LFC Horseshoe Crab Elite Program |
Background Horseshoe crab has been a friend and symbolic character of our school. Since 2010, our school has participated in the ‘Juvenile Horseshoe Crab Rearing Program (JHCRP)’ co-organized by the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) and the City University of Hong Kong (CityU). In 2010, our first batch of participants published a book called ‘倒瀉籮蟹’ to summarize their learning journey through raising the juveniles of Chinese horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus. Since then, our school has built an excellence performance and the reputation for rearing juveniles horseshoe crabs among local secondary schools. In 2015, we formulated a new strategic development plan over our current horseshoe crab program. Through the synergy of cooperation between Diagcor Biotechnology Laboratory and Law Cheuk Ecology Laboratory, the horseshoe crab program is now regarded as part of our key pull-out research-based learning program designed for gifted students of our school. We have the paradigm shift from rearing horseshoe crabs to conducting advanced scientific research in both molecular biology and ecology aspects. The newly named ‘Horseshoe Crab Elite Program’ is a cross-subject based program which is designed to equip our participants with facilitated learning in Biotechnology, Geography and Liberal Studies. From Hong Kong to International: Experience sharing after attending International Workshop on HSC in Japan Seven S.6 participants of our team attended the "3rd International Workshop on the Science and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs" from 14th to 20th June, 2015 held in Sasebo, Japan. They delivered an inspirational presentation for their findings of genetic connectivity of adult Chinese horseshoe crabs to over 100 horseshoe crab specialists in the workshop. Moreover, they identified and stated the significant difference in conservation awareness towards horseshoe crabs held by local citizens between Hong Kong and Sasebo by their first-hand information collected. Their performance was highly appreciated and featured on an educational nature website (i.e. http://www.animal-dino.com/international_workshop_of_horseshoe_crab.html). In addition to their presentation, the team also had valuable experience by having field trips to two natural habitats of local horseshoe crabs, Imari Bay and Sasagawa mudflat during their learning tour. They also had unforgettable memory for having good time to learn and fold ‘Origami’ of horseshoe crab with students from Nagasaki University. Our team is the only one that comprises of secondary school students in the workshop. The following shows some of the highlights of the learning tour. [15/6/2015 MONDAY] 1st Field Trip: Imari Bay The field trip was initiated by Mr. Li Man Ho and Dr. Yumiko Iwasaki, the co-chair of the workshop. Mr. Funai, biological education officer of the City Board of Education in Imari, Japan, accompanied and guided us over the Imari Bay which is one of the natural habitats of Tachypleus tridentatusin Kyushu, Japan. Mr. Funai brought together maps and photos and delivered lively introduction and presentation of the development of protected area in Imari Bay over the last few decades. Their study suggested that the establishment of protected area in Imari Bay results in an obvious increase in the number of horseshoe crabs. Further and continual research shall be done for the next few decades to complete the study and confirm the corresponding hypothesis.
[15 ~ 16/6/2015 MONDAY & TUESDAY] Questionnaire interviewing local citizens in Sasebo, Japan The team conducted their questionnaire in local market in Sasebo and successfully interviewed more than 100 local citizens in the afternoon on 15th June & 16th June, 2015. After statistical analysis, the team identified significant differences between citizens in Hong Kong and Sasebo for their attitudes towards horseshoe crabs. Generally speaking, citizens in Hong Kong generally showed lower degree of understanding and concern towards horseshoe crabs and its corresponding conservation. On the opposite side, citizens in Sasebo generally have far higher degree of awareness and more knowledge over horseshoe crabs. The important findings in this questionnaire were also included in our team’s presentation on 17th June, 2015. The questionnaire and subsequent studies will continue in the following school years. [17/6/2015 WEDNESDAY] The team was granted for a 15-minute oral presentation under session 3 ‘Education and Public Awareness’. The team delivered their findings over the genetic connectivity of Chinese horseshoe crabs as well as the findings of their questionnaire conducted. Once the team completed their presentation, all participants of the workshop gave a big hand to their excellent performance. Mr. Tsuchiya, who 87 years old and the pioneer in horseshoe crab conservation in Japan, highly appreciated the team’s effort and accredited their excellent performance. The team then became friends with students from Nagasaki University and learnt how to make ‘Origami’ of horseshoe crab.
[19/6/2015 FRIDAY] 2nd Field Trip: Sasagawa mudflat The team went for the 2nd field trip to Sasagawa mudflat which is another natural habitat for local horseshoe crabs. Under the guidance of the officials and local conservationists, the team had the opportunity to view the natural habitat of horseshoe crabs in Japan. They had valuable and rewarding experience by holding wild juvenile horseshoe crabs with their hands!
Horseshoe Crab Elite Team In the school year of 2015 – 2016, our team comprised of six secondary four students and ten secondary two students. Double tier system is established to strengthen the collaboration of experienced, senior form students with junior form students. It also helps to maintain the team sustainably developed in the coming years.
Name list of our elite team
Press Interview On 17th November, 2015, Hong Kong Economics Time, invited by Hongkong Land which is the official sponsor of JHCRP this year, interviewed our team for their ubiquitous excellent performance in both conducting scientific research and rearing of horseshoe crabs. The journalist interviewed our alumni who participated in the international workshop to share their learning outcomes and experience after attending the workshop. Meanwhile, our current team members were interviewed for their feeling and experience for rearing the juvenile horseshoe crabs. The following photos show some of the highlights of the interview:
Academic Research and International Publication With the full support of both laboratories, our team carries out academic research in the field of Molecular Biology and Ecology. In 2015, seven S.6 participants of our team published their results in the genetic connectivity of adult Chinese horseshoe crabs in Hong Kong as listed below:
A preliminary investigation of genetic sequence of adult Chinese horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus, collected from fishermen in Hong Kong Li M.H., Lee C.H., Cheung H.M., Ho T.K., Lam H.Y., Leung C.H., Ong Y.C., Tan Y.L., Lam Y.H., Tam H.Y., Shin, P.K.S., Chan K.Y.
Collaboration We are in close collaboration with the Ocean Park Conservation Fund, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) and the City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
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Last Updated on Thursday, 14 January 2016 09:12 |