Senior students have been working with a leading expert on Hong Kong’s pink dolphins and learning about drone use in scientific research.

Year 12s spent time with Naomi Brannan, a research scientist from SEAMAR, to learn more about the local Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise and the Humpback Dolphins.

SEAMAR investigates the viability of the dolphins and porpoises and evaluates threats to their habitats with the aim of making recommendations to the government on ways to sustainably develop the land in Hong Kong.

ICHK and SEAMAR have developed a strong partnership in recent years, providing fantastic opportunities for research work for our senior students.

Our Year 12s spent a day on SEAMAR’s research boat, learning how drones are used in scientific research, how they collect data in marine life and operating hydroponic equipment to track dolphins and listen to marine sound pollution.

The day was a critical part of their IB Core Group 4 Week and was followed by time spent drone mapping the Starling Inlet.

In groups, they were tasked with identifying and exploring at least one application of drones in the implementation of solutions that address one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The aim of the collaborative activity was for students studying different science subjects to come together to work on a scientific or technological problem.

The students presented their Group 4 projects to teachers during Curriculum X time , and they will also be sharing them with the ICHK community during our Celebration of Learning.