This week was an exciting milestone for the HT department as we hosted our very first panel discussion for the Year 11 unit, "Technologies for a Sustainable Future." The unit, which concludes an in-depth five-year course, invites students to look ahead and ask the critical question: “What do you imagine the years ahead will bring?”

To support this work, students are introduced to the research group Arup and its paper which outlines what they describe as four “plausible scenarios” for how the world could evolve between now and 2050. Alongside this, students engage with several other key texts, including Tom Murphy’s Do the Math website and his 18-part video series Metastatic Modernity, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Nine Planetary Boundaries. Using these resources, along with the insights of our guest panelists, students are invited to analyse and critique the scenarios: Which of the four is the most likely—and why? More importantly, what actions might be taken to steer the world toward a more sustainable future?

The panel discussion featured five expert panellists (details provided below), including our honorary guest Tom Murphy who, in addition to the above publications, is also author of Energy & Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet. Each panelist responded to the prompt: "Can human civilisation be extended into the deep future?"

Together, the panellists brought a diverse range of expertise from various professional domains, modelling for our students how to engage in complex and nuanced conversations. The event was a great success, and the questions raised demonstrated ICHK's desire to inquire more deeply into the urgent issues shaping the future of our planet. After all, at ICHK, our aim is to graduate students who bear the hallmarks of sustainable people—individuals equipped to thrive in and contribute to a complex, interdependent world.

With just four weeks remaining in their Human Technologies course, our Year 11 students are, by this point, well-versed in the idea that one of the defining qualities of humans is our capacity to create, adapt, and innovate; and that to do so we must rely on technologies, in the widest HT-inflected interpretation of that term. This ability to “technologise” is a hallmark of our species. However, our students also understand that this capacity requires critical reflection: when drawing on technologies, we’re making a bargain, and it needs to be a thoughtful and healthy one.

At its core, Human Technologies is concerned with "the art and craft of being human." It encourages students to become mindful users and creators of technologies, reflecting on how these tools can foster sustainability and promote a symbiotic relationship between self, others, and the environment.

Despite these uncertain times and the current trajectory we seem to be on, a common thread among all of our panellists was a message of hope. They emphasised that our actions—no matter how small—can make a difference, with the key being to start now. One important suggestion was to find ways to improve our ecological consciousness: be awed by nature—watch an Attenborough documentary or, even better, get outdoors. Hike, garden, or simply observe the beauty of the natural world to build a deeper connection with it. Finding fulfilment in simplicity and focusing on what truly matters is also essential. Engaging in meaningful experiences and relationships will help us rediscover joy in simple pleasures.

We understand there is a risk of these suggestions sounding tokenistic; however, these small yet impactful changes highlight the gradual but essential shifts needed in our mindset, actions, and relationships. This aligns closely with the core message we deliver in Human Technologies. We hope these suggestions leave you—and our students—inspired to cultivate the "new kind of wisdom" that both Murphy and ICHK advocate for.

If you would like to learn more about our guest panellists and their personal book recommendations, we have included further details below:

1. A self-described "recovering astrophysicist," Tom Murphy is now a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego. His work has transitioned from astrophysics to a deep focus on sustainability and the challenges of modernity. Tom is the creator of the website Do the Math, where he delves into issues of energy, sustainability, and the hard limits imposed by physics on the growth-driven paradigms of modern society. His recommended books are Ishmael by Daniel Quinn and The Master and his Emissary by Iain McGilchrist.

2. As the father of two recent ICHK grads who after university went on to build their day-to-day lives in society, Jeff Coey himself is newly retired from a variety of careers. So the new challenge is to reinvent each day to define his life's next phase in more personal pursuits-- similar to what his son and daughter are doing, but in reverse. His recommended book is The New Leviathans by John Gray.

3. Christian Pilard is the co-founder of Eco-Sys Action Foundation to help social projects in high-biodiversity areas. Christian Pilard is also the owner of The Little Museum of the World, a unique educational time-machine that takes visitors on a mind-blowing journey through the history of our planet with over 2,000 meaningful objects. This unique museum explains the past in order to build a more peaceful and sustainable future. His recommended book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

4. Ms Pui Yee Leung, Carly, is a member of the UN Asia-Pacific Youth Advisory Group on Environmental and Climate Justice and Regional Youth Parliament on Climate Action (RYPCA), where she actively contributes to the advancement of these critical issues. Carly's passion and expertise extend beyond her advisory role. Recognizing the urgent need for a just climate transition, she co-founded the Climate Incubator. This initiative serves as a dynamic platform for individuals seeking to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively address climate change. As an incubator that empowers youth, she sets up Climate Incubator to foster collaborative learning, networking, and the development of green skills. Her recommended book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

5. Craig Williams is a conservation horticulturalist, restoration ecologist and qualified assessor for The Global Biodiversity Standard. He trained at the Royal Botanic gardens, Kew in London and came to Hong Kong via a spell as a manager at Singapore Botanic Gardens. He is particularly fascinated by the multitude of highly specific interactions between wild plants and insects, animals, fungi, bacteria etc that evolution has produced. His recommendation viewing is David Attenborough's series of documentaries.