Prof. So has been a science teacher educator since the 1990s. She is currently a Professor in the Department of Science and Environmental Studies, as well as the Director of the Centre for Environmental and Sustainable Development. She served as the founding Head of Department of Science and Environmental Studies for six years (2009-2015) and Associate Dean of the Graduate School for seven years (2012-2019).

Prof So has rich experience in undergraduate, postgraduate diploma, Master of Education, Doctor of Education and PhD programmes, in the areas of Science Education, Environmental Education, STEM education and teaching and learning of General Studies.

Prof. So’s main research areas are: STEM education, inquiry learning in science and environmental education, as well as teacher development in Science/ General Studies. She has been the principal investigator of various research projects funded by the General Research Fund, Public Policy Research Funding Scheme, Quality Education Fund and the Education Bureau. Prof. So has extensive academic articles, chapters, books and multimedia publications on science and environmental education and STEM learning.

Internationally, she was the President of the Asia Pacific Educational research Association (APERA) 2014-2016, an executive member of the East Asian Science Education Association (EASE) till 2016 and a serving executive member of the World Education Research Association (WERA). She has rich experience in organizing/hosting various educational and science education conference.

Locally, she has been appointed member of the Humanities and Social Science Panel of the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong since 2011, member of the steering committee of the TIMSS since 2013, member of the Food Wise Hong Kong Steering Committee (2015-2021), member of Endangered Species Advisory Committee since 2016, co-opted member of the Scientific Sub-committee (SSC) of Ocean Park Conservation Foundation since 2017, member of the Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (2014-2016), and member of the Science Museum Advisory panel (2014-2016). Prof. So has been the executive member of the Hong Kong Educational Research Association for more than 10 years. She is also the convenor of a large scale inter-school event “Primary STEM Project Exhibition” since 1998.

Prof So has extensive contribution to the school curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment. She has contributed to school management of local schools. She also contributed as a member of the Steering Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Assessment Working Group of the Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE) (2022/2023, 2021/2022), and as a Chairperson of the CEATE for Liberal Studies (2019-2020), General Studies (2018-2019) and Science Education (2012-2013). 

• STEM Education
• Science Education
• Education for environmental sustainability
• Teacher Professional Development

External Appointment by the Research Grant Council (RGC), University Grant Council (UGC)

Member of the Humanities and Social Sciences Panel of Grant Research Fund (2011-12) (2012-14) (2014-16) (2016-2017)

Member to serve on the Humanities and Social Sciences Panel (Joint Research Schemes) (2018-2020)(2020-2022)(2022-2024)

External Appointment by the Education Bureau

Member, Steering Committee of Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE) (2021/2022)(2022/2023)

Vice Chairperson of the Assessment Working Group of Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE) (2021/2022) (2022/2023)

Chairperson of the assessment panel on Liberal Studies in the Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE) (2019-2020)

Assessment Working Group of Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE) (2019/2020)

Chairperson of the assessment panel on General Studies in the Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE) (2018-19)

Steering Committee on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) (2013-)

Task group on comprehensive review of Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2013-14)

CDC-HKEAA Committee on Liberal Studies (2013-15) (2016-)

Curriculum Development Council Committee on Liberal Studies (2009-12)(2013-15) (2016-)

Curriculum Development Council Committee on Science Education (2009-12)(2013-15)

Chairperson of the assessment panel on Science Education Key Learning Area in the Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2012-13)

High-level Advisory panel, and a member of the Steering Committee and the Assessment Working Group of the Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2012-13)

Advisory committee and Focus Group members for the development of teaching modules under the Third Strategy on Information Technology in Education organized by the EDB (2008)

Member of the Ad Hoc Committee on General Studies, CDC Standing Committee on Curriculum Development, Education Department, for K-S3 (2000-2002)

External Appointment by the SAR Government

Endangered Species Advisory Committee, Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (2016-)

Advisory Committee of The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (2014-)

Science Museum Advisory Panel, Home Affair Bureau (2014-2016)

Food Wise Hong Kong Steering Committee, Environment Bureau (2015-2021)

Other External Appointment

Co-opted member of the Scientific Sub-committee (SSC) of Ocean Park Conservation Foundation (2017-)

Advisor for the Content Development Team of the “Marathon 101 Education Programme” organized by the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon (2006-2014)

Leadership/Contribution to Professional Organizations

Council member of the World Education Research Association (WERA) (2010-)

President, Asia Pacific Educational Research Association (2014-2016)

Executive Member of the Ease-Asian Association for Science Education (2011-2016)

Chairperson (2005-2006), Vice-Chairperson (2004-2005), Executive committee member (2006-) of the Hong Kong Educational Research Association (HKERA)

External Appointment in School Management Committees

Independent manager of local subsidized school (PLK Wong Chi Ho Primary School, since 2012)

School Management Committee of Tai Po Government Primary School (2010-2014)

School Management Committee of Sha Tin Government Primary PM School (2007-2009)