Haroma Chat 1-6
Haroma Chat 1 | My Two Cents on Study/Career Planning for Women
On October 23, 2020, the College invited Prof. Wang Pan from LHS to share about study/career planning for women. Starting by questioning press releases’ use of the phrase “women scientists” to address the 2020 Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry, Prof. Wang argued that gender differences are primarily biological instead of intellectual. She then focused on explaining the physiology of the menstrual period and pregnancy to the students. After discussing equal rights for women and the challenges they face today with the audience, Prof. Wang pinpointed that the root cause of women’s insecurities about age and appearance is that they see themselves from the male perspective, which tends to objectify women. Along the same lines, lastly, the speaker encouraged females to overcome self-objectification and embrace their true selves.
Haroma Chat 2 | The Past and Present of Chinese Loan Words: "Neijuan" and "Foxi"
In this phase, Dr. Li Bohan from HSS was invited to talk about Chinese loan words on March 6, 2021. From “malli” in the Malay language to the Buddhism term “sangha” to “cheese” in Hong Kong Cantonese, the speaker elaborated on loads of interesting examples of Chinese borrowed and loan words, unfolding the fascinating journey of cross-cultural exchange. As the term “Buddha-like youngsters” have gone viral nationwide, the speaker clarified that Buddhism’s original intent is to persuade people to let go of clinging to things that don’t last long rather than slaking in life. After discussing how to deal with the rat race, the speaker suggested focusing on self-actualization instead of competing with others.
Haroma Chat 3 | Life Planning For College Students
On October 20, 2021, HRSA invited Prof. Ye Shuai to share about studying abroad. From the economics perspective, the speaker explained admission conditions for overseas graduate students, the relationship between education and personal goal, and the decision framework, helping the participants ’make the right decision about further study.
Harmonia Chat 4 | Where Does Happiness Come From?
On March 11, 2022, HRSA invited Professor Zhu Shiping, the Vice President, to talk about where happiness comes from. Prof. Zhu introduced Seligman’s famous well-being theory. The PERMA+ Model consists of five elements - positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment, which was worth pondering for young students in the pursuit of happiness.
Haroma Chat 5 | Disease and Sub-health: How Much Do You Need to Know?
Fresh fruits with a cup of honeysuckle tea, students enjoyed the tasty refreshments while listening attentively to Prof. Wang Pan’s health lecture. She explained how the human body functions as a complex and elegant machine, and debunked common health myths and misconceptions, for example, the differences between cold and flu. The speaker also shared three health tips: minimize sugar intake, maintain a good resting schedule, and stay hydrated.
Haroma Chat 6 I | Canons of British Science Fiction: Frankenstein and Brave New World
On October 28, 2022, Prof. Liu Kuan-yen was invited to share about British science fiction. Based on two classics - Frankenstein and Brave New World, Prof. Liu and the audience first discussed the intersection of science fiction with gothic, epistolary, bildungsroman, tragedy, travelogue and utopian literature. When it comes to fiction writing, the speaker explained how to level up reading analytical skills by paying attention to narrative perspective, plot structure, character creation, etc., for example, epistolary as a great literary device in Frankenstein to reveal the protagonist’s thoughts or intentions. Lastly, teachers and students took a deep dive into the social phenomena displayed in the novels, including utilitarianism, social engineering, etc., providing considerable food for thought regarding the dialectical relationship between reason and passion, and ethical dilemmas that humanity faces today.