What the Polar Regions Teach Us
about the Earth
“There is no better way to understand the Earth than traveling,” says Mr Patrick Lam Hak-chung, an experienced geography teacher and Principal of Primary School of Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School. Principal Lam is fascinated by physical geography (the study of natural features in the environment) and often takes students on field trips. His insights led him to organize an expedition of Asian secondary school students to Antarctica in 2010, and in 2011, he took some secondary school students to the Arctic. Each was the first of its kind.
“Since 1993, I’ve led many study trips to places such as England, New Zealand and Canada. Though the trips were successful, I didn’t feel the students were able to gain a deep, mind-changing experience of the world,” Mr Lam said, “So I made a bold proposal to the Vice President of Yan Oi Tong to organize a polar expedition as part of a future leaders training programme. We wanted the students to develop environmental awareness and an international perspective through first-hand interaction with Nature.”
While Mr Lam’s vision was recognized, preparation for the polar expeditions was a huge challenge. The plan was to visit Antarctica in December 2010 and the Arctic in July 2011. Apart from working out the many details of the trips, he had to conduct various training sessions. “As the vice-principal of my school at the time, I had a lot of important tasks, so my application for long-term leave was turned down. Because I had started the polar expedition project, I really wanted to see it through,” he said. Eventually, he decided to resign from his position to concentrate on the project.
Mr Lam and the students had to clear a lot of hurdles to reach the Poles. “It’s fair to say that Mother Nature is merciless,” he says. “The sea voyage to Antarctica took 50 hours, and the sea was rough, with waves up to 15 metres high. Many of us were seasick. That really tested our physical strength. Another day, the sea froze suddenly, the engine stalled, and our vessel was trapped. We ended up rowing for an hour to reach our destination for a trip that normally takes only a few minutes. That was an embarrassing but thrilling experience. Luckily the long-term training paid off. Despite coming from different schools, the students worked as a team.”
“In Antarctica there are no cars or buses, of course, so very often we needed to walk for an hour or two in the freezing weather to the checkpoints. Our feet kept sinking in the soft snow. To prevent penguins from falling into the holes we made and getting hurt, we had to fill them up,” said Mr Lam.
He expressed serious concern about polar tourism (often on luxury cruises) which is becoming more and more popular nowadays. “These tours put great pressure on fragile environments. If you simply want to show off your status by setting foot in the polar regions, you should not go. For example, I met some students in the Arctic. When they were asked about the trip, they talked only about the souvenirs they had bought. I was disappointed and started thinking more deeply about the meaning and appropriateness of such trips.”
Mr Lam enthusiastically shares his experiences and promotes environmental protection. In addition to promoting public awareness of polar issues and supporting scientific work, he encourages innovative approaches to environmental management on campus. “There are many ways to use the existing facilities to develop environmental awareness. I am now planning to install renewable energy systems that suit our school and incorporate this in the curriculum. I believe this is a sustainable form of development,” said Principal Lam.
