Past Event

2026-07-06

Aberdeen Technical School: Green Careers Human Library

"Human Library" originated in Denmark, aiming to create an equal and open platform for communication. It allows people from different ethnic, religious, cultural, or social backgrounds to act as "books" for "readers" to "borrow," thereby understanding their life experiences and stories.

CarbonCare InnoLab (CCIL) adopted this communication model and held a Green Careers Human Library for Aberdeen Technical School (ATS) on July 6, 2026. We invited eight guests working in green industries to share with students, covering categories such as sustainable development management, circular economy and waste reduction, ecological conservation, and renewable energy. We hoped to inspire students regarding environmental issues, as well as their future academic and career paths. 

This is the third year we have organised this event for ATS. The guest lineup this year was highly diverse, including:
•    Calie Chung, Deputy Director, Corporate Environmental and Sustainable Development Office, Vocational Training Council (VTC): Calie has over twenty years of rich experience in strategic development, project management, marketing, and operational transformation in major educational institutions. Her role is to drive VTC's strategic transformation in environmental sustainability, sustainability education, smart campus development, and occupational safety and health to advance its sustainable development goals. 

•    Florence Lee, Marketing Manager, Cornerstone Smart Recycling Limited: Cornerstone Smart Recycling is dedicated to developing smart recycling equipment. After launching their smart reverse vending machine (RVM) in 2019, they gradually expanded their business to food waste recycling. They actively promote RVMs that accept beverage containers like plastic bottles and aluminum cans and distribute rewards, aiming to encourage the public to develop habits of "source separation" and "clean recycling". With an academic background in environmental science, Florence has been in the environmental industry for ten years, introducing advanced recycling technologies to the community. 

•    Kelvin Tsui, Co-founder & CEO, ReCube: ReCube is a social enterprise providing reusable tableware rental services to help avoid the use of disposable tableware when catering is provided at events. Kelvin graduated from the Department of Quantitative Finance at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Seeing the problem of takeaway packaging waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to start a green business. He led his team to launch the "Reusable Takeaway Tableware Rental Service," which successfully achieved a return rate of up to 98% through a reward mechanism. He has won numerous awards, including the Gold Award of the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence. 

•    Robin Cheung, Co-founder, Wood Watch Hong Kong: Established in 2017, Wood Watch Hong Kong attempts to use recycled wood and other upcycled materials to make watches and lifestyle items, combining design, environmental protection, and handcrafts. They have also recently succeeded in developing recycled plastic watches. They have collaborated with CarbonCare InnoLab to organize solar-powered flashlight workshops, bringing creative designs into physical products and activities. 

•    Alan Lam, ISA Certified Arborist (TRAQ): Alan is an ISA Certified Arborist who also leads educational initiatives on tree conservation. As a partner of CarbonCare InnoLab, he has hosted numerous tree conservation workshops to teach people how to identify trees and understand the relationship between trees and global warming. 

•    Ying Ng, Green KOL / Farmer: Ying is a graduate of CarbonCare InnoLab's "Climate Action Training for Youth" (CATY) program. She has multiple roles, working as both a farmer and an environmental influencer, and has been running her Instagram and YouTube platforms under the handle "ying_ecolifestyle" since 2024. Apart from promoting farming and eco-friendly living, she is also highly knowledgeable about sustainable fashion. 

•    Jill, Founder, Beetales: Beetales, founded by Jill, is dedicated to local bee conservation, ecological rescue, and community education. They actively promote "live bee relocation" (bee rescue and relocation) and organize various ecological workshops. Their goal is to raise public awareness of the importance of bees and biodiversity, rebuilding a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. 

•    Ken Tai, Project Manager, CarbonCare InnoLab: Ken is an experienced solar engineer who has managed projects for the Drainage Services Department, Lo Wu Correctional Institution, and the Hong Kong Government's first demonstration project. Since joining CarbonCare InnoLab, he has been responsible for the engineering aspect of three SolarCare Programs, managing over 40 solar construction projects. 

The event was held in the school hall. Under the guidance of CarbonCare InnoLab facilitators, the 8 guests sat in circles with students for intimate, round-table discussions. Students actively asked questions based on the green fields they were interested in across multiple rounds of group sessions, listening to the inspiring stories of the guests.

Key Takeaways and Highlights from ATS Students:
•    "I learned about various current methods and equipment for waste sorting, as well as useful interview skills."
•    "I realised that every industry faces its own difficulties. Hearing the guests share how they did not slack off even when facing challenges taught me the importance of perseverance."
•    "I learned the difference between an arborist and a horticulturist, gaining a deeper understanding of urban tree conservation and the environment in Hong Kong."
•    "I found the guests' upcycled products incredibly creative. It was truly amazing to see how recycled wood and plastic can be transformed into beautiful, functional watches!"
•    "I felt that farming in Hong Kong is extremely hard work, and I am very grateful for the farmers' contributions. This event also made me realise how wonderful it is to persevere in doing what you love."

During the Q&A sessions, students showed great interest in how the guests faced challenges, how they transformed creativity into green products, and the career prospects in sustainable development. We hope this "Human Library" event has broadened the horizons of ATS students, encouraging them to not only practice low-carbon living daily but also discover more green inspiration for their future career planning!