Bulletin No. 1, 2014

Photo by Keith Sin 14   Chinese University Bulletin No. 1, 2014 An Innovative Museum Despite the obvious effects of climate change, it can be a challenge to explain within the space of a museum how it affects our life to laymen, especially when there are no similar museums in Hong Kong for reference. Professor Fung said, ‘Location was an issue too. The museum should be of easy access to the public, yet the University was faced with a shortage of space. After rounds of discussion and coordination, the MoCC finally took up an airy space inside the Yasumoto International Academic Park, a five-minute walk from the University MTR Station.’ Professor Tung emphasized that the museum aims at striking a balance between showing research results and educating the public. By applying a vivid design in the MoCC, it lets visitors learn more about climate change and reflect upon it. Apart from over a hundred exhibits, MoCC also features over 50 interactive multimedia installations to illustrate what climate change is about. Polar Gallery Visitors to MoCC are greeted at the entrance to the Polar Gallery (top), the first of four galleries, by a large model of the Xue Long (literally ‘Snow Dragon’), China’s polar research vessel. On display near the model is a huge flag from an expedition to the North Pole. The gallery also has a seven- minute video projected on a 13-metre convex screen, complete with ’live’ nature effects, that lets viewers follow the Xue Long as it makes its way from Shanghai past the Sea of Japan, the Bering Sea, on to the Canada Basin and the Arctic Sea. The bulk of the gallery’s displays are invaluable artefacts donated by Dr. Lee. Visitors will have the privilege to see rare specimens such as whale vertebrae, antler of an Arctic deer, Arctic cotton grass, Antarctic icefish, a penguin egg, and a beautiful extinct mollusk called ammonite. Located at prime spots throughout the gallery are computers giving lively introductions to environment-related topics from nacreous cloud and aurora borealis to ice coring and how an igloo is built, as well as panels detailing China’s research stations in the two Poles and Mount Everest. There is also a replica of Dr. Lee’s room in the Antarctica featuring original books and accessories donated by the famous explorer. Remote Sensing and Environmental Monitoring Gallery Leaving the Polar Gallery, one enters the Remote Sensing and Environmental Monitoring Gallery (middle), which contains simulation of satellite images of Earth and the atmosphere, as seen inside the CUHK Satellite Remote Sensing Receiving Station. This gives viewers a taste of how it feels to be closely monitoring the Earth’s changes in time and space. Inside the same room, a