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Astronaut Chris Hadfield was the first Canadian to walk in space and has served as commander of the International Space Station. Photo: AP

How astronaut Chris Hadfield changed the life of a Hong Kong education entrepreneur

  • Serena Fan, founder of the Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum, says the Canadian astronaut’s book taught her the importance of being prepared
  • ‘The biggest “wow” moment was learning how calm astronauts are when there’s a disaster,’ says Fan

Chris Hadfield’s autobiography, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth (2013), presents a down-to-earth account of the Canadian astronaut’s personal story, including life lessons work has taught him, such as the need to plan meticulously for all eventualities and anticipate problems. Serena Fan, founder and executive director of pioneering educational venture the Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum, explains how the book changed her life.

“I read the book in 2015 or 2016. I had just finished grad school in the United States, studying education. I decided to come back to Hong Kong to figure out what I wanted to do. I don’t remember how I picked up the book, but I do know I devoured it in two days. It’s not a topic I’d normally read about, but I saw the title and just started reading it.

“I remember being mind-blown. Only a few books have done this, and this one has so many lessons. This is why the book is always in the back of my mind, especially when I’m preparing for anything big.

“The biggest ‘wow’ moment was learning how calm astronauts are when there’s a disaster. Chris Hadfield says astronauts are often asked whether this is real – such as how calm they are during the disaster in Apollo 13.”

Serena Fan, founder of the Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum.

“Hadfield explains they are able to remain calm during a crisis because they have spent thousands of hours thinking about what needs to be done if something goes wrong. They don’t panic because they know what the protocol is.”

“I realised they aren’t just smart – they’ve also practised a lot. This can be applied to many real-life situations: as long as you’ve practised enough, you can prepare for anything. I’d never made that connection before: the checklists, so everyone performs their role, the communication – they’re beautifully illustrated in this book.”

Hadfield’s autobiography An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth.

“When the Children’s Discovery Museum opened in 2018, we held a soft opening for two months. We had a discussion about it, because we wanted to start generating revenue. I realised the staff had no experience of physically working in a children’s museum. I remembered this book, and thought that as long as we practised and had a checklist, we’d get the right answers and would be ready for every situation. It was eye-opening to get feedback from the staff about what went well and what didn’t. We were realistic, like astro­nauts preparing for the worst-case scenarios that no one had been in before.

“In a way, the past year has been like that: how do you plan to open when there’s a protest? So, for example, we have a protocol for tear gas. That document makes the staff feel reassured. If you prepare for the worst, everything will be all right.”

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