Dr. Apple Chui (Founder)

Apple Chui (Aka “coral mum”) is an assistant professor at the School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), PEW Marine Fellow, National Geographic Explorer, Advisory Board Member of Coral Restoration Consortium, member of the Education and Conservation Committee of Ocean Park Hong Kong, and former member of the Country and Marine Parks Board of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong Government (AFCD). Apple obtained her M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Science and Biology programs from CUHK. She has been with the School of Life Sciences in CUHK as a teaching-track lecturer for 5 years before becoming a research assistant professor in 2021, and assistant professor in 2025. 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. 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-centered teaching approach has earned her the University Education Award 2020, Finalist of the 2020 University Grants Committee Teaching Award (early career), Faculty Exemplary Teaching Award 2018, 2024, Outstanding Teaching Performance for College General Education Course 2017-18 (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 community outreach and education activities on marine and coral conservation in Hong Kong. Throughout the years, she has been invited to speak in over 100 public seminars on marine and coral conservation for various local organizations, including Universities, local schools, Government sectors, Hong Kong Wetland Park, Hong Kong Science Museum, WWF-HK, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Green Peace, and other NGOs. In 2018, Apple officially launched an outreach initiative “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 years, her team has reached at least 100 local secondary schools, more than 30,000 students and teachers, and over 700,000 members of the public. In recognition of her contributions, she has been selected as one of the 101 Outstanding People in Asia’s Dive Industry: Scientists by Underwater360 Magazine and was awarded the GGEF Women Eco Game Changer Awards - Eco Star of China in 2019, the Falling Walls Science Summit Breakthrough of the Year in the category of Science Engagement, focusing on climate change and adaptation in 2024, a finalist of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards 2024 - The Spirit of Community Award, and the Prestige Women of Power 2025.

Because of her continued contribution to local coral restoration research and education, Apple has been appointed as the Country and Marine Parks Board Member of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Education and Conservation Committee of Ocean Park Hong Kong, and the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change Expert Committee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, to offer opinions on the marine education and conservation work and future directions in Hong Kong.

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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:

https://www.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/profile/chui-pui-yi-apple/

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Publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Apple-Pui-Yi-Chui-2

Google scholar citations: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=z7mWGNwAAAAJ&hl=en