About the project
Hong Kong's waters are among the most biologically diverse in China. Coral communities, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and mudflats support thousands of marine species, from the ancient horseshoe crab to the endangered Chinese white dolphin. Yet these ecosystems exist within one of the most densely populated urban environments on Earth.
The tension between city and sea is where our project begins.
Our Urban Sea is a storytelling initiative from the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) at the University of Hong Kong. We believe that science alone cannot bridge the gap between research and public understanding. Stories can.
This website presents ten narratives drawn from scientific research, field observations, and conservation work happening in Hong Kong's waters. Each story follows a protagonist—a coral colony, a horseshoe crab, an oyster reef—through challenge and resilience. Together, they paint a portrait of a marine world that is fragile, resilient, and deeply connected to the city that surrounds it.
Our goal is simple: to make Hong Kong's hidden marine life visible, understandable, and worth protecting.
About the team
We are students in the Master of Science in Integrative Marine Ecology and Conservation at the University of Hong Kong. This storytelling platform is our capstone project—an effort to bridge the gap between scientific research and public engagement. Through our backgrounds in ecology, communication, and digital design, we have worked together to transform complex marine science into stories that inform, connect, and inspire.