Research Grants Council to present public lecture on "Science and technology - Shaping of life" on November 20

The Research Grants Council (RGC) will present a public lecture under the theme "Science and technology – Shaping of life" on November 20 (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Science Museum. All are welcome.

The RGC has invited Chair Professor at the Department of Chemistry and the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution of the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Kenneth Leung, and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Associate Head and Associate Professor of the Department of Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Studies of the Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr Janice Pan, to share their research findings and knowledge in relation to man-made eco-shorelines and artificial intelligence (AI). Details are as follows:

Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Venue: Lecture Hall, 1/F, Hong Kong Science Museum
Language: Cantonese
Admission: Free (seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis)

Members of the public can also watch a live broadcast of the lecture through the Hong Kong Science Museum website (hk.science.museum/en_US/web/scm/event/sl/rgcpls.html).

First session: Ecologically Engineered Man-made Shorelines: Theory and Practice

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Seawalls are an important infrastructure to protect the shorelines from wave action, land erosion and flooding. However, their surfaces are smooth, leading to the lack of shade and water retention which makes it hard for marine organisms live there. A research team from the City University of Hong Kong incorporated fundamental ecological concepts and retrofitted ecologically engineered components on the seawalls to increase the habitat complexity and enhance marine biodiversity.

Second session: AI and Arts

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Dr Janice Pan will introduce some common myths, mysteries and misconceptions about AI development. The talk will then review the influence of AI on aspects including teaching, learning and the practice of different disciplines of arts, and end with a discussion about the future possibilities of arts in this new digital age.

The public lectures of the RGC aim at arousing public interest in local research developments. Since 2009, the RGC has invited numerous leading scholars to speak at these lectures. For enquiries, please call 2524 3987 or visit the University Grants Committee webpage (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/events/lectures/lectures.html). In addition, the RGC has launched an email subscription service. Members of the public can subscribe to the service at www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/subscribe to receive regular updates on the RGC.