Abstract

• This proposal from the Earth System Science Programme (ESSC) comprises both a teaching development and a language enhancement component.


• In the teaching development component, we propose to initiate a peer mentoring scheme and to continue developing e-learning modules for early engagement of our majors in ESSC and expediting their transition from high school to university. Most high school students have had very limited exposure to critical thinking and the interdisciplinary approach, which are skill sets crucial for success in an interdisciplinary curriculum of the university. The role of a mentor is to provide targeted advices to the junior peers on how to study and excel in the new setting of a university, based on her or his past experience as an interdisciplinary major who has gone through the learning curve.


• E-learning modules have proved to be an effective mechanism for filling in the gaps in background of new students that cannot be covered more comprehensively in ESSC introductory courses. From other funding sources, 6 modules have already been developed, and given the positive responses from students, we propose to develop 4 more, thus accumulating a critical mass of 10 modules in Earth System Science.


• There is a paucity of teaching materials with relevant scientific contents in advanced English courses. In the language enhancement component of this project, we propose to compile an anthology of articles suitable for the English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) to showcase outstanding technical writing in its courses. Articles will be selected from scientific journals and news media, on topics such as global and local environmental changes, natural hazards, and the food-energy-water nexus. ESSC faculty will provide annotated introduction on the scientific background and comments on the style of presentation for each article.