HKU School of Biological Sciences

HKU-led Review Highlights Hidden Seed Dispersers in Forest Regeneration
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2026.06.004

[Research Highlights: Small creatures, big impact] 🌱 An HKU-led review reveals that slugs, earthworms, beetles, crickets and crabs are overlooked seed dispersers, helping forests regenerate—particularly in fragmented or degraded ecosystems. It is time to look beneath our feet and recognise these hidden gardeners of the forest.
🌱 港大領導的研究發現，蛞蝓、蚯蚓、甲蟲、蟋蟀以至螃蟹，原來都是長期被忽視的種子傳播者，默默協助森林更新，尤其在破碎或退化的生境中發揮重要作用。是時候低頭看看，認識這群藏在腳下的「森林園丁」！
Full story: https://tinyurl.com/295m58d2
Link in bio.

🔎𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬?🔎
During the COVID era, pangolins were thrust into the spotlight as a potential culprit of the pandemic. Yet how many people truly understand what lies behind these speculations, as well as the horror and hardship this species has endured even as its numbers dwindle?
Come along with Professor 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗖. 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗲 of HKU School of Biological Sciences — an expert on pangolins, including those in Hong Kong — as he pieces together an intricate puzzle of wildlife trade, culture, policy, and biological science that culminated in the tragic deaths of 88 smuggled pangolins seized in Hong Kong.
📅Date: 19 July 2026 (Sun)
⏰Time: 11:00AM - 12:30PM
📍Location: Meeting Room S428, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
📝Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/bde3dvuu
The book talk areas are open to the public and do not require an HKBF ticket for entry.

【HKUP香港書展活動】
🔎尋找失落的穿山甲：誰是兇手？🔎
在新冠疫情期間，穿山甲一度因被懷疑是病毒的潛在中間宿主而成為焦點。然而，有多少人真正了解這些推測背後的科學與爭議，以及這個物種在數量日益減少之際所面對的苦難與威脅？
港大理學院生物科學學院教授 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗖. 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗲 是穿山甲專家，尤其對香港的穿山甲有深入研究。他將從野生動物貿易、文化、政策與生物科學等角度，剖析一宗導致 88 隻走私來港穿山甲死亡的悲劇。

📅日期：2026年7月19日（星期日）
⏰時間：上午11:00至下午12:30
📍地點：香港會議展覽中心會議室S428

📝報名連結: https://tinyurl.com/bde3dvuu
講座毋須書展門票即可免費入場

#香港大學 #香港大學出版社 #書展

[🐧❄️Research Stories: Ancient pathogens, hidden in penguin droppings?❄️❄️❄️ ] (中文版本見文末) HKU research team has returned from Antarctica with sediment samples from lakes near historic penguin colonies. Led by HKU Public Health, with contributions from HKU School of Biological Sciences and the University of Nottingham, the project uses guano-rich sediments as natural archives to trace past microbial communities and understand how environmental change may shape pathogen circulation in polar ecosystems.
古代病原體，可能藏在企鵝糞便之中？🐧❄️港大研究團隊早前完成南極考察，在歷史悠久的企鵝棲息地附近採集湖泊沉積物樣本。項目由港大公共衞生學院帶領，並獲生物科學學院及諾丁漢大學研究人員參與，透過分析富含企鵝糞便的沉積層，追溯昔日微生物群落，了解環境變化如何影響極地病原體循環。
Full story: https://tinyurl.com/8c2z6zs8

HKU Biologists Reveal How Neural Circuits Use Backup Mechanisms to Protect Essential Survival Reflexes

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2531407123

港大團隊揭示線蟲「逃命反應」備胎機制 證神經迴路設有多重後備系統 港大生物學家聯同美國頂尖學府，發現動物大腦神經迴路藏「後備機制」，即使基因受損仍能極速逃生！研究更揭示後備零件可「性能升級」，打破冗餘無用論，即睇逃生密碼！

科學養殖/弘揚非遺技術 打造國際品牌 聯手高校提升品質 香港培育超級蠔 - 大公文匯網 然而，傳統養蠔業要走向現代化品牌，除了蠔民「蠔藝」，更需政策支援。有立法會議員表示，業界近年致力推動本地蠔業認證、科研合作及品牌化，期望在政產學研合力下，將「香港蠔」打造成國際級地域品牌。\大公報記者 ....

🚀 Faculty Seminar: From Strong Science to Funded Science – Crafting Impact and Leadership 🏆

Are you looking to elevate your research from discovery to high-impact funding? Don’t miss our upcoming Faculty Seminar—tailored to help you navigate the evolving landscape of major grants and prestigious fellowships! ✍️✨

🎤 Hear directly from distinguished researchers across HKU and CUHK who have successfully secured Impact Funds (RIF) and Senior Research Fellowships (SRFS). Drawing on their extensive expertise, our speakers will share practical insights on:
💡 Communicating Impact: Why your work matters beyond the lab.
🔍 Building Leadership: Demonstrating why your team is the right fit.
🛠️ Strategic Timeliness: Crafting proposals that meet the current moment.

Meet our speakers:
⭐ Prof. Vincent CHEUNG – Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences and Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, CUHK
⭐ Prof. Alice WONG – Associate Vice-President (Research) and Professor, Chair of Cancer Biology, School of Biological Sciences, HKU
⭐ Prof. Thiyagarajan VENGATESEN – Professor, School of Biological Sciences, HKU

Event details:
🗓 Date: 7 May, 2026 (Thursday)
🕒 Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Venue: KB 132, 1/F, Knowles Building, Main Campus

👉 Register by 4 May (Mon): https://t.ly/xslqz
📩 Enquiry: [email protected]

Take your research funding strategy to the next level—this is your chance to learn, connect, and lead! 🔗 Open to all HKU members. Secure your spot today! 🚨