Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change - 賽馬會氣候變化博物館

This exhibition features the result of an 18-month community engagement project (2021–2022), ECF Mobilizing Community Climate Action by Future Museum Curators. The project is supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF). It recruited 70 secondary school students and, through a unique model of experiential and problem-based learning, equipped them with the knowledge and skills to become ‘Future Museum Curators’, and inspire action on climate change and sustainable development through exhibitions.

Earlier this year, the well-trained Future Museum Curators presented the results in 10 virtual exhibitions dealing with various sustainability challenges, such as climate change, carbon reduction and waste management. After public voting and a final assessment by a panel of expert judges, the winning Best Future Museum Curators teams were selected to work with the MoCC on a new physical exhibition on a theme of their choice, to be presented at the MoCC. The ‘Humanity–Climate–Nature: A Future Museum Curators’ Exhibition’ explores how human activity gives rise to sustainability challenges and calls for immediate climate action from the community to tackle these threats.

Meeting the Scientists (Videos) 

Natalie Chung 

2023

We ought to care about Antarctica because now is the best chance we have to protect our last frontier and the rest of the oceans. Throughout the Antarctic Climate Expedition, our team had the privilege of witnessing awe-inspiring scenes such as iceberg calving, where massive chunks of ice detach from the glacier's edge. Additionally, we have closely observed the shifting dynamics of penguin colonies as they confront a decline in their primary food source, krill, due to warming oceans and overfishing. Moreover, our analysis of ten surface water samples under the microscope has revealed the presence of microplastics in all of them. Red and green filaments were seen under the microscopes on board, which are likely to be coming from the gears of visitors. This reflects the urgency to set a maximum capacity for leisure tourism in Antarctica to preserve its pristine wilderness.

During the expedition, Dr. Sylvia Earle repeatedly emphasized the significance of this moment, stating that this generation possesses the best opportunity to "transform tipping points into turning points." We hold the capability to protect the vital, life-sustaining “blue heart” of our planet. By conducting interviews with a diverse group of ambassadors on the expedition, my aim is to capture the individual stories behind their participation and the causes they sought to champion through this expedition utilizing their talents. Furthermore, I intend to explore how our learnings from the expedition can inspire everyone to make a difference and adopt new approaches to accelerating carbon neutrality through the power of the ocean.

Ultimately, my goal is to establish a connection between Antarctica and our home in Asia, particularly Hong Kong. It is worth noting that media coverage of Antarctica in Asia is significantly less compared to the rest of the world. Without visualizing the profound impacts of this region, individuals here may not fully comprehend the interconnectedness between their carbon footprints, lifestyles, and the global crisis that will inevitably lead to freshwater loss and sea level rise affecting us all. However, by providing detailed explanations from esteemed individuals such as Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Olaf Meynecke, and Craig Leeson, we can bring Antarctica much closer to the people of Hong Kong. Their insights and expertise serve to bridge the geographical gap and ensure a deeper understanding of the importance of Antarctica's preservation within our local context.