Dr Sam Lau

About

Dr Sam Lau’s research lies primarily in interdisciplinary research in the interactions between the environment and health, covering a range of topics such as linking nature connectedness to human health and well-being, environmental and wetland conservation, and nature-based education. He is also interested in research on teaching and learning, in particular active learning pedagogy, work-integrated learning and career readiness. Dr Lau is an Associate Editor of the journal Wetlands and has been awarded HK$22.5 million from various funding bodies, such as RGC, ECF, EDB and AFCD since 2016. Dr Lau believes that knowledge transfer plays a vital role in forging closer ties between academia and the community. Some examples of Dr Lau’s outreach to serve the society at large are:

Environmental and sustainability education for all – Dr Lau has organised/delivered training/workshops/ecotours/competition that reached more than 4,000 students, teachers and members of the public since 2017. He published three biodiversity picture books, namely “Dancing with Spotted Dove”, “Flying Tiger - Common Tiger” and “Chinese Banyan Treasure”, in 2022. The three large and bilingual books are first three books showcasing the nature biodiversity in Hong Kong with the augmented reality effects and original music pieces. Related teaching and learning resources are also developed for kindergartens in Hong Kong to promote nature education. He also shared his expertise with NGOs as an advisor and the general public in the form of writing or being interviewed for online and printed news platforms such as RTHK TV, Now TV.com, HK01 and Whiz Kids Express Weekly.

Science communication to enthuse young people about science – Dr Lau was selected as one of 12 scientists to join a science outreach programme run by the Croucher Foundation which reached a total of 12,500 students from 60 schools in 2018 and 2019. He also conducted a science workshop for the public at the Hong Kong Science Museum during HK SciFest 2018.

Sharing of teaching and learning practices – Dr Lau has conducted workshops to share new pedagogical strategies with local and overseas teachers and educators to help in engaging and motivating students. Recent workshops were given at the Learning & Teaching Expo in 2018, 2019 and 2020.  

(https://learningandteachingexpo2018.sched.com/speaker/dr_sam_lau_.1yrc2859; https://lte2019.sched.com/speaker/dr_sam_lau_.203c3u8p; https://www.hkedcity.net/goelearning/en/resource/5fcf42060da87e0228b59dbf)

Achievements

Research Outputs

Recent journal articles and conference presentations

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sam_Lau7

• Lau SSS*, Leung SSK, Wong JWC, Lee TCP, Cartwright SR, Wong JTC, Man J, Cheung E and Choi RPW (2023) Brief repeated virtual nature contact for three weeks boosts university students' nature connectedness and psychological and physiological health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study. Frontiers in Public Health (Impact Factor: 6.461) https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1057020 
• Lau SSS*, Shum ENY, Man JOT, Cheung ETH, Amoah PA, Leung AYM, Dadaczynski K, Okan O (2022) Assessing COVID-19-related Health Literacy and Associated Factors Among School Teachers in Hong Kong. Frontiers in Public Health (Impact Factor: 6.461) https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1057782 
• Lau SSS*, Shum ENY, Man JOT, Cheung ETH, Amoah PA, Leung AYM, Dadaczynski K, Okan O (2022) A Cross-Sectional Study of the Perceived Stress, Well-Being and Their Relations with Work-Related Behaviours among Hong Kong School Leaders during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Impact Factor: 4.614). 19(23), 15777. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315777 
• Lau SSS*, Ho CCY, Pang RCK, Su S, Kwok H, Fung SF, Ho RC (2022) Measurement of burnout during the prolonged pandemic in the Chinese zero-COVID context: COVID-19 burnout views scale. Frontiers in Public Health (Impact Factor: 6.461). 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1039450 
• Lau SSS*, Shum ENY, Man JOT, Cheung ETH, Amoah PA, Leung AYM, Dadaczynski K, Okan O (2022) Teachers’ Well-Being and Associated Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hong Kong, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Impact Factor: 4.614). 19, 14661. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214661 
• Lau SSS*, Ho CCY, Pang RCK, Su S, Kwok H, Fung SF, Ho RC (2022) COVID-19 burnout subject to the dynamic zero-COVID policy in Hong Kong: Development and psychometric evaluation of the COVID-19 burnout frequency scale. Sustainability (Impact Factor: 3.889). 14, 8235. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148235  
• Lau SSS*, Shum ENY, Man JOT, Cheung ETH, Amoah PA, Leung AYM, Dadaczynski K, Okan O (2022) COVID-19-Related Health Literacy of School Leaders in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Impact Factor: 4.614). 19, 12790. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912790  
• KY Wong, Lau SSS* (2022) Parent-reported prevalence of adverse food reactions in Chinese schoolchildren and parental mental well-being. 24th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion, Montreal, Canada, 15-19 May 2022
• Hui T, Lau SSS*, Yuen M (2021) Active Learning as a Beyond-the-Classroom Strategy to Improve University Students’ Career Adaptability. Sustainability 13(9):6246 (*corresponding author)
• Lau SSS*, Wan K, Tsui M (2021) Evaluation of a Blended Career Education Course during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Career Awareness. Sustainability 13(6):3471
• Ip CY, Lau SSS* (2021) Preschool Teachers Perception and Knowledge of COVID-19, Influenza and Common Cold during the COVID-19 pandemic. 11th IUHPE European Conference on Health Promotion, Spain, 16 Jun 2021
• Lau SSS (2021) Engaging Quiet Students in Online Teaching. Pedagogy and Practice when Teaching Online. Digitally Enhanced Education webinars series, University of Kent, UK, 10 Jun 2021
• Lau SSS (2021) Embracing the Future of Education with Blended Learning What is your Unique Blend?, EdCity × CEATETA Teacher Professional Development Series: Webinar on Subject-based Curriculum Design for Blended Learning, Hong Kong, 21 May 2021
• Lau SSS (2020) Is Online Live Teaching Better than Pre-recorded Lectures and Face-to-face Teaching? A Practical Case Sharing during COVID-19. Learning and Teaching Expo 2020 Teaser, Hong Kong, 8 Dec 2020
• Recent articles on knowledge transfer
  無化學污染: 善用廚餘  自製環保酵素, Now News, Now TV.com,  28 September 2018
  農業背後: 看不見的成本, Now News, Now TV.com, 5 August 2018
  魚人同行, HK01 親子, 25 July 2018
  我行我塑 , 兒童快報 通識達人 (Whiz Kids Weekly), 29 June 2018
  地球透支了  別成「資源大嘥鬼」！, Now News, Now TV.com, 31 May 2018