List of Science Talks (2022-23)

ST0004
Understanding Cancer

By School of Biomedical Sciences
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology

Cancer is a genetic disease caused by alterations in oncogenes and other related genes. This talk will first introduce the ground-breaking discovery of oncogenes that was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1989. How a normal gene might become an oncogene through mutations and the mechanisms will be introduced. Examples will be given to illustrate how our understanding of the function of oncogenes leads to a revolution in the design and development of highly specific and effective anti-cancer drugs that target oncogenes.

ST0172 ^New
'I Have No Mouth and Must Scream': How Do Cells Talk, and Can We Join the Conversation?

By School of Biological Sciences
Level: F.5 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology

Just like us, cells must communicate with each other their needs and process the information into actions.  However, cells lack ears or a mouth, so the way they communicate is very different, using molecules to convey messages rather than sound. When this communication breaks down, it results in numerous diseases from cancers to birth defects.  What if we could understand what cells were saying, or even tell them what to do?  Perhaps we could cure, or even prevent these diseases before they arise.  Synthetic biology offers us exciting new avenues to 'listen' and 'speak' to cells and thus the possibility to control cells, organs, and even life itself.

ST0178 ^New
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus: PCR vs RAT Kit

By School of Biomedical Sciences
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology

The world has been plagued by the SARS-CoV-2 virus since its emergence in late 2019 and it is still ongoing. In this talk, we will give a brief introduction to the science of coronavirus including the life cycle, diagnosis and treatment. To illustrate how the importance of understanding the biochemistry of a cell and a virus aided the development of detection of the SARS-CoV-2, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen test (RAT) techniques will be explained and discussed.

ST0147
Electron Transfer in the Microbial World 

By Faculty of Science
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Microorganisms such as bacteria depend on processes involving electron flow in the cells to sustain key cellular functions. To gain energy and survive, bacteria obtain electrons by oxidizing organic/inorganic compounds and discard the respiratory electrons to a terminal electron acceptor such as oxygen. Some bacteria have remarkable abilities to transfer electrons, outside of the cells, to solid-state electron acceptors such as oxide minerals and synthetic electrodes. We will explore the science behind this amazing ability known as extracellular electron transfer (EET) of some bacteria and discuss the associated practical applications such as electricity generation, wastewater treatment, and bioremediation, potentially for developing a sustainable and renewable world.

ST0160
How May Artificial Intelligence Change Our Society? 

By Faculty of Science
Level: F.4 – F.6

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a postulate about the future, but is already bringing noticeable impacts to our current society. Will the AI revolution lead to a reform in our economy? Is it simply another Industrial Revolution? We will address these questions in the talk. 

ST0168 ^New
A Brief History of Astronomy 

By Faculty of Science
Level: F.5 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Physics

We are going to explore how ancient scientists studied the world and obtained knowledge about the cosmos, and how that knowledge influenced our modern lives.

ST0173 ^New
Go with the Electron Flow 

By Department of Chemistry
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology and Chemistry

Flow is all around us, ranging from intangible information flow to tangible water flow. Through careful inspection, one will be intrigued to find that electron flow serves as the backbone to support life processes and enable a sustainable society. In this talk, we will share with the audience some thoughts on and experience in dealing with electron flows found in biological contexts and artificial settings, including but not limited to biofilms, DNA, proteins, sensors, energy catalysis systems, and electrochemical devices. Join us and enjoy an electrifying Science Talk!

ST0174 ^New
Periodicity in Materials 

By Department of Chemistry
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Chemistry and Physics

Atoms and molecules tend to combine into well-ordered periodic structures called crystals, and the properties of crystals highly depend on the periodic arrangement of atoms and molecules. Interestingly, only 230 different periodic configurations are mathematically allowed in crystals. In this talk, we will discuss the principles of periodicity to understand the structures of relatively simple crystals, such as gold, diamond, and semiconductors. We will also briefly discuss the Bragg diffraction phenomenon, which is essential for scientists to characterise periodic structures. 

ST0175 ^New
Hydrogel: Materials Made from Water 

By Department of Chemistry
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Chemistry 

In our daily life, we use a variety of materials made from metals, minerals, and polymers. Among them, there is a material called 'hydrogel', which is made from water. Due to the water-rich composition, hydrogel exhibits various unique properties and functions, which other materials cannot realise, and is widely used in medicine, food industries, and so forth. In recent years, hydrogel has attracted attention as an alternative material to plastics for a sustainable society. In this talk, we will introduce the preparation, properties, and applications of hydrogel.

ST0176 ^New
Molecular Gastronomy: A New Emerging Scientific Discipline  

By Department of Chemistry
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology and Chemistry

Chemistry lies at the heart of the very finest food available and the science of cooking has recently moved from the playground of a few chiefs into the realm of serious scientific endeavour. The application of chemistry and other sciences to restaurant and domestic cooking revolutionised the dining experience and also led to new enjoyment and appreciation of food. In this talk, we will cover some applications of chemical and physical techniques in restaurant kitchens to produce novel textures and flavor combinations.

ST0177 ^New
Bending the Laws of Nature: From Microscopy to Nanoscopy 

By Department of Chemistry
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Chemistry and Physics

The optical microscope has enabled us to peer into the microscopic world and shed light on biological processes at the cellular level in a non-destructive manner. Breakthroughs in chemical and biological techniques over the years have further allowed cellular and sub-cellular components to be identified with high degrees of specificity. However, a fundamental set of physical laws places a limit to the spatial resolution in optical microscopy. This restricts the ability of optical instruments to distinguish distances at the nanoscale and thus limits their utility in resolving fine details of important sub-cellular structures. In this talk, we will journey through the technological advance and illustrate how interdisciplinary innovations have bypassed the physical barrier and eventually led to the Nobel-winning technology of super-resolution nanoscopy.

ST0179 ^New
AI and Computation Research on Quantum Materials 

By Department of Physics
Level: F.5 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Physics

In the time of quantum technology and big data, scientists start to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computational approaches into the fundament research about our mother Nature and Universe. This talk will help us to unfold such interesting discovery processes. We will explain the important role played by AI and computation in the modern quantum material research. The talk will look into the connection of the mathematic subject of geometry and topology and their applications in quantum computation and entanglement, and covers context ranging from story of superconductivity that could solve the energy crisis and end the global warming, to the magic angle twisted graphene that could be used for next generation electronics and better facemasks. 

ST0169 ^New
How Biodiversity Science Can Save the Planet

By School of Biological Sciences
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology

We are now in the midst of a crisis, the pandemic that has impacted all our lives stems from environmental mismanagement, and if we are not careful, we will see more within our lifetimes. Here we will discuss why biodiversity matters, and how as scientists we can do research to save it. The speaker will briefly highlight the importance of biodiversity in our daily lives, before discussing how the type of research we do that can facilitate better targeted policies and management to save the planet, and the essential environmental services we rely on. The talk will underscore the importance of scientific research, what we do, and how it can be translated and applied to make a real world contribution to protecting the environment.

ST0170 ^New
Roles of Plants in Global Climate Change

By School of Biological Sciences
Level: F.5 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology

The climate of our planet has been changing rapidly over the recent decades. Without taking any actions, many of our planet surface areas would no longer be ideal habitats for us human being and other living organisms. In this talk, we would like to start by talking about the roles of plants in regulating our planet-scale climate, and then explain how this scientific understanding might contribute to large-scale climate change mitigations and Earth’s sustainability.

ST0171 ^New
Moving to the Sea: Tales from the Ecology and Evolution of Seagrasses

By School of Biological Sciences
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Biology

Seagrasses are marine underwater plants that evolved from fully terrestrial plants. This evolutionary process took thousands of years in which these organisms acquired unique adaptations that allow them to live in extreme conditions marked by strong fluctuations in water availability, salinity, temperature and UV. In this talk, our biologists will walk across evolutionary times exploring the origin of seagrasses, their biological adaptations and the ecological functions they provide for human well-being.

ST0183 ^New
Dino Detective

By Department of Earth Sciences
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Geography and Physics

Do you know that some of the dinosaurs had feathers and could fly? Can you believe that Tyrannosaurus was not able to run fast and was not scary at all? Have you heard that some dinosaurs were blue, orange, or pink? Do you think that some dinosaurs ate fruits and vegetables and were not terrifying? How do we know if dinosaurs roared or not? This talk will discuss how scientists look for clues preserved in ancient fossils and rocks.

ST0039
Interesting Things about Interest Rates

By Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science
Level: F.5 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Mathematics

This talk will introduce some basic concepts and characteristics about the operation of interest rates. The speaker will also briefly look into the relationships between interest rates and other economic variables.

ST0153
What the Man who Knew Infinity Knew

By Department of Mathematics
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Mathematics

You may have seen the recent movie 'The man who knew infinity' about the Indian mathematician Ramanujan (and his interactions with GH Hardy and Littlewood, among others). In this talk, we will introduce some of what Ramanujan studied and discuss a bit about his impact on the mathematical world since that time.

ST0180 ^New
The Relevance of Mathematics and Statistics in Our Daily Lives

By Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Mathematics

Explained in laymen terms, this talk will look at how mathematics and statistics are relevant to our well-being through many interesting real-life examples. 

ST0181 ^New
Counting to Infinity

By Department of Mathematics
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Mathematics

Learning to count is an important developmental milestone in early childhood. But what exactly are we doing when we count? Can the process be generalised in a way that can allow us to compare sets of infinite size? Are all infinite sets essentially having the same size?

In this talk, we will try to explore the mysteries of infinite sets and to briefly discuss different sizes of infinities. 

ST0182 ^New
Prime Numbers: A Simple and Difficult Topic in Number Theory 

By Department of Mathematics
Level: F.4
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Mathematics

An integer larger than 1 which does not have any divisors other than 1 and itself is called a prime number. It is a simple concept that we learn since primary school. However, it is at the same time a difficulty topic in number theory. There are many unsolved problems related to prime numbers. We will discuss some of these interesting problems in the talk.

ST0037
The Sun - Our Nearest Neigbour

By Department of Physics
Level: F.5 - F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Physics

This talk will introduce the properties of and recent observational results regarding the Sun – our nearest star. The focus is on how astronomers find them out rather than simply a talk on 'known facts'.

ST0137
Cosmic Fireworks

By Department of Physics
Level: F.4 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Physics

Have you ever wondered where do elements on Earth come from? The heavy metals, including gold, iron, and even calcium in our bones are indeed star dusts released in supernova explosions when massive stars die. This talk introduces these most energetic events in the Universe, which do not only produce heavy elements, but also trigger new stellar formation, and could even have played an important role in the origin of life on Earth.

ST0166
The Galactic Graveyard and the Ultimate Fate of Our Sun 

By Department of Physics
Level: F.4 
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Physics

Planetary nebulae (PNe) are nothing to do with planets but their ghostly shells resembled the Jovian planets to early astronomers. They are the ejected shrouds of dying, low mass stars. Our Sun will go through such a brief ~30,000 year phase in the distant future. PNe form when the bloated, outer envelope of an evolved star gets expelled. The remnant core heats up, generating a UV radiation field that causes the ejected gas to glow with rich emission lines. In this talk, you will come to understand the complex nature and interesting physics that make these beautiful celestial phenomena such an important window into late stage stellar evolution.

ST0135
The World of Particles

By Department of Physics
Level: F.5 – F.6
HKDSE Related Subject(s): Physics

Particle physics is the study of fundamental particles and their interactions. Fundamental particles are basic elements of matter and fundamental force carriers. The standard model describing the law of the fundamental particles and their interactions has been very successful in explaining and predicting various experimental results. However, it is not the ultimate theory of particle physics because it fails to answer some fundamental questions: What is the cause of electroweak symmetry breaking? Can strong, weak and electro-magnetic forces be unified? What are dark matter and dark energy? Why is there more matter than anti-matter in the universe? In order to answer these questions, particle accelerators, very important tool in particle physics, are used to mimic the conditions of the early universe and produce heavy fundamental particles, that rarely exist in the current universe. In a scientific breakthrough in 2012, the Higgs boson was discovered at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator, which is located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).