Dr. Wilson Cheung Wai-yin, PhD

Dr. Wilson Cheung Wai-yin graduated from HKBU in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Recreation Management. Driven by a passion for polar research and expeditions, he pursued further studies and subsequently earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Glaciology from Queen’s University in Canada. Today, he is a world-recognised glaciologist, polar expedition specialist, and social entrepreneur, blending impactful polar research with superb expedition leadership. Having founded the Polar Research & Expedition Consultancy (PRECon) in 2015, Dr. Cheung has relentlessly dedicated his life to ground-truthing — the essential work of travelling to remote polar environments to verify satellite data with on-the-ground observations. His work provides the global scientific community with critical insights into glacier retreat, snowline monitoring, and climate change, all of which are vital for future water resource management and hence contribute tremendously to the public good.

For over a decade, Dr. Cheung’s professional excellence has been defined by landmark scientific achievements in the polar regions. He pioneered the establishment of the first glacier mass-balance monitoring networks in Auyuittuq and Sirmilik National Parks in Canada. By utilising historical aerial photogrammetry and modern measurement techniques of geodetic mass balance, he successfully constructed a detailed analysis of glacier change spanning 1958–2024. This provided important baseline evidence now used for global sea-level assessments and water-resource planning for Inuit communities. His expertise is further demonstrated by his development of satellite data-fusion methods that combine Sentinel-2 optical imagery with machine learning to estimate snowline altitudes across the Arctic.

Dr. Cheung has received numerous international honours for his significant contributions to science and society. He was named among the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World by Junior Chamber International (JCI) in 2025 and the Ten Outstanding Young Persons by JCI Hong Kong, China in 2023. In 2022, The Explorers Club listed him in The Explorers Club 50, which recognises and honours the world’s leading explorers. His additional recognition includes Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (2025), Fellow of the International Arctic Science Committee (2022) and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (2019). He also co-chaired in 2025 the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) research priority team under the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), where he helps shape the Arctic research agendas.

Beyond his polar research, Dr. Cheung is committed to youth empowerment. He founded the Asia Youth Alpine Mentorship Program (AYAMP), offering a useful platform for veteran polar explorers to share their expertise and mentor aspiring young explorers. Through this programme, he equips young people with essential technical skills and fosters environmental awareness for protecting the cryosphere. This also shows his devotion to making scientific knowledge accessible to the public.

A dedicated HKBU alumnus, Dr. Cheung truly exemplifies the University’s philosophy of whole-person education. He regularly gives back to the HKBU community by sharing his experiences, including serving as a guest speaker for General Education courses inspiring students on climate change and sustainability, presenting at alumni sharing forums, and delivering a keynote speech to students on resilience and faith. Through his scientific endeavours, personal resilience, and unwavering support for his alma mater, Dr. Cheung serves as a role model, demonstrating how an HKBU education can create a lasting global influence.

(HKBU would like to thank the award recipient for providing the information.)