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Before leaving home this morning, you will likely have used the services of several satellites situated hundreds of kilometres away from the Earth. Each day, we rely on satellites without often realising it. They make our lives safer, more convenient, and provide us with essential information that we need to make the right decisions. Join us to explore the use of satellites and their effects on our daily lives with Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE. Speakers: Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE (Graduate of Imperial College London, UK) Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Tuesday 20 November 2012 at 19.00 - 20.30 (doors open at 18.30) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: science@britishcouncil.org.hk |
Humans are very adept at performing fast, complicated tasks, even when distracted with noise and diversions -- think of the dexterity of a surgeon or even the simple task of crossing a road without getting run over. Matching these skills onto autonomous robotic systems can be challenging. Join us to discuss where these challenges lie and how the latest technologies can help to overcome them. Speakers: Prof Sethu Vijayakumar (The University of Edinburgh, UK) Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Thursday 15 November 2012 at 19.00 - 20.30 (doors open at 18.30) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: science@britishcouncil.org.hk |
There are those of us who believe that the world will end in 2012. Drawing on the “end” of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012, many have claimed that our time on this planet will soon be over. They say that our motion through the cosmos, changes in our planet's magnetic field, or a supernova explosion will doom us all. But what will really happen? Join us to discuss the science behind the 2012 mystery, and find out if the apocalypse is truly near. Speakers: Brendan Mullan (The Pennsylvania State University, USA) Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Monday 12 November 2012 at 19.00 - 20.30 (doors open at 18.30) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: science@britishcouncil.org.hk |
What is the relationship between climate change and food production? Agricultural economists say that changes in temperature, precipitation and CO2 levels will put pressure on the yields of some of the world’s most important crops, such as rice and wheat. Related to this is the ‘El Nino’ effect which also impacts global food production, ecosystems and fluctuations in food prices. In a hotter, more crowded world, it is becoming more difficult to grow food but there are solutions that each one of us can adopt. Join us to explore this connection with Dr Dan Bebber from Earthwatch. Speakers: Dr Dan Bebber, Global Head of Climate Change at Earthwatch Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Thursday 4 October 2012 at 19.00 - 20.30 (doors open at 18.30) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: science@britishcouncil.org.hk |
When you were little, your parents scolded you for not finishing your bowl and cited examples of unprivileged children who would have happily switched places with you. Today, parents can also include an environmental argument as 3,000 tons of food waste are dumped into Hong Kong’s landfills each day. Hong Kong is a food-lover’s paradise, but is it turning into an unmanageable nightmare?
Join us for an interesting evening to learn about the role of a food bank and how food waste can be converted to energy and compost. Speakers: Ms. Gabrielle Kirstein, Executive Director, Feeding Hong Kong
Dr. George Woodman, Director, Teng Hoi Conservation Organization
Prof Jonathan WONG, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Thursday 20 September 2012 at 19.00 - 20.30 (doors open at 18.30) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: science@britishcouncil.org.hk |
Do you play the stock market or dabble in futures trading? Are you wondering if that new treatment might be the answer for your long-standing medical condition? Or you simply want to know what sort of climate your grandchildren may experience in the future. All of these situations use computational models to predict possible futures.
Join us for an interesting evening to learn how computational modelling and visual analysis have had profound affects on our lives without us even knowing it. Speakers will include Dr. David Duke, Head of the School of Computing, University of Leeds and a speaker from Hong Kong Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Friday 8 June 2012 at 19.00 - 20.15 (doors open at 18.30) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: science@britishcouncil.org.hk |
Tiger mums, supermums and other mums. What goes into the making of a good mum, scientifically speaking? Are Asian mums different than other mums? Can parenting be done virtually instead of physically being there? And what role can history play in child development? Come join us for an insightful journey into what it means to be a mum as we pay scientific tribute to Mother's Day. Speakers: Dr. Anita Chan Kit-wa, Associate Professor, The Hong Kong Institute of Education Dr. Brian Chung Hon-Yin, Associate Professor, The University of Hong Kong Dr. Odalia Wong, Associate Professor, Hong Kong Baptist University Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Wednesday 23 May 2012 at 19.00 - 20.30 (doors open at 18.30) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: science@britishcouncil.org.hk |
The world is facing a monumental choice. The vision of a more sustainable world beckons but achieving it will require incredible levels of scientific innovation and commitment. What agricultural, pharmaceutical and other such industries have in common is that they are all based on chemistry. Although we might not give chemistry a lot of thought, might it be the answer in addressing today's global challenges? This Café Scientifique is brought to you by Science Alive, a British Council-organised festival that is celebrating the International Year of Chemistry. Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Thursday 3 November 2011 at 19.00 - 20.30 (doors open at 18.30) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: science@britishcouncil.org.hk |
As the last unspoilt wilderness on Earth, Antarctica is often used as a reminder of our planet's environmental record. Our Café Scientifique series is pleased to have renowned polar explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan, OBE as the guest speaker. Robert, the first person in history to walk to both the North and South poles, is the founder of 2041, an organization dedicated to the preservation of Antarctica. Grab a coffee and a snack (our treat!) and join us for an exciting account of his Antarctic travels and the important environmental lessons that he learned from them. Join the conversation at the British Council, Room 307, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong on Wednesday 7 September 2011 at 19.00 - 20.30 (doors open at 18.30, with light refreshments) FREE ADMISSION For enquiries and registration, please e-mail: climate@britishcouncil.org.hk |
The Café Scientifique on Cities and Climate Change was held on 21 July 2011 at the British Council office. Are cities to blame for climate change? Or part of the solution? Currently, nearly half of China’s population lives in cities compared with 13% in 1950. By 2030, it is predicted that 60% will do so. Some say that this urban living is good for the environment because of denser housing and greater use of public transport. Others are skeptical as cities also use a significant amount of air conditioning which is not so friendly to the environment.
Professor Harriet Bulkeley, Durham University, UK
Presentation Professor Paul Harris, The Hong Kong Institute of Education Professor Graeme Lang, City University of Hong Kong
Presentation Enquiries: climate@britishcouncil.org.hk. |
The Climate and Faith - Café Talk was held on 24 February 2011 at Li Hall, St John's Cathedral. Pope Benedict XVI asked Catholics to give up carbon for Lent in 2008. In that same year, the Archbishop of Canterbury called for a “carbon fast”. The following year, Muslims in Washington DC launched their first ever “no impact week”. And since 1993, American Jews have had the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life leading on how to tread more lightly on the earth. The world's religions have always had a connection to the environment, but faithful followers have not always made the connection between their faiths and their responsibility towards the environment. We will explore this topic by inviting speakers from different faiths to share their perspectives. Whether you hold a theistic or atheistic worldview, this will definitely be a lively and thought-provoking discussion. Enquiries: climate@britishcouncil.org.hk Become a fan on our Facebook page! Professor Kung Lap Yan, Divinity School of Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong Professor David A. Palmer, Member of the Bahá'í Community in Hong Kong Presentation Professor Xue Yu, Director - Centre for the Study of Humanistic Buddhism, Chinese University of Hong Kong Presentation Dr Merrin Pearse, Ecopreneur and Professional Speaker Nigerian Interfaith Conference Alliance of Conservation and Religion “One year after Windsor” – Alliance of Religions and Conservation Coalition of the Environment and Jewish Life |
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