Summer Science Engagement Program in CUHK 2025
During the summer holiday, some S5 Biology students, CHAK TUNG, TAGAO SHERMAINE SHELDEE CARLOS, KHAN FARHAN and KANDANGWA NEBIS got the opportunity to join the summer Science Engagement Program launched by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
The program aims to inspire students with their interest in science, especially biology, and practice students with their hands-on experience in scientific research and field visits, giving students chances to explore their possible career paths and directions in scientific research.
In the program, four professors from the School of Life Sciences (CUHK), Professor Lam Hon Ming, Professor Wong Wing Tak Jack, Professor Chan Ting Fung, and Professor Tsui Tsz Ki Martin with their teams separated students in different groups guided them with their presentation in Zoom, university-level laboratory experiments and field trips. Students developed their research and presentation skills and explored their horizons in encountering advanced laboratory techniques in different life sciences fields. There are some reflections from students.
Student Reflection
I am Chak Tung from Delia Memorial School of Broadway. Joining the fruitful science program was an amazing experience that deepened my understanding of PCR and chemical compounds. I was fascinated by the world of molecular biology and chemistry. The program provided a holistic approach to learning, allowing me to engage directly with the subjects through experiments and collaborative activities.
One of the highlights was studying PCR. I learned about not only the knowledge of PCR but also having hands-on experience on it. Understanding the role of nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA, was particularly immunitating. The practical sessions, where we manipulated DNA sequences using techniques like PCR, not only reinforced theoretical knowledge but also deepened my understanding of biotechnology engineering.
In addition, I’ve also visited various labs in the University, the lab equipment has brought me more insights about how university labs function and it was my first time seeing them as well. It has helped me to understand the difference in the atmosphere and equipment between universities and high schools, and has inspired me to work towards my goals.
The mentors who have led us through the programme were all caring, and friendly. They answered all my questions in an easy and comprehensible way and made us understand and absorb the knowledge.
During the CUHK science programme, collaborating with peers fostered a supportive learning environment where ideas were exchanged. Discussions about our findings and challenges enhanced my critical thinking skills. The mentorship from university mentors were aspiring, guiding us through complex concepts and encouraging my scientific inquiries.
Overall, this science programme is a fruitful and valuable experience for me. I am grateful for the opportunity that I could attend this programme.
I am Tagao Shermaine Sheldee Carlos from Delia Memorial School (Broadway). As I wanted to make use of my time during my summer holidays and gain more experience, I joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong Summer Engagement Programme whereas I engaged in laboratory work every weekday in July and experienced practical experiments along with researchers. Doing the experiments, there were certainly some failed attempts, allowing me to learn from my mistakes and apply them to my future projects. I also took the opportunity to discuss with different researchers about their work, for example, why they chose their research, how they conducted it and how it benefits us. This enabled me to gain insights of real-world biological research and gain further biology knowledge such as DNA extraction, stem cell culture, gram staining and effects of mercury.
Having the opportunity to meet and learn from 4 different professors studying different aspects of biology was definitely an amazing experience and a privilege. I gained several practical skills and I certainly developed more appreciation in the medical profession thus exciting me to study further into the medical field. I would like to really thank the professors for allowing us this opportunity and sacrificing their busy schedule for this programme.
My name is Kandangwa Nebis, and I am a student at Delia Memorial School (Broadway). I feel very lucky to have taken part in the CUHK Science Engagement Programme this summer with students from different Delia schools. I want to start by thanking my biology teacher, the professors at CUHK, and the mentors who helped us throughout the program. Their support made this experience unforgettable, and I learned a lot while making new friends.
At the beginning of the program, we did online presentations about different scientific topics. This was a fun experience because it allowed us to research and interact with students from other schools. We shared ideas and learned from each other.
After the online presentations, we visited CUHK to do hands-on laboratory work. This part of the program was amazing! I learned practical lab skills and explored interesting topics like DNA gel electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and genetics. The mentors guided us during the experiments and showed us around the CUHK campus and its labs, which made me even more excited about science.
One of the best parts of the program was learning about Professor Lam’s research on genetically modifying soybeans to make them drought-resistant. This research could help farmers in places like Pakistan. Hearing about his work inspired me to think about how I can help my own country, Nepal, where food shortages are a big problem. I want to do research that can help solve these issues and improve food security.
In conclusion, the CUHK Science Engagement Programme has changed the way I view science. I have gained knowledge and a better understanding of how research can make a difference in the world. I am excited to use what I learned in my future studies and hope to contribute to solving food problems in Nepal.
