The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) hosted a special visit by the world's largest solar-powered catamaran MS Tûranor PlanetSolar today (18 August) to raise environmental consciousness among the younger generation. HKUST and PlanetSolar share the same vision of building a culture of environmental protection across the globe.
The owners of PlanetSolar Cordula Ströeher, Jan Hendrik Ströeher and Oliver Goldenbow, Captain Erwann Le Rouzic and three crew members visited HKUST today. Prof Yuk-shan Wong, HKUST's Vice-President for Administration and Business, and Prof Eden Y Woon, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement, joined over 200 HKUST faculty members, students, as well as primary and secondary school students to welcome the boat. The Captain shared the experience about the solar-powered expedition, the significance of solar energy development and green living.
HKUST President Tony F Chan stated that HKUST has been proactively promoting sustainable development. These initiatives include the establishment of the Division of Environment, the launch of Environmental Management and Technology degree program, and the first Air Quality Research Supersite for real-time characterization. The University has been systematically promoting environmental measures on campus, which include implementing green plans in every unit, energy-saving initiatives and waste reduction.
To raise consciousness of environmental protection among the younger generation in Hong Kong, HKUST invited over 100 primary and secondary school students to participate in a series of environmental activities relevant to their daily lives. Apart from having a low carbon lunch, students learned green living and 'zero waste', and participated in building solar models. Prof Chak Chan, Head of the Division of Environment, gave a presentation on 'Air Quality in Hong Kong'. HKUST faculty members and researchers introduced HKUST's environmental initiatives on campus. Students visited the University's Air Quality Research Supersite, Coastal Marine Laboratory, Mobile Real-time Air Monitoring Platform (MAP) and other research facilities and deepened their understandings of sustainable technology.
Hong Kong is PlanetSolar's only stop in China. The boat is scheduled to leave Hong Kong on 22 August. PlanetSolar is 31 meters long and 7.5 meters high with 500 square meters of highly energy-efficient solar cells. In all, 38,000 solar cells are woven into PlanetSolar's photovoltaic framework, and 72 lithium-ion batteries store their captured energy.
For media enquiries, please feel free to contact :
Mavis Wong
Tel: 2358 6306
Email: maviswong@ust.hk
