SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 15:
LIFE ON LAND
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Sharing knowledge on environmental health and toxicology
In his biology course “Environmental Health and Toxicology”, Dr Patrick Yue of the Department of Biology incorporated service-learning to enrich student learning. Students learnt about toxic chemicals and biological responses, and they then mentored younger pupils from De La Salle Secondary School, New Territories on the topics, conducting case studies, workshops, and experiments. By teaching young students about environmental health and toxicology, HKBU students helped spark their interest in biology and inspired them to further explore the field in their future studies.
Enhancing knowledge of rural-urban development
In the service-learning course “Current Issues in Hong Kong and China” led by Dr Daniel Kwok of the Department of History, students learnt about topics related to rural-urban development. They visited Lam Tsuen Valley to experience Hong Kong’s farming culture. Partnering with Gift from Land, a non-profit organisation promoting local agriculture, students also met with boat people in Sai Kung. This gave the students a better understanding of the boat people’s history and efforts to preserve their culture.
Engaging activities raise awareness on animal care
Themed “Animals in our Community”, the 2022-2023 Social Innovation Makers programme organised by the Centre for Innovative Service-Learning’s TriAngle focused on human-animal relationships through a series of workshops. Twenty-four participants learnt about rescue efforts and challenges faced by stray animals and animal rescue organisations. They visited the non-profit organisation “Home for Homeless Dogs” to understand dog care difficulties and developed innovative solutions to address the issues. In the programme’s competition, a student team won the championship with their project which centred around Hong Kong wild boars. The team then led a hiking event combined with a “Wild Boars Quest” puzzle game at the Aberdeen Country Park. Participants safely observed the boars and learnt conservation methods through this interesting and meaningful hike.
Rediscovering our bond with the land since eons ago through multi-dimensional experiences
Academy of Film
Performer: Annie CHEUNG
Ms Annie Cheung took part in The Sublime Progressions, a performance that blended multi-dimensional soundscapes, lighting, projections, scenery, and performances. The production was led by the artist group Vividly, and it explored themes of migration and diaspora by species and tribes, taking audiences on a journey through time and space in Tai Kwun. This site-specific performance offered audiences the chance to rediscover their connection to the land and revelations of life, overcoming challenges and venturing into the unknown.
Exploring the dynamic agenda setting of wildlife issues on social media
Department of Interactive Media
Author: SHI Jingyuan
This study focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wildlife-related issues and how they were discussed on social media. The researchers used big data analytics to analyse over 110,000 social media posts made between January and April 2020. They found that the agenda-setting effect of wildlife-related issues on social media was not a one-way process, but rather a dynamic interaction between news outlets and the general public. This means that the discussions and priorities surrounding wildlife management and conservation on social media were influenced by both the news agenda and the public’s agenda. Understanding this dynamic interaction is important for addressing wildlife-related issues in the context of public health and sustainability. This study aligns with the SDG 15 “Life On Land”, which aims to protect and restore ecosystems and promote sustainable use of terrestrial resources.
HKBU Sustainability Report 2023
