GE2301: Science and Technology:

From Past to Future

• offered by Faculty of Science and Engineering

• aims to help both FSE and non-FSE students

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

Student would learn to

• Recognise the profound importance of applied science and

technology in different aspects of our society

• Develop an appreciation for scientific inquiry

• scientific inquiry vs non-scientific inquiry

• recognise pseudo-scientific inquiry

• Develop basic skills such as critical reasoning

• for example, to recognise what is true (correct), what is believable, and what is important from a scientific point of view

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

Importance of applied science and technology

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

• How much is the benefit of the expensive China Space programme? • How much of it is in technological, economical, social and political?

Importance of applied science and technology

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

• Why did China fall behind in the last several hundred years?

• What may possibly affect the sustainable development of science and technology in China?

Keyword Syllabus:

History of technology development and its impacts on human civilization

– technological achievements in ancient China

– comparisons of the science and technology development in China and other countries

• Applications of technology: Physical Infrastructure

• Applications of technology: Materials Science

• Applications of technology: Life and Chemical Sciences

• Applications of technology: Electrical Technology and Communications

• Applications of technology: Computer and Information Technology

• Technology and socio-economic development

• Technology development and sustainability

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

Physical Infrastructure

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

• Who want to build them? What are the impact?

• How do engineers view these structures?

Materials Science

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

• How did materials affect our society?

Life and chemical sciences

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

• How dose wine affect the society?

• Experiment on wine making!

What is in our future?

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

• What type of future we want?

• How can we have sustainable development?

Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs)

• Large class activities: 13 hours

• Lab experiments / small group activities:13 hours

• Field trips / industrial visits etc: 13 hours

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

Assessment

• Integrative case study 65%

• Group project 35%

• No final examination

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

Major attractions of this course

• Excellent for broadening your knowledge of the world

• Taught partly by leading engineers • Dr. Lo Wai-Kwok (Chairman of HK Institute of

Engineers)

• Get to know experts in different areas in CityU

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

Dr. Lo Wai-KwokPresident of HK Institute of Engineers

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

Major attractions of this course

• Large class activities counts about 1/3, and is arranged mostly in the first half of the semester

• Students of different faculty work together in a group project

• Not on engineering details. No calculus or higher mathematics required. To perform well, participation, critical thinking and presentation skill are the most important.

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

What will you lose if you do not take this course

• If you are FSE student, you may not appreciate science and engineering well enough. You will get lost in direction and become tired of your study.

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

What will you lose if you do not take this course

• If you are non-FSE students, you may become a science and technology illiterate. You cannot use scientific logic, and cannot participate in any discussion that is related to science and technology. You will not pay sufficient respect to scientists and engineers, and eventually you will not be able to get the full benefit of having these people around you.

• A tale of two judges

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

What will you lose if you do not take this course

You may not believe that HK needs this many scientists and engineers. HK society will suffer if HK people do not take science and technology seriously.

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung

Thanks for attention!

Any question?

Faculty of Science and Engineering HF Cheung