Media

Earthquake Detector Design Competition
for primary and secondary school students at HKU

02 May 2017

 

According to past records from Hong Kong Observatory, there were on average around 2,000 and 200 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or above and 6.0 or above respectively every year globally.  Hong Kong Observatory recorded in the past 100 years locally felt earth tremors, a total of 179 earth tremors of various intensities were registered, around two per year on average. Based on latest seismic hazard studies, the seismicity of Hong Kong is classified as ‘low to moderate’ and as such Hong Kong cannot be considered as totally free of seismic risks.

To raise public awareness of earthquakes and enhance knowledge of and interest in information technology and seismological instrumentation among the young generations, The Earthquake Detector Design Competition, jointly organised by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Observatory and the Hong Kong Meteorological Society will be held at The TsimShaTsui Kai Fong Welfare Association (TSTKFA) on May 6 (Saturday).  This year attracted over 450 participants from primary, secondary and international schools ranging from Primary 4 to Secondary 6.

The competition is the first of its kind in Hong Kong, it required students to design their own earthquake detector. Judging panel will judge the creativity, outlook and effectiveness of the earthquake detector.  Announcement of results and award presentation will be held at the end of the event. Public are welcome to the exhibition and vote onsite for the “My Favourite Earthquake Detector Award”.   The winning team may have opportunity to work with Hong Kong Observatory for further collaboration and research.

Media representatives are welcome to attend, details are as follows
Date : May 6, 2017 (Saturday)
Time:
Exhibition (open to the public):  11:00am to 3:30pm
Media briefing and tour of the exhibits:  2:30pm
Award Presentation Ceremony:  3:30pm to 5:00pm

Venue : Grand Hall, The TsimShaTsui Kai Fong Welfare Association, 136A Nathan Road, TsimShaTsui, Hong Kong
Website : http://i.cs.hku.hk/~quake/

Officiating guests:
Professor Norman C. Tien, HKU Dean of Engineering
Dr. P.W. Li, Hong Kong Meteorological Society
Mr. Edwin S.T. Lai, Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory
Mr. C.P. So, MH, Chairman of the Executive Committee of TSTKFWA

A guided tour on the exhibits will be held for the media at 2:30pm. Competition participants will demonstrate and explain their designs.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Melanie Wan, Communications and Public Affairs Office, HKU (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: melwkwan@hku.hk) or Ms Esther Lau, Faculty of Engineering, HKU (Tel: 3917 1924 / E-mail: estherlc@hku.hk) or Dr. Ivy Wong, Project Coordinator (E-mail: kywong@cs.hku.hk)