Yan T. Lee Foundation Opens New Office in Kaohsiung, Partners with NSYSU to Promote Ecological Sustainability

To broaden students' understanding of the current state of Earth's ecology and the environmental challenges ahead, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) and the Yan T. Lee Foundation Science Education for All co-hosted the inauguration of the Foundation's new Kaohsiung office on the 23rd, along with the five-day "2024 Yan T. ALOHA! Sustainability—Science and Art Winter Camp." Professor Chia C. Wang, Director of NSYSU's Aerosol Science Research Center and Head of the Foundation's Kaohsiung Office, explained that the camp centered on sustainability. Its theme "ALOHA" derives from the first letters of Aerosols, Land, Ocean, Humans, and Air, while also signifying hope, love, and peace.

In his opening remarks, NSYSU President Ying-Yao Cheng emphasized that ecological sustainability is one of the most urgent issues facing humanity. He noted that nurturing young students' awareness of these critical and complex challenges, cultivating their critical thinking, and helping them recognize the interconnectedness of humans, other life forms, and Earth's systems will prepare them to face ecological crises and envision long-term solutions. He expressed his delight in seeing NSYSU and the Yan T. Lee Foundation collaborate to promote science education.

Wang stressed that Earth is a complex and integrated ecosystem composed of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Traditionally, these systems were regarded as separate, with knowledge divided among different academic disciplines. Yet, from a holistic perspective, these systems are intricately interconnected, where a change in one triggers responses across the whole. To equip K–12 teachers with a deeper understanding of such cross-disciplinary issues and ways to integrate them into their teaching, this year's program included, for the first time, a STEAM seed teacher training camp held concurrently with student activities.

The program invited experts from chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental engineering, energy, ecology, education, and the arts. Among them were NSYSU's ASRC faculty—the only aerosol-focused research center in Asia—together with K–12 seed teachers, two recipients of Taiwan's National Excellent Teacher Award, the nation’s first Antarctic ecological researcher, macaque specialists, as well as renowned artists and musicians. Together, they guided participants to explore the interdependence of aerosols, land, ocean, humans, and air, and the significance of sustainability. The camp sought to awaken participants to the notion of humanity as part of Earth’s shared life system, encouraging compassion, kindness, and harmony with Mother Earth and all living beings.

Activities included building portable PM2.5 air sensors, learning about aerosol transmission of COVID-19, and identifying air pollution types through educational board games. Participants also explored issues such as net-zero carbon emissions, ocean acidification and warming, coral ecosystems, and clean energy (wind and hydrogen). The program incorporated artistic elements as well: Assistant Professor Elaine Ho of NSYSU’s Department of Theatre Arts led breathing-based bodywork, while Assistant Professor Yi-Hsien Chen of the Department of Music created compositions integrating whale sounds and environmental acoustics. At the end of the week, all participants envisioned the future of Earth through creative writing or painting.

Yan T. Lee Foundation Chairman Fu-Lai Lin, together with CEO Hui-Lan Ma and Professor Jwu-Ting Chen, also attended to offer congratulations. Lin remarked that the Foundation has long been committed to advancing science education in Taiwan and was pleased to collaborate once again with NSYSU. Looking ahead, the Foundation will design even richer programs aligned with global needs, offering students non-traditional learning opportunities that transcend disciplines. These initiatives will help young learners better understand today's environmental challenges and seek solutions. NSYSU administrators, including Provost Po-Chiao Lin, Dean Shiao-Wei Kuo of the College of Engineering, and several department chairs, also joined the ceremony to celebrate the office opening and camp launch.