A Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering fresh graduate had a truly space-age experience last September when he served as an emcee for the real-time video dialogue between three taikonauts orbiting the Earth in China’s Tiangong space station and Hong Kong young people.

Passionate about space innovation and engineering from an early age, Marco CLARK (2021 BEng in Aerospace Engineering) was thrilled to have the opportunity to take part in the call and seminar alongside a professional media anchor at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

During the otherworldly exchange, NIE Haisheng, LIU Boming, and TANG Hongbo answered students’ questions on experiments being carried out and daily life at the space station. In addition, students could converse with space engineers and experts in Beijing, including China’s first taikonaut YANG Liwei.

Top officials at the special event, arranged by the central government, included Mrs. Carrie LAM, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government, and Dr. TAN Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR. Close to 300 students, teachers, scientists, and academics also attended.

While Marco is fluent in Putonghua (his alumna mother is Chinese and his father from the US) and engaged in hours of practising, he still had to battle initial nerves during his inaugural stint as an emcee. That was until excitement at being up close with the taikonauts took over. Indeed, the whole event was an “incredible” moment for all students studying the field and working to become future aerospace scientists or taikonauts, he told reporters.

The young engineer is now continuing to enhance his communication skills at BAH Partners, a niche head-hunting firm specializing in technology recruitment, and by serving as a Head Engineering Student Ambassador for 2021-22. He sees such capabilities as a key factor to attaining top-flight positions and responsibilities.

In the longer term, rather than heading into space himself, Marco wants to use his strengths in engineering, technology, and presentation to advance the aerospace industry and space exploration through innovation, with the nanosatellite sector of particular interest. “In this way, I really hope I can bring about many out-of-this-world experiences and achievements for others,” he said.

Related link:

• Marco’s interview on Our China Story (Sept 20, 2021): 受楊利偉啟發  港生逐夢航天見證「天地對話」

This story was originally published in the SENG In Focus magazine (Spring 2022 edition, issue 34, P.9).