Professor Ben Zhong Tang stands as a preeminent figure in modern chemistry and materials science, currently holding the distinguished position of X.Q. Deng Presidential Chair Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. He serves concurrently as the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering at CUHK-SZ, a role he assumed in 2021 after a distinguished 27-year career at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Tang received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from South China University of Technology and Kyoto University respectively, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto. His academic journey began at HKUST in 1994 as an assistant professor, where he steadily rose through the ranks to become Chair Professor in 2008, establishing himself as a leading scholar in macromolecular chemistry.
Professor Tang's groundbreaking research on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has fundamentally transformed the field of luminescent materials, with this phenomenon now ranked as the second most significant research frontier in Chemistry and Materials Science according to Thomson Reuters. His pioneering work has resulted in the publication of over 2,300 scholarly papers that have collectively garnered more than 229,000 citations, reflecting an extraordinary h-index of 207 as documented by Google Scholar. The AIE concept he developed has overturned conventional understanding of luminescent materials, creating new paradigms for designing efficient light-emitting materials that function optimally in aggregated or solid states. This transformative research has opened extensive applications in biomedical imaging, chemical sensing, and optoelectronic devices, establishing a vibrant research direction that has engaged thousands of scientists worldwide.
As a member of multiple prestigious academies including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and The World Academy of Sciences, Professor Tang has profoundly shaped the global scientific landscape through his leadership and vision. He has been consistently recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in both Chemistry and Materials Science by Clarivate Analytics since 2014, underscoring his sustained impact across these disciplines. Currently serving as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Aggregate published by Wiley, he continues to foster scientific discourse and advance knowledge in his field. Professor Tang's ongoing research expands the frontiers of AIE materials into cutting-edge applications including biomedical theranostics and advanced optical technologies, ensuring his continued influence on the future trajectory of materials science and chemistry.
