From our correspondent — The HLHL Foundation has recently announced its 2025 list of awardees. Professor Ju Yang from the University has been honored with the HLHL Foundation Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress.

Established in 1994 through donations from patriotic Hong Kong financiers and industrialists Ho Sin Hang, Leung Kau Kui, Ho Tim and Lee Quo Wei, the HLHL Foundation aims to reward outstanding scientists and engineers of the People’s Republic of China. In 2025, a total of 32 distinguished researchers who have made major inventions, discoveries and scientific and technological achievements were awarded the Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress.

Ju Yang is currently Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the State Key Laboratory of Coal Fine Exploration and Intelligent Development of the University. He serves as the Chief Scientist of the Innovative Research Group of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Principal Investigator of national key R&D programs. He is a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the title of National Young and Middle-aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions. He has been listed among Elsevier’s Highly Cited Chinese Researchers and the World’s Top 2% Scientists for consecutive years. His accolades include the First-Class National Technological Invention Award and the Second-Class National Natural Science Award.

This award is a vivid demonstration of the University’s efforts to deepen the reform of science and technology management and stimulate the innovation and creativity of researchers. The University will further advance the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation, making new and greater contributions toward building itself into a world-class energy science and technology university.