A total of 78 projects from students in the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) were on display at a two-day exhibition on campus from 29 to 30 May.

The exhibition not only showcased CityU students' creativity and applied technology skills, it also gave hundreds of secondary school students an eye-opening experience in learning about the innovative projects developed by science and engineering students at the University. The event is one of many examples of CityU's efforts in enhancing students' acquisition of useful knowledge, and in outreaching to the local secondary school sector.

The projects on display are developed by undergraduate and research students in the Departments of Biology and Chemistry; Building and Construction; Computer Science; Electronic Engineering; Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management; Mathematics; Physics and Materials Science; and the Co-operative Education Centre, under the auspices of the FSE.

Many of the student projects have a strong application focus. Interesting examples include a web-based electronic tourist guide developed by Computer Science students Chui Pui-ling and Kam Wai-leung. “Our electronic tourist guide provides a lot more functions than the traditional printed tourist guide,” Kam Wai-leung said. “For example, it can detect your current location and suggest an optimal route to your destination. It can also display nearby shops with audio-visual instructions.”

An intelligent legged robotic bug developed by Chan Ping-chau, Cheung King-yip, Ho Kin-pong and Lee Wai-kuen in the Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management possesses an ultrasonic sensory navigation system which can handle rough terrain and avoid static and moving obstacles. “Our robot can adapt its gait automatically to different terrains. It can be used to carry out inspection tasks in dangerous situations or non-accessible areas,” Cheung King-yip said.

Innovative wireless communication projects demonstrated the leading edge

technological know-how of the Electronic Engineering students. The Wireless Home Monitoring System presented by Lee Chi-yip and Yiu Wai-hang allows users to monitor home status or control the setting of electrical appliances anywhere, anytime. “Our system differs from most of the existing Smart Home systems on the market in that it can run independently without a PC,” Lee Chi-yip said. An advanced user-interface has been embedded into the system, making it as easy to use as any ordinary electrical appliance. “In addition to a home setting, our system can also be applied to any indoor environment that requires specific lighting or temperature control, such as a greenhouse,” Yiu Wai-hang added.

During the two-day exhibition, tours were arranged to give secondary school students more in-depth information on FSE's programmes and activities. Over 250 secondary school students joined the tours, showing deep interest in the exhibition. Many said it was an inspiring experience for them to interact with CityU students and learn from them about the advanced technology that they applied in their projects.

“The exhibition is one of a series of programmes planned by FSE to broaden the knowledge base of secondary school students and to reinforce their interests in science,” said Professor Henry Chung of the Department of Electronic Engineering and Chairman of the FSE Faculty Committee on Student Activities and Alumni Affairs. “We have received favourable responses from the secondary school community, including both students and their parents, about our programmes this year.”

In June and July, the FSE will again organize three major programmes for secondary students from Forms 4 to 7. They are: (i) Project-based Outreach Programme; (ii) Summer Laboratory Attachment Scheme; and (iii) Science and Engineering Fun Days. These programmes cover engineering science and physical and life sciences, with an emphasis on both the content and the learning process.

“We hope the participating students will find these programmes both interesting and exciting, and can help arouse their interest in the study of science and engineering related subjects,” Professor Chung said.