The Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE) has announced the recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Engineering Professor Award, naming Yuan-Chung Lin, Distinguished Professor of the Institute of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Center for Emerging Contaminants Research at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), among the honorees. Professor Lin was recognized for his expertise and experience in green energy, energy-saving technology, waste reduction and reuse, air pollutant control, and his long-term exceptional contributions to engineering education, research innovation, and practical applications. He was formally commended by the President of Taiwan. The award, one of the most prestigious honors in Taiwan's engineering community, is selected annually through recommendations from leading academic institutions in the field.

Since joining NSYSU in 2008, Professor Lin has specialized in green energy, air pollution prevention, carbon reduction, resource recycling, air toxicology, and environmental hormone monitoring. His research has been widely published in high-impact international journals in the fields of environmental and energy engineering, earning recognition from both domestic and international academic communities. He also holds leadership positions in Taiwan's academic and research communities, including as coordinator of the Environmental Engineering Program of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), director of the Chinese Institute of Environmental Engineering, and supervisor at the Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research. Lin has led major government-sponsored projects through the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Environment, and NSTC, covering areas such as biomass energy recovery, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal, fly ash reuse, battery metal recycling, air quality monitoring, and health risk assessments, bridging academia, industry, and public governance.

Beyond academia, Professor Lin has played a key role in public policy and local governance. As the former Director-general of the Environmental Protection Bureau of Tainan city government, he translated his research into policy, leading initiatives on air pollution mitigation, resource reuse, and environmental resilience, advancing Tainan's path toward green and sustainable development. With extensive cross-sector collaboration experience, he continues to work closely with central and local governments, industry, and academia to provide expert guidance and practical solutions for improving environmental quality and driving industrial transformation.

Upon receiving the award, Professor Lin expressed deep gratitude and said the recognition holds significant meaning for him. He thanked the selection committee as well as his students and research team, saying, "This honor does not belong to me alone, it belongs to our entire team." He reaffirmed his commitment to engineering education and research, hoping to nurture more talent and contribute to both societal progress and industrial innovation.

Founded in 1912, the CIE is Taiwan's oldest and largest engineering academic organization. It is dedicated to advancing engineering science and technology, fostering international collaboration, strengthening the engineering education environment, and enhancing the capabilities of domestic engineering professionals. Its members span academia, industry, research institutions, and government agencies, with regional and student chapters established throughout Taiwan and abroad. The Outstanding Engineering Professor Award is one of the institute's highest honors, recognizing outstanding contributions to engineering education or practice at the university level.