18 April 2026 | Presentation and Discussion

The session opens with research insights from Kazuyuki Nomura on language learning, followed by a cross-disciplinary discussion exploring what language learning reveals about how we see ourselves, relate to others, and make sense of the world. Moving beyond practical usefulness, the conversation reflects on language as a way of thinking, connecting, and experiencing life differently.

About the speaker:

Dr Kazuyuki Nomura is an applied linguist specialising in multilingualism, language learning motivation, and identity in Hong Kong and East Asia, with a focus on learners of Japanese. Drawing on fieldwork-based research, he theorises motivation as emotional distance management in his recent publication. Dr Nomura graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

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7 March 2026 | Presentation and Discussion

This session explored why many well-intentioned social innovation initiatives struggle to deliver lasting impact, and how projects can be designed to better serve the communities they aim to support.

20 February 2026 | Book Talk

This talk introduces Meiji Graves in Happy Valley (2024), which uncovers the lives of Japanese who lived and died in Hong Kong during the Meiji era, offering new insights into the historical ties between the two places.

23 January 2026 | Presentation and Discussion

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly capable of composing music, this talk explores how it challenges traditional ideas of originality, authorship, and creativity.

21 December 2025 | Screening and Discussion

This session explored why many well-intentioned social innovation initiatives struggle to deliver lasting impact, and how projects can be designed to better serve the communities they aim to support.