CityU-Learning Classroom for Secondary School Students

“Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” This was the title of a talk delivered in 1972 by the late MIT Professor, Edward Lorenz, who first observed the apparently never-repeating pattern arising from his simplified weather model. A small change in a parameter of his model would make a huge difference in the pattern that it generates! In fact, this is precisely what we see and experience every day and in a lot of situations. A small difference would cascade to a series of alterations of events that eventually cause big variations in the outcome. These phenomena are now termed “chaos”, which has been a subject of intense scientific study since 1960s. Weather forecast, coin tossing, drawing numbers from the Mark Six machine, even catching your flight tonight, are chaotic! This talk takes audience for a quick tour of the chaotic world in which we live and the scientific principle behind this fascinating yet common kind of orders or disorders.

「有沒有想過，一隻遠在巴西拍動翅膀的蝴蝶，可能是引發美國德州一場龍捲風暴的元兇？」美國麻省理工大學羅倫茲教授於1972年以此為題發表了一場演說，「蝴蝶效應」一詞隨即在科學界流行起來。羅倫茲教授在簡化天氣模型中，發現即使是很微小的參數誤差，也會導致極大的變化。所謂「牽一髮而動全身」，看似微不足道的瑣事或調整，也可能帶來深遠的影響，引致意想不到的後果。日常生活例子包括天氣、擲幣、六合彩、甚至今晚能否順利趕上飛機！本講座以生活中的例子扼要介紹「蝴蝶效應」及其基本科學原理，淺談這些讓人生變得多姿多采的混沌現象。

The lecture shall provide an overview of the cause, effect and damage prevention of earthquakes and tsunamis.

Architecture is about creating space. The main purpose of providing space is more than functional, it is also about appreciation and experience. For aesthetic appreciation, we look at scale and proportion, geometry and composition, colour and shades, and texture. While appreciating Architecture, we look at context, form, space, structure, and details. In this lecture, you will experience the use of structural expression to provide unique and stunning spatial experience in a few of architectural typologies.

Modern society is increasingly relying on electricity to improve human comfort and commercial and industrial productivity. Unfortunately, about 70% of Hong Kong’s carbon emissions come from fossil fuel power generation. Carbon dioxide is one of the main causes of climate change. Nuclear power plants do not generate greenhouse gas emissions during operation. Also, the carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per unit of power produced by nuclear energy are roughly the same as wind energy for their whole life cycle. In this talk, the basic principles of nuclear power generation will be introduced. The talk will also discuss the pros and cons of nuclear energy and its potential role in combating climate change.

現代社會越來越依賴電力來改善人們的舒適度以及商業和工業生產率。不幸的是，香港約有70％的碳排放量來自化石燃料發電。二氧化碳是氣候變化的主要原因之一。 核電廠在運行過程中不會產生溫室氣體排放，並且在其生命週期內，核能每單位電力產生的二氧化碳當量排放量與風能大致相同。在本次演講中，將介紹核能發電的基本原理, 討論核能的利弊，和它在應對氣候變化中的潛在作用。

Countries worldwide are facing the challenges posed by climate change, stepping up global efforts to find and develop clean energy sources to replace high-emission fossil fuels. Although the perfect fuel is yet to be found, we are constantly exploring better options. Low carbon energy sources are being developed and each has its own advantages and limitations. In order to meet our energy needs while reducing emissions, the use of a diversified and low carbon fuel mix is the most viable option for now. This lecture will include a VR visit to the CityU's CLP Power Low Carbon Energy Education Centre for an inspiring and enlightening experience to learn about the importance of low carbon energy to address the current environmental challenges.

全球各地正面對氣候變化帶來的挑戰，為此世界各國聯手積極地尋找及發展潔淨能源，以取代高碳排放的化石燃料。儘管完美的燃料尚未出現，但我們一直在尋找更好的方案，不同種類的低碳能源也因此應運而生， 可是卻各有優點和限制。現時最可行的方案是採用多元化的低碳能源組合，既能夠滿足電力需求，又可減低排放。本課程包括以虛擬實境參觀香港城市大學的中華電力低碳能源教育中心，一個具啟發性及教育意義的學習體驗， 讓同學深入了解如何運用低碳能源來應對氣候變化帶來的挑戰。

This lecture will be delivered via zoom. It will begin with a 10 minute "face-to-face" session on the role of water quality monitoring in environmental management. Then participants will enter a virtual reality laboratory to learn how to use two handheld meters before they depart for a virtual reality field trip to conduct water quality monitoring work. It will be ended with a 10 minute "face-to-face" closing session.

Respiratory masks are the real frontline defence for medical professionals and public during this COVID-19 outbreak. It plays a major role to prevent and lessen the chance of disease transmission from person to person in the form of aerosols and droplets with contaminants of viruses and bacterial. Thus, current pandemic situation has spurred the demand of respiratory masks to new heights. For achieving efficient filtration, a number of common physical laws are applied in manufacturing mask materials including specific surface area, electric attraction, particle statistics and motion. Through attending this lecture, students are expected to be able to appreciate the application of simple science in technology for real life solutions.

In the modern society, we consume a large amount of energy every day. The ever-increasing energy consumption and reliance on the fossil fuels have resulted in pressing challenges like energy shortage and environmental problems. Addressing these issues requires innovative solutions in areas like renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency and pollution control. To develop such solutions, one needs knowledge crossing the boundaries of traditional scientific and engineering disciplines. In this lecture, I will discuss some interesting in scientific and engineering knowledge with hands-on demonstrations. Then, I will highlight innovative examples to tackle the energy challenges we face nowadays.

在現代社會中，我們每天消耗大量能源。不斷增長的能源消耗和對化石燃料的依賴導致能源短缺和環境污染等問題。解決這些問題需要在再生能源， 能源效率和污染控制等各方面採取創新的解決方法。這些都需要跨越傳統科學和工程領域的知識。在這個講座中，我將首先討論一些有趣的科學和 工程基礎知識。然後，我將介紹一些應對當今能源挑戰的創新科技例子。

Antibiotics were regarded as a “magic bullet” when they first appeared in last century. However, due to misuse and abuse over the years, antibiotics are losing their power. Instead we are hearing more about antibiotics resistance and an increasing number of super bugs. In the post-antibiotic era of the 21^st century, the United Nations has declared that antimicrobial resistance poses the greatest threat to human health. In this lecture I will introduce the history of antibiotics, explain the cause of antibiotic resistance, and introduce the latest works in combating antibiotic resistance.

抗生素在上世紀曾被視為“神奇子彈”。然而，由於多年來的濫用，抗生素正在失去功效。我們經常聽到抗生素耐藥性和超級細菌的新聞。聯合國宣布抗菌素耐藥性是對人類健康最大的威脅。 在這個講座中，我將介紹抗生素的歷史，解釋抗生素耐藥的原因，並介紹抗擊耐藥性的最新研究。

The man-in-the-street is likely to believe that the law is concerned with delivering fair results. This lecture enquires into the meaning of ‘fairness’ in contract law, the values embedded in legal principles, and why the outcomes do not always accord with the layman’s expectations. These hold important lessons on what we should do before entering an agreement, where the law might protect inadequately and what we should do about it.

Why do we feel that some languages are so beautiful, while we think that the way other people talk is strange or funny? In this talk, the speaker will explore how our feelings and beliefs about language influence our identities, our decisions and our social world. We will also discuss how a greater awareness of our language attitudes can contribute to building a more fair and just society.

The duty of forensic toxicologists and dangerous drug chemists is to provide expert aids to the investigation of criminal cases (or even civil proceedings) that involve the use of toxic compounds, poisons or drugs. What are poisons and dangerous drugs? How knowledge of toxicology is applied to criminal investigation? How analytical chemistry is used to bring dangerous drug manufacturers, traffickers and dealers to justice? The aim of this talk is to arouse students’ interests in toxicology and drug chemistry, and to understand how their knowledge can be used to preserve justice of the society. Case studies of some notorious criminal poisoning cases will be included.

不少刑事案件(甚或民事訴訟)皆可能涉及有毒化合物、毒藥或毒品。要調查這類案件，就要出動法醫毒理學家及毒品(危險藥物)化驗師了。到底毒藥的定義是什麼？什麼又是危險藥物？ 法醫毒理學家是如何透過對涉案毒物的認知來追查案件？毒品化驗師又怎樣利用分析化學的方法去將毒犯繩之以法？本講座的目的是透過分析一系列臭名昭著的毒品及下毒案例來喚起學生對 毒理學和藥物化學的興趣，並了解他們所學到的知識是如何用於維護社會公正之上。

This sample class will look at some of the basic tools we use to read, analyse, and discuss English poetry, with a focus on the practices of ‘close reading’. Poets discussed in the class will include Ezra Pound, A.E. Housman, Thomas Hardy, and Sylvia Plath.

This talk aims to introduce various principles of Forensic Sciences and Crime Scene Investigation to students. Special highlights will be given to chemical techniques in forensic analysis that are relevant to the current syllabus of secondary school in Hong Kong. Examples of how knowledge in chemistry and biology are applied to solve real criminal cases will be shared. We hope to arouse students’ interests in studying science, and to understand how their knowledge can be used to preserve justice of the society.

本講座旨在介紹各種科學鑑証(法証科學)和罪案現場調查的原則及技術。其實當中一些知識是與現行香港中學文憑考試的課程相關的。我們將分享一些真實刑事案例，以點出化學和生物學知識是如何幫助破案。 我們希望透過這講座來喚起學生對學習科學的興趣，並了解他們所學到的知識是如何用於維護社會公正之上。

In recent years, there has been a rise in "conscious consumerism": People choose to consume more sustainably (for example by avoiding fast fashion or going vegetarian) to protect the environment. This lecture explores why conscious consumerism DOESN'T work. It presents evidence showing why conscious consumerism will have a very limited impact on climate change. It then introduces ideas on how we, as individuals, CAN have a bigger impact on reversing environmental disaster.

This lecture will discuss the conception and misconception of neo-colonialism in Africa.

Is your Deliveroo courier an ‘entrepreneur’? How about your restaurant waiter? What does it mean to be an ‘entrepreneur’ or ‘small business owner’ today? Do digital platforms transform ‘workers' into ‘independent contractors’? Do they transform price-fixing conspiracies into ’networks’ run by algorithms? This talk will explore the legal consequences of the digital gig economy for workers and companies under employment law and antitrust law. It will also explore how digital platforms are seeking to reshape how we think about market relations today.

Robots are taking over! This is true in a sense that machines can now create contents that look like human expressions. Can these contents be regarded as copyrighted works? Can robots be regarded as authors in the eyes of copyright, so that they could enjoy the rights and undertake obligations? What are the impacts of the existing solution proposals on our society? This talk will introduce the recent developments of artificial intelligence in the creative field, the challenges the AI has raised to the fundamental concepts of copyright law, and how the law should respond to them.

Veterinary Science and Biomedical Science are exciting careers that provide you with endless opportunities to make a difference to the Health of Animals, Humans and our Planet. This lecture will lead you to the learning journey of One Health by giving you an overview on the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences.

Thickeners, also known as thickening agents, are not just substances to increase the viscosity of liquids but are the soul in a wide range of cosmetic products that we use every day. In this 1-hour lecture, not only will the working principle of thickeners be discussed and illustrated, but also their versatile applications, which may blow your mind.

Suppose 50,000 students are applying to universities. Each student has applied to a small number of programmes that he/she is interested in. Each program has stated its capacity and its entrance requirements. How can we maximize the number of students who are accepted into university? We can model this scenario with the maximum matching problem. This model will help us decide on an optimal assignment of students to programmes when we are constrained by students’ interests, as well as programmes’ capacities and requirements. The maximum matching problem can be extended to aid decision-making in many applications. For example, we can decide on an optimal assignment of workers to tasks, or an optimal division of resources/rewards to individuals with different needs.

The primary purpose of a criminal trial is to ascertain whether a defendant has committed an alleged criminal offence. The law of criminal evidence is the set of rules and principles that addresses the manner in which evidence in a criminal trial should be received and evaluated. This talk seeks to provide an introduction to some key ideas in the law of criminal evidence. Guiding through our logical reasoning, so as to determine whether a person is guilty or innocent, the law of evidence requires us to identify human limitations and attend to our biases - all in the name of fair trial.

This lecture of Developmental Psychology introduces cognitive development in children. In what ways children think differently compared to us as adolescents/adults? You will learn the characteristics of thinking of children, developmental milestones and important theories on cognitive development in this lecture. We will see the world through the eyes of a child.

We encounter many complex networks in our daily life, involving engineering, physics, mathematics, biology, computers, and even finance and economics as well as social sciences. They are practically important with far-reaching impact. Typical complex networks include the Internet, WWW, wireless communication networks, biological and brain neural networks, social and economic networks, and research cooperation networks. In this lecture, we will briefly introduce the notion of complex networks and their simple mathematical descriptions, as well as some basic concepts and characteristics of complex networks. We will explain the knowledge and applications of complex networks by using some technical, biological and social networks as examples, highlighting the promising future of complex networks development.

我們日常生活中遇到很多複雜網絡，涉及到工程、物理、數學、生物、計算機甚至金融經濟和社會科學，其實用性強、影響廣泛深遠。典型的複雜網絡包括 Internet、WWW、無線電通信網、生物大腦神經網、社會和經濟 網、以及科研合作關系網等等。本講座將簡單地介紹生活中經常遇到的複雜網絡及其簡單數學描述，以及複雜網絡的一些基本概念和特征，並以技術、生物和社會網絡爲例，解釋這些模型的概念和應用，並簡要地展示複雜 網絡發展的前沿和遠景。

You and your crew members are in a dropping plane in air above the Caribbean island region, and about to ‘land’ in a Panama tropical rainforest. You and your team are experiencing extreme pressure of urgency, high emotional distress, and lack of survival expertise. Before landing, you and your team now have to make a series of decisions at a critical moment...

Animation is a diverse art form with distinctive production methods, combining storytelling, visual communication, graphic art, characterization, cinematography, sound design and other forms of imaginative and individualistic techniques. This form of creative media influences the production of film, video, online media, games and television entertainment. This lecture offers students a sneak peek of what animation is, including the history, workflow, principle and samples of various types of animation.

This lecture of Cyberlaw (or Internet law) covers the legal issues related to use of the Internet. It will begin by considering the origins and development of information technology in the booming Internet economy, moving on to consider, through the key issue of cyber property, both how the law has responded to the challenges of information technologies, and the extent to which legal issues have shaped the development of information society policy. Finally, this lecture provides a strong practical training by devoting lectures to the dispute settlement of internet domain disputes with focus on the Hong Kong practice.

This 1 hr online lesson will describe applications of physics in modern medicine. This includes imaging, which is essential for assessing pneumonia, a common symptom of COVID-19.

Humans count in decimal, i.e., in base 10, because we have 10 fingers (and 10 toes). However, computers represent numbers in binary which is a different number system. In this lecture, you will learn the basic concept of binary number system. We will solve interesting problems by applying this concept, and you can enjoy a magic performed by the lecturer during the lecture.

In this 1-hour online workshop, you will be able to build an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system to classify different types of Pokemon! At the end of the workshop, you will develop a simple Python program to classify 5 different types of Pokemon: Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Mewtwo. You can apply this learning outcome to other problem domains.