When Leung Hoi Ying was offered a placement at the Hong Kong Observatory, the first thought that came to mind was how could she make videos which would interest viewers yet at the same time be informative.
Despite limited knowledge of meteorology, Leung was enthusiastic about the opportunity, believing she would overcome any challenges by being open to ideas and willing to learn on the job. Shortly after starting, she discovered that her skills in animation-style drawing would not be enough to make educational videos about lesser known meteorological facts. “At school, we primarily learned to draw 3-D animation, but the observatory uses another type of software for two-dimensional animation,” Leung recalls. “But I was willing to take up the challenge and adapted as necessary. This practical work experience definitely enriched my portfolio, which will help when I present it to potential employers.”
Good communication skills meant Leung could find a way around her lack of in-depth knowledge about weather systems and how they work. When first developing the animated videos, alongside a teammate, they carefully organised their thoughts and impressions, clarifying any queries with supervisors every step of the way. “One time, we had to make last-minute amendments and redo the voiceover for a video, but we were able to correct the mistake,” Leung says. “Altogether, I completed four animated videos and had a real sense of satisfaction when I saw them playing on the Observatory's YouTube channel. Overall, the internship was an immersive experience which taught me how to deliver results under pressure because the weekly deadline was very tight.”
Leung noticed in particular how teamwork and shared goals united everyone in their efforts to deliver the final products. “That was perhaps the most vital thing I gained from the internship,” she says, adding that she also gained valuable insights on how to maintain the balance between amusing visuals and storylines and accurate educational knowledge. “I realised that the professionals pay close attention to all the details to ensure the utmost accuracy of information.”
