HKUST students are always on the move, and fortunately that means they contribute to sustainability in large and small ways.
"This was a precious opportunity to plan and execute a green project to reduce the overconsumption of paper problem in campus. We encountered obstacles due to limited time and budget, but we were able to overcome them because we were committed to the project. I had to sacrifice my personal time but it was worth it!"
Monica Deluica, 2013-14 Eco-Rep
Sustainable Campus Leadership Program – This new program was launched to engage 20 students to undertake hands-on green campus projects. Students (called Eco-Reps) attended weekly meetings to equip them with the skills needed to design and implement their ideas. The students formed four teams and focused on reducing paper, facilitated paper waste arts workshops and exhibitions, generated a learning scenario to simulate the global warming, held an Easter Mini Fair including an egg head workshop, sponsored live music performances, and successfully created a leisure event for students to promote gardening practices. The first year of the program had some growing pains, but was successful in providing trainings and practical skill-building to the students, who achieved great satisfaction after completion of their own projects. The program continues and is always looking for the next batch of talented and energetic Eco-Reps.
Plastic Free Campaign – Although the concept of reducing the plastic footprint is gaining awareness in Hong Kong, a group of Global Business students decided it wouldn't hurt to reinforce the message. In collaboration with Ocean Recovery Alliance, the SBM Cohort Ostrom collected plastic bottles on campus and organized plastic DIY workshops for students over a week-long campaign period. Their highlighted event was displaying a large installation artwork entitled "Ocean Wave of Plastic." Made from over 3,000 plastic bottles, it formed a large wave shape to reinforce the image of the negative impacts brought by plastic waste. To ensure that people came away with the message that problems can be solved with personal actions, the cohort also held a promotion counter to sell discounted reusable water bottles.
Living Green, Competing Green – Students won a number of awards in different green competitions organized by different groups. Most notably, a student team from the EVMT program won the top prize in Schneider Electric's Global Business Case Challenge: Go Green in the City 2014. The competition was staggering – over 12,000 participants from 159 countries took part, yet the HKUST team – calling themselves EnerBy – took home the top prize after beating out the other 11 finalists in Paris, France. The team won for their idea of helping people efficiently monitor, manage, and use their electricity through a mobile application.
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MBA students were the winner of the CEIBS-Beijing Benz INNOVATEChina 2013 Entrepreneurship Challenge. MBA students won for their business plan to commercialize HKUST technologies of renewable energy. Working in tandem with the research team led by Professor Zhiyong Fan of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, the team aspired to turn the newly-invented nanostructured solar cells into a thriving enterprise by advocating the cutting-edge technology and launched it with a number of strategic maneuvers. The team Solaris also won the championship in HKUST One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition.
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Not to be outdone, the Silver award in the 1000 Environment-Friendly Youth Ambassadors Action Hong Kong Program - Green Innovation Design Competition went to four students in the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. The competition was organized by the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China. The project entitled "The Power Plant inside a Bag" showcased the power generating technology of piezoelectric materials, which were installed under a backpack strap to generate electricity when users walk.
