EDB holds kick-off ceremony and experiment proposal design briefing session for Hong Kong Secondary Student Space Station Popular Science Payload and Science Experiment Design Challenge
The Education Bureau (EDB) is organising the Hong Kong Secondary Student Space Station Popular Science Payload and Science Experiment Design Challenge, which encourages student teams to submit scientific experiment design proposals suitable for implementation under space conditions or microgravity. The kick-off ceremony and experiment proposal design briefing session of the challenge were held today (February 25).
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, officiated at the ceremony, which took place at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre with representatives from the co-organising, supporting, and partner institutions. The challenge is jointly organised by the EDB, the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS-TECSU), and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), with the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) serving as a supporting organisation. The Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, and the Education Convergence are partner organisations.
The challenge aims to promote aerospace education, deepen students' understanding of the country's achievements in the aerospace area, and strengthen their confidence in science and technology. Award-winning and selected proposals have opportunities to be realised and developed into final products, and would be recommended to the space station space mission and Space Station Hong Kong Popular Science Satellite Project, to commence in 2026.
Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, Dr Choi said that China's aerospace engineering is a major testament to the country's technological and comprehensive national strengths, fulfilling the long-held aerospace dreams of the Chinese people. This competition gives students valuable opportunities for aerospace education, training and practice, enabling them to have the opportunity to participate in national aerospace projects, explore aerospace science, and realise their aerospace dreams. She added that the challenge is highly meaningful and students are encouraged to form teams to participate in it.
She pointed out that, to align with the national direction of invigorating the country through science and education, and in support of Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub, the EDB continues to step up the promotion of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) education in schools, with an aim to enhance students' interest and capabilities in scientific research and I&T through diversified support measures.
Dr Choi expressed her gratitude to the CAS-TECSU, the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the LOCPG in the HKSAR, and HKUST, among other organisations, for their robust support of the challenge, which has enabled its smooth implementation.
Associate Vice-President for Research and Development (Research) of HKUST Professor Penger Tongalso officiated at the ceremony. He said he hopes that this science popularisation activity will ignite the passion of Hong Kong's younger generation for aerospace technology and enable them to make greater contributions to the aerospace endeavours of the country.
During the briefing session, the project leader of the Space Station Hong Kong Popular Science Satellite from HKUST, Professor Yu Hongyu, delivered a keynote titled "Exploring the Universe, Igniting Dreams - Building Aerospace Aspirations with Hong Kong Secondary Students," introducing the latest developments in the aerospace technology of the country to teachers and students. Meanwhile, Associate Director of the Space Science and Technology Institute of HKUST Professor Wang Yi and EDB representatives introduced the regulations, rules, and scoring criteria of the challenge.
Other officiating guests included the Deputy Director of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the LOCPG in the HKSAR, Dr Chen Zhilu; the President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, Mr Hsu Hoi-shan; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, Mr Wong Kam-leung; and the Vice Chairperson of the Education Convergence, Mr Chan Wai-lun. A total of 400 teachers and students from various schools also attended the briefing session.
Under the Hong Kong Secondary Student Space Station Popular Science Payload and Science Experiment Design Challenge, participating student teams are required to submit science experiment design proposals that are suitable for conducting in a space environment or under microgravity conditions for review by an expert panel. The organising bodies will provide a series of training activities for participating teams, including payload design creation sessions led by aerospace experts, as well as online consultations, payload design reviews and improvement suggestions. An award ceremony and achievement exhibition is expected to be held in late June or July.
Student teams interested in participating are required to register on the challenge's website (spacepayload.hkust.edu.hk) after obtaining a nomination from their respective school(s) by March 8. For details, please refer to Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 31/2025 (applications.edb.gov.hk/circular/upload/EDBCM/EDBCM25031E.pdf).
EDB holds kick-off ceremony and experiment proposal design briefing session for Hong Kong Secondary Student Space Station Popular Science Payload and Science Experiment Design Challenge Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
EDB holds kick-off ceremony and experiment proposal design briefing session for Hong Kong Secondary Student Space Station Popular Science Payload and Science Experiment Design Challenge Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
EDB holds kick-off ceremony and experiment proposal design briefing session for Hong Kong Secondary Student Space Station Popular Science Payload and Science Experiment Design Challenge Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Summer influenza season nears its end and winter influenza season yet to begin Public must remain vigilant despite influenza activity declines
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 3) reminded the public that seasonal influenza activity has gradually declined over the past two weeks to near baseline levels. This indicated that the summer influenza season, which began in early September last year, might conclude within the next one to two weeks. Nevertheless, the CHP urged the public to remain vigilant and maintain good personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Those who have not yet received seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), particularly high-risk groups such as pregnant women, the elderly, children and those with underlying illnesses, should receive SIV promptly to reduce the risk of severe illness and death from infection.
Latest surveillance data
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"Hong Kong entered the summer influenza season in early September last year. The seasonal influenza activity peaked in mid-to-late October last year and has since been gradually declining. The latest surveillance data shows that the percentage of respiratory specimens tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses last week (December 21 to 27, 2025) decreased to 4.97 per cent from 7.81 per cent and 6.17 per cent in the previous two weeks (the baseline level is 4.94 per cent). The influenza admission rate in public hospitals was 0.28 cases per 10 000 population (lower than the 0.49 and 0.37 cases per 10 000 population recorded in the previous two weeks, with the baseline level of 0.27 cases per 10 000 population). Regarding outbreaks of influenza-like illness in schools, the number rose sharply from 15 outbreaks in the first week of the new school year last September to 170 outbreaks in mid-October, before gradually declining to 43 outbreaks in mid-November. After a slight rebound to 71 outbreaks in early December last year, the number has steadily decreased over the past few weeks, falling from over 30 outbreaks per week to just four outbreaks last week. The CHP will continue to closely monitor local surveillance data. Should relevant indicators persistently fall below the baseline levels, the CHP will assess next week whether this summer influenza season has concluded," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
The predominant virus circulating during this seasonal influenza season is influenza A (H3) virus strain. As in the past, severe or death cases associated with seasonal influenza primarily affect the elderly and children. As of January 1, this summer influenza season has recorded 25 severe paediatric influenza cases, including three fatal cases. The affected children aged between six months to 17 years old. Among them, 20 cases (80 per cent) had not received SIV (including one case who received the 2025/26 SIV only four days before onset of illness. As it generally takes two weeks for the body to develop sufficient protection after vaccination, the case was not protected by the vaccine. Therefore, it is not counted as vaccinated). During the same period, 502 severe influenza cases were recorded among adults, including 339 deaths. Among adult fatalities with available clinical data, over 80 per cent had underlying illnesses.
"Although the summer influenza season shows signs of ending and the winter influenza season has not yet begun, influenza activity may rise again as the weather gradually turns colder in the first quarter of this year. It cannot be ruled out that the circulating virus strains may change. Therefore, I once again urge all individuals aged six months or older, except those with known contraindications, who have not yet received SIV to act promptly. Although there are some antigenic differences between the currently circulating influenza A (H3) virus strain and the virus strain contained in the vaccine, SIV can still offer protection against the variant strain of subclade K, as well as the influenza A (H1) and influenza B strains included in the vaccine. Those who contracted influenza during the summer influenza season should still receive the 2025/26 SIV, if they have not yet done so, to guard against other circulating virus strains that may emerge during the forthcoming winter influenza season," Dr Tsui added.
2025/26 SIV Programmes
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Getting vaccinated against influenza is one of the most effective ways to prevent influenza and its complications. It also reduces the risk of serious illness or death from infection. With the concerted efforts of all sectors of the community (including the medical sector, schools, parents and residential care homes), as of December 28, 2025, over 1.89 million doses of influenza vaccine were administered under various SIV programmes in the year 2025/26, representing an increase of approximately 4.7 per cent compared with the same period in the previous influenza vaccination season. Regarding schools, to boost SIV rates, enrolment for the SIV School Outreach Programme has started earlier since the beginning of June last year. The CHP has also introduced enhancement measures, allowing all schools to choose either the live attenuated influenza vaccines (i.e. nasal LAIV) and the "hybrid mode", which allows schools to choose both the injectable inactivated influenza vaccines and the nasal LAIV during the same or different outreach vaccination activities. Vaccination rates among schoolchildren in different age groups are two per cent to nine per cent higher compared to the same period last year.
"The SIV coverage rate for children aged six months to under two years remains relatively low at about 22 per cent. Although this represents approximate five per cent point increase compared to the same period last year, it is still lower than that of other age groups. Through the Primary Healthcare Commission, the CHP has urged family doctors to assist in encouraging parents to give consent for their children to receive SIV. The Government has opened all 29 of the DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) for all children aged six months to under two years to receive the vaccine; as well as the District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses and their service outlets under the Primary Healthcare Commission in the 18 districts, and 74 Family Medicine Clinics and 38 public hospitals of the Hospital Authority to provide more choices for the public. For the list of vaccination venues, please refer to the CHP'sVaccination Schemespage. Parents of eligible children may book an appointment for their children to receive vaccination at designated MCHCs via theonline booking system," Dr Tsui said.
He reminded the members of the public to maintain good personal, hand and environmental hygiene. Furthermore, high-risk persons should receive COVID-19 booster doses at appropriate times to lower the risks of serious illness and death. Public with respiratory symptoms, even if the symptoms are mild, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly to lower the risk of spreading the disease to high-risk persons.
Members of the public may refer to the CHP'sCOVID-19 & Flu Express,Seasonal Influenza Webpage,COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Webpage, adVaccination Schemes Webpage, for the latest information.
Source: AI-found images
