SOTY 2023/24: Best Devotion to School winner determined to help others
Lee Hok-lam, a Form Six student at St Joseph’s College, was inspired by a personal loss to make a difference and help others.
Lee Hok-lam, a Form Six student at St Joseph’s College, won Best Devotion to School at the Student of the Year awards. Photo: HandoutThree years ago, a personal tragedy ignited a spark within Lee Hok-lam, a Form Six student at St Joseph’s College. His grandmother, a pivotal figure in his upbringing, was pronounced brain-dead.
This harrowing experience marked his first encounter with the complexities of medical science, particularly the definition of death and the intricacies of intensive care unit technologies.
“It was a major trigger that sparked my interest in brainstem cell death and the way the human body works,” Hok-lam recalled.
His grandmother’s passing not only ignited his scientific curiosity but also inspired him to try to alleviate the suffering of others.
“My grandmother was the first close family member that I lost. It not only triggered my interest in medicine but also inspired me to want to address incurable illnesses.”
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Driven by these experiences, Hok-lam embarked on a scientific project addressing environmental health. Recognising the devastating impact of water pollution, particularly heavy metal pollution, which claims the lives of millions of children annually, he developed an invention to absorb heavy metal and radioactive ions from the environment.
The invention utilises crown ether and starch to capture pollutants. Crown ether, with its uneven charge distribution, attracts positive ions.
However, its water solubility poses a challenge. The invention enables efficient filtration of pollutants by embedding crown ether within starch, an insoluble and environmentally friendly material.
Developing this invention was a challenging endeavour that took about a year and a half. “It was all about trial and error,” Hok-lam reflected. “This is one of the reasons I love science so much – each failure is part of building knowledge.”
He gathered a team of four classmates to work on the project. “I had the initial idea, and since the process required a lot of effort, I was fortunate to find like-minded classmates to work with,” he said.
“Currently, I think it’s still in the research and development stage,” Hok-lam noted. “The concept is promising and has shown potential. I do believe that, with further work, this could eventually become a practical solution.”
The team’s hard work paid off when they won first place at the 56th Joint School Science Exhibition, competing against over 200 international and local schools.
Last year, Hok-lam also received the Best Devotion to School award at the Student of the Year (SOTY) Awards, organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
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Hok-lam’s passion for research extends to collaborations with professional institutions. He assisted in a project at Queen Mary Hospital and became a co-author of a research paper.
He continued his exploration at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “This summer, I continued my research journey with a project at PolyU involving a histology lab studying the environmental impact on the human body,” he said. “The fascinating thing about the human body is that everything is interconnected.”
Hok-lam emphasised the potential for secondary school students to participate in scientific research. “I think this is an area where we, as secondary school students, can make a difference,” he said. “I believe I should lead by example and speak up for my fellow students regarding this issue.”
He encouraged his peers to pursue their passions without hesitation. “If you have the passion, you will find the bridge and the opportunities needed to make a difference,” Hok-lam said. “It’s that courage to ask questions and voice ideas that can lead to making meaningful contributions to society.”