Latest news with #ScienceFair
South China Morning Post
30-06-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
AI- and new-tech-powered innovations by local youngsters take centre stage at the Hong Kong Science Fair
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Advertisement A much-anticipated celebration of Hong Kong's dynamic innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, the Fourth Hong Kong Science Fair spotlighted youth creativity, purpose, and technological ingenuity with the power to shape the future. Connecting the public with next-generation innovators, the event underscored both the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the determination of young minds to tackle today's most pressing challenges through technology. Over the years, the Science Fair has established itself as a platform that inspires creativity and fosters knowledge exchange. Award-winning students enjoyed their moment of glory. From addressing everyday struggles faced by the less fortunate to devising smarter, greener solutions for a more sustainable future, around 120 shortlisted teams unveiled original projects that fused innovation with empathy. These socially conscious young innovators demonstrated strong technical acumen and a profound sense of purpose, showcasing how science and technology can contribute to the greater good. Their AI-powered prototypes and tech-integrated solutions were as functional as they were inspiring, sparking a collective sense of optimism and engagement among visitors of all ages. The event stood as a testament to the potential unlocked when youthful vision meets real-world by the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation (HKIF), and supported by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR, the Science Fair was held in collaboration with strategic partners Sino Group and Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC). Professor Sun Dong (second from right) and Mr Daryl Ng (third from right) interacted with students. The award presentation ceremony took place in a celebratory atmosphere, as distinguished guests from across sectors came together to honour the city's emerging I&T talent. Their presence highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent and championing a culture of innovation. The event reached a rousing climax with the announcement of the Gold Award winners in each category, who earned top honours as well as the opportunity to represent Hong Kong at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva in the ceremony, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Sun Dong, said that Hong Kong is going full steam ahead in establishing itself as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. The Government has explicitly identified promoting an I&T culture for all as one of the eight major strategies outlined in the 'Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint' . Chairman of the HKIF and Deputy Chairman of Sino Group, Mr Daryl Ng, said at the ceremony: 'We believe in fostering an innovative spirit from an early age. Over the years, 'Hong Kong Science Fair' has been a platform that inspires creativity and fosters knowledge exchange. While AI technology is advancing rapidly, human creativity and imagination remain irreplaceable. It is encouraging to see students using technology to improve the quality of life and assist those in need, bringing joy to others.' Advertisement Executive Council convenor Mrs Regina Ip, and President of the Jury for the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, Mr David Taji-Farouki, participated in a sharing session during the ceremony. Mr Taji-Farouki expressed his admiration for the students' ability to incorporate AI into their project development. 'It's a natural evolution in innovation. Many teams leveraged AI to access large datasets and generate the statistics needed to advance their projects,' he noted. 'They also applied AI in practical and creative ways to address the challenges they identified, demonstrating a diverse range of applications.' In addition to AI application, Vice-President (Research) at City University of Hong Kong, Professor Anderson Shum, who was on the judging panel of the Science Fair, highlighted students' motivation to improve the quality of life for those in need by developing highly feasible solutions to address challenges such as hearing and vision impairments, as well as other pressing issues like sustainability. 'This aligns with Hong Kong's goal to become an I&T hub,' he said.
South China Morning Post
20-06-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Science Fair showcases local students' AI and tech innovations
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hong Kong is rapidly emerging as a global hub for innovation and technology (I&T), with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and the cultivation of young talent. Driven by forward-thinking government strategies, the city is accelerating advancements in AI and other cutting-edge technologies and creating dynamic opportunities for the next generation of tech pioneers to build a thriving innovation ecosystem. A vital part of this trend is the organisation of I&T events that inspire and equip young minds with the tools to explore new technologies, collaborate with industry leaders, and transform bold ideas into reality. The Hong Kong Science Fair (Science Fair), organised by the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation (HKIF) annually, supports the local innovation ecosystem. Returning for its fourth edition on June 28 and 29 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event has become an important showcase for inventions. Professionals, academics, families, and science enthusiasts gather to explore new ideas and engage with the next wave of innovators. A launchpad for ideas The Science Fair attracts tens of thousands of visitors, offering hands-on workshops and a chance to discover 120 shortlisted student projects under the inspiring theme 'Think Big, Be Innovative.'
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Windsor student wins top science prize, recognized as Canada's best
Trisha Haldar, a grade 8 student at Ecole Bellewood Elementary School, took home four awards at 2025 Canada-wide Science Fair. (Stefanie Masotti/CTV News Windsor) A Windsor student has been named top youth scientist in Canada. Trisha Haldar, a grade 8 student at Ecole Bellewood Elementary School, took home four awards at 2025 Canada-wide Science Fair in News Brunswick where she earned multiple awards including the prestigious Platinum Award, recognizing her as 'best-in-show' for her age category. 'I'm kind of in disbelief,' said Haldar in an interview with CTV News Windsor. 'Honestly, it was really surprising.' Her project titled 'Visual Drug Interaction Checker' was inspired by her grandmother. Science fair winner Trisha Haldar took home four awards at the 2025 Canada-wide Science Fair in News Brunswick. (Source: 2025 Canada-wide Science Fair) She wondered what the possible dangers her grandmother could face while taking multiple medications at once, a practice which is known as polypharmacy. 'The more medications you take, the higher the higher the risk of developing an adverse drug interaction,' she explained. 'If not managed properly, this can lead to potentially dangerous interactions such as increased bleeding risks.' Her 'Visual Drug Interaction Checker' helps medical professionals, researchers and people at home assess how different drugs interact. Trisha Haldar Trisha Haldar, a grade 8 student at Ecole Bellewood Elementary School, took home four awards at 2025 Canada-wide Science Fair in News Brunswick. (Source: Canada-wide Science Fair) 'For example, patients like my grandma who take multiple medications can use, this graph can use my tool to basically quickly and put in their medications and check if they have interactions. And they can use this information to have more informed conversations with healthcare professionals,' she added. She says winning the top prize in New Brunswick was an experience she will never forget. 'I got to meet multiple people from all across Canada and see what amazing solutions they have developed to problems that you and me we face every single day.' Haldar is going to Vincent Massey high school in September. Long-term she plans to attend university for Biotechnology.
San Francisco Chronicle
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
New documentary reveals the triumphs and heartbreak of Sally Ride's legacy
The inspiring story of Sally Ride, the first American woman in outer space, is given its full, deserved due in a new National Geographic documentary. And it broke my heart. Not because of how 'Sally' depicts the incredibly capable, Stanford-educated physicist's efforts to break the highest of glass ceilings and be recognized for her abilities rather than her sex. Utilizing plentiful archival footage, contemporary commentary, recent interview observations from people who were there and some dramatized recreation, director Cristina Costantini gets some sly laughs, edged with appropriate anger, out of the sexist mindsets Ride deftly steered her career through in the 1970s and '80s. What makes 'Sally' so sad was the astronaut's decision to keep her sexuality secret — as her public image soared to heights few women had ever known — until her death from pancreatic cancer in 2012. This aspect of her life grows especially poignant in the film due to the participation of Tam O'Shaughnessy. A tennis buddy Ride met when they were tweens (both Southern California girls were mentored by Billie Jean King), O'Shaughnessy later became her life partner of 27 years. An erudite biology professor, O'Shaughnessy provides much of the film's insight into Ride's personal life during extensive interview stretches and, presumably, via additional input behind the scenes (she has an executive producer credit). Subjective as some of this may be, it's powerful emotional stuff that often reveals more about O'Shaughnessy's own feelings than about Ride herself, who remained enigmatic — even to the love of her life. Fellow astronaut Steven Hawley, who was married to Ride for five years, still seems baffled by what was really going on with her. But like her subject, Costantini maintains a certain rigor in the sentiment department. She doesn't come close to suggesting that Ride was riddled with personal anxieties or fears of being outed. On the other hand, the NASA legend is neither presented as emotionless, calculating nor furtive, but rather as a focused professional who could separate the joy in her achievements from the cacophony of everything else. One brief clip of her mother Carol reinforces the telling intel that Ride was not raised in a demonstrative home. 'If I knew how I felt about feelings, I would probably not tell you,' an immovable Carol says to the camera. Yet Ride's determination, boldness and courage come across palpable. This is brought home when, following her own groundbreaking missions, Ride became the only Space Shuttle astronaut on the committee investigating the Challenger disaster. As the movie frames it, she essentially sacrificed her own future at NASA to expose the cause of the post-launch explosion, and the systemic incompetence that led to it. Costantini ('Science Fair,' 'Mucho Mucho Amor') said she has been a Sally Ride fan since third grade, when she painted a mural of her hero on a school wall. With 'Sally,' she presents a portrait of a pure scientist cognizant of the example she was setting for girls and women of all generations to come. The film is indelibly triumphant in that way; its sadness is generated partly by Ride's apparent inability to fully master the science of love, and certainly by the restrictions a homophobic culture placed on her at the time. There's a clip near the end of Barack Obama presenting Ride's posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom to O'Shaughnessy. It's a beautiful moment of acknowledgement too-long delayed — one that would never happen today. Perhaps the most heart-rending lesson 'Sally' imparts is that that final frontier keeps getting moved out of reach.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Science
- The Sun
The Hong Kong Science Fair Now Open for Free Admission Registration
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 June 2025 - The Fourth Hong Kong Science Fair ('Science Fair'), organised by the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation ('HKIF'), supported by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government, and with Sino Group and the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC) as strategic partners, will take place from 28 to 29 June at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme 'Think Big Be Innovative', 120 shortlisted teams from primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong will present their innovative projects at the Science Fair. These projects have incorporated various technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and will compete for a variety of awards. The Science Fair will also feature five interactive zones with exciting STEAM-related activities. Participants can turn corn pulp into refined snacks, operate remote-controlled cars made from upcycled household appliances, and build and race their own wooden mini cars — each activity is designed for parents and children to experience the fun of technology together! Online registration is now open for free admission, inviting the public to experience creativity in action as our younger generation presents their innovation and technology (I&T) vision for the future. HKIF is committed to fostering an innovative spirit from an early age. Since its launch in 2021, the annual Science Fair has garnered widespread support from the government, tertiary institutions, scientific research organisations, and partners across various sectors, providing a vital platform to inspire the creative potential of young people. To broaden their international perspective, gold award-winning teams from the Primary, Junior Secondary, and Senior Secondary Divisions will have the opportunity to participate in the prestigious International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva in Switzerland. This year, the Science Fair has seen record levels of participation, with about 600 entries submitted by 300 local and international schools, engaging over 3,000 teachers and students. This year's Science Fair is also supported by the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC) as a strategic partner. A brand-new 'Testing and Certification Special Award', sponsored by HKCTC, has been introduced to deepen students' understanding of the role and importance of testing and certification in the context of I&T. Professor Wong Wing-tak, Chairman of the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification, stated: 'By instilling the 'precision and accuracy' values of testing and certification into their thinking from the start, these young scientists aren't just inventing but help elevate the standards of quality and safety. There is always a mind-boggling number of innovative ways we can make a difference. I will be excited to see the many good projects and this special award recognises our talents who are poised for the future.' Mr Daryl Ng, Chairman of the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation, said, 'We are grateful for the ongoing support of the HKSAR Government and our partners in nurturing innovative talent. I am delighted to see the enthusiastic response from schools to this year's Hong Kong Science Fair. With over 3,000 teachers and students participating, it underscores the aspirations of the next generation in innovation and technology. The quality of entries this year is outstanding, showcasing how AI and various technologies can be integrated to address everyday challenges, support the underprivileged, and promote sustainable development. Creativity in practice is a vital pathway for research development. I would like to express my gratitude to the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau for their commitment to cultivating the talent pool in this field, and to the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification for incorporating testing and certification into the Science Fair. This encourages students to blend creativity with theory and practice, establishing a solid foundation for their future endeavours in innovation and technology.' The Science Fair attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, providing an exciting glimpse into the vibrant landscape of I&T in Hong Kong through a variety of engaging games and workshops. This year, visitors can explore five captivating interactive zones. The 'Refined CORNsidue Workshop' invites children to discover the wonders of food science by transforming corn pulp into nutritious snacks. In 'Racing Homey Kart', vintage appliances are converted into remote-controlled cars, allowing participants to race them around a custom-built track in thrilling fashion. The 'Formula Derby Workshop' encourages participants to design, build and race their own wooden mini cars, tackling exciting track challenges. In 'Spin with Battery Hero', aspiring participants will construct mini electronic motors using batteries, magnets, and wires to embark on a spinning adventure, while the 'Starry Sky' zone showcases light refraction and weaving, creating a mesmerising experience that takes participants beyond the galaxy. This year's Science Fair offers an array of limited-edition items, including innovation-themed stationery, plush cushions featuring the Science Fair mascots, and trendy mobile phone accessories. Visitors can participate in an on-site stamp game, collecting all four designated stamps around the venue to earn a coupon for the 'HKSF Bazaar', adding an extra layer of engagement to their experience. HKIF will use all proceeds from the 'HKSF Bazaar', with no deductions, to support the Science Fair and local community technology initiatives, helping to nurture the next generation of innovators. Hashtag: #HongKongInnovationFoundation #HKIF #HongKongScienceFair The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
