News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　To carry out the Popular Science Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), National Chiayi University has been working with Chiayi County and City Governments in organizing the Popular Science Week for seven years. To fulfill its role of taking the lead in regional development and serving the society with knowledge, NCYU has been holding science checkpoint games, science camps and teacher empowerment workshops and other events on an annual basis. The objective is to allow students to enjoy the fun of doing experiments and learn science from practice, so as to stimulate their interest in learning science. The students in Chiayi can participate in popular science activities without the need to travel to Taipei or Kaohsiung. This not only helps bridge the urban-rural gap in resources, but plant the seeds of science in the hearts and minds of young children. In addition to enhancing science education, to build a thankful heart in children, an event was organized for the pupils to write letters to Minister Tsung-Tsong Wu to express their thoughts on popular science activities. To fulfill their wishes, Tsung-Tsong Wu, Minister of MOST, arrived in Chiayi on Feb. 26th. He visited Singchia Elementary School and Yijhu Junior High School, where he interacted closely with students. He also exchanged thoughts with teachers of the NCYU popular science team. Together, they brainstormed and pooled theirs ideas on popular science education for the future.

　　During the visit, Minister Wu experienced the new VR technology with students of Singchia Elementary School and Yijhu Junior High School. They learned science through immersive interactive experience, watching the world’s first frame-by-frame animation work generated by VR technology, which provided an experience surpassing the traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation. At the “Science-Innovation Exchange Workshop,” startup teams and the popular science teachers from NCYU, National Chung Cheng University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, and National Formosa University exchanged ideas with the Minister, shared their ideas on promoting science education for the future. They hoped to deliver more diverse experiences to students through the ingenuity of startup teams and new technologies.

　　NCYU President Chyung Ay indicated that the NCYU teachers come from a diversity of professional fields. Over the years, the university has been collaborating with schools at all levels in Chiayi, giving full display to its existing educational resource. They have also been helping promote popular science education among numerous elementary and junior high schools, putting their educational resources to effective use. It allowed the college students to learn how to serve local schools with what they have learned at school, thus achieving resource sharing. According to Lien Jing-Yi, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Chemistry, NCYU, who serves as principal investigator for the popular science project, the “Popular Science Month” has been taking place every April and May in Chiayi County and City. All the participating students enjoyed various experiences in the popular science event. For those who have not joined the bandwagon, there is no need for disappointment. They may join fun and educational popular science activities designed by NCYU, complete with resources provided by the university.

　　MOST Minister Wu mentioned that technology is key to Taiwan’s success in the future and world recognition. They need to bridge the urban and rural divide before promoting science education. It is hoped that through the application of new technology in transforming culture and art, our younger generations will enjoy a new experience in technology, thus developing an interest in exploring technology. The ultimate goal is that the young students may commit themselves to scientific research in the future, so that the momentum of academic research will continue to build.