The China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) and Tencent jointly hosted a launch ceremony to introduce the "Master Lectures for Children" in Hong Kong on Sept. 14. The event was attended by CSCLF chairperson Li Bin, vice chairperson Shen Beili, as well as Yin Zonghua, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Alice Mak Mei-kuen, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR government, Guo Kaitian (Leon Guo), senior vice president of Tencent, Regina Leung, president of the Heart to Root Association, and Herman Hu Shao-ming, the founding president of Hong Kong Rosamond Foundation.

Distinguished individuals from the realms of art, science, and sports, including Wu Weishan, the acclaimed sculptor and director of the National Art Museum of China, Wu Xiangping, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ye Cong, an oceanaut of the Jiaolong manned deep-sea submersible and chief designer of deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe, Xie Jun, a chess grandmaster and vice president of the International Chess Federation, and Dennis Yuk Ming, president of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, engaged in face-to-face interactions with the people and youth of Hong Kong.

The event garnered support from key organizations including the Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR government, the Education Bureau of the HKSAR government, Our Hong Kong Foundation, the Academy of Chinese Studies, and the Hong Kong Rosamond Foundation. Li Bin, alongside Yin Zonghua, Alice Mak Mei-kuen, Guo Kaitian (Leon Guo), and Herman Hu Shao-ming participated in the launch ceremony held in Hong Kong.

Speaking on behalf of the CSCLF, Shen Beili underscored the foundation's dedication to promoting the noble spirit of Soong Ching Ling. She expressed hope that the "Master Lectures for Children" series in Hong Kong would provide an engaging way for the local community, especially its youth, to immerse themselves in the richness of Chinese culture and gain deeper insights into China's advancements in technology and sports. All of this, she noted, would facilitate knowledge expansion, emotional growth, and motivation.

In his speech, Guo Kaitian (Leon Guo) emphasized the aspiration to utilize technology's potential to facilitate greater interaction and cooperation between the youth of mainland and Hong Kong and Macao. This, he believed, would enable them to embark on a collective journey of growth.

"Natural science theories are going through a transformation that only happens once in a century, and we can't wait for kids to join us in exploring it!" Academician Wu Xiangping took the children on a journey through space. He used solid evidence to explain the Big Bang and our place in the universe. He told the children that even though we're small in the vast universe, our existence is special, and there are many exciting discoveries ahead as we explore together.

"Earth has enormous seas and oceans, and our adventure is as vast as the space and seas." Ye Cong guided the children as they explored the secrets of the deep sea. He shared exciting stories from his many trips to the deepest parts of the sea, where deep-sea exploration happens. Ye also showed them photos of strange underwater creatures taken by China's own submarines in the deep sea, which amazed the kids.

"Scientists often get ideas from everyday life, and research is a team effort, not something done alone," Dennis Yuk Ming explained. He shared how he developed advanced genetic disease diagnostic tools through by discovering that pregnant women carry their baby's DNA in their blood. He encouraged the kids to continue exploring DNA-related secrets and to stay curious about the latest developments in biology.

"Comprehensive skills are transferable. Let's learn thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving through chess,” Xie Jun used chess to show children the beauty of the game and the importance of humility in victory and resilience in defeat. When asked about the impact of artificial intelligence on chess, Xie Jun said that AI would improve problem-solving and decision-making skills.

"Frequently playing with clay makes one skillful in both the mind and hands because your hands need to align with observation and your heart, which we call 'harmony of mind and hand.'" At the event, Wu encouraged children to use sculpture as a way to express their imagination and inner feelings.

The event had a vibrant atmosphere with a full house. Children actively participated by asking questions. In addition to that, both the Greater Bay Area Youth Choir and the Hong Kong Fujian Affiliated School Choir delivered performances that emphasized the determination of Chinese youth and their alignment with national aspirations.

Wu Weishan, Wu Xiangping, Ye Cong, and Xie Jun visited different schools, including Kowloon Sam Yuk Secondary School, Pui Kiu Middle School, Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School, and Kiangsu-Chekiang College on Sept. 15. During their visits, they interacted with the students, motivating them to acquire knowledge in science and culture and uphold the rich heritage of Chinese culture.

"Master Lectures for Children" is a youth-oriented public welfare program created through a collaboration between the CSCLF and Tencent Group. Over the past two years, it has featured over 80 distinguished individuals from the fields of science, culture, sports, and the arts, who have shared their experiences and insights with young audiences. The program aims to ignite the curiosity and aspirations of children across various domains. A total of 139 high-quality digital episodes have been produced.

With the support of the Education Bureau of the HKSAR government, the CSCLF and Tencent will introduce science and education content, including "Master Lectures for Children," "AI Programming: Lesson One," and "Becoming a Scientist," into primary schools across Hong Kong, enriching the educational experiences of young learners.

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)