Coral Academy's Founder
Where the Passion Begins
Dr. Apple Chui
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Apple Chui, is a marine biologist, conservationist, underwater photographer, and ocean lover. She obtained her M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Science and Biology programs from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and has been a research assistant professor in CUHK since 2021. Her research addresses two main questions: (1) How will projected future climate change affect corals that are currently present in marginal coral environments like Hong Kong? (2) Can we enhance coral population resilience and restore degraded coral habitats at ecologically meaningful scales? In 2019, Apple was selected as a Pew Marine Fellow, one of the eight awardees per year from around the world. She is also a National Geographic Explorer. More scholarships and conference presentation awards she has received including the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships in 2013 and 2014, the best oral presentation in the 4th Cross-Strait Workshop on Coral Reef Biology and Marine Protected Area in 2011, the best student presentation award (first prize) at the 3rd Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium in 2014, the Professor John Gray Memorial Award for the Best Student Oral Presentation in the 8th International Conference on Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology in 2016, and the best poster award in the Croucher Advanced Study Institute: Impacts of Eutrophication, Pollution and Harmful Benthic Microalgae Blooms on Coastal Coral Reef Ecosystems in 2017.
As a teacher, it is Apple's passion for coral and conservation research that arouse students’ interest and curiosity, so that her students not only learn intellectually but, connect emotionally and take responsibility to conserve nature. Her learner-centred teaching approach has earned her the University Education Award 2020, the finalist of the UGC Teaching Award 2020 (Early Career Faculty Members), Faculty Exemplary Teaching Award 2018, Outstanding Teaching Performance for College General Education Course 2017-18 of Shaw College, Vice-Chancellor's Exemplary Teaching Award 2017 and Exemplary Teaching Award in General Education 2017.
As a committed science communicator and devoted conservationist, Apple has been actively engaged in public outreach and education activities on marine and coral conservation in Hong Kong. Throughout the years, she has been invited to speak in over 80 public seminars on marine and coral conservation for various local organizations, including Schools, Government sectors, Hong Kong Wetland Park, Hong Kong Science Museum, WWF-HK, and other NGOs. In 2019, Apple officially founded the now well-established education outreach programme “Coral Academy” in Hong Kong (www.coralacademy.hk) that aims to raise students and public awareness and inspire action in coral conservation. Her collaborators include various government departments, NGOs, and secondary schools. Through her extensive education and outreach engagements over the past 4 years, her team has reached at least 30 local secondary schools, and over 10,000 students and teachers. Apple has been selected as one of the 101 Outstanding People in Asia’s Dive Industry: Scientists by Underwater360 Magazine and is a recipient of the GGEF Women Eco Game Changer Awards - Eco star of China in 2019.
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Research interests:
1. Impact of climate change on marginal coral communities
2. Interventions that might increase coral resilience
3. Coral restoration
The School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Webpage:
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Publications:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Apple_Pui_Yi_Chui
Google scholar citations:
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=z7mWGNwAAAAJ&hl=en