The Hong Kong Regional Group supported the 2026 Secondary School Geology Pilot Programme organised by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong
On 21 March 2026, our Hong Kong Regional Group supported the Geoscience Ambassadors of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in delivering the 2026 Secondary School Geology Pilot Programme (SSGPP). This programme aims to promote geoscience education among local secondary school students (Aged 15-18) through interactive workshops and field-based learning.
This year’s SSGPP workshop is centred on Po Toi Island, often referred to as the “South Pole” of Hong Kong — where students explored some of the city’s most distinctive granitic landscapes. Understanding these landscapes of Hong Kong is beneficial to the students in fostering environmental awareness in sustainable land use, especially given the city’s history of rapid urban development and dense population in limited land use due to its mountainous terrain.
The programme featured two preparatory workshops conducted at CUHK: the first introduced igneous rocks and mineral identification, while the second focused on the chronological order of igneous formation and weathering features that can be observed on Po Toi Island.
The field excursion allowed students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world geology such as identifying minerals, observing horizontal unloading (sheeting) joints and examining prominent tor landforms. Participants also learned about cross-cutting relationships between the older Po Toi Granite country rock and younger mafic dykes — a key feature visible near the island’s public pier. Each group is led by a Geoscience Ambassador during the field excursion, where participants get guidance in completing their field task. HKRG Young Fellow volunteers, Ms Chong Wei Khoo and Anupama Augustine, were also present throughout the day to assist students with rock identification and geological interpretation.
As part of our continued outreach effort to promote geoscience, HKRG encourages our early-mid career professionals to support such events in enhancing interaction between profession and academia, and early engagement in geoscience education. This reflects the Society’s ongoing commitment to professional development and community outreach within Hong Kong’s geoscience community and beyond.
