Snap, Play & Discover! Explore Ocean Wonders with the Whole Family at Cityplaza
HONG KONG, Aug. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is excited to bring its immersive roving exhibition, "Reviving Hong Kong's Ocean Heritage: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs," to Cityplaza from August 22 to September 4, 2025. This engaging public showcase explores the urgent need to restore one of Hong Kong's most overlooked yet vital marine ecosystems – the oyster reefs. Once abundant along our coastlines, oyster reefs have quietly disappeared, and with them, their many benefits for marine life, water quality, and coastal protection. This exhibition aims to reconnect the public with these forgotten natural allies and spark meaningful conversation and action on marine conservation.
The exhibition offers a fresh and dynamic learning experience through a blend of science, storytelling, and interactivity. Visitors of all ages will discover the ecological, historical, and cultural significance of oyster reefs through engaging displays and hands-on features. The latest edition introduces a range of new, site-specific experiences designed to inspire curiosity and deepen understanding.
Visitors can dive into the fascinating world of oysters at the OysterScope Lab, where they can peer through real microscopes to observe the incredible life cycle of an oyster — from tiny larvae to mature reef builders. This rare, close-up look at oyster development brings marine biology to life in front of your eyes.
Just steps away, visitors can enjoy Meet the Giant Oyster Babies — a vibrant photo corner featuring giant plush baby oysters and a cast of colorful underwater characters. Designed for fun and engagement, it's the perfect spot to capture memories and immerse in the playful spirit of the ocean.
In addition to these new experiences, the exhibition continues to showcase its signature highlights. Visitor can embark on a virtual reality journey to Deep Bay and Pak Nai, examine a full-scale traditional oyster farming model featuring real oyster poles from Deep Bay, and watch a compelling water filtration demonstration video that shows how oyster naturally clean the water. A coastal resilience simulation illustrates how oyster reefs help stabilize shorelines and protect against erosion. Real marine specimens are also on display, offering a tactile and visual way to learn about marine biodiversity. A brand-new augmented reality game gives visitor the opportunity to step into the role of a marine conservationist, deploying virtual oyster shells and restore digital marine habitats. The short documentary City of Shells: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs will also be screened onsite, retracing over a thousand years of oyster cultivation and its cultural significance to the Pearl River Delta.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors who participate in games or sign up through Instagram will receive limited-edition gifts featuring the popular Oyster Babies and other themed tokens, available on a first-come, first served basis while supplies last.
The exhibition comes at a critical time. Globally, more than 85% of oyster reefs have vanished due to coastal development, pollution, overharvesting, and climate change. In Hong Kong, only about 6% of marine waters are under protection, far below the global target of 30%, leaving critical ecosystems such as oyster reefs highly vulnerable. Oysters are natural ecosystem engineers, capable of filtering large volumes of water, creating habitats for marine species, and acting as natural buffers against storm surges. At summer temperatures, a single adult local oyster can filter up to 960 liters of water a day — even more for the Hong Kong oyster (Magallana hongkongensis)!
"This exhibition brings together science, culture and creativity to inspire public connection with the ocean," said Anthony Gao, Executive Director for TNC Hong Kong and Regional Partnerships. "Oyster reefs are essential for a healthy and resilient marine environment, yet their ecological importance has been largely forgotten. Through this exhibition, we aim to bring the forgotten story of oyster reefs to life through creative visuals and engaging experiences that resonate with younger generations. Cityplaza is a fantastic venue to bring this message to life for families and children, and we hope this experience will inspire more people to join us in protecting and restoring our ocean heritage."
This roving exhibition is part of TNC's broader efforts to build public awareness and support for marine protection in Hong Kong. It also complements the organization's science-based work to advocate for stronger conservation policies, including the proposed Coastal Protection Park (CPP), a new conservation area in the Northern Metropolis that could become a world-class model of ecological restoration, sustainable livelihoods, and community engagement.
The exhibition will continue to appear at various locations across the city in the months ahead, including at ReThink Expo on September 11–12, 2025, as part of Hong Kong's leading sustainability event.
These efforts would not be possible without the support and collaboration of our partners. TNC extends its heartfelt thanks to the Swire Group Charitable Trust for its generous support, to Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) and the Explorers Club Hong Kong (ECHK) for their expertise and collaboration, and to venue sponsor Cityplaza for providing a welcoming and accessible space for public engagement. Their contributions have been instrumental in reconnecting communities with Hong Kong's marine heritage and inspire collective action to protect oyster reefs and restore our coastal ecosystems.
Join us at Cityplaza to explore, learn, and celebrate Hong Kong's marine heritage — and don't forget to snap a photo with our giant Oyster Babies before summer ends!
Cityplaza Exhibition Details:
Dates: August 22 to September 4, 2025
Exhibition e: 11:00 – 21:00
Gift Redemption Time: 11:00 – 18:00
Venue: G/F, Cityplaza (near APiTA)
Free Admission
Upcoming Exhibition (ReThink Expo):
Dates: September 11 and 12, 2025
Time: 08:45 – 18:00
Venue: (Booth H05) Hall 1, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, WanChai, Hong Kong
Registration: https://register.rethink-event.com/general
About The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong (TNC)
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping to make cities more livable. Working in more than 81 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. TNC has been in Asia Pacific for almost 30 years with projects in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. In 2019, TNC was awarded the Lui Che Woo Prize for Sustainable Development. To learn more. please visit:
Website: www.tnc.org.hk
Facebook: TNC HK 大自然保護協會
Instagram: @tnc_hk
About TNC's Reef Resilience Network
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of TNC's Reef Resilience Network — a global platform that has trained over 55,000 marine professionals in 92 countries and provides science-based tools to more than 1 million users annually. From Hong Kong's oyster beds to coral reefs worldwide, TNC is committed to building a more resilient future for our oceans.
For photos download, please visit: LINK
Please consider the environment before printing this press release.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Reviving Hong Kong's Ocean Heritage - Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs
- New framework brings together Aon's Risk Capital and Human Capital data with public sentiment analysis from Gallup to create a portfolio view of risk
- Creates further clarity into how risks compound across four megatrends, how resilience is built and activated and where targeted actions can most effectively influence performance
DUBLIN, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, announced today that it is releasing insights from a new, data-driven tool to help organizations build sustainable resilience and unlock growth: Aon's Resilience Quotient.
Developed in collaboration with Gallup, Aon's Resilience Quotient responds to a critical insight: in a time of increasing populism and fragmented sources of information, quantitative data alone is not enough to make long-term decisions. Combining public sentiment on global issues with risk and people data and analytics enables greater clarity and confidence to invest and grow amidst uncertainty and volatility.
By integrating Aon's proprietary Risk Capital and Human Capital analytics with the results of Gallup's World Poll covering 140 countries for more than 20 years, the firm's Resilience Quotient captures both objective conditions and subjective sentiment, revealing where sentiment signals hidden risks and potential opportunities to achieve greater resilience. This system-level view enables leaders to spot emerging risks sooner, prioritize resilience investments and move from reactive risk management to proactive decision-making.
"When making decisions around investment, workforce or managing geopolitical risk, a portfolio view is far superior to a siloed perspective," said Greg Case, president and CEO of Aon. "Understanding sentiment can be an opportunity signal or an early warning. Leaders who are limited to only some of the relevant metrics risk missing the signals that matter most. Aon's Resilience Quotient delivers an integrated view to help organizations act decisively, strengthen resilience and unlock sustainable growth."
Four interconnected megatrends – Trade, Technology, Weather and Workforce – are reshaping the global operating environment in ways that traditional models struggle to anticipate. Aon's Resilience Quotient provides a clearer view of the tradeoffs within these interactions: how trade volatility can amplify technology risk, how climate pressures influence workforce mobility and how sentiment can either reinforce resilience or heighten operational risk, even when the fundamentals appear strong.
To illustrate the insights from its Resilience Quotient, the firm published three case studies addressing some of the most relevant and urgent issues facing the 2026 global economy:
- Realizing the Opportunity of AI: Securing Data Center Growth
Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy and with nearly $1.3 trillion projected to be invested globally in data centers by 2030, their rapid expansion brings unprecedented risks. Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that resilience varies sharply at the sub-national level, often more than underlying risk. Within the U.S., Iowa emerges as the most resilient destination for data center development, combining very low overall risk with exceptionally strong trade and weather resilience. "Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that Iowa's resilience–risk balance is roughly twice the national median, demonstrating how governance quality, institutional confidence and preparedness materially shape long-term infrastructure outcomes," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Commercial Risk Solutions at Aon. "This underscores the opportunity for leaders who understand the combined effect of low risk, resilient trade and weather systems and a strong foundation of public trust — factors that ultimately determine where AI infrastructure can grow at scale."
DUBLIN, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, announced today that it is releasing insights from a new, data-driven tool to help organizations build sustainable resilience and unlock growth: Aon's Resilience Quotient.
Developed in collaboration with Gallup, Aon's Resilience Quotient responds to a critical insight: in a time of increasing populism and fragmented sources of information, quantitative data alone is not enough to make long-term decisions. Combining public sentiment on global issues with risk and people data and analytics enables greater clarity and confidence to invest and grow amidst uncertainty and volatility.
By integrating Aon's proprietary Risk Capital and Human Capital analytics with the results of Gallup's World Poll covering 140 countries for more than 20 years, the firm's Resilience Quotient captures both objective conditions and subjective sentiment, revealing where sentiment signals hidden risks and potential opportunities to achieve greater resilience. This system-level view enables leaders to spot emerging risks sooner, prioritize resilience investments and move from reactive risk management to proactive decision-making.
"When making decisions around investment, workforce or managing geopolitical risk, a portfolio view is far superior to a siloed perspective," said Greg Case, president and CEO of Aon. "Understanding sentiment can be an opportunity signal or an early warning. Leaders who are limited to only some of the relevant metrics risk missing the signals that matter most. Aon's Resilience Quotient delivers an integrated view to help organizations act decisively, strengthen resilience and unlock sustainable growth."
Four interconnected megatrends – Trade, Technology, Weather and Workforce – are reshaping the global operating environment in ways that traditional models struggle to anticipate. Aon's Resilience Quotient provides a clearer view of the tradeoffs within these interactions: how trade volatility can amplify technology risk, how climate pressures influence workforce mobility and how sentiment can either reinforce resilience or heighten operational risk, even when the fundamentals appear strong.
To illustrate the insights from its Resilience Quotient, the firm published three case studies addressing some of the most relevant and urgent issues facing the 2026 global economy:
"Aon's Resilience Quotient shows that Iowa's resilience–risk balance is roughly twice the national median, demonstrating how governance quality, institutional confidence and preparedness materially shape long-term infrastructure outcomes," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Commercial Risk Solutions at Aon. "This underscores the opportunity for leaders who understand the combined effect of low risk, resilient trade and weather systems and a strong foundation of public trust — factors that ultimately determine where AI infrastructure can grow at scale."
- Workforce Transformation: AI Adoption and the Next Generation Workforce
The acceleration of AI adoption is transforming the workforce, but most organizations face a critical gap between the demand for AI skills and their readiness to adapt. The Resilience Quotient highlights how workforce engagement, trust and institutional preparedness are essential to harnessing AI's potential, making resilience the key differentiator between organizations that thrive through change and those that risk falling behind. "Aon's Resilience Quotient equips leaders to navigate rapid AI change with confidence," said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer at Aon. "These insights help create the conditions for early‑career employees to build the skills and confidence they need — so instead of losing a generation of talent, we cultivate one that is more capable and resilient than ever."
"Aon's Resilience Quotient equips leaders to navigate rapid AI change with confidence," said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer at Aon. "These insights help create the conditions for early‑career employees to build the skills and confidence they need — so instead of losing a generation of talent, we cultivate one that is more capable and resilient than ever."
- Rethinking Humanitarian Finance: A New Approach to Forced Migration
Over 120 million people are currently displaced by conflict, climate and systemic crises, reshaping societies and economies worldwide. Aon's Resilience Quotient highlights Venezuela and Colombia to illustrate the tradeoffs between investing resources at the source of migration — supporting those facing institutional erosion, food insecurity and economic collapse — or directing investment to more stable countries like Colombia that are absorbing people fleeing unlivable conditions. "Forced displacement results from extreme weather and man-made disasters like conflict and economic failure," said Bridget Gainer, chief public affairs officer at Aon. "If we could leverage the forecasting and financial capability of insurance to better predict and more quickly mitigate the impact of this volatility, we could help create conditions that allow populations to remain and rebuild in their home countries."
"Forced displacement results from extreme weather and man-made disasters like conflict and economic failure," said Bridget Gainer, chief public affairs officer at Aon. "If we could leverage the forecasting and financial capability of insurance to better predict and more quickly mitigate the impact of this volatility, we could help create conditions that allow populations to remain and rebuild in their home countries."
"Resilience is not a single blueprint, it's the way systems mitigate, adapt and transform under pressure. Aon's Resilience Quotient functions as a pressure gauge, surfacing the trade‑offs and early signals that help leaders strengthen resilience where it matters most," said Joe Daly, managing partner at Gallup. "We're proud to collaborate with Aon to combine Gallup's global sentiment analytics with Aon's Risk Capital and Human Capital data, turning confidence into actionable insight."
New insights from Aon's Resilience Quotient suggest that going forward, resilience priorities will shift from static risk management to dynamic, localized strategies. As disruptions become more complex and frequent, organizations will need to tailor resilience investments to specific geographies, sectors and even sub-regional contexts. Aon's Resilience Quotient is supported with a real-time analytics and AI-enabled insights platform, built by Quantum Rise, providing deeper visibility into evolving risk and resilience signals as conditions change.
Aon and Gallup will join global decision-makers at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting to advance these critical discussions on restoring confidence and unlocking sustainable growth.
Learn more about Aon's Resilience Quotient and explore the case studies here.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.
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** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Aon's Resilience Quotient Cuts Through Uncertainty and Volatility to Help Businesses Move from Risk to Resilience and Growth
