About the TalkSince the United Nations adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage there has been increasing interest in documenting and studying local traditions and customs such as festivals and rituals. In 2009, Hong Kong selected four festivals to be included on the UNs list of intangible cultural heritage. The Library also hosted Celebrating Traditional Festivals - An Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong in early spring 2010.In this talk, Professor Liu discussed two of the four listed festivals: the Tai O (大澳) Dragon Boat Water Parade and the Tai Hang (大坑) Fire Dragon Dance. He used these festivals illustrate what is intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and how it relates to Hong Kong people and their collective memory.Intangible cultural heritage and local communities in East Asia [streaming video]The book, 非物質文化遺產與東亞地方社會 / 廖迪生主編 = Intangible cultural heritage and local communities in East Asia,is available in the Library. About the SpeakerProfessor Liu is a cultural anthropologist who specializes in the South China and Hong Kong region. He received his Bachelor of Social Science in Anthropology and Diploma of Education from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh. He has been a faculty member of HKUST since 1993.His research interests include: popular religion in Hong Kong and South China; fishing communities along the mouth of the Pearl River; shamanic activities Hong Kongs intangible cultural heritage; the catching, trading, and consumption of seafood in Hong Kong; and lobster fishing and local communities in Maine, USA.In addition to his duties as Associate Professor in the Division of Humanities here, he is also the Director of the South China Research Center at HKUST, which was commissioned by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to conduct a "Territory-wide Survey of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong". He is also the Director of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Research Station at HKUSTs Fok Ying Tung Graduate School in Nansha.For enquiry, please contact Victoria Caplan at 2358-6786. 

About the TalkFor many years consumption has driven the engine of global capitalism. In the recent financial crisis, we continue to see the Wests leading economists and policy makers urging Asia to consume more to help save the global economy. This view, shaped by conventional wisdom, refuses to acknowledge both the undesirable effects of consumption and the limits to growth.In Consumptionomics: Asias role in reshaping capitalism and saving the planet, Chandran Nair, argues that this conventional view needs to be replaced by a more rational approach to such challenges, and offers ideas as to possible solutionsConsumptionomics: Asiass role in reshaping capitalism & saving the planet [streaming video]Learn more at the Consumptionomics website. About the SpeakerMr. Chandran Nair is the Founder and CEO of the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), an independent social venture think tank based in Hong Kong. Its goal is to guide corporations, and their leaders, on how to meet the challenges of doing business in Asia, with particular emphasis on the role of social investment, geo-politics, leadership development, business ethics, government and civil society.He is also an adjunct Associate Professor in the MBA program here at HKUST.Chandran Nair has lived and worked in Asia, Europe and Africa for many years. First in Britain where he awarded a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Bio-Chemical Engineering from the University of Reading in 1979. Then, in South Africa where he volunteered in development work, building water and sanitation systems. In 1986, Mr. Nair graduated with a Master of Engineering (MEng) specialising in Environmental Engineering from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok.Mr. Nair advocates a more sustainable approach to development in Asia, and has helped governments and corporations instill these principles into their key decision-making processes through his work at GIFT, individual advisory services and speaking engagements throughout the world. Mr Nair is also Chairman and Co-Founder of Avantage Ventures, a boutique social investment advisory firm based in Hong Kong.For enquiry, please contact Victoria Caplan at 2358-6786. 

About the TalkHow often do you find yourself suffering from information overload?Most of us are constantly flooded with emails, text messages and phone calls. This seemingly endless swirl of digital information exchange can make us feel as though we have lost control of our time.Today, our competitive edge is no longer solely based on whether information is available, but rather on our ability to navigate through this flood of high speed data: to select, access, use, and respond to that which is most relevant.The Internet, and the digital information overload we experience is reshaping our lives and our brains. We need to grow and change with the medium, to make it a tool of empowerment rather than a form of distraction.In this talk, Stefania discussed the problem of information over-load, what led her to write the book, and some of the strategies in The Principle of Relevance.Powerpoint PresentationThe principle of relevance: the essential strategy to navigate through the information age [streaming video] About the Speaker Stefania Lucchetti (www.stefanialucchetti.com), is an accredited mediator with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center, and an attorney who is qualified in 3 jurisdictions. She practiced corporate law for over 10 years in Europe and Asia focusing on telecoms, IT, media, and internet industries; and assisted internet pioneers such as Altavista and Yahoo in the early days of their penetration in Europe.Having traveled extensively around the world throughout her life, she now lives in Hong Kong with her husband and baby boy. She is enthusiastic and passionate, working to blend the intuition and insights from her life experiences with the knowledge and logical thinking she developed in the corporate world.Stefania is known and admired as a master organizer of her time and as a relentless adventurer of the mind. Other than managing her career and family, she cultivates a passion for dance (she has been a semi-professional dancer and modern dance teacher). She has practiced meditation and yoga for several years; and she loves to travel and learn. Since childhood, she has had a personal policy of learning 3 new skills every year, whether physical or intellectual. Stefania is an avid reader of books on any topic that interests her.For enquiry, please contact Victoria Caplan at 2358-6786.

About the TalkDo you love mysteries and puzzles? Do you thrill to tales of action and adventure? These literary genres are often ignored on university campuses. However, on November 18th things will be different.David Mole, HKUSTs Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning) talked about some of his favorite reading: mysteries like those of Sherlock Holmes, and Inspector Maigret, and adventures like Patrick OBrians Aubrey-Maturin series.Through vivid commentary and fun examples, he shared what he enjoys about these books, and how they deepened and widened his love of reading. Both long-time fan of mysteries and adventure stories, and people new to these genres, found his talk illuminating and enjoyable.Murder on the High Seas: The Joy of Reading [streaming video]About the SpeakerDr. David Mole received his BA from Cambridge University before moving to Canada for Post-graduate study. There, he earned a Masters degree from the University of British Columbia and a PhD at the University of Toronto.After teaching at a number of universities in Canada and working as an economist for the Ontario government, he moved to Hong Kong in 1989.David joined HKUST in 2005, where his main role has been to support the development of undergraduate education, especially the implementation of the four-year degree. In addition to a keen interest in sport and physical fitness, David has a life-long addiction to the pleasures and rewards of reading.For enquiry, please contact Victoria Caplan at 2358-6786.