{"id":1240,"date":"2025-07-02T18:38:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T10:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/?p=1240"},"modified":"2025-07-02T18:57:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T10:57:15","slug":"from-classroom-to-field-exploration-grmg-students-participate-in-ma-on-shan-geography-and-geology-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/2025\/07\/02\/from-classroom-to-field-exploration-grmg-students-participate-in-ma-on-shan-geography-and-geology-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"From Classroom to Field Exploration: GRMG Students Participate in Ma On Shan Geography and Geology Workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n\n

To deepen students\u2019 understanding of map coordinates, Hong Kong geological maps, and their applications in interpreting local landforms and landscapes, the College of International Education (CIE) organized a professional training workshop for Geography and Resources Management (GRMG) students. The workshop integrated geography, history, and conservation elements, featuring both a hands-on map reading session and a geology field trip in the Ma On Shan countryside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by Mr. Raymond Poon, a highly experienced geotour guide in Hong Kong, the workshop began with an introduction to various types of world maps and essential skills in map reading and coordinate checking. Mr. Poon shared his extensive knowledge of local rocks, landforms, and geological features. For instance, students learned how to use maps to explore topography, rock types, geological ages, and other site-specific information. Personally, I was struck by how much world maps can distort reality. Since they attempt to flatten a 3D surface onto a 2D plane, distortions in area and shape are inevitable. The Mercator projection, for example, makes Greenland appear nearly as large as Africa\u2014an obvious inaccuracy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
GRMG students worked in groups to identify locations and rock types using geological maps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ma On Shan is geologically fascinating, with a variety of rock types found in the area. Some examples are shown in this photo. (Photo by Mr. Raymond Poon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


After the morning training, GRMG students headed to Ma On Shan to explore its rich geological and historical landscape. We visited the Ma On Shan Closed Iron Mine, once Hong Kong\u2019s largest commercial mining site, known for its magnetite reserves estimated at seven million tons. At its peak in the 1950s\u201360s, over 3,000 miners worked daily. We observed magnetite deposits and skarn formations while learning about the mine\u2019s decline in the 1970s due to global shifts in steel demand. The resilience of the miners, who worked through harsh conditions, left a lasting impression on us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Magnetite is a significant iron ore found at the closed Ma On Shan mine site, and its remains can still be found there.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Magnetite, composed of iron oxide, exhibits magnetic properties. The rock is attracted to a magnet, as shown in this photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


We also visited the nearby mine village and the Lutheran Yan Kwong Church, which once served as a school for local children. This visit highlighted the community\u2019s dedication to education despite tough living conditions. Preserving these historical sites is vital for understanding the lives of past generations and the importance of conserving both cultural and geological heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Lutheran Yan Kwong Church located in the Ma On Shan mine village.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Overall, the workshop was an enriching experience for GRMG students. As Vice-President of the \u201cUtopia\u201d GRMG Society, I believe transitioning from classroom learning to field exploration allows students to engage with the environment in a more tangible and meaningful way. Some lessons can only be truly understood through personal experience\u2014something that textbooks alone cannot provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
GRMG students enjoying map training and outdoor learning in Ma On Shan Country Park. Pictured with Raymond (center, holding an umbrella with a Hong Kong Geomap) and myself (fifth from the left).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Written by Mr. Lee Chun Lung Samuel, GRMG Year 2 student and Vice-President of the \u201cUtopia\u201d GRMG Society<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To deepen students\u2019 ...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[472,474,443,452,408,84,152,473],"tags":[],"cs":[4],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1240"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1240"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1251,"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1240\/revisions\/1251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1240"},{"taxonomy":"cs","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/division\/as\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cs?post=1240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}