Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: explorer inspires youth through glacial field trips

Wilson Cheung, a finalist for the Spirit of Perseverance Award, inspired Hong Kong secondary school students through glacial field trips in the Swiss Alps this summer. Glacier melt and thawing ground had made parts of the mountain unstable, and rockfall increased the hazards of fieldwork. Cheung's journey began with his mother taking him to the library as a child, where he developed a love for reading and learned resilience despite his low-income background.

After graduating from Baptist University, Cheung met polar explorer Rebecca Lee Lok-sze, who introduced him to the spirit of perseverance embodied in Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull. This inspired Cheung to pursue a PhD in glaciology at Queen’s University in Canada, where he studied glacier changes in the Canadian Arctic.

Now, Cheung focuses on giving young people hands-on experience in field science. On the Swiss trip, students observed glaciers closely and learned how to distinguish between them. Several participants have since pursued careers in polar research and mountain guiding. Cheung's own path to glaciology was unconventional, stemming from financial struggles and language barriers, but he believes that one's background should not limit their potential.

He emphasizes that success is not measured by earnings but by the knowledge and contributions gained through work. Cheung stresses the importance of careful planning and adaptability in polar fieldwork, as conditions can change unexpectedly.