News & Events

A group of MSc EHS students went to visit the Eco Expo Asia 2022 - International Trade Fair on Environmental Protection on 16 December 2022. The Eco Expo Asia 2022, with the theme "Green Innovations for Carbon Neutrality", is a leading trade platform for the eco industry that showcases the latest green products, equipment and technology. Through a guided walk in the Exhibition Centre and participating in Eco Asia Conference, students were able to enhancing their environmental knowledge and understand more about the latest development of the green industry in Hong Kong and all around the world. Read more

  HKUST 30th Congregation was held on 5 December 2022. To celebrate the accomplishment and share the happiness, a graduation party was organized after the official ceremony. Faculty, graduates, graduates’ family members and current students were all invited to the party. Prof. Hongbin LIU, MSc EHS Program Director, welcomed all comers. In the gathering, light refreshments and drinks were served and there was a photo booth with props for students to take photos. Everyone shared the joy and pride of the graduates, listened to alumni sharing their experience in studying MSc EHS, and had a great time in the gathering. Congratulations to Class of 2022! Read more

To let students know more about sustainable living and increase awareness of natural environment, a wooden watch DIY workshop, co-organized with Y Park, was held on 11 November 2022. The workshop first began with an introduction of Y Park, then students tried to use upcycled wood collected from Y Park to make a wooden watch by themselves. Students could choose and watchstrap and different plant species (either cherry wood or Taiwan Acacia) as the bezel according to their preference. Students found the workshop impressive and educational. Read more

To help students explore the biodiversity, native wildlife conservation and organic farming in Hong Kong, a group of EHS students had a field trip to Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) on 11 November 2022. KFBG spreads over 148 hectares of land on the northern slopes of Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong's highest mountain, near the town of Tai Po. It has a deep-set valley between two ridges, with a stream running steeply down through the forest. On the slopes there are forest, theme gardens, vegetable terraces, 8km of walking trails, 9km of roads, and conservation and educational facilities. Through a guided tour led by trained environmental interpreter, students visited several attractions in KFBG, such as Piers Jacobs Wildlife Sanctuary, Insect House, Amphibian and Reptile House, as well as Orchid Greenhouse. Students found the field trip interesting and educational, and they were able to raise awareness of ecological and sustainability issues, undertake species conservation and ecosystem restoration in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Read more

To learn more about the food waste treatment process in Hong Kong, a group of students had a visit in O park1 on 9 November 2022. O Park1 is the first organic resources recovery center in Hong Kong, which adopts anaerobic digestion technology to convert food waste into biogas (a source of renewable energy similar to natural gas) for electricity generation whilst the residues from the process can be produced as compost for landscaping and agriculture use. O Park1 is capable of handling 200 tonnes of food waste per day, and about 14 million kWh of electricity can be exported to the grid per year, which is equivalent to the power consumption by some 3,000 households. With interesting visual design, animation and detailed explanation by the O Park1 staff, students were able to witness the operations of the facility and understand the importance of turning waste into resources. (Source: https://www.opark.gov.hk/en/) Read more

In order to understand more about the yard waste recycling work in Hong Kong, a group of MSc EHS students visited Y Park on 4 November 2022. Y Park is located in Tsang Tsui, Tuen Mun and adjacent to West New Territories (WENT) Landfill. The aim of established this yard waste recycling centre is to promote recycling of yard waste into useful materials, reducing disposal at landfills and relevant carbon emission, realizing “zero landfill” and facilitating carbon neutrality in the long run. Y Park is equipped with various installations for the yard waste recycling treatment process, such as wood shredders, wood cutting machine, drying and sterilization unit, etc. These installations can transform suitable yard waste into various useful materials such as wood boards, wood beams, wood chips and sawdust. With detailed explanation by the Y Park staff, students were able to explore the forms and applications of local recycled trees, wood processing methods and upcycled wooden products made by local wood artists. (Source: https://www.ypark.hk/en/) Read more

A group of MSc EHS students joined a guided tour in Island House on 28 October 2022. Students visited the over one-hundred-and-fifteen-year-old official accommodation of the Chief Commander of the New Territories during the colonial times (Now as the Island House Conservation Studies Centre). Some architectural features were designed for efficient energy use and to merge with the natural environment. By venturing to the foot of the hill, students also had a chance to explore and learn about the organisms found in rocky shore, mangrove and sandy shore. Through the guided tour, students were able to discover the architectural history and story of Island House, and to gain some first-hand sustainable lifestyle tips that can be applied to our daily life. Read more

A group of MSc EHS students visited Hoi Ha Wan on 28 October 2022. Hoi Ha Wan is one of the six marine parks in Hong Kong which covers an area of about 260 hectares. Coral communities in Hoi Ha Wan is famous in terms of species diversity and richness. Mangroves and rocky shores with various kinds of marine organisms can also be found in Hoi Ha Wan. Students had a coral-observation trip aboard a glass-bottom boat which allows them to gain deeper understanding of coral communities and different types of coral species in Hong Kong. They also had a survey in rocky shore to observe organisms that live in the upper layer of intertidal zone, such as snails and clams. With the vivid and detailed explanation by the WWF volunteer, students found the trip impressive and educational. Read more

Date: 20 & 21 October 2022 In order to learn more about the sustainable development and conservation issues in Hong Kong, a group of students had a visit in Pearl Farm on 20 & 21 October 2022. Hong Kong Pearl Cultivation Association grows Hong Kong Akoya Pearls in the waters of Saikung. With pearl cultivation, the Association aims to help revitalizing Hong Kong’s fishery and agriculture, and promote sustainable development with people from cross-professional sectors. Through detailed explanation by the owner of the Pearl Farm, students were able to know more about the history of pearl cultivation in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, the technologies and methods people use to cultivate pearl, and the challenges they are facing in running a pearl farm. Students found the trip impressive and educational. Read more

To learn more about the concept of ‘Converting waste to energy’, a group of students had a visit in T Park on 12 October 2022. ‘T’ represents ‘Transformation’. T Park is a state-of-the-art sludge treatment facility specifically design to provide an innovative and eco-friendly solution for the problem of sewage sludge disposal in Hong Kong. The facility integrates a power station, a spa resort and a sludge treatment facility. It utilizes fluidized bed incineration technology, capable of burning 2000 tonnes of sludge every day and uses the excess heat energy to generate electricity. At full operation capacity, an excess of 2 MW of power is available daily. T Park signifies the continuous drive to shape Hong Kong’s ‘waste-to-energy’ ambitions for the good of the community. It also reflects a vision to encourage positive change in people’s attitudes and behaviors towards waste management and resource recovery and recycling. (Source: https://www.tpark.hk/en/, https://www.arup.com/projects/t-park) Read more