The training day featured a rich lineup of thematic and hands-on sessions centred around Hong Kong’s biodiversity – the natural context through which students can meaningfully learn about science. The shared belief was that local biodiversity provides authentic, contextual and experiential opportunities for scientific exploration in Hong Kong’s classrooms.

Local Biodiversity and Urban Wildlife – led by Dr Gary Ades, Head of Fauna Conservation, and Liz Rose-Jeffreys, Conservation Officer (Projects). Teachers explored how a single species – in this case, a baby Brown Wood Owl – can serve as an anchor for inquiry-based learning across scientific and ethical dimensions, inspiring students to investigate ecological relationships. The discussion on biomimicry further demonstrated how science and applied innovation intersect, showing how humans can draw inspiration from nature’s designs.

Native Plants and Ecosystem Stability – presented by Dr Jinlong Zhang, Senior Ecologist, Flora Conservation Department. Dr. Zhang shared that Hong Kong’s forests are the cradle of diverse flora and fauna, with encouraging signs of habitat recovery despite environmental challenges. The accompanying field plant survey illustrated how teachers can guide students to observe and document local flora scientifically, fostering curiosity and a sense of stewardship.

Recycled Camphor Wood Workshop – facilitated by Michelle Tam, Artist and Education Officer, Holistic Education Department. Teachers hand-carved their own creations using camphor wood processed from fallen trees at KFBG. The workshop room was filled with the wood’s distinctive, refreshing scent – a sensory reminder of the intimate connections between people, trees and place. This activity embodied the reconnection of hand, heart and mind, revealing that fallen wood can be seen as a “fallen treasure”, a material carrying blessings from the land. It encouraged teachers to rediscover creativity while linking back to natural materials, culture and sustainability.

Natural Indigo Dye Workshop, led by Benjamin Hao, Natural Dye Artisan. This session highlighted the science of temperature and pH control in natural dyeing – a beautiful blend of art, chemistry and sustainability (in contrast to synthetic dyes). It demonstrated how this cross-disciplinary process can be adapted for upper primary or junior secondary levels, introducing scientific principles through creativity and environmental awareness.

Together, these sessions showcased how Head, Hand and Heart learning can deepen both conceptual understanding and emotional connection to nature – key elements in developing students’ eco-literacy.