RGC Public Lectures - Sustainable Environment and Energy Research

Two leading scholars have been invited to deliver public lectures on Sustainable Environment and Energy Research organized by the Research Grants Council with the Hong Kong Science Museum on 8 December 2012 (Saturday). Details of the lectures are as follows:

Topic Speaker Time
Regional Air Pollution in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta Region Dr K.S. Lam (Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Multiple Environmental and Energy Benefits of Green Roofs in Compact Cities Prof C.Y. Jim (Chair Professor, Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong) 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum (Location Map)
Language: Cantonese
Free admission on a first-come, first-served basis.

For enquires, please contact us at 2524 3987 or rgc@ugc.edu.hk.

First Session

Topic: Regional Air Pollution in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta Region
Speakers: Dr K.S. Lam
Time: 8 December 2012 (Saturday) 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Brief introduction:

Along with the large increase in energy consumption in the past two decades, regional air quality of Hong Kong and the adjacent Pearl River Delta (PRD) has deteriorated as indicated by the high ambient concentrations of ozone and other oxidants (photochemical smog) and particulate matters (haze). The photochemical oxidants and particles are known to damage human health and vegetation, degrade visibility, and alter the regional climate. They are formed by emissions of various air pollutants and subsequent chemical reactions in the atmosphere, and winds carry the pollutants across political boundaries. Mitigation of photochemical smog and haze will thus require a sound scientific understanding of the source-atmospheric processes-receptor relationship and regionally coordinated actions. The lecture will give an overview of research activities on photochemical ozone and haze in the past 20 years in this region. Fundamental research is essential in understanding the complex scientific issues involved in the regional air pollution problems and in devising mitigation strategy for Hong Kong and the PRD region.

 
RGC Public Lectures - Sustainable Environment and Energy Research (First Session - Photo 1)

 

Second Session

Topic: Multiple Environmental and Energy Benefits of Green Roofs in Compact Cities
Speaker: Professor C.Y. Jim
Time: 8 December 2012 (Saturday) 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Brief introduction:

Green roofs have been increasingly adopted in cities in different geographical regions. Compact cities like Hong Kong with a limited supply of green spaces at the ground level could derive notable benefits from planning vegetation on rooftops. Most of our roofs are flat and barren, denoting a wasteful use of a valuable resource and a net absorber of solar energy to contribute to the intensifying urban heat island effect. Based on long-term and primary environmental monitoring data at five research green roofs in urban areas, the thermal and energy performance in our tropical and ultra-compact city have been elucidated. The multiple benefits will be presented in the popular science approach to provide a comprehensive profile with reference to general classification of green roofs, principal green roof designs and materials, cooling of air above the green roof, surface cooling and insulating effect of green roof layers, cooling of indoor air and energy conservation, other environmental and ecological benefits and enabling policies to promote green roof installation in Hong Kong.

 
RGC Public Lectures - Sustainable Environment and Energy Research (Second Session - Photo 1)