Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2005

Ne wMileston e in Collaboratio n for CUH K and University of Aberdeen T he Universit y signed a m e m o r a n d u m of understanding w i t h the University of Aberdee n on 2nd June 2005 t o promote academic an d research collaboratio n and student exchange. Prof. L aw r e n ce J. L a u (right), vice- c h a n c e l l o r o f C U H K , s i g n e d t he m e m o r a n d u m w i t h Prof. C. Du n c an Rice (left), vice-chancellor of the Un i v e r s i t y of Aberdeen, on C U H K campus. Un d e r the agreement, the t w o partners w i l l engage i n c o l l a b o r a t i v e research, f a c u l ty a n d s t u d e n t e x c h a n g e , a n d o r g a n i ze a c a d e m ic conferences and symposia. F o u n d e d i n 1945, t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f A b e r d e e n is Scotland's t h i r d oldest u n i v e r s i ty a n d the f i f t h o l d e s t i n t h e U K . Its r e s e a r c h excellence has a l l o w ed i to secure its p o s i t i on as a l e a d i n g research-led i n s t i t u t i on an d attract some of the w o r l d ' s most distinguished scholars . First Virtual Plant Study Trails Launched W i t h s u p p o rt f r o m the Qu a l i t y E d u c a t i o n F u n d (QEF), the University's Department o f B i o l o gy a n d 63 s e c o n d a r y schools j o i n t l y created the w o r l d 's firs t v i r t u a l plant study trails. The three v i r t u a l trails we r e l a u n c h ed o n 26th N o v e m b e r 2005. Guests o f h o n o u r w e re M r . Wo ng K w a n - yu o f the QEF Steering Committee, Prof. H u Shiu-ying of C U H K , an d Dr. Kan Wi n g- kay of H o n g K o n g IT Joint Council. T h r o u g h the I n t e r n e t ( we b s i t e : h t t p : / / h k f l o r a . c om / q e f / i n d e x _ c . p h p ) , viewers can visit the three trails w h i c h are located respectively at Victoria Peak, Pui O Beach and C U H K Camp us (photo). W h e n they mo v e the mouse sideways, they w o u l d see the plants as i f they are actually s t r o l l i n g a l o n g these trails of over a k i l ome t e r l o n g each. W h e n th e mouse p o i n t er touches a p l a n t o n the screen, its n ame w o u l d appear. Besides, v i e w e r s can l o o k u p o l d p h o t o s a n d l i t e r a ry w o r k s concernin g these three places i n the archives. The project team, heade d b y Prof. Pau l But, c r e a t i v e ly c o m b i n e d w e b t e c h n o l o g y a n d botanical k n ow l e d ge to create these three v i r t u al p l a n t s t u d y t r a i l s . S e c o n d a r y s t u d e n t s t o o k photos of plants at those sites and w r o te reports, t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e y l e a r n e d h o w to i d e n t i fy p l a n t s a n d the t e c h n i q u es f o r f i e l d s t u d i e s. Teachers and students as w e l l as parent-teacher a s s o c i a t i o n s can ma k e use o f these t r a i ls t o f o r mu l a t e o u t d o or activities. The l i t e r a r y a nd historical entrie s i n the archives are u s e f ul for g e n e r a l s t u d i e s . The t r a i l s w o u l d also be o f interest to the local ecotou r industry. News in Brief 5 9