Professor Hongwei Wu (FIMechE, FRAeS, FEI, FWSSET) is Chair and a full Professor of Thermofluids & Head of the Energy and Sustainable Manufacturing (ENSM) Research Group in the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science (SPECS), and he also leads the Research Group in Monitoring Climate and its Impact (MCI) at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. Professor Wu is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and has been elected Fellow of several prestigious professional bodies, including the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS), the Energy Institute (FEI), and the World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies (FWSSET). Professor Wu is a Royal Academy of Engineering Academic Champion, a visiting professor at East Kazakhstan State Technical University, and a member of the UK Turbulence Consortium. Professor Wu received his BEng and PhD in Thermofluids from Beihang University, completing his PhD in 2004 through a Joint PhD Programme with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He has previously held academic and research positions at Northumbria University, University of the West of Scotland, Birmingham University and Brunel University London in the UK, as well as at the University of British Columbia & University of Alberta in Canada.

Professor Wu’s research is fundamentally grounded in the theoretical framework of turbulence and multi-scale transport phenomena within thermal–fluid sciences and energy systems. His work places particular emphasis on two-phase and multiphase turbulent flows and turbulence-coupled fluid–solid conjugate heat transfer, focusing on the underlying physical mechanisms, scale interactions, and non-equilibrium transport processes that govern advanced cooling technologies, energy conversion and storage systems, renewable energy applications, and battery thermal management systems (BTMS). Methodologically, his research advances high-fidelity theoretical and numerical approaches, including direct numerical simulation (DNS), large-eddy simulation (LES), and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS), to resolve transport phenomena across continuum and molecular scales. These physics-based models are further complemented by data-driven and reduced-order modelling frameworks, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep neural networks (DNNs) to enhance turbulence modelling, prediction, and control. He leads a portfolio of UK- and EU-funded research projects supported by Horizon Europe, EPSRC, the British Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society, Innovate UK, and industrial partners.

Professor Wu has authored more than 270 publications, including over 190 peer-reviewed journal articles in leading journals such as Nono Energy, Applied Energy, Applied Thermal Engineering, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, and Journal of Power Sources. His commitment to academic excellence extends to serving as a frequent reviewer for high-impact journals and serves in editorial roles as an Editor or Editorial Board Member for many international journals including as Associate Editor of Thermal Science and Engineering Progress [Elsevier], Editor of Scientific Reports [Springer Nature]. He contributes significantly to the global academic community, frequently invited as a plenary and keynote speaker and serving as General Chair/Co-Chair, Session Chair or Co-Chair, Organising Committee Member (OCM) and Technical Program Committee (TPC) members at many major International Conferences. Professor Wu also plays a significant role in shaping UK and international research funding priorties. He is a Panel Member for EPSRC Engineering Prioritisation, EPSRC Open Fellowships and Open Plus Fellowships, EPSRC New Horizons, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) Sift and Interview Panel, Royal Society, and British Council International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). He is a Member of the UKRI Talent Peer Review College (PRC), an EPSRC Peer Review Full College Member, and a Royal Society Research Grants Committee Member. He also serves as an External Examiner for PhD Vivas at many national and international universities, and as a Panel Member/External Examiner for validation of UG and MSc programmes at many UK universities.