Deepening International Collaboration in Aerosol Science: NSYSU Joins Hands with Three Top Canadian Universities to Combat Air Pollution

Air pollution and global climate change are ecological challenges faced by humanity today. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 99% of the global population breathes polluted air; UNICEF has also identified air pollution as a deadly killer threatening children's health in this century. To join hands with international partners in improving air quality, the Aerosol Science Research Center (ASRC) of National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) formed a delegation to engage in intensive exchanges with aerosol research teams at three leading Canadian universities—the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and McGill University. Strengthening Taiwan–Canada collaboration, the initiative seeks to develop joint solutions to improve air quality, safeguard public health, and protect communities from the harm of air pollution.

In recent years, Canada has faced frequent wildfires due to global warming. Aerosols produced from large-scale forest burning have had severe impacts on air quality and public health, making it a pressing issue of global concern. The NSYSU delegation, led by Professor Chia C. Wang—Director of the ASRC and faculty member of the Department of Chemistry—included interdisciplinary scholars such as Assistant Professor You-Ren Wang from the Department of Marine Environment and Engineering, and Assistant Professor Ya-Yun Cheng from the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Medicine. The group visited the Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research (SOCAAR) at the University of Toronto, where they were warmly received by Dean Christopher Yip of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering and SOCAAR Director Professor Greg Evans. A bilateral seminar between the two aerosol centers was held, with both sides sharing their latest research outcomes.

Professor Wang noted that NSYSU's ASRC and the University of Toronto's SOCAAR signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2020 and have since maintained close academic ties. After his 2023 visit to Taiwan, SOCAAR Director Professor Greg Evans was deeply impressed and invited the ASRC faculty and students to return the visit, which led to this exchange. During the seminar, Professor Wang presented her pioneering research using globally unique aerosol photoelectron spectroscopy to study secondary organic aerosol formation mechanisms, along with the center's latest aerosol biomedical findings. Assistant Professor You-Ren Wang shared global satellite observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)—a key gaseous precursor of air pollution—during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Assistant Professor Ya-Yun Cheng presented her epidemiological and public health research on the links between air pollution and human diseases, particularly liver diseases.

The delegation also visited aerosol research teams at the University of British Columbia and McGill University, where they were hosted by world-renowned aerosol chemists Professor Allan Bertram and Professor Thomas Preston, respectively. Professor Wang was invited to deliver lectures at both universities, sparking enthusiastic exchanges with local researchers. These engagements significantly contributed to enhancing the international visibility and influence of Taiwan's aerosol research.

The ASRC is the only interdisciplinary research center in Asia dedicated exclusively to aerosol studies. Since its establishment in 2017, the center has advanced cutting-edge research in areas such as fundamental aerosol science, preventive medicine on PM2.5, aerosol biomedical studies, and the impacts of aerosols on atmospheric, marine ecosystems, and climate change. It has also developed innovative source-tracing methods for PM2.5 and strategies for emission reduction, achieving strong international visibility and influence. In addition, the center is committed to innovative education and talent cultivation, fulfilling the university's global social responsibility, fostering industry–academia partnerships, and building close collaborations with aerosol research teams worldwide.

Professor Wang emphasized that air pollution is a global issue. Although pollution sources differ across countries due to varying national circumstances, the challenge of air pollution is equally urgent worldwide. Building stable and in-depth partnerships with international collaborators and establishing a global network to combat air pollution are key missions of the ASRC. Through close international exchange and collaboration, the center not only showcases Taiwan to the world with innovative aerosol research but also positions Taiwan as a vital hub for global aerosol research in Asia.