Muddy Footprints

From victims to perpetrators, humans have often had a rocky relationship with the environment. In this issue, we report on HKU scholars who have taken a historical look at that relationship, and on research about human threats to animals and the seas. The University as a whole is also trying to set an example by addressing sustainability issues on campus.

Epidemics and Climate Change

Data from China shows how epidemics, alongside other human catastrophes, can be triggered by climate change.

The Planet’s Creatures Need a Better Response

An HKU-led team of international climate change researchers calls for a new approach to managing the impact of climate change on species distribution.

City Slickers

In stories of animal extinction, the modern world and in particular urban developments wiping out natural habitats are often the villains of the piece. But in the case of the Yellow-crested Cockatoo, Hong Kong’s urban sprawl may be playing a protective role.

Floating in a Bed of Plastic Waste

Microplastics in the ocean are a growing concern worldwide. Dr Christelle Not and her students are trying to quantify the problem in Hong Kong and raise awareness.

Sustainable Plan of Action

HKU has renewed its long-standing commitment to sustainability by introducing a series of initiatives that will bring about meaningful change on campus and will involve faculty, staff and students.

China Asserts Its He-Power

The ideal man in China has been changing in ways that reflect the country’s modernisation and its growing political stature in the world.

Jurassic Spark

New work using high-powered lasers to examine fossils has yielded a more accurate picture than ever of their true appearance. While fossils and skeletal remains imply what dinosaurs must have looked like, this new laser technique reveals images of soft tissue preserved as chemical signatures.

Souped up

Dietetic soup aims to relieve side effects of chemotherapy and to open new eyes to the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Biofuel Breakthrough

A collaboration between HKU and Kyoto University in Japan has resulted in a new strategy to improve the efficiency of cereal straw for biofuel production.

A Chance to Overthrow the Crown

Replacing damaged tooth enamel with a crown could become a thing of the past if research to regenerate enamel-like mineralised tissue on the actual tooth is given a chance.

The Trouble with Rubble

Construction waste in Hong Kong is a major problem. As the city continuously builds and rebuilds itself, it is running out of space for its building waste. Dr Wilson Lu has been using big data to investigate.

Mental Health in Modern China

China’s rapid economic growth and societal changes are having a tremendous impact on mental health, as revealed in a long-term project by Dr Ran Maosheng.

The Case for Stronger Borders

For ethical reasons and the sake of democracy, Europe should tighten its border controls, argues Dr Stefan Auer, Programme Director in European Studies in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at HKU.

When Restraint can Mean Freedom

Legal restrictions on religious activities could actually increase religious freedom by providing a more level playing field in the competition for adherents and resources, argues legal scholar Dr Chen Jianlin.