Media

HKU weekly notice

10 Mar 2017

 

The Stephen Hui Geological Museum to present the largest exhibition on private mineral collections in Hong Kong

Period:  Now till August 31, 2017

For the first time in Hong Kong, private mineral collectors will present their collections together to the public to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and to introduce the fascinating hobby of mineral collecting. The public will have a chance to see over 200 precious minerals collected by local collectors in the largest exhibition of its kind in the territory.

Over 200 precious minerals by Hong Kong mineral collectors will be displayed
This exhibition will showcase over 200 precious minerals from 18 collectors from Hong Kong homes. Highlights are the infinite variety of minerals on display including one of the best gemmy single crystals of Tanzanite from Merelani Mine, a very rare large gem quality Aquamarine on Albite with large fluid inclusions from Balochi, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and a 18 cm large gemmy Rhodochrosite on Quartz from the famous Sweet Home Mine in Colorado, U.S.A.. The mineral display cabinet of the late Dr Stephen Hui Sze-fun with a selection from his private collection is also included.

Minerals have been admired and collected by man for millennia. They are unique treasures of nature formed throughout our Earth’s geological history by various combinations of fluids, heat and pressure. Each mineral has its own unique characteristics depending on the time, locality, type of process and conditions during their formation. This uniqueness of minerals is expressed in their variable beauty, rarity, colour, origin, size, form, transparency, lustre, association and perfection. These are appealing aspects for mineral collectors.

Each collection reflects the particular mindset of its collector with their own preferences, motivations, personality traits and technical training. The collectors contributing to this Exhibition range from young student collectors to experienced professional collectors, from those who prefer self-collecting in the field and mines to those who enjoy trading and swapping specimens at mineral fairs.

A significant figure in the history of mineral collections in Hong Kong was the late Dr Stephen Hui Sze-fun. As Hong Kong’s first local mining engineer, geologist and mineral enthusiast, Dr Hui collected minerals across the world during the 1950s to 1970s which he showcased to the Hong Kong public in the City Hall during the first mineral exhibition ever held in the territory in May 1976. Those specimens now represent the core of the Stephen Hui Geological Museum’s Earth Material gallery.

Another important milestone in the history of mineral collecting in Hong Kong was the founding of The Mineralogy Society of Hong Kong in December 2004. The Society’s activities have since helped to continuously increase the interest in minerals and mineral collecting among the Hong Kong public. This is evidenced by their special publication “Mineral Collections in Hong Kong” commemorating the 10th anniversary of The Mineralogy Society of Hong Kong. Their publication is a snapshot of outstanding private mineral collections that have over the years found homes in Hong Kong amongst a diverse group of amateur and professional mineral collectors of various backgrounds. Many of the minerals to be displayed in the upcoming special exhibition “Mineral Collections in Hong Kong” were illustrated in the above mentioned special publication by The Mineralogy Society of Hong Kong. 

Details of the Exhibition:
Venue:  1/F, Stephen Hui Geological Museum, James Hsioung Lee Science Building, Main Campus, the University of Hong Kong
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays, University and Public Holidays
Free Admission

Special Weekend Openings from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on:
March 18 /19, 2017
April 22/23, 2017 (Earth Day, special program to be announced later)
May 13/14, 2017 (International Museum Day)
June 10/11, 2017
July 15/16, 2017
August 12/13, 2017
Stephen Hui Geological Museum website: http://www.earthsciences.hku.hk/shmuseum/
The Mineralogy Society of Hong Kong website: http://www.minsochk.org/ENG/home.php

General Enquiries:
Tel: (852) 22415472  / Email: shmuseum@hku.hk

Media Enquiries:
HKU Communications and Public Affairs Office Rhea Leung (Tel: 2857 8555/ 9022 7446; Email: rhea.leung@hku.hk)

HKUL - "Chinese Wartime Science through the Lens of Joseph Needham" Exhibition

Period:  Now till March 17, 2017 (Friday)

Amongst all his achievements and accolades at Cambridge University, the late Dr Joseph Needham (1900-1995) was best known for his continuing “Science and Civilisation in China” series. While he was visiting China in the 1940s he came into contact with a significant amount of historical documents regarding Chinese science and technology as well as a number of promising young scholars, in the process igniting his passion in the history of science and technology in China. His main question, now known as the “Needham Question”, asks “why modern science had not developed in Chinese civilization but only in Europe given China’s remarkable scientific achievements before the 15th century”. This had always been his focus during his decades of research on the history of science and technology in China.  

Dr Needham provided valuable advice in the post-World War 2 re-opening of HKU in 1945. He stayed close to HKU, particularly with the late Sir Murray MacLehose (Governor of Hong Kong from 1971-1982) whom he befriended in Xiamen while Mr MacLehose was the British Consulate General there during wartime. For his contributions, HKU awarded Dr Needham an honorary “Degree of Doctor of Letters” at the 87th Congregation in 1974.

In 2012, the University of Hong Kong established a permanent endowed chair, “Joseph Needham - Philip Mao Professorship in Chinese History, Science and Civilization” in honour of Dr Needham and the late Dr Philip Wen Chee Mao, founding chairman of the East Asian History of Science Foundation Hong Kong.

Location:  Atrium/Exhibition Area, 2/F Main Library, The University of Hong Kong 
Time: During Main Library Hours 
          Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
          Saturday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
          Sunday: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
          Closed on Public Holidays

The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine and the East Asian History of Science Foundation Hong Kong have co-organized the “11th Joseph Needham Memorial Lecture” to be held on Friday 24 March, 2017 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine Lecture Theatre 1, Cheung Kung Hai Conference Centre, William MW Mong Block, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine. The lecture will delivered by Professor Vivian T. Wong

Details for the Lecture:
Date:  24 March, 2017
Location:  Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine Lecture Theatre 1, Cheung Kung Hai Conference Centre, William MW Mong Block, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
Time: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Online Registration for Lecture: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?guest=Y&ueid=47686

Deadline for registration: March 17, 2017

Both Events are Open to the Public

Media Contact:  Mr. Gary Chin, Tel: 2859 2211 / Ms. Marina Yeung, Tel: 2859 8903

UMAG exhibitions
Art Totems Bridging East & West: Eddie Lui's Four Decades of Artistic Pursuit -- A retrospective display of juxtaposed media and iconographic themes

Period:  Now till March 26, 2017 (Sunday)

Eddie Lui is—as a draftsman, painter and sculptor—one of the founders of contemporary art in Hong Kong. His work is beautifully executed and eccentric, and his employment of form and colour continues to engage throughout the years. Few subject matters are particular to any one culture; his pictorial language is marked by the international and diverse influences found in Hong Kong. Lui’s familiarity with various materials and use of their distinct characteristics is embraced by his overarching topics and forms of visual expression that are common to several of his techniques and recognisable as ‘art totems’. The size and volume of selected artworks shows the artist’s ease with two- and three-dimensional artworks and the dialogue that he routinely creates between them.

Venue: 1/F & 2/F, Fung Ping Shan Building, UMAG, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam

Opening Hours:
09:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Saturday)
13:00 – 18:00 (Sunday)
Closed on University and Public Holidays

Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Admission: Free
Website: www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Media enquiries:
UMAG Communication Officer Miss Elena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2241 5512, Email: elenac@hku.hk.