Education | HKUST to launch the city’s first marine science program

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will offer the city›s first undergraduate course in marine science in September this year.

Up to 40 students are expected to take up the Bachelor of Ocean Science and Technology program under the university’s School of Science by 2020.

They will be taught professional knowledge and experience relating to the marine environment, helping Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland to deal with marine ecological problems and develop marine resources, said Qian Peiyuan, acting head of the Department of Ocean Science.

The demand for professionals in ocean science has risen with large-scale coastal infrastructure projects in the pipeline in the Greater Bay Area, he said.

The program will provide a cross-disciplinary curriculum, including basic science subjects like physics, chemistry, biology and ecology to help students take part in the Bay Area projects.

Qian cited the construction team of the mega Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge that had to deal with complicated marine and geological conditions, which required knowledge such as how sea water flows, how sediment moves, and how white dolphins migrate.

The curriculum also involves innovative technology, such as pollution tracking, sensors and instrumentation, as well as data mining and management to enable students to resolve practical problems like water pollution and declining biodiversity, said Stanley Lau Chun-kwan, associate professor at the Department of Ocean Science.

The school will also arrange capstone projects, internships and study trips to overseas science institutions, including research cruises in Suruga Bay in Japan and field surveys on the Chinese mainland.

Marine environmental research can also promote studies on climate change, especially extreme weather conditions, as the ocean has a crucial influence on the climate of coastal areas, Qian said.

Thus, the program could contribute to developing a quality living circle around the Bay Area, as listed in the region’s outline development plan. MDT/China Daily