JC CoolScience Project Launch Ceremony

A launch ceremony for the JC CoolScienceproject,created and funded by the Trust, took place on 16 October, with officiating guests including May Chan, Permanent Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government; and Ann Kung, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

At the ceremony, May Chan, Permanent Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government, remarked: “JC CoolScience aligns with the Education Bureau’s vision of strengthening science education in primary schools. Inquiry-based learning (IBL) will foster their curiosity,bridging knowledge and practice, and prepare students to become innovative thinkers of the future.”

Club Steward Ann Kung said the Club is a staunch supporter of education development. From inspiring kindergarten students’ curiosity about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to promoting computational thinking education in primary schools, and incorporating artificial intelligence into the secondary school curriculum, teaching materials of the Club’s related pilot projects’ have been adopted in schools’ curricula by the Education Bureau. These initiatives enable students to develop digital skills to meet future challenges. The JC CoolScience project builds on these foundations, aiming to foster students’ scienceliteracy and cultivate a spirit of scientific inquiry among the next generation.

To run for 4.5 years, JC CoolScience supports the national strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, while aligning with the new primary school science curriculum introduced this academic year. The project aims to enhance teachers’ capacity to deliver IBL pedagogy in science and spark students’ curiosity through hands-on scientific exploration both inside and outside the classroom.

The ceremony featured an engaging science demonstration by Dan Plane, Head of Science Demonstration at The Royal Institution of Great Britain. Through lively and interactive experiments, Dan showcased scientific principles, captivating students and highlighting the excitement and appeal of inquiry-based learning.

Representatives from pilot partner schools, Baptist (STW) Lui Ming Choi Primary School and S.K.H. Holy Spirit Primary School, also shared their early successes through the programme, demonstrating how inquiry-based learning is transforming teaching and learning practices.