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     A science forum entitled “Meet the Shaw Laureates 2018 – The challenges and the joy of doing science” will be held at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum next Friday (September 28) from 2pm to 5pm.
 
     Is their work lonely and difficult or, on the contrary, full of fun and surprises? Shaw Laureates 2018 will attend the forum to share their experiences in scientific research. Speakers are as follows:
 
Shaw Laureate in Astronomy
Dr Jean-Loup Puget (Researcher, Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale of Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Université Paris-Saclay, France)
 
Shaw Laureate in Life Science and Medicine
Professor Mary-Claire King (American Cancer Society Professor, Department of Medicine and Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, United States)
 
Shaw Laureate in Mathematical Sciences
Professor Luis A Caffarelli (Professor of Mathematics, University of Texas at Austin, United States)
 
Moderators:
Professor Chu Ming-chung (Professor, Department of Physics, Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Professor Chan Wai-yee (Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Master of CW Chu College, Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Acting Director of School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Professor Wang Xiaoping (Head/Chair Professor, the Department of Mathematics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
 
     The forum will be conducted in English. Admission is free on a first come, first served basis. Interested parties may register at hk.science.museum/ms/shaw2018/forum.html by 2pm next Thursday (September 27). For enquiries, please call 2732 3223.
 
     The event is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Shaw Prize Foundation, and organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Education Bureau and Hong Kong Education City.
 
     The Shaw Prize, which consists of three annual awards, namely the Prize in Astronomy, the Prize in Life Science and Medicine and the Prize in Mathematical Sciences, was established in November 2002. The Shaw Prize is an international award to honour individuals who are currently active in their respective fields and have recently achieved distinguished and significant advances, or have made outstanding contributions in academic and scientific research or applications, or have achieved excellence in other domains. read more

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) urged members of the public to keep the environment clean and not to litter when celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said today (September 21), “The Government’s efforts alone will not suffice to keep the environment clean and tidy. Members of the public and shop operators have the responsibility to dispose of waste properly in public places.

     “During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the FEHD will enhance street cleaning services at locations where large crowds are expected, such as increasing the frequency of street sweeping and refuse collection. In addition, staff of the department will step up patrols to take enforcement action against persons found littering, including issuing Fixed Penalty Notices of $1,500.”

     The spokesman appealed to members of the public to exercise civic-mindedness and self-discipline, and keep the environment clean while celebrating the festival. read more

     The Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting library patrons to take part in a series of Reader Liaison Group tea gatherings to express their views on library services and make sugg… read more

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 21) that the Jockey Club Wong Shek Water Sports Centre in Sai Kung District will be reopened on Monday (September 24). The water sports centre was temporarily closed earlier due to urgent clearance and repair works after the typhoon.

     Meanwhile, Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre and St Stephen’s Beach Water Sports Centre in Southern District, Hong Kong Island, will remain closed until further notice as more time is needed for urgent clearance and repair works due to the typhoon’s impact. read more

     As the Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate precautions to prevent heat stroke when working in a hot or humid environment.
 
     Heat stroke could occur if an employee works in a hot or humid environment for prolonged periods of time, as the body may fail to regulate its temperature by effective heat dissipation through sweating.
 
     The early symptoms of heat stroke include feeling thirsty, fatigue, nausea and headache. Later, the victim may experience shortness of breath, rapid and weak pulse, dizziness, confusion or even loss of consciousness and convulsion.
 
     For example, construction workers, cleaning workers, kitchen workers and porters are more prone to heat stroke when working for long hours in such an environment, especially if appropriate preventive measures have not been taken.
 
     The LD reminds employers to arrange for a suitable assessment of the risk of heat stress in the work environment and take appropriate preventive measures. The LD has produced two leaflets entitled “Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Construction Sites” and “Checklist for Heat Stress Assessment at Outdoor Cleansing Workplaces” respectively. Employers engaged in construction or outdoor cleaning work are advised to refer to these checklists in assessing the risk of heat stress at their workplaces. As for heat stress assessment at a workplace in general, employers can refer to a booklet entitled “Risk Assessment for the Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work” produced by the LD.
 
     The LD also reminds employers and employees to take the following precautions to prevent heat stroke:
 
Employers
———
(1) Take heed of the weather report and adopt shift work arrangements for employees to reduce their exposure to the hot environment, or arrange appropriate rest breaks for them during very hot periods;
(2) Avoid working under direct sunlight and set up temporary sunshade wherever possible;
(3) Provide cool potable water for employees at all times during work. If necessary, provide drinks containing minerals for employees to replenish loss of electrolytes during profuse sweating;
(4) Minimise physical demands by using tools or mechanical aids at work;
(5) Increase air flow by enhancing ventilation or air-conditioning as appropriate;
(6) Isolate heat-generating facilities at the workplace and use insulating materials to minimise heat dissipation to the other work areas; and
(7) Provide relevant information and training for employees on heat stroke such as preventive measures and first aid treatment.
 
Employees
———
(1) Wear clothing made of suitable materials (for example, cotton) that is loose-fitting and light-coloured to help heat dissipation, minimise heat absorption and allow sweat evaporation;
(2) Wear a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors;
(3) Drink plenty of water or other appropriate beverages to replenish the fluids and electrolytes lost through sweating; and
(4) Whenever there are any symptoms of heat stroke, inform supervisors and take appropriate actions immediately.
 
     Some employees may have difficulty in adapting to a hot working environment owing to their own health conditions. Employers should take this into account and consider the recommendations of their doctors when assigning work to these employees.
 
     In addition to the publications on risk assessment, the LD has produced a leaflet entitled “Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work in a Hot Environment” for the public. The publications can be obtained free of charge from the offices of the Occupational Health Service of the LD, or downloaded from the department’s webpage at www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_9.htm.
 
     The LD organises occupational health talks in public places and at its own training venues regularly to raise employers’ and employees’ awareness of occupational health. Details of health talks on the prevention of heat stroke at work in a hot environment in September are as follows:
 
Dates: September 24 (am) and September 27 (pm)
Time: Half-day
Venue: Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the Labour Department, 13/F, Kolour·Tsuen Wan I, 68 Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories
  
     For enrolment or enquiries about these occupational health talks, please call 2852 4040 or 2361 8240 (for talks organised at the Occupational Safety and Health Centre). Moreover, the LD also provides an outreach health education service and occupational health nurses will, on invitation, disseminate occupational health information at workplaces at a convenient time. Please contact the nursing officer at 2852 4062 for details. All these health talks are free of charge. read more