The Hong Kong Science Museum invites two Hong Kong scientists who have ventured to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica to lead us on a journey of polar scientific exploration. Through first-hand accounts, precious footage and data, the speakers will unveil the mysteries of the polar regions and share how they searched for traces of climate change in extreme environments.

This lecture is one of the 15th Anniversary Celebration Events of the School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Date: 6.12.2025 (Saturday)

Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm

Speaker: Prof. Michael Pittman (Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Topic and Abstract
The frozen glow of Antarctic life: illuminating the unique Southern Ocean ecosystem with innovative fluorescence imaging of sea ice and sea life
Studying life at the ends of the Earth is extremely challenging. Finding ways to make this easier, quicker and more convenient is essential in our quest to better understand life at its limits. In early 2025, Prof. Pittman represented Hong Kong to participate in the first Autumn-Winter expedition on the China's icebreaker Xuelong 2. In Antarctica's Ross Sea, he used laser to illuminate sea ice, testing a pioneering fluorescence imaging device to observe microorganisms beneath the ice. In this lecture, you will gain in-depth insights into this ground-breaking study and explore the new discoveries!

Speaker: Prof. Martin Tsui (Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences & Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Topic and Abstract
First Antarctic expedition: sharing science and life experiences
Like other parts of the Earth, Antarctica is warming rapidly. Significant areas of the continent are turning green, with barren rocks widely covered by mosses and lichens. Prof. Tsui represented Hong Kong to participate in the China's 41st Antarctic expedition. During this mission, he and the Hong Kong delegates stayed at the Great Wall Station in the Antarctic for about two weeks. Prof. Tsui's research focuses on how this greening process affects mercury pollution. In this lecture, he will share his first-hand experiences and observations from Antarctica.

This Lecture is 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.