HKU Digital Arboretum: A Hub for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation
The HKU Digital Arboretum showcases innovative approaches in education, especially in planting and ecology. Led by Lecturer Gavin Coates from the Division of Landscape Architecture at HKU, the project underscores the significance of outdoor learning experiences in landscape architecture.
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In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted traditional face-to-face teaching, Mr. Coates produced over 1,000 engaging videos to bridge the gap and inspire students and the community to value Hong Kong's rich arboricultural and horticultural heritage.
Following a Teaching Innovation Award in 2020, Mr. Coates established the Digital Arboretum online platform through the Teaching Development Grant (TDG) for the “Digital Arboretum and Planting Course Gallery.” This project reached completion in 2022, setting in place new approaches for knowledge exchange.
Phase II of the project, the “Planting Knowledge” seminar, concentrated on best practice in nature-based education and promoted active exchange of ideas among educators, professionals, and community members. With 100 participants from various disciplines, the seminar addressed the urgent issue of ‘nature deficit disorder,’ a term popularised by famed American author of Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Principle Richard Louv, while demonstrating how innovative educational methods can strengthen our connection with nature.
Held at the picturesque HKU Kadoorie Centre, the seminar featured interactive activities, including talks by prominent education professionals from various organisations, storytelling sessions, and experiential learning activities such as tree climbing, led by the International Society of Arboriculture Hong Kong Chapter. This diverse approach enriched the attendees’ learning experience while stressing the importance of collaborative efforts to promote environmental stewardship.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, emphasising the seminar's role bridging academic, professional, and social boundaries. Participants valued the knowledge shared and the innovative methods discussed, reinforcing a collective commitment to tackling nature deficit disorder.
In recognition of his significant contributions to knowledge exchange, Mr. Coates and the Digital arboretum team received the Knowledge Exchange Award in 2024/25. This honour reflects their dedication to fostering innovative educational practices that engage students and the community in meaningful ways.
The Digital Arboretum (www.digarb.hku.hk) functions as a vital resource, offering a virtual platform to explore Hong Kong's diverse plant life. It has attracted interest not only from HKU landscape students but also professionals and the public, promoting ongoing knowledge exchange.
Looking ahead, the HKU Digital Arboretum aims to build on its successes by hosting biannual “Planting Knowledge Seminars” and expanding its community of inquiry. Future initiatives will include enhanced online content, research into the effectiveness of the Digital Arboretum as a learning resource, and outreach programmes to local and international educational institutions. By emphasising knowledge exchange and innovation, the HKU Digital Arboretum and its activities are paving the way for a more engaged and environmentally conscious society. This commitment to fostering a love for nature through education will continue to inspire generations to come.
