the program giving consideration to his remarkable academic achievements and influence as well as his long-term and deep collaboration with IWHR for many years.
The election of President Lee shows the research capacity of China including Hong Kong SAR is significantly increasing and recognized by the international community. That enables IAHR to enhance communication and collaboration in the fields of water conservancy and environment so as to better serve water-related Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations 2030 Agenda, and also to strengthen exchange in water issues in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Great Bay Area.
(Source: IWHR)