Faculty of Science and Engineering
GE2301:
Science and Technology:
From Past to Future
• offered by Faculty of Science and
Engineering
• aims to help both FSE and non-FSE
students
HF Cheung
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
• How much is the benefit of the expensive China Space programme?
• How much of it is in technological, economical, social and political?
Faculty of Science and Engineering
HF Cheung
Importance of applied
science and technology
• Why did China fall behind in
the last several hundred years?
• What may possibly affect the
sustainable development of
science and technology in
China?
Faculty of Science and Engineering
HF Cheung
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
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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
Physical Infrastructure
• Who want to build them? What are the impact?
• How do engineers view these structures?
HF Cheung
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Materials Science
• How did materials affect our society?
HF Cheung
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Life and chemical sciences
• How dose wine affect the society?
• Experiment on wine making!
HF Cheung
Faculty of Science and Engineering
HF Cheung
What is in our future?
• What type of future we want?
• How can we have sustainable development?
Faculty of Science and Engineering
HF Cheung
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
• No final examination
35%
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
Dr. Lo Wai-Kwok
President of HK Institute of Engineers
HF Cheung
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
Thanks for attention!
Any question?
HF Cheung