NEWS REPORTS

Congratulations to Prof. Apple Chui, a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences at CUHK, for being named the laureate of the prestigious Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs Award in the Science Engagement category for her innovative project “Breaking the Wall to Engage Schools in Coral Restoration”. She presented the School Coral Nursery Education Programme – the core element of her project – at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin on 7 November, 2024, where her project was selected from 130 applications across 60 countries and regions. Prof. Chui is a member of S.H. Ho College.

The programme aims to raise awareness of coral conservation and promote stewardship among students and the broader community. This initiative is the first and only one in Hong Kong that directly engages local primary and secondary schools in coral restoration efforts.

The Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year Award is a world-renowned international competition that honours the people who are pioneering solutions to the world’s greatest challenges and creating breakthroughs across borders and disciplines. The University’s engagement with the award is an important opportunity in promoting CUHK’s internationalisation efforts, reinforcing CUHK’s commitment to global excellence in research and education.

Prof. Chui has been sharing her knowledge and experience of the sea since she was a master’s student. She has given more than 100 lectures and won five University teaching awards. In 2018, Prof. Chui founded the Coral Academy, an environmental education and outreach initiative. Its coral nursery education programme, co-hosted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the government, has been very popular, with 23 primary and secondary schools joining this year to take care of coral babies. Read a feature story in CUHK in Focus to understand how Prof. Chui protects the sea.

Source and photos: Communications and Public Relations Office, CUHK