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Lee Wing-Sze

The Joint School Science Exhibition (JSSE) is perhaps the most organised and well-structured student association in Hong Kong.

The association comprises an executive committee and five other departments - general affairs, liaison, project affairs, publication and public relations.

Even more impressive is the fact that about 70 secondary students are involved in keeping the organisation running smoothly.

Recalling the time she first encountered the JSSE during an orientation camp, this year's chairperson, Ester Chow Wai-yee, 17, says: 'I was really impressed. It's a huge and comprehensive organisation - unlike other student associations.

'Many activities organised by secondary students are not really that serious and are not done in a professional way. But JSSE is definitely not that kind of organisation.' Wai-yee is a student at Our Lady of Rosary College.

Founded in 1968 by Professor Douglas S. Payne - a former dean at the University of Hong Kong's Chemistry Department - the JSSE ran its first exhibition, solely carried out by secondary students.

Since its establishment, the number of member schools has risen from 10 to 30.

Aimed at arousing public interest in science, and providing opportunities for schools to co-operate with each other, the JSSE holds a science exhibition with different themes every summer. Last year, the theme 'Miracles of Life' saw students design their booths to explain how science brings amazing things to our lives. Over the past 34 years, more than half a million people have visited the exhibitions. This year, the committee is expecting more than 30,000 visitors.

Treasurer Mo Fong Chak-ho, 18, from Diocesan Boys' School, says he aspired to be a committee member after his first JSSE tour four years ago.

'It was mesmerising! There were so many big booths. I couldn't believe they were just done by a group of secondary students,' he says.

As several major sports events such as the World Cup and the Asian Games are taking place this year, the organisation chose 'Sports - the Science Behind' as the theme of this year's exhibition.

Wai-yee says: 'We've talked about topics like IT, environmental protection and science in daily life in the past years.

'It's a breakthrough to do something outside these areas.'

This year, the exhibition attracted 47 entries from local schools, all hoping to become participants at the event which runs from August 14 to 21.

After a thorough selection process, 24 finalists have qualified and will have the chance to show off their ideas during the eight-day show at the Special Exhibition Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui. Topics such as the '5th Referee', 'Sports for the Visually Impaired' and 'Spacemania' will be featured.

To encourage cross-cultural and academic exchange, the JSSE has invited guest teams from local and overseas tertiary institutes to take part in the event since 1990. In addition to five local universities - the Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong, Polytechnic University, City University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - tertiary institutes on the mainland, in Taiwan, as well as Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa have been invited to take part in the upcoming exhibition.

To fund the annual event, a walkathon was held at the end of February. More than 300 students and their families walked along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to raise about $60,000 to cover part of the expenses.

With its mission to enhance people's interest in science, the JSSE has put much effort into promoting the exhibition in diverse ways, according to its chairperson.

'We'll hold a series of flow tour exhibitions in schools and shopping arcades to promote it. We hope to see a lot of people at the exhibition,' says Wai-yee.



The right formula