Six Island School students joined other ESF secondary schools in the SWIMS Marine Biodiversity Ambassador Program, which ran across four Saturday morning sessions in February and March.
The list of students that participated:
- Tom Rawnsley (12W)
- Trevor Yeh (12W)
- Kanna Gaffney (12W)
- Naomi Lam (12W)
- Tara Choi (12E)
- Naomi Lam (12E)
Day 1:
Students toured the research institute, learned about Hong Kong’s marine biodiversity, and worked with Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS). ARMS are standardised collectors that allow organisms to settle naturally so researchers can later analyse the communities for data and research.
Day 2:
Students took part in a biodiversity survey and learned practical field techniques for collecting samples from land and water. They worked with SWIMS researchers to collect specimens for environmental DNA extraction, gaining insight into Hong Kong’s marine ecosystem richness.
Day 3:
Students simulated ecological fieldwork identifying invertebrates and fish species, then enjoyed a glass‑bottom boat trip to view Hong Kong’s coral reefs and observe species in their natural habitat.
Day 4:
Kanna and Tara, participants in the SWIMS Marine Biodiversity Ambassador Program, shared reflections on their experience.
Kanna: “Getting up close with crabs, sea urchins and mudskippers in their natural habitats brought the marine world to life — it was both fascinating and fun. Seeing the vast coral areas of Sai Kung from the glass‑bottom boat broadened my understanding of Hong Kong’s marine richness. Over the weeks I learned how to sample along environmental gradients, extract eDNA, and use taxonomy and field‑ID skills to recognise more than 100 marine invertebrate species. I also gained a deeper appreciation for mangrove ecology and how these ecosystems connect to the bigger marine picture.”
Tara: “I loved learning to identify mangrove species, crabs and snails — small details suddenly made everything more interesting. For example, the milky mangrove’s smaller, downward‑hanging leaves clearly distinguish it from other species. The lab sessions were eye‑opening: examining worms, fish, snails and other invertebrates under specialised equipment revealed intricate features I’d never noticed before. Using professional tools to test DNA purity was a highlight — it showed how fieldwork and lab science combine to uncover hidden biodiversity.”