Prof. Hwa Yaw Tam at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong
Prof. Hwa Yaw TAM 🎓🔬, IEEE Life Fellow and OPTICA Fellow, is a visionary in photonics and optical fibre sensing. Currently Chair Professor of Photonics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University 🇭🇰, he has spearheaded groundbreaking innovations in fibre-optic sensor systems for transportation 🚄, energy ⚡, and medical 👂 applications. With over 800 publications 📚 and 20 patents 🔖, he stands as the second most cited expert in fibre-optic sensing, boasting an H-index of 73. His trailblazing contributions span continents, from Hong Kong’s MTR to the Netherlands and Australia 🌍. A laureate of the Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis 🏆 and multiple Geneva Invention awards, Prof. Tam’s legacy bridges academia, industry, and public safety. His work has also spun off seven photonics companies 🚀. With unwavering passion and pioneering spirit, Prof. Tam continues to illuminate the future of smart sensing and laser technologies 🔭.
Professional Profile
🎓 Education
Prof. Hwa Yaw TAM embarked on his academic voyage at The University of Manchester, UK 🇬🇧, earning both his B.Eng in 1985 and Ph.D. in 1989 🎓. His early educational foundations laid the groundwork for a lifelong commitment to photonics and optical engineering. Specializing in electrical and electronic engineering, his doctoral studies fused rigorous theory with hands-on research in laser systems and fibre technologies 🔍. This dual emphasis cultivated a mindset driven by innovation and precision. The UK academic environment, rich in historical scientific achievement, greatly influenced his research ethos 🌐. Prof. Tam’s education not only equipped him with cutting-edge technical knowledge but also instilled in him a vision to translate science into impactful, real-world applications. Today, that foundation continues to echo through his advanced fibre-optic sensor innovations 🔬, standing as a beacon for future generations of engineers and scientists 📘💡.
🏛️ Professional Experience
Prof. Tam’s professional journey spans academia and industry in equal brilliance 🌠. He began his research career at GEC-Marconi Ltd. (London) between 1989–1993, delving into erbium-doped fibre amplifiers and laser systems 💡. He then joined The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1993, rising through the ranks from Lecturer to Chair Professor of Photonics. He also served as Head of the Electrical Engineering Department and was the Founding Director of the Photonics Research Centre (2000–2022) 🏫. Presently, he is Associate Director at PolyU’s Photonics Research Institute, spearheading interdisciplinary innovations. Prof. Tam’s work transcends traditional academia—his team has launched seven start-ups, catalyzing photonics-based solutions globally 🚀. His leadership has shaped fibre-optic sensing systems for cities and industries across Asia, Europe, and Australia, turning theoretical breakthroughs into operational systems in railways 🚉, energy grids 🔋, and hospitals 🏥, positioning him as a pivotal force in global smart sensing networks 🌐.
🔬 Research Interest
Prof. Tam’s research orbits around specialty optical fibres tailored for real-world sensor applications 🔍. His core interests span the design and fabrication of advanced fibre-optic systems that serve as digital sentinels in complex infrastructures 🧠. From structural health monitoring (SHM) to real-time railway diagnostics, his innovations help prevent failures before they occur ⚠️. His pioneering optical fibre networks have monitored everything from high-speed trains 🚆 to smart escalators and even cochlear implants for medical precision 👂. By embedding fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) into intelligent sensing webs, he’s revolutionized predictive maintenance across industries. His group’s work is particularly transformative in railway monitoring, with deployment success stories in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Netherlands 🌍. Always ahead of the curve, Prof. Tam’s research fuses AI 🤖, photonic engineering, and real-time analytics to create a safer, more connected world through light 🌈 and precision sensing technologies 📈.
🏅 Awards and Honors
Prof. Tam’s achievements are globally celebrated 🏆. In 2025, he won the Special Prize and Gold Medal at Geneva’s Invention Expo for a smart cochlear implant 👂🌟. In 2024, he secured another Gold Medal for lithium-ion battery health monitoring via FBG sensors 🔋. Earlier, in 2022, his intelligent escalator monitoring system earned him yet another Geneva Gold Award 🥇. The Berthold Leibinger Innovationspreis in 2014, among the world’s highest laser tech honors, recognized his work in wavelength-tunable laser sensing for railways 🚄. His team also received the President’s Award for Knowledge Transfer in 2022 at PolyU for creating AI-enhanced optical fibre networks 🌐. Further accolades include a Best Paper finalist at IEEE SENSORS 2016 📃. Each honor underscores Prof. Tam’s deep impact on laser technology, smart sensing, and translational engineering. His consistent award-winning contributions reflect a perfect blend of scientific creativity, societal value, and engineering excellence 💼🔬.
📚 Publications Top Note
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Title: Enhanced Quasi-Distributed Accelerometer Array Based on ϕ-OTDR and Ultraweak Fiber Bragg Grating
Authors: , , , …
Year: 2023
Citations: 6
Source: IEEE Sensors Journal
Summary: Proposes an enhanced accelerometer array using phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (ϕ-OTDR) and ultraweak fiber Bragg gratings for distributed vibration sensing, suitable for applications like structural health monitoring.
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Title: Label-Free DNA Detection Using Etched Tilted Bragg Fiber Grating-Based Biosensor
Authors: , , , …
Year: 2023
Citations: 6
Source: Sensors
Summary: Describes a label-free biosensor using etched tilted fiber Bragg gratings to detect DNA without the need for fluorescent labels, enhancing sensitivity and simplicity in genetic diagnostics.
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Title: Recovery of a Highly Reflective Bragg Grating in DPDS-Doped Polymer Optical Fiber by Thermal Annealing
Authors: , , , …
Year: 2023
Citations: 2
Source: Optics Letters
Summary: Demonstrates the recovery of degraded Bragg gratings in doped polymer optical fibers using thermal annealing, showing potential for longer lifespan and reusability in fiber-optic sensors.
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Title: Accident Risk Tensor-Specific Covariant Model for Railway Accident Risk Assessment and Prediction
Authors: , , , …
Year: 2023
Citations: 8
Source: Reliability Engineering and System Safety
Summary: Introduces a tensor-based statistical model for accurately assessing and predicting accident risks in railway systems by incorporating covariant risk factors.
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Title: Polymeric Fiber Sensors for Insertion Forces and Trajectory Determination of Cochlear Implants in Hearing Preservation
Authors: , , , …
Year: 2023
Citations: 10
Source: Biosensors and Bioelectronics
Summary: Presents polymeric fiber-optic sensors designed to measure insertion force and trajectory during cochlear implant surgeries, helping to preserve hearing by reducing inner ear trauma.
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Title: Miniature Two-Axis Accelerometer Based on Multicore Fiber for Pantograph-Catenary System
Authors: , , , ,
Year: 2023
Citations: 8
Source: IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement
Summary: Develops a compact fiber-based accelerometer capable of sensing in two axes, tailored for monitoring the dynamics of pantograph-catenary interactions in electric rail systems.
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Title: Ultraminiature Optical Fiber-Tip Directly-Printed Plasmonic Biosensors for Label-Free Biodetection
Authors: , , , …
Year: 2022
Citations: 19
Source: Biosensors and Bioelectronics
Summary: Describes a highly miniaturized fiber-tip plasmonic biosensor fabricated via direct printing, enabling sensitive and label-free detection of biomolecules at the microscale.
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Title: Accelerated Pyro-Catalytic Hydrogen Production Enabled by Plasmonic Local Heating of Au on Pyroelectric BaTiO3 Nanoparticles
Authors: , , , …
Year: 2022
Citations: 83
Source: Nature Communications
Summary: Reports a novel hydrogen production method using gold-decorated BaTiO₃ nanoparticles, where plasmonic heating enhances pyro-catalytic activity under mild conditions.
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Title: Biomechanical Assessment and Quantification of Femur Healing Process Using Fibre Bragg Grating Strain Sensors
Authors: , , , …
Year: 2022
Citations: 5
Source: Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
Summary: Uses fiber Bragg grating strain sensors to monitor and quantify mechanical changes in the femur during bone healing, supporting better postoperative assessment.
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Title: Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Based Fiber-Optic Nitrate Sensor
Authors: , , , ,
Year: 2022
Citations: Not listed
Source: Optics Express
Summary: Presents a Mach-Zehnder interferometer design using optical fiber for detecting nitrate concentrations in water, aiming at applications in environmental monitoring
🔚 Conclusion
Prof. Hwa Yaw TAM is more than a scholar—he is a trailblazer in light-based sensing technologies 🌟. His career weaves together pioneering science, practical engineering, and impactful entrepreneurship 🌐. Through over 800 papers, 20 patents, and numerous awards, he has reshaped how the world monitors structural, environmental, and human conditions using optical fibres 💡. His real-world implementations—from monitoring city-wide railways to enabling hearing restoration—demonstrate how research can elevate safety, precision, and quality of life for millions 🌍. He continues to mentor future innovators and drive collaborative photonic research through his leadership roles at PolyU and the Photonics Research Institute. With vision, dedication, and humility, Prof. Tam stands as a guiding light for the global photonics community 🌠. His journey exemplifies how science, when paired with compassion and creativity, becomes a force for building a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world 🔗🌿.