Museum Development
In an effort to re-develop already existing resources, the Department of Earth Sciences successfully applied for a HKU Development Fund in 2005 to convert a large unused lobby space of the James Lee Science Building into a museum space providing an opportunity for opening up the buried treasures of the Dr. Stephen Hui rock and mineral collection that were stored away in inaccessible places.
The generous donation of the family of the late Dr. Stephen Hui provided the needed financial support for the acquisition of an extensive fossil collection from China and the design of bilingual, partly interactive museum displays including 16 large fiber glass fabrications and 13 large scale graphics. With their support the museum now showcases over 1600 authentic specimen of minerals, rocks and fossils in thematic exhibitions on Dynamic Earth, Earth Evolution, Earth Materials and the Geologic History of Hong Kong with bilingual informative text panels and individual labels for each specimen.
Before and After:
During the first phase of museum establishment the lobby of the James Lee Hsioung Science Building has been extended to provide a sufficient museum space.
Before and After:
The exterior walls of the Ground Floor and 1st Floor of the James Lee Hsioung Science Building has been restructered and a new north- and east facing glass facade has been installed.
Before and After:
An enlarged lobby space on the G/F now houses interactive displays of the Dynamic Earth gallery.
Before and After:
The 1st Floor lobby was converted into an Earth Evolution Gallery with large scale fabrications representing different time periods in the Earth's geological history.
Before and After:
The staircase connecting the former ground and 1st floor lobby has been extended providing ample space for a display gallery.