Event 1: "From Decline to Revival: A Journey Through Coral Research, Restoration, and Community Outreach" Science Lecture and Coral Sample Showcase

Tolo Harbour and Channel in north-eastern Hong Kong, which used to support high coverage of corals until the 1980's, were severely affected by extensive pollution impacts. Surveys from the School of Life Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, showed that fifteen years after the progressive improvement of water quality inside Tolo Harbour and Channel, coral recovery has been very slow. One of the most likely reasons for this slow recovery is a lack of recruitment. In the current time frame, natural recruitment of corals is not sufficient to restore the damaged coral communities. This talk will focus on the opportunities and challenges of various coral restoration methods used in Hong Kong, and what have been learned so far, followed by showcasing and explanation of some coral samples. The details of the event are as follows:

Date: 28 February 2026 (Saturday)

Time: 3:00 – 5:00 pm 

Speaker: Professor CHUI Pui-yi, Apple (Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Event 2: "A Journey of Soybean Research" Science Lecture

Soybeans are originated from China. They have now become a major source of protein and edible oil worldwide and are closely linked to global food security. Soybeans can increase nitrogen levels in the soil through symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which helps reduce carbon emissions caused by the production and use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. This promotes a balance between sustainable environmental practices and agricultural activities.

Professor Lam Hon-ming has dedicated to soybean research for over 28 years. In a research project titled “Soybean Homecoming”, he led a collaborative team in pioneering the use of advanced genomic technologies to elucidate the biodiversity of Chinese soybeans, establishing himself as a trailblazer in international soybean genomic research. His team successfully identified the key salt-tolerant genes in soybeans and developed resilient soybean varieties for farmers to cultivate on lands with undesirable conditions. This achievement embodies the vision of “writing research papers on the fields”. In this lecture, Professor Lam will share his personal journey and insights from his soybean research endeavours. The details of the event are as follows:

Date: 7 March 2026 (Saturday)

Time: 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Speaker: Professor LAM Hon-ming (Choh-Ming Li Professor of Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

These events are jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and jointly organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum and the School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.