Two Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering associate professors have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society, in recognition of their contributions to education, research, and service in aerospace engineering.

The highest grade of membership, the Fellow grade is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions, attained a position of high responsibility or had a long career of high quality in the profession of aeronautics.

Prof. YU Hongyu’s research interest is providing engineering solutions for scientific studies and real-life demands. He focuses on smart structures, sensors and sensing platforms, and miniature instrumentation with applications for aerial vehicles, robotics, and consumer electronics. Before joining HKUST in 2018, Prof. Yu was a tenured faculty member at Arizona State University, US, where he was the principal investigator for several projects from NASA, National Science Foundation, and Intel.

Prof. Larry LI’s research focuses on fluid mechanics, thermoacoustics, and nonlinear dynamics, with applications ranging from aircraft propulsion to power generation. He has investigated a variety of thermofluid phenomena, including global instabilities in open shear flows, non-Newtonian atomization in crossflows, and forced/mutual synchronization of thermoacoustic modes. His industrial experience includes working with Rolls-Royce, LB Foster, and Coanda Research & Development. Prof. Li joined HKUST in 2014, following his time at the University of Cambridge where he received his PhD and later became a research associate.

Established in 1866, the Royal Aeronautical Society has been at the forefront of developments in aerospace, seeking to promote the highest professional standards and provide a central forum for sharing knowledge. The Society now has over 22,500 members and has become an international, multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.