SHUO QIU (Hank) has been at Malvern College Hong Kong for five years. Here, we find out about his interests and aspirations, some of his school highlights at MCHK – included being awarded a Hong Kong scholarship for academic excellence – what he likes to do outside of class as a Malvern HK student and more.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born in Shanghai. When I was seven (2nd Grade) we moved to Michigan, USA. I skipped one grade there, and when I finished 4th Grade we moved back to mainland China, and from there to Hong Kong in 2019 where I started at MCHK in FY1 (Year 7) I like hiking, city-walking, food, reading, swimming and working on my blogs. I have a blog on the WeChat public platform, where I post my “serious articles” rather than random photos or snapshots of my life. For instance, I wrote an academic paper about Long COVID during the COVID-19 pandemic; I zoomed in on the year 1875 and created an interesting comparison among the key events happening in China, France, Russia, USA in the same year; and in a cooking recipe I explained some science knowledge such as the concept of entropy.
What do you enjoy most about being a Malvern HK student?
The school offers me a great stage to take initiative, be brave and proactive to lean in and explore many other aspects apart from pure academics, such as developing leadership and entrepreneurship, debating skills, team spirit and more. For example, I founded the STEM Society at MCHK, where I teach competition-level maths and physics every week to Senior pupils. I’m also the head of Weatherill House. Teachers in the Learning Enhancement department also gave me a lot of extra advice and out-of-school programme information tailored to my situation.
What’s your favourite subject at MCHK and why?
I’m generally a more STEM-oriented person, but I like all of the subjects as they give me the chance to explore new fields. Also, I quite like economics and am curious to see how to apply mathematics theories and modelling in economics and the real world around us.
What are some of your recent achievements?
I received first class honours in the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad and Junior Science Olympiad, as well as several awards in maths competitions. But there is one thing I treasure the most: my research paper on AI, instructed by Tsinghua University, was just accepted by the 2024 International Conference of Computer Communication and Artificial Intelligence. I will present our work as the first author and our paper is selected for the Best Student Paper Competition. I will compete with the rest of the student authors who are all PhD or master candidates. I’m excited about it!
Last year you went to Tokyo to represent MCHK and attended master classes with Professor Roger Kornberg. What was that experience like?
It was a fascinating experience, and I wrote an article about it on my blog. Before my visit, I had limited interest in biology, but Professor Kornberg sparked my interest in understanding more about genetic research. I also watched some videos about the Professor later when I came back, and I especially liked this quote of his about the importance of communication for science, which motivates me to improve my language and some other skills beyond STEM:
“Communication matters as much in science as in anything else. It is the essence of every human activity because all activities really are human, even science. People don’t realise that personal interactions are, first and foremost, more than bright ideas, more than skills. Personal interaction is the beginning and the end of every activity. Science is very much human and personal in the most important ways. Communication, then, is of the essence and I care a lot about precision in the use of language, not only to convey the results of work or to communicate ideas but because I believe it helps one be more precise about one’s own ideas. I think only if you can articulate it in a way that you believe resonates with what you have thought or believe have you understood what you yourself think about the problem or whatever may be the purpose of communication.”
Give us an overview of the Hong Kong scholarship you’re on and your experience going through the scholarship process.
I received an Academic Scholarship. The process was relatively simple: I just put together my achievements during the year, attended an interview and was lucky to be offered the scholarship. I feel it’s a great recognition for what I have done and it motivates me to work hard in the future
What would you say to a student who is interested in applying for a Hong Kong scholarship and specifically the Academic Scholarship at MCHK?
Try to summarise your strength and just go for it!
Do you know what you’d like to do when you finish school?
Currently, I am thinking of being an academic researcher or a tech startup entrepreneur. I’m preparing myself for both paths.
What do you like to do in Hong Kong outside school?
I have lived and travelled to many cities, and I think one thing I love very much about Hong Kong is the good combination of metropolitan and nature. The hiking trails here are really great. At MCHK, our teachers organised the HKAYP program, allowing us to explore nature with overnight expeditions. I’ve recently completed the Silver level programme and highly recommend it.
Malvern College Hong Kong is at 3 Fo Chun Road, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories.
3898 4688 | malverncollege.org.hk
This article about a Malvern HK student on a Hong Kong scholarship first appeared in the Summer 2023 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!
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