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Screening Tool for Disaster Volunteers

When the Sichuan earthquake struck in 2008, more than one million volunteers were reported to have flocked to the scene to offer their help. That outpouring of support, however, brought its own logistical problems and burdens, prompting Dr C. Harry Hui, Associate Professor of Psychology, to wonder what could be done about it.

Mentoring Matters

Mentoring has a powerful impact on personal development. It helps build a student's confidence, inspire them and raise their aspirations. Mentors are the navigators in the maze of life, acting as both a guide and friend to their mentee.

Hong Kong Seeks to Update Animal Welfare Laws to International Standards

A 2010 review of animal welfare legislation done by The University of Hong Kong highlighted inadequacies in Hong Kong's out-of-date animal protection laws and recommended a more humane approach in line with international guidelines and practices. While it is a long, complicated process to amend laws, the 2010 review has received widespread support for the introduction of an animal welfare-friendly policy reflecting the authors' recommendations.

New Twists for Public Parks

Two projects involving students and staff of the Faculty of Architecture helped to introduce new ideas on the use of public space in Hong Kong's parks.

The Language of Genetic Counselling

Two pregnant women in their late 30s are at a higher risk of having a Down's Syndrome baby. The healthcare professional who counsels them is steering them towards taking a test for Down's Syndrome. But the clients have very different priorities.

Keeping the Blood Flowing

The health and medical needs of an ageing population mean Hong Kong has to store up increasing amounts of fresh blood products. This year alone, the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) needs 3.4 per cent more units of whole blood, plasma and platelets than it collected last year, when demand increased by 4.4 per cent.

Protecting Babies' Teeth

Good oral health starts from infancy, as dentists are well aware. But getting that message to parents and caregivers is both a challenge and a necessity: many children do not visit a dentist until primary school age, when problems may already be entrenched. A project in the Faculty of Dentistry is working to change that situation.

Detecting Crime in Cyberspace

Criminal activities on the Internet are on the increase, presenting new challenges to law enforcement agencies. Not only must they find the people responsible, they also have to keep up in the technological game in order to have any hope of uncovering cybercrimes in the first place.

A Portal on Human Rights

Human rights advocates, policy makers and researchers produce a great quantity of material on the subject - so much so that it can be a mighty task to stay on top of developments. A new website is helping to make the job easier by providing a one-stop source of information on human rights, with a particular focus on Asia.