Media

HKU weekly notice

05 May 2017

 

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

"Seeing The Invisible" – Hong Kong's first community-wide program for children and families affected by childhood eczema
Eczema is the most common paediatric skin disease prevalent in 15-20% of children globally and 30% of children in Hong Kong. Research suggested that eczema is more common in the Chinese population and in coastal areas with high relative humidity, which triggers severe seasonal outburst. Children with eczema commonly suffer from sleep disturbances, daytime tiredness, social stigmatization, diminished self-esteem, emotional distress, irritability and mood disturbance; their parents also suffer interruption of daily routines, poor physical condition, emotional instability, reduced social activities and decreased quality of life.

Against this backdrop, the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong Kong, the Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA) and the Hong Kong Society of Rehabilitation (HKSR) jointly organise the “Seeing The Invisible” Program. It is a 36-hour training program offered for children with eczema and their parent caregivers. A pilot study in mid of last year has demonstrated significant improvement in various dimensions in the psychological and spiritual well-being of the participants.

A press conference will be held on May 9 to announce the launch of this community-wide “Seeing The Invisible” Program and recruitment of phase one training programme. Dr. CHAN Chun Yin Johnny, Hong Kong Sanatorium & hospital Director, Dermatology, Specialist in Dermatology & Venereology and Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor (Department of Medicine, HKU), will brief the media on the prevalence, prognosis and long-term impact of childhood eczema. Dr. CHAN Hoi-Yan Celia, Assistant Professor (Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU) will highlight the psychosocial needs of families affected by eczema and announce the program launch. A parent participant from the pilot study will share on her challenges in caring for children with eczema and how the intervention program had brought positive changes to both her child and herself.

At the press conference, pilot study findings and application details of the training program will be announced. Details are as follows: 

Date:    May 9, 2017 (Tuesday)
Time:   11:30 am - 1pm
Venue:  Room 533, 5/F, the Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus,
            The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong

Please see attached the roundown.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Melanie Wan (Senior Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 / email: melwkwan@hku.hk.

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

Period:  Now till August 31, 2017

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.

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:
May 13/14, 2017 (International Museum Day)
June 10/11, 2017
July 15/16, 2017
August 12/13, 2017

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)

UMAG exhibitions
1. Illustrious Illuminations II: Armenian and Georgian Christian Manuscripts from the Eleventh to the Eighteenth Century --- Exquisite manuscripts from the Caucasus

Period: Now till June 11 2017 (Sunday)

Armenian illustrated manuscripts are some of the most lavishly decorated codices of the Christian churches from the Middle East. The Gospels are paramount among these, primarily because of the Armenian community’s respect for the sacred texts, revering them in the same way that Greek and Russian Christians regard holy icons. Such texts were carried into war by Armenian rulers and individual copies of the Gospels were often given sacred names and believed to hold miraculous powers.

Few Armenian manuscripts predate the Middle Ages. Individual examples of manuscripts from the seventh century are among the earliest known. Since the eighth century, Arab domination within Armenia largely suppressed Christian artistic expression, and no work is known prior to the end of the Caliphate in the mid-ninth century. Although a few manuscripts survive from the later ninth and tenth centuries, extant Armenian illustrated manuscripts are not common until the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Examples from these early periods begin the exhibition’s chronological display, introducing the tradition of teaching the Gospel through both word and image. The show is then complemented by a set of Georgian Gospel leaves illustrating the Evangelists.

The UMAG is grateful to Robert McCarthy for his generosity in sharing these many fine works with the general public.

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

2. Louis XV’s Qianlong Tapestries and Battle Scene Prints at the Imperial Court in Beijing A crossover of Chinese and French Imperial Collections

Period: Now till May 28 2017 (Sunday)

This unprecedented exhibition highlights four of the magnificent chinoiserie tapestries of Chinese Emperor Qianlong and the print of the Conquests of the Qianlong Emperor. This exhibition is one of the events of Le French May this year.

Venue:  1/F, T.T. Tsui 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.