Fun Days bring science, engineering to secondary schoolers

The Faculty of Science and Engineering at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) hosted its annual Science and Engineering Fun Days for senior secondary school students from 23 to 25 July.

The event promotes professional application-oriented education and enables secondary school students to recognise the practical and fascinating aspects of science, uncover the relationship between science and our daily lives and enjoy the fun of science through workshops and laboratory sessions.

 

In more than 20 fun workshops that combined textbook knowledge with real-life applications, students learned more about the study environment and facilities of CityU. About 380 Form 4 to Form 7 students attended this year's event.

 

Professor Henry Chung Shu-hung, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and coordinator of the event, said, "The workshops encourage secondary school students to take part in scientific research and inspire innovative ideas so they can develop their potential. The activities also help CityU's undergraduates and postgraduates reinforce their own knowledge base as they serve as mentors supervising the secondary school students in the laboratory sessions."

 

During the event, students visited laboratories equipped with sophisticated equipment. They were also guided by CityU's academic staff and students to conduct interesting experiments, including short film production employing 3D technology, applying modern biology technologies, information security and cryptography, electromagnetic wave technologies, production of optic communication system and use of underwater remote operated vehicles. The sessions enabled students to explore chemistry and biology, building and construction, computer science, electronic engineering, manufacturing engineering, physics and material science.

 

Students were very excited about the 3D motion capturing technology and had the opportunity to design and produce a short film with an Olympic Games theme.

 

Leung Chun-sing, Form 4 student of Ho Lap College, has had an interest in physics since primary school. "I can sample the different disciplines of science through the workshops and have a fruitful summer holiday," he said. Fung Hon-leung and Yuen Man-lai, both Form 6 students of HKTA Ching Chung Secondary School, said they appreciated the state-of-the-art facilities of CityU's laboratories. "The CityU environment is very energetic," said Fung Hon-leung.

 

The Science and Engineering Fun Days were part of Summer Activities 2008, organised by CityU's Faculty of Science and Engineering for secondary school students. Other activities included the Student Project Exhibition and the Project-based Outreach Programme.