Arup empowers youths to chart a sustainable future for Hong Kong with a video competition among local schools
HONG KONG SAR - Media
OutReach - 18 January 2022 - With sustainable development drawing
increasing attention, the eyes of the world have turned to tackling the crisis
of global warming following the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference
(COP26), which took place in November last year. In Hong Kong, enhanced strategies
and targets for combating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality have
been set out. Arup, a global built environment consultant, recently organised
the 'Envisioning a sustainable Hong Kong' video competition to raise awareness
among young people, aiming to extend a positive influence on their peers, family
and the community to enhance the city's future.
Promoting
wider participation
The Hong
Kong government and various sectors have been taking proactive steps to address
challenges including aging population, the landfill problem, and climate change.
On top of it, it is important to pool together the efforts of all members of
the community, especially the younger generation, empowering them to channel their
opinions and play a greater role in driving sustainable development. This
competition offered youngsters a precious opportunity to draw up their own
blueprint for the future Hong Kong and amplify their voices and aspirations
through video production.
As
part of its 45th anniversary celebration in Hong Kong, Arup shared
with young people an array of sustainable engineering and design solutions,
riding on its impactful projects in the city, from Tai Kwun – the largest revitalisation
complex, to T·PARK – the first waste-to-energy facility, and to Neuron – a
digital platform for smart building management. The participants were also
guided to develop an innovative mindset and leadership skills in line with the
United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Unleashing
creativity with videos
The
competition received an overwhelming response, attracting more than 230 entries
from teams formed by 480 students across 51 local secondary schools. From using
animations and 3D models to creating a game-like experience, the participants
unleashed their creativity in a 45-second video, showcasing their visions of
Hong Kong with insights on infrastructure, building design, waste management
and urban planning.
The results
of the competition were announced at an award presentation ceremony last month.
At the event, Michael Kwok, East Asia Region Chair of Arup, said that sustainable
development is more than just a global issue, but one closely related to our
city and lives with far-reaching impact on our descendants. By co-envisioning the
city's future with the younger generation, he hoped to gather new impetus to
drive innovation that makes Hong Kong greener, more liveable and resilient.
Broadening
horizons to pursue a better future
Many
students were pleased with what they took away from the competition. Among the
winners, Sun Ka-ying from Good Hope School, who won the Champion award,
reflected that the activity has deepened her understanding of Hong Kong. From
conception to producing the video, she got to explore different corners of the
city, leading her to imagine a more sustainable Hong Kong where people and
spaces are connected and our cultural heritage can be passed on.
Other
winning teams addressed topical issues such as the urban heat island effect,
overpopulation and land shortage. Kwok Chi-lok and Chan Yu-him, from Carmel Pak
U Secondary School, expressed that by creating a 3D model, they aimed to
project a sustainable city in a simplistic and easily understandable way while
underlining the importance to balancing economic, environmental and social
needs. On the biggest gain of the competition, Au Cheung-lok from TWGHs S. C.
Gaw Memorial College shared that he learned much more about sustainable
development and enjoyed working as a team in conducting research and devising meaningful
solutions such as vertical farming for Hong Kong.
The
competition was supported by social welfare organisations including the Chinese
YMCA of Hong Kong, St. James' Settlement, The Women's Foundation, and The Zubin
Foundation. Various learning opportunities were provided during the
competition, including an online workshop with experts sharing to enhance students'
understanding of the UN SDGs and video production techniques. The students also
met Arup's engineers to explore their aspirations in the engineering and design
sector. Outstanding participants will be given a visit and job shadowing
opportunities at Arup.
Details
of the results are as follows and the winning entries are available for viewing
on Arup's YouTube channel.
Công ty phát hành chịu trách nhiệm cho nội dung của thông báo này
About Arup
Dedicated to
sustainable development, Arup is a collective of over 16,000 designers,
advisors, and experts working across 140 countries. Founded to be both humane
and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination,
technology, and rigour to shape a better world.
Arup
celebrates its 45th anniversary in Hong Kong in 2021. Today, its
Hong Kong office operates as the firm's East Asia headquarters with more than
2,000 people, serving as a creative powerhouse that makes a difference in this
part of the world.