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Quentin A Parker

The University of Hong Kong, Physics, Faculty Member

Observational Astronomy +11

Quentin is currently Director for the Laboratory for Space Research at the University of Hong Kong (www.lsr.hku.hk).Quentin Parker obtained a BSc(Hons) in 1982 and a PhD (1986) from the University of St.Andrews. He joined the department of Physics at Hong Kong University in March 2014. Prior to that he was the joint AAO/Macquarie lecturer in astronomy (2002-2015) and director of the research centre for Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics (2010-2014). Quentin also worked at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (1986-1992), Anglo-Australian observatory (1992-1999) and as a senior research fellow at the Institute for Astronomy in Edinburgh (1999-2002). Quentin was responsible for helping to develop the FLAIR-II and 6DF fibre-spectroscopy systems at the UKST and supported the 2dF and AAOmega multi-object fibre spectroscopy systems on the AAT.Quentin was also P.I. for the UKST H-alpha survey of the Southern Galactic Plane. Research activities are mainly but not exclusively associated with Wide Field Astronomy, including large-scale redshift surveys, low-surface brightness galaxies, supernova remnants and especially Planetary Nebulae. He has supervised and co-supervised a significant number of PhD, MSc and honours students to successful completion and is always keen to attract students. Quentin is currently on the IAU working group on planetary nebulae. He also heads both the H-alpha international survey consortium and the associated 'MASH' Planetary nebulae team. He also has a life-long interest in antiquities and a strong interest in Chinese Bronze artifacts.

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Papers

A survey for low surface brightness galaxies in Virgo using Tech Pan films

Not Availabl

New Images from the UKST Halpha Survey

A new method to estimate the Galactic extinction for the analysis of large scale structure in the Galactic center region

ABSTRACT

Use of Kodak Tech-Pan Film at the Ukstu

Astronomy from Wide-Field Imaging, 1994

Radio and optical studies of a complete sample of IRAS galaxies

Radio maps, spectra and CCD images have been obtained for almost all the 158 objects in a complet... more Radio maps, spectra and CCD images have been obtained for almost all the 158 objects in a complete sample of IRAS galaxies. The linear relation between radio and far-infrared luminosity is valid over the complete luminosity range (up to LIR=1.8×1012 L⊙, H○=75 km s−1 Mpc−1). The majority of the 10 most luminous galaxies show evidence of tidal disruption and have

Planetary nebulae and how to find them: A concise review

Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

This review provides useful background and information on how we find, vet and compile Planetary ... more This review provides useful background and information on how we find, vet and compile Planetary Nebulae (PNe) candidates and verify them. It presents a summary of the known Galactic PNe population and their curation in the Hong Kong/AAO/Strasbourg/Hα PNe catalogue, “HASH”. It is a simple introduction for anyone interested in working with PNe, including postgraduate students entering the field and for more general interest too.

A Preliminary Investigation of CSPN in the HASH Database

Galaxies

We present some preliminary findings on the population of planetary nebula where central stars (C... more We present some preliminary findings on the population of planetary nebula where central stars (CSPN) have been independently identified in the HASH catalogue. Many new discoveries and candidates have been found (416 at the time of this writing), adding significantly to the previously known sample of about 600. We also present results from a comparison between our own HASH measurements of CSPN and those provided in existing CSPN catalogues and those from Gaia. We show the value of a federated, multi-wavelength database of Galactic PNe like HASH in terms of not only uncovering faint, new CSPN but of assisting in correct identifications, removing PN mimics with apparent CSPN, correcting incorrect assignments and providing improved positions. HASH provides the community with a comprehensive and reliable resource for any study of the CSPN population of Galactic PNe.

The bright end of the radio PNe Luminosity Function

Recently, we (Filipovic et al. 2009) reported the first confirmed extragalactic radio-continuum d... more Recently, we (Filipovic et al. 2009) reported the first confirmed extragalactic radio-continuum detection of 15 PNe in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). These new positive radio detections of MCs PNe open a door to the exciting possibility of construction of the radio Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function (PNLF) which would be of extreme help in understanding of properties of PNe in our

Further Studies of the Association of Planetary Nebula BMP J16135406 with Galactic Open Cluster NGC 6067

Galaxies, 2022

Planetary Nebulae (PNe) that are physical members of Galactic open clusters are powerful probes t... more Planetary Nebulae (PNe) that are physical members of Galactic open clusters are powerful probes that allow precise determination of their distance and crucially their initial mass on the main sequence. Here, we revisit the physical association of the PN BMP J1613–5406 with the open cluster NGC 6067 and present our preliminary results based on our new ESO/VLT FORS2 data. Our PN spectral data permit the calculation of a precise radial velocity and reddening to the PN that shows a tight consistency with the literature corresponding cluster parameters including importantly the radial velocity. Our measurements, combined with the agreement between the distances of the two objects and the fact that the PN is located well within the cluster boundaries, confirm that the PN is physically associated with the cluster. The cluster has a turn-off mass of around 5 solar masses that indicates a PN initial mass of around 5.6 solar masses. This is closer to the theoretical lower limit of core-collap...

The Large Scale Distribution of Galaxies in the Shapley Supercluster

We present new results of our wide-field redshift survey of galaxies in a 182 square degree regio... more We present new results of our wide-field redshift survey of galaxies in a 182 square degree region of the Shapley Supercluster (SSC) based on observations with the FLAIR-II spectrograph on the UK Schmidt Telescope. We present new measurements to give a total sample of redshifts for 710 bright (R<16.6) galaxies, of which 464 are members of the SSC (8000<v<18000 kms). Our data reveal that the main plane of the SSC extends further than previously realised, filling the whole extent of our survey region of 10 degrees by 20 degrees on the sky (35 Mpc by 70 Mpc). There is also a significant structure associated with the slightly nearer Abell 3571 cluster complex with a caustic structure evident out to a radius of 6 Mpc. These galaxies seem to link two previously identified sheets of galaxies and establish a connection with a third one at v=15000 kms. They also tend to fill the gap of galaxies between the foreground Hydra-Centaurus region and the more distant SSC. We calculate gala...

The "Principes de Asturias" nebula: a new quadrupolar planetary nebula from the IPHAS survey

The Isaac Newton Telescope Photometric H-alpha Survey (IPHAS) is currently mapping the Northern G... more The Isaac Newton Telescope Photometric H-alpha Survey (IPHAS) is currently mapping the Northern Galactic plane reaching to r'=20 mag with typically 1" resolution. Hundreds of Planetary Nebulae (PNe), both point-like and resolved, are expected to be discovered. We report on the discovery of the first new PN from this survey: it is an unusual object located at a large galactocentric distance and has a very low oxygen abundance. The nebula shows an intricate morphology: there is an inner ring surrounding the central star, bright inner lobes with an enhanced waist, and very faint lobular extensions reaching up to more than 100". We classify it as a quadrupolar PN, a rather unusual class of planetary showing two pairs of misaligned lobes. From long-slit spectroscopy we derive Te[NII] =12800+-1000K, Ne = 390+-40 cm-3, and chemical abundances typical of Peimbert's Type I nebulae (He/H =0.13, N/O =1.8) with an oxygen abundance of 12 + log(O/H)=8.17+-0.15. A kinematic dista...

PFP 1: A Large Annular Planetary Nebula Caught in the First Stages of ISM Interaction

This paper presents (H-alpha + [NII]) imaging and spectroscopy of a previously unknown, highly ev... more This paper presents (H-alpha + [NII]) imaging and spectroscopy of a previously unknown, highly evolved planetary nebula of low excitation. It was discovered serendipitously from AAO/UKST H-alpha Survey images as part of a project to exploit the survey data and has evaded detection by previous surveys due to very low surface brightness. It is a remarkably annular planetary nebula, some 19' across, making it one of the largest examples of its type. We estimate a radius of 1.5 pc and a distance of 550pc as derived from a new H-alpha surface brightness - radius relation. PFP 1 has near perfect circular symmetry, broken only at the NW edge which is coupled with significantly increased (H-alpha + [NII]) intensity. This indicates an early stage of an interaction with the interstellar medium. A blue central star candidate has been identified from the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey data.

PHR1315-6555: a bipolar planetary nebula in the compact Hyades-age open cluster ESO96-SC04

We present a detailed study of a bipolar, possible Type I planetary nebula (PN), PHR1315-6555 (PN... more We present a detailed study of a bipolar, possible Type I planetary nebula (PN), PHR1315-6555 (PN G305.3-03.1), that was discovered as part of the Macquarie/AAO/Strasbourg H-alpha planetary nebula project (MASH) and that we considered at the time was an excellent candidate for membership of the distant, compact, intermediate-age open cluster, ESO 96-SC04. The strong evidence for this association is presented here making this the only known example of a PN physically associated with a Galactic open cluster. Cluster membership is extremely important as it allows for very precise estimates of the fundamental properties of the PN as the cluster is at a known distance. The PN was discovered by one of us (QAP) during systematic MASH searches for new Galactic PNe of the AAO/UKST H-alpha survey and had been missed in earlier broadband surveys, including specific CCD studies of the host cluster. We present original discovery images and CTIO 4m MOSAIC-II camera follow-up narrow-band images th...

A New Population of Planetary Nebulae Discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud (III): The Luminosity Function

Our previous identification and spectroscopic confirmation of 431 faint, new planetary nebulae in... more Our previous identification and spectroscopic confirmation of 431 faint, new planetary nebulae in the central 25 deg^2 region of the LMC permits us to now examine the shape of the LMC Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function (PNLF) through an unprecedented 10 magnitude range. The majority of our newly discovered and previously known PNe were observed using the 2dF, multi-object fibre spectroscopy system on the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope and the FLAMES multi-object spectrograph on the 8-m VLT. We present reliable [OIII]5007 and H-beta flux estimates based on calibrations to well established PN fluxes from previous surveys and spectroscopic standard stars. The bright cutoff (M*) of the PNLF is found by fitting a truncated exponential curve to the bright end of the PNLF over a 3.4 magnitude range. This cutoff is used to estimate a new distance modulus of 18.46 to the LMC, in close agreement with previous PNLF studies and the best estimates by other indicators. The bright end cutoff i...

HASH: the Hong Kong/AAO/Strasbourg H-alpha planetary nebula database

By incorporating our major recent discoveries with re-measured and verified contents of existing ... more By incorporating our major recent discoveries with re-measured and verified contents of existing catalogues we provide, for the first time, an accessible, reliable, on-line SQL database for essential, up-to date information for all known Galactic PNe. We have attempted to: i) reliably remove PN mimics/false ID's that have biased previous studies and ii) provide accurate positions, sizes, morphologies, multi-wavelength imagery and spectroscopy. We also provide a link to CDS/Vizier for the archival history of each object and other valuable links to external data. With the HASH interface, users can sift, select, browse, collate, investigate, download and visualise the entire currently known Galactic PNe diversity. HASH provides the community with the most complete and reliable data with which to undertake new science.

Milky Way and Magellanic Cloud Surveys for Planetary Nebulae

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 2006

Planetary Nebulae in the Solar Neighborhood

AIP Conference Proceedings, 2005

The AAO/UKST Hα Survey has been used to discover a number of new, large, nearby planetary nebulae... more The AAO/UKST Hα Survey has been used to discover a number of new, large, nearby planetary nebulae (PNe) These discoveries, combined with a critical re-analysis of all previously known large PNe, have allowed the compilation of a relatively complete census of PNe in the solar neighbourhood within 1.0 kpc. Distances are based in part on a new Hα surface brightness — radius relation. The census is relatively bias-free, and will provide more accurate estimates of the PN formation rate, average PN lifetime, and the total number of PNe in the Galaxy, as well as a first look at the faint end of the PN luminosity function (PNLF).

Supernova 1995R in UGC 8801

Spatially resolved kinematic observations of the planetary nebulae Hen 3-1333 and Hen 2-113

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 2015

Two new large bipolar planetary nebulae

and another 100 new examples 3' – 5' across havingbeen found so far in the southern sky. ... more and another 100 new examples 3' – 5' across havingbeen found so far in the southern sky. One of the goalsof our study is to derive an accurate census of thenearest (<1 kpc) PNe, which then allows a moreaccurate calculation of the total number, space density,scale height, and birth rate of planetary nebulae in theGalaxy.Several of our discoveries are evolved bipolar objects.Generally speaking such bipolar morphology is not ascommon in the MASH sample as in previouscompilations. Bipolar PNe often show strongly enhancedHe and N abundances, suggesting an origin from higher-mass progenitor stars. Peimbert (1978) first drewattention to the correlation between morphology andchemistry, defining type I PNe, though none of his originalexamples included any highly-evolved objects. Wepresent here a preliminary account of two highly-evolved(and nearby) bipolar nebulosities which we believe tobe PNe (Frew, Parker & Acker, in preparation).

A survey for low surface brightness galaxies in Virgo using Tech Pan films

Not Availabl

New Images from the UKST Halpha Survey

A new method to estimate the Galactic extinction for the analysis of large scale structure in the Galactic center region

ABSTRACT

Use of Kodak Tech-Pan Film at the Ukstu

Astronomy from Wide-Field Imaging, 1994

Radio and optical studies of a complete sample of IRAS galaxies

Radio maps, spectra and CCD images have been obtained for almost all the 158 objects in a complet... more Radio maps, spectra and CCD images have been obtained for almost all the 158 objects in a complete sample of IRAS galaxies. The linear relation between radio and far-infrared luminosity is valid over the complete luminosity range (up to LIR=1.8×1012 L⊙, H○=75 km s−1 Mpc−1). The majority of the 10 most luminous galaxies show evidence of tidal disruption and have

Planetary nebulae and how to find them: A concise review

Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

This review provides useful background and information on how we find, vet and compile Planetary ... more This review provides useful background and information on how we find, vet and compile Planetary Nebulae (PNe) candidates and verify them. It presents a summary of the known Galactic PNe population and their curation in the Hong Kong/AAO/Strasbourg/Hα PNe catalogue, “HASH”. It is a simple introduction for anyone interested in working with PNe, including postgraduate students entering the field and for more general interest too.

A Preliminary Investigation of CSPN in the HASH Database

Galaxies

We present some preliminary findings on the population of planetary nebula where central stars (C... more We present some preliminary findings on the population of planetary nebula where central stars (CSPN) have been independently identified in the HASH catalogue. Many new discoveries and candidates have been found (416 at the time of this writing), adding significantly to the previously known sample of about 600. We also present results from a comparison between our own HASH measurements of CSPN and those provided in existing CSPN catalogues and those from Gaia. We show the value of a federated, multi-wavelength database of Galactic PNe like HASH in terms of not only uncovering faint, new CSPN but of assisting in correct identifications, removing PN mimics with apparent CSPN, correcting incorrect assignments and providing improved positions. HASH provides the community with a comprehensive and reliable resource for any study of the CSPN population of Galactic PNe.

The bright end of the radio PNe Luminosity Function

Recently, we (Filipovic et al. 2009) reported the first confirmed extragalactic radio-continuum d... more Recently, we (Filipovic et al. 2009) reported the first confirmed extragalactic radio-continuum detection of 15 PNe in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). These new positive radio detections of MCs PNe open a door to the exciting possibility of construction of the radio Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function (PNLF) which would be of extreme help in understanding of properties of PNe in our

Further Studies of the Association of Planetary Nebula BMP J16135406 with Galactic Open Cluster NGC 6067

Galaxies, 2022

Planetary Nebulae (PNe) that are physical members of Galactic open clusters are powerful probes t... more Planetary Nebulae (PNe) that are physical members of Galactic open clusters are powerful probes that allow precise determination of their distance and crucially their initial mass on the main sequence. Here, we revisit the physical association of the PN BMP J1613–5406 with the open cluster NGC 6067 and present our preliminary results based on our new ESO/VLT FORS2 data. Our PN spectral data permit the calculation of a precise radial velocity and reddening to the PN that shows a tight consistency with the literature corresponding cluster parameters including importantly the radial velocity. Our measurements, combined with the agreement between the distances of the two objects and the fact that the PN is located well within the cluster boundaries, confirm that the PN is physically associated with the cluster. The cluster has a turn-off mass of around 5 solar masses that indicates a PN initial mass of around 5.6 solar masses. This is closer to the theoretical lower limit of core-collap...

The Large Scale Distribution of Galaxies in the Shapley Supercluster

We present new results of our wide-field redshift survey of galaxies in a 182 square degree regio... more We present new results of our wide-field redshift survey of galaxies in a 182 square degree region of the Shapley Supercluster (SSC) based on observations with the FLAIR-II spectrograph on the UK Schmidt Telescope. We present new measurements to give a total sample of redshifts for 710 bright (R<16.6) galaxies, of which 464 are members of the SSC (8000<v<18000 kms). Our data reveal that the main plane of the SSC extends further than previously realised, filling the whole extent of our survey region of 10 degrees by 20 degrees on the sky (35 Mpc by 70 Mpc). There is also a significant structure associated with the slightly nearer Abell 3571 cluster complex with a caustic structure evident out to a radius of 6 Mpc. These galaxies seem to link two previously identified sheets of galaxies and establish a connection with a third one at v=15000 kms. They also tend to fill the gap of galaxies between the foreground Hydra-Centaurus region and the more distant SSC. We calculate gala...

The "Principes de Asturias" nebula: a new quadrupolar planetary nebula from the IPHAS survey

The Isaac Newton Telescope Photometric H-alpha Survey (IPHAS) is currently mapping the Northern G... more The Isaac Newton Telescope Photometric H-alpha Survey (IPHAS) is currently mapping the Northern Galactic plane reaching to r'=20 mag with typically 1" resolution. Hundreds of Planetary Nebulae (PNe), both point-like and resolved, are expected to be discovered. We report on the discovery of the first new PN from this survey: it is an unusual object located at a large galactocentric distance and has a very low oxygen abundance. The nebula shows an intricate morphology: there is an inner ring surrounding the central star, bright inner lobes with an enhanced waist, and very faint lobular extensions reaching up to more than 100". We classify it as a quadrupolar PN, a rather unusual class of planetary showing two pairs of misaligned lobes. From long-slit spectroscopy we derive Te[NII] =12800+-1000K, Ne = 390+-40 cm-3, and chemical abundances typical of Peimbert's Type I nebulae (He/H =0.13, N/O =1.8) with an oxygen abundance of 12 + log(O/H)=8.17+-0.15. A kinematic dista...

PFP 1: A Large Annular Planetary Nebula Caught in the First Stages of ISM Interaction

This paper presents (H-alpha + [NII]) imaging and spectroscopy of a previously unknown, highly ev... more This paper presents (H-alpha + [NII]) imaging and spectroscopy of a previously unknown, highly evolved planetary nebula of low excitation. It was discovered serendipitously from AAO/UKST H-alpha Survey images as part of a project to exploit the survey data and has evaded detection by previous surveys due to very low surface brightness. It is a remarkably annular planetary nebula, some 19' across, making it one of the largest examples of its type. We estimate a radius of 1.5 pc and a distance of 550pc as derived from a new H-alpha surface brightness - radius relation. PFP 1 has near perfect circular symmetry, broken only at the NW edge which is coupled with significantly increased (H-alpha + [NII]) intensity. This indicates an early stage of an interaction with the interstellar medium. A blue central star candidate has been identified from the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey data.

PHR1315-6555: a bipolar planetary nebula in the compact Hyades-age open cluster ESO96-SC04

We present a detailed study of a bipolar, possible Type I planetary nebula (PN), PHR1315-6555 (PN... more We present a detailed study of a bipolar, possible Type I planetary nebula (PN), PHR1315-6555 (PN G305.3-03.1), that was discovered as part of the Macquarie/AAO/Strasbourg H-alpha planetary nebula project (MASH) and that we considered at the time was an excellent candidate for membership of the distant, compact, intermediate-age open cluster, ESO 96-SC04. The strong evidence for this association is presented here making this the only known example of a PN physically associated with a Galactic open cluster. Cluster membership is extremely important as it allows for very precise estimates of the fundamental properties of the PN as the cluster is at a known distance. The PN was discovered by one of us (QAP) during systematic MASH searches for new Galactic PNe of the AAO/UKST H-alpha survey and had been missed in earlier broadband surveys, including specific CCD studies of the host cluster. We present original discovery images and CTIO 4m MOSAIC-II camera follow-up narrow-band images th...

A New Population of Planetary Nebulae Discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud (III): The Luminosity Function

Our previous identification and spectroscopic confirmation of 431 faint, new planetary nebulae in... more Our previous identification and spectroscopic confirmation of 431 faint, new planetary nebulae in the central 25 deg^2 region of the LMC permits us to now examine the shape of the LMC Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function (PNLF) through an unprecedented 10 magnitude range. The majority of our newly discovered and previously known PNe were observed using the 2dF, multi-object fibre spectroscopy system on the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope and the FLAMES multi-object spectrograph on the 8-m VLT. We present reliable [OIII]5007 and H-beta flux estimates based on calibrations to well established PN fluxes from previous surveys and spectroscopic standard stars. The bright cutoff (M*) of the PNLF is found by fitting a truncated exponential curve to the bright end of the PNLF over a 3.4 magnitude range. This cutoff is used to estimate a new distance modulus of 18.46 to the LMC, in close agreement with previous PNLF studies and the best estimates by other indicators. The bright end cutoff i...

HASH: the Hong Kong/AAO/Strasbourg H-alpha planetary nebula database

By incorporating our major recent discoveries with re-measured and verified contents of existing ... more By incorporating our major recent discoveries with re-measured and verified contents of existing catalogues we provide, for the first time, an accessible, reliable, on-line SQL database for essential, up-to date information for all known Galactic PNe. We have attempted to: i) reliably remove PN mimics/false ID's that have biased previous studies and ii) provide accurate positions, sizes, morphologies, multi-wavelength imagery and spectroscopy. We also provide a link to CDS/Vizier for the archival history of each object and other valuable links to external data. With the HASH interface, users can sift, select, browse, collate, investigate, download and visualise the entire currently known Galactic PNe diversity. HASH provides the community with the most complete and reliable data with which to undertake new science.

Milky Way and Magellanic Cloud Surveys for Planetary Nebulae

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 2006

Planetary Nebulae in the Solar Neighborhood

AIP Conference Proceedings, 2005

The AAO/UKST Hα Survey has been used to discover a number of new, large, nearby planetary nebulae... more The AAO/UKST Hα Survey has been used to discover a number of new, large, nearby planetary nebulae (PNe) These discoveries, combined with a critical re-analysis of all previously known large PNe, have allowed the compilation of a relatively complete census of PNe in the solar neighbourhood within 1.0 kpc. Distances are based in part on a new Hα surface brightness — radius relation. The census is relatively bias-free, and will provide more accurate estimates of the PN formation rate, average PN lifetime, and the total number of PNe in the Galaxy, as well as a first look at the faint end of the PN luminosity function (PNLF).

Supernova 1995R in UGC 8801

Spatially resolved kinematic observations of the planetary nebulae Hen 3-1333 and Hen 2-113

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 2015

Two new large bipolar planetary nebulae

and another 100 new examples 3' – 5' across havingbeen found so far in the southern sky. ... more and another 100 new examples 3' – 5' across havingbeen found so far in the southern sky. One of the goalsof our study is to derive an accurate census of thenearest (<1 kpc) PNe, which then allows a moreaccurate calculation of the total number, space density,scale height, and birth rate of planetary nebulae in theGalaxy.Several of our discoveries are evolved bipolar objects.Generally speaking such bipolar morphology is not ascommon in the MASH sample as in previouscompilations. Bipolar PNe often show strongly enhancedHe and N abundances, suggesting an origin from higher-mass progenitor stars. Peimbert (1978) first drewattention to the correlation between morphology andchemistry, defining type I PNe, though none of his originalexamples included any highly-evolved objects. Wepresent here a preliminary account of two highly-evolved(and nearby) bipolar nebulosities which we believe tobe PNe (Frew, Parker & Acker, in preparation).

University of Hong Kong CCCH9052 Arts Science and Artefacts in Chinese Cultural Heritage Introductions Lectures 1 – 10

by Charles COSGROVE and Quentin A Parker

Course Description: This course combines an innovative, multidisciplinary exploration of the cul... more Course Description: This course combines an innovative, multidisciplinary exploration of the cultural significance of Chinese art and artifacts. This is through a combined aesthetic and scientific approach to the preservation and appreciation of Chinese materials culture and heritage including teaching its impact in the development of civilization. Ancient copying by artisans to emulate and honour more ancient objects is, for example, set against modern techniques of reproduction, economic practices, and the intentions of collectors, artists, vendors, copyists, forgers, and scientists.

The course represents an exciting opportunity for students to enhance their knowledge of the cultural heritage and collections world. The focus is on China and its materials culture, artworks and artefacts but will innovatively incorporate the scientific method and its application to object testing, analysis and appraisal. Direct hands-on experience, laboratory exercises and reference to University of Hong Kong collections as well as visits to local museums comprises part of the learning. The content and theme for each course component will be reflective of relevant student observations and knowledge across science and the arts disciplines.