Joe Lau

Group project

  • Students will be assigned to project groups each of which has about 5 members. You will need to collaborate with each other and work together. Even though you might not know your group members well, you should cooperate with each other and complete the project. When you leave the university you often have to work with others whether you like them or not. You will need to find ways to motivate people and deal with problems. So think of this as a training.
  • Half of the groups will do a website project and the other half will participate in a food fair project which is called "foodfest". Foodfest will be held on Wed 20 Apr from 12:30-2pm. The website projects have to be completed by 10pm 19 Apr.
  • Each group should select a group leader who will liase with the tutors and the lecturer about the details of the project.
  • Each group will be told whether it will complete a website or foodfest assignment. If the whole group wants to change the assignment, the group leader can email Irwin BEFORE 15 March. This can happen only if there is another group which wants to change in the opposite direction. Otherwise there will be no change in the assignment.
  • All members of the same group will receive the same grade, unless concrete and convincing evidence is provided showing that some members have refused to cooperate.
  • You will need to confirm and decide on your topic by 31 March. The group leader should email the lecturer beforehand to obtain approval of the topic.

Details about the website project

  • You will need to develop a website which provides an in-depth presentation and analysis about some topic in this course.
  • The website and all the associated webpages have to be hosted on google sites. Please send the link to Joe Lau once a site has been set up. A page listing all the sites will be posted after the deadline is past. You can of course include images and videos and links in your site. You are requested not to delete the site for at least a year.
  • Citation: Two options: (a) a separate webpage with all the entries, (b) one for each webpage like wikipedia. Format: APA or any uniform and popular style.
  • Sample topics
    • Drug legalization and crime / addiction
    • Drug decriminalization - a worldwide survey
    • Food in art
    • Vegetarianism - Biology and facts
    • Organic farming and the environment
  • Approved topics
    • Animal rights in China
    • Food Production and Safety in China
    • Eating meat and global warming
    • World Hunger in Africa
    • GM food in China / Hong Kong
    • GM food labeling
    • GM food: moral issues
    • Food in Chinese culture
    • Drug legalization in different parts of the world
    • GM food and developing countries
    • Drug legalization and crime
    • animal rights and moral value: should we give up eating meat?

Details about foodfest

  • Foodfest is a food fair and exhibition about the topics discussed in the course. Each group participating can choose a theme and organize an activity or exhibition about the theme.
  • Try to be imaginative and come up with something that is both related to the course and of general interest to students at HKU. The fair will take place at some open area in HKU and open to everyone.
  • Activities can include: poster exhibition, food tasting, video, experiments, games.
  • Grading criteria include: originality, relevance to the course, whether the project is thought-provoking, attractiveness of presentation, etc.
  • Some simple cooking and heating equipment (microwave) might be available on the day of the event, to be shared among the participants. Please email the lecturer well n advance about the equipment you will need.
  • Sample topics
    • Food and the environment in Hong Kong
    • Does organic food taste better?
    • How much do you know about meat?
  • Approved topics:
    • Obesity and Values
    • Is there any objective standard concerning the taste of food?
    • Organic food in HK
    • GM food and you
    • GM food and world hunger
    • Food and presentation
    • From Food To Art
    • The exquisite art in food
    • Molecular cuisine
    • Can "vegetarian-meat" replace meat?
    • Animal Abuse in Fast food
    • University students and world hunger
    • Food and religion
    • Food Processing
    • The New Food Generation
    • Reading a menu in a philosophical way: meat or vegetable?
    • Does Culture affects food type and tastes?
    • Will our perception affects our choices and feeling
    • Why the taste of food does not only depend on the food itself?
  • Further details (will be updated if there are further questions)
    • Each group will get a subsidy of max. HK$200 for purchasing material necessary for the project (not for transportation). You will need to have receipts for reimbursement, and give them to Loletta afterwards.
    • Each group will have one small table (probably exam table that sits one person) and one noticeboard (size 3 feet x 6 feet). If you need more please email Derek asap.
    • The exhibition will take place in the open area outside the Main Library. Setup can start around 12 noon. There will be about 17 groups in total in that area.
    • Dress informally. Not all group members have to be present.
    • Each group will be responsible for its own cleanup afterwards.
  • Dr Lau will be bringing some homemade food to sell to raise fund for charity. If you want to help or you want to bring some food as well to contribute, please email Dr Lau.