Media

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has made history by becoming the first research team in Hong Kong to obtain lunar soil samples collected by the Chinese lunar probe Chang'e-5 in 2020. This highlights HKU's growing contribution to China's lunar and planetary exploration initiatives.

Led by postdoctoral fellow Dr Yuqi QIAN from the Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, the team received approval from the China National Space Administration's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre to study the samples. Dr Qian recently embarked on a mission to retrieve lunar soil samples from Beijing. These samples are a valuable resource that offers a one-of-a-kind chance to unravel the enigmas of the Moon's geological and thermal history and its interrelation with the development and transformation of planetary bodies in the Solar System.

In a press conference on August 7 (Monday), Dr Qian and his supervisor Dr Joseph MICHALSKI, both from the Planetary Spectroscopy and Mineralogy Lab, Department of Earth Sciences at HKU, will share their plan and expectations on the research project. The lunar soil sample will also be displayed and available for picture-taking.

Details are as follows:
Date: August 7, 2023 (Monday)
Time: 11am
Venue: Room JL 104, 1/F, James Hsiong Lee Science Building, Main Campus, HKU (Map)

Speakers:

• Dr Joseph Michalski, Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences
• Dr Yuqi Qian, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Earth Sciences

Rundown:

• Photo-taking at a lab in the vicinity
• Media briefing

Note: The moon soil particles are very small, please bring the appropriate lens for filming 

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Casey To, External Relations Officer (tel: 3917 4948; email: caseyto@hku.hk / Ms Cindy Chan, Assistant Director of Communications of HKU, Faculty of Science (tel: 3917 5286; email: cindycst@hku.hk).