Teaching

Climate Change, Environmental Resources and Human Carrying Capacity in China

The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

• Offered in the fall semester in 2021 (student enrollment: 34).
• Part of a taught postgraduate programme (Master of Arts in China Development Studies).

The course introduces the concept of human carrying capacity in China. The capacity symbolizes the balance between population size and environmental resources. In Chinese history, it is shown that the human carrying capacity was periodically shrunk by climate deterioration and human-induced environmental degradation, resulting in catastrophic social consequences such as wars, population collapses and even dynastic changes. Based upon the lessons of the past, together with recent trends in climate change and social development, the human carrying capacity in contemporary China will be systematically examined. Some controversial issues related to man-environment interaction will also be discussed.

Geography and the Contemporary World

Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

• This level-one course was a compulsory course for geography students. This was also the introductory course open to newly admitted freshmen in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
• Offered in the fall semester in 2017 and instructed by Associate Professor Him Chung (student enrollment: 76).
• I designed the course assignment and the field trip worksheet, organised field trips, and supported the logistics of the course.

The course deals with the complex physical and cultural realities of the world. It adopts a topical approach, encompassing major issues in the contemporary world and studies these issues from a geographical perspective. It is designed in a manner that helps students to understand the varied and complex environmental interactions of the Earth. The course also assists students in recognizing the diverse ways in which geography can open new horizons and contribute to the building of an environmentally and culturally sustainable world.

Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta: A Survey

Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

• This level-two course was open to undergraduates in China Studies programme and Geography programme.
• Instructed by Professor Wing-Shing Tang and offered in the spring semesters in both 2017 (student enrollment: 14) and 2018 (student enrollment: 31).
• I designed and graded term paper assignment, organised field trips, and supported the logistics of the course.
• This blog post documents my reflections after organising one of the field trips of this course.

This course provides a comprehensive and lively guide to the history, culture, geography and economic development of South China. This objective is to be achieved by a series of well-organized lectures and tutorials. Field trips, both in Hong Kong and to the Pearl River Delta, which will provide an invaluable onsite experience to elaborate the types and magnitude of change in South China discussed in lectures, may be organized. It is hoped that this course will constitute an essential gateway to those wishing to acquire a deeper understanding of this dynamic corner of Asia.

Urban Geography

Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

• This was a level-three human geography course, which was open to intermediate geography students.
• Offered in the fall semester in 2017 and instructed by Professor Wing-Shing Tang (student enrollment: 70).
• I prepared and taught weekly tutorial sessions, hosted consultation hours, and graded students’ assignments.
• I also delivered a guest lecture to the students of this course.

We live in an urbanizing world today. It is, thus, imperative to have a basic understanding of this still growing urban phenomenon. The perspective of urban geography emphasises the production of spatial differences among cities of the world. What is the nature and scope of urban geography? When, where and why did cities arise? How has globalization affected the growth of cities recently? Why are cities in the Third World growing faster than those in the developed world? Are the socialist cities planned without socio-economic problems? How do we understand urban systems in any country? What are the major socio-economic and spatial features of cities? What are the differences among the developed world, the Third World and the socialist world?

Urban Planning

Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

• This was a level-four human geography course, which was open to senior geography students.
• Offered in the fall semester in 2017 (instructed by Professor Wing-Shing Tang; student enrollment: 29) and the fall semester in 2018 (instructed by a guest lecturer Dr Yiguan Ma; student enrollment: 25).
• I prepared and taught weekly tutorial sessions, hosted consultation hours, and graded students’ assignments. For the 2018 session, I also co-wrote the final examination questions.

This course introduces students to the field of urban planning. What are the concerns of urban planners? How do they make sense of the problems? What sort of skills is required of urban planning professionals? What are the effects of the urban planning process on the development of our urban areas? Initially, this course approaches urban planning by a historical analysis. We therefore, first, study how cities in Britain grew and developed since the industrial revolution. In doing so, we also trace the beginnings of “modern” Western urban planning, both as advocacies and “ideas” and as actual practices. In addition, the nature of urban planning, especially for the more recent periods, will be highlighted. Based on this preliminary understanding, we proceed to take stock of the various theories built to understand urban planning practices. In other word, the second part of the course deals with planning theory.