1+1 Science Tip-top Talent Scheme 2015/16 Suggested Research

Organized by:
Sponsored by:
1+1 Science Tip-top Talent Scheme 2015/16
Suggested Research Topics
Teams may choose the following research topics or any other topics that they wish:
Biology and Chemistry Stream
1. Grain size distribution and composition of beach sediments in Hong Kong
2. The rhythm of plants
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Description: Plants will follow a day-night rhythm. For example, the axil
angle of plant leaves change in a 24 hour cycle (leaf movement rhythm). One
can measure this by setting up a camera. If the plants are waked up by light
during dark, will they change this rhythm? If we pretreated the plants with
stress, will they change the rhythm?
Related videos: a) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HzbyTHA0u0
b) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUwbbLZANVE
c) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sSpy6gtDvk
3. Rapid and simple test for pesticides
4. Biodiversity in urban city
5. Peptide-based hydrogels
6. Colourful Food
Description: Chemicals that give the colour of certain foods and how this
food colour can be utilized in current society can be investigated.
7. Garlic - A Natural Antibiotic?
Physics and Engineering Stream
1. A motion sensing system for rehabilitation applications based on a Leap Motion
Sensor
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Description: Students are expected to develop a motion sensing system
based on a Leap Motion Sensor. The system should be built with a software
toolbox that can capture and analyze subjects’ hand motions for
rehabilitation applications.
Remarks: Students should be equipped with basic programming knowledge.
3D printing for the future
Information and communication technology
E-learning development
Mobile apps development
Theoretical physics
7. Investigation of the underlying physics of the UV-blocking mechanism of
sun-block lotions
Description: This project will study the transmission coefficient of sun-block
lotion as a function of its thickness and determine the dominating
mechanism for UV protection.
8. Towards a big data approach to Hong Kong property price analysis
9. Energy recovery from water flowing in pipes
Description: Potential energy that drives water flowing in pipes can be partly
recovered by installing a miniature rotating device in the pipe together with
a motor that converts the kinetic energy of water into electricity.
The electricity generated can be used to power electrical devices such as LED
lights, digital thermometer, or common household appliances. Since the
voltage generated by this apparatus is proportional to the flow of water in
the pipe, this phenomenon can be used to measure the rate of water flow in
pipes. Other applications can also be explored as the project proceeds.
10. Mobile phone-based microscopes
11. Mobile phone-based projectors
12. Developing a vision system for the visual impaired
13. Design and construct a multifunctional assistive tool for the elderly
14. Measuring the frequency response characteristics and speed limitations of digital
communications over copper wire
15. Determining the location of robot through dead-reckoning method using sensors
such as gyroscope and accelerometers has been explored and developed
thoroughly. However, for long-term use on vehicle robot’s maneuvering, the
positioning might be inaccurate. Therefore, development of a better system and
algorithm through combination of sensors analysis is needed such that it will be
very useful for the future of robotic industry.
16. Design an innovative learning tool for learning geography topic(s) with Kinect.
Description: In this project, student has to learn about the programming language
and image processing, and how to apply these technologies in the teaching
material.