The Review 2007

12 13 Filmmakers Open Up New Career Options A filmmaker-in-residence programme is providing students with access to local film directors and opening up career and research opportunities. Circle Lo, a third-year comparative literature student, attended workshops with independent Hong Kong director, Vincent Chui, in spring 2007 and was invited to complete a script for him and act as second assistant director on the film. Jason Ho was able to meet internationally-renowned director Stanley Kwan, who was the subject of his MPhil studies in Comparative Literature, in 2005. They kept in contact and Jason contributed a chapter for a book on Mr Kwan released in 2007, which was edited by Dr Esther Cheung, Chair of the Department of Comparative Literature. Mr Kwan said the residency benefited both students and filmmakers alike. “I have been in the film industry for over 20 years and I need to keep my creative energy and curiosity alive by reaching out to young generations and new concepts. Direct contact is important and this project has given me a valuable opportunity to meet with young students,” he said. Reading Rocks Tibet has some of the most fascinating geological features on Earth and has now become a real-life classroom for Earth Sciences students. Since 2006, the Department of Earth Sciences has organised three-week camps for second year students to study the geology of Tibet and experience the harsh realities of field work, including high altitude, rough terrain, dirty, dusty environs and intense sun exposure. The students worked in groups to map the rocks and look for evidence of India’s collision with Tibet. Queenie Chan joined the camp in 2007. “In classroom lectures we have textbooks and well- collected, perfect samples. But in the field all the rocks look really similar. You have to use your imagination to distinguish them. There are no right or wrong answers, you have to use the evidence in front of you to interpret the past,” she said. Earth Science students study the geology of Tibet I feel brave enough to tell people to do more for the environment. This isn’t something done by green groups, it has to be done by everyone. Adventures in Antarctica An environmental talk on campus by renowned explorer and environmentalist, Robert Swan, provided first-year science student, Tang Chin-cheung, with the opportunity to join an expedition to Antarctica. Mr Swan recrui ted 52 people global ly for the expedition in February 2007, which aimed to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment for future generations. The expeditioners witnessed incredible wildlife but also saw melting glaciers and the rubbish left behind by previous visitors. Chin-cheung was selected after submitting an essay and being interviewed and since his return he has been spreading the word about the perils facing Antarctica. “I was emboldened by this experience and now I feel brave enough to tell people to do more for the environment. This isn’t something done by green groups, it has to be done by everyone, whatever your background or job,” he said. I need to keep my creative energy and curiosity alive by reaching out to young generations and new concepts.