A Global Advocate for Cultural and Ecological Diversity

Ariana Xiao Balbin has travelled from her home in Peru to literally the other side of the planet in order to study at HKU. She is a first-year BSc student in the Faculty of Science, having been awarded the HeForShe IMPACT Champion Scholarship, one of 50 girls selected by the Embassy of the United States and the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru to experience the different domains of science.

She decided to come study in Hong Kong because of her belief that distance should never be a barrier when you really want to do something. “As a Peruvian Chinese,” she says, “I have learnt to create bridges and understand geographically distant yet similar perspectives about spirituality, family, history and life. Hong Kong was the ideal place to continue exploring those concepts, with its multicultural vibe and its restorative approach to its architectural, cultural, and linguistic individuality.” As an example, she describes how her family would discuss the similar stances on the concepts of kinship and nature reflected in both Confucianism and Andean spirituality regarding the Pachamama (Mother Earth) – which reflects her interest and concern about the earth, the environment and humanity’s collective future as well. She mentions the influence in particular that the historian David Christian’s Origin Story has had on her, especially the concept of how humans have gone from being transformed by the biosphere to transforming it.

This interest developed more clearly into a passion after she took part in a secondary school entrepreneurial competition in Peru. She co-founded “Ecositos”, a company that created thermal-aid plushies designed as animals in danger of extinction. They qualified for the national semi-finals out of 130 teams, and as such, was nominated to represent Peru at the Company of the Year competition, the annual regional event for all Junior Achievement student companies in the Americas. “The concept of committing to social responsibility, beyond the typical meaning of corporate responsibility, cooperating with so many people along the production chain to ensure the environmental viability of our product made me realise the importance of incorporating different perspectives on the various domains of science, finance, and education,” she says. “This is interdisciplinarity in its purest form.”

After a long sojourn in Europe last year, the first time she had travelled abroad in several years, Ariana realised that she wanted to continue expanding her academic horizons beyond her home country, aside from the reasons related to her cultural identity. “HKU’s values of interdisciplinarity and its international outlook, instilled in its Common Core courses, appealed to me,” she says, adding, “And the fact that it offered flexible options for double majors in environmental science and geography, the two fields I felt I had so much to learn about, furthered my interest in the University.” HKU’s long history, its impact on Hong Kong’s development and its society, and intriguing coalescence of architectural styles also influenced her decision. “These things made me realise that I had to be there and live the 360° experience from a student’s perspective in order to also satisfy the next step in my personal quest of creating bridges between seemingly distant, yet closely kindred spaces,” she says.

“In the few months that I’ve been attending classes at the University and adapting to life in Hong Kong, the novel teaching methods I’ve been exposed to in the classrooms, the friends I’ve met from different countries and backgrounds, and the cultural events I’ve joined on campus have given me an exciting sneak peek of what is yet to come in the following semesters,” she says. “I want to advance the understanding of the connections between Asia and Latin America by organising cultural events, discussions, or workshops that celebrate the rich heritage and traditions of Latin American communities while also highlighting the intersections and connections with Hong Kong,” she adds. This is her goal as the Peruvian ambassador to the International Students Association, a position she proudly embraces. “With these initiatives,” she says, “I hope to encourage meaningful conversations and cross-cultural exchange among the diverse, growing international community at HKU.”

Ariana looks forward to collaborating in ongoing research projects in the Faculty of Science, joining experiential learning activities and attending more guest lectures and seminars. “I am open to the wide range of activities that HKU offers to discover which environment I can adapt to and work in better, so as to pave my post-graduation path,” she says. She is particularly excited about the prospect of studying the climate diplomacy initiatives in Hong Kong at HKU, as this programme offers a unique platform to explore the advancements in carbon neutrality throughout Mainland China and East Asia. After graduation, she hopes to study a Master’s degree focused on the qualitative approaches to the Anthropocene and then, very likely, return to Peru to aid in the drafting of environmental proposals. “My aspiration is to delve into the renewable energy and nuclear policy sectors, focusing on energy transition in developing nations like Peru, where such progress is imperative for sustainable development.”

“I am dedicated,” she says, “to fostering a deeper understanding of our planet and its diverse cultures through the lens of environmental science and cultural geography. My mission is to explore and share the interconnectedness of human experiences and natural ecosystems, particularly through the unique perspectives shaped by my dual Peruvian Chinese heritage.” Hers is a clear and resolute commitment to promoting sustainable practices that respect the environment and engaging in meaningful conversations that celebrate cultural diversity. “My goal is to empower individuals to embrace their identities and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future.”