The Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation (HKATI) continues to promote the spirit of scientific innovation among Hong Kong youth through its "A+ STEM Promotion Programme," contributing to nurturing local tech talent. Today (June 26), the Alliance collaborated with Professor Wong Siu-lun, recipient of the 2023 BOC Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Prize in Life and Health Sciences, Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong's School of Biomedical Sciences, and Principal Investigator of the Functional Genomics Programme at the Centre for Oncology and Immunology (COI) of InnoHK. Together, they visited Tai Po Old Market Public School to initiate a journey exploring "Gene Editing – Rewriting the Blueprint of Life" for fifth-grade students.
Through this lecture, the primary school students not only learned how diseases can be cured by altering DNA sequences but also gained preliminary understanding of the fundamental qualities and exploratory spirit required for scientific research.
Professor Wong, who has frequently participated in popular science activities for diverse groups including secondary students, adults, and seniors, delivered a lecture on complex gene-editing technology to primary school students for the first time. Ms. Cheung Lai-chu, Principal of Tai Po Old Market Public School, expressed special gratitude to HKATI and the BOC Hong Kong Technology Innovation Award for their focus on primary students. She highly commended Professor Wong for conveying profound and cutting-edge scientific knowledge in accessible language to young learners.
During the presentation, Professor Wong introduced the novel concept of CRISPR to students, using videos, images, and other multimedia tools to demonstrate gene-editing technology and compare CRISPR applications.
The lecture buzzed with energy as students engaged attentively, pondered actively, and posed thought-provoking questions to Professor Wong—such as whether blood types can be altered—demonstrating their keen interest.
To advance AI-empowered education, the "AI-Powered Education – Smart Co-Learning Program" (the "Program"), jointly organized by the Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance and the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation, has successfully completed its first phase of three teacher training sessions.
(Left: Mr. Hsu Hoi Shan, Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation; Right: Mr. NG Wun-kit, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance)
Recipients of the "BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize" (STIP) – Professor Chai Yang from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Department of Applied Physics and Professor Wang Cong from the City University of Hong Kong's Department of Computer Science, alongside Professor Wang Shiqi from the same department – led the training. Starting with topics such as "How Microelectronics Enables AI Revolution" and "What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?", they combined foundational theories with extensive practical case studies. This approach unveiled new perspectives on AI educational applications and optimizing teaching methods with AI for teachers from primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong.
It is reported that the Program is specifically designed for Hong Kong primary and secondary school teachers and students. The first phase focused on teachers' professional development, aiming to establish an innovative education framework and teaching tools through deep integration of AI technology with teaching practices. By driving educational innovation with AI technology, the Program seeks to build a comprehensive smart learning ecosystem. Teachers unanimously expressed that the training provided them with new insights into how AI technology can transform traditional teaching models, how to efficiently design curricula and lesson plans using diverse AI tools, and how to explore new pathways for personalized learning and classroom interaction driven by AI.
A representative from the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation introduced that the "BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize" (STIP) is a public-benefit award hosted by the Alliance and titled by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. The STIP aims to recognize scientists, technologists, and research teams who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in technological innovation and the transformation of scientific achievements, primarily in Hong Kong or in research institutions established by Hong Kong institutions within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. To date, the STIP has been successfully held for three consecutive years, with a total of 17 awardees honored in fields including Artificial Intelligence & Robotics, Life & Health, New Materials & New Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, and FinTech. While receiving their awards, these laureates actively fulfill social responsibilities, contributing to the establishment of an innovative education system and tool ecosystem in Hong Kong and enhancing the city's technological innovation capabilities.