Integrating Science and Humanities for Coexistence: NSYSU and Yuan T. Lee Foundation Science Education for All Promote Environmental Sustainability

As the wave of artificial intelligence sweeps across Taiwan, the role of the humanities faces increasing challenges under the dominance of a science-centered mindset. To bridge these fields, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) collaborated with the Yuan T. Lee Foundation Science Education for All to organize the Science and Humanities Creativity Capacity-Building Workshop, a program for teachers and students. The workshop integrated expertise from both science and the humanities, focusing on nine major scientific issues: climate change, ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol loading, chemical pollution, ocean acidification, biogeochemical cycles, freshwater use, land-system change, and biosphere integrity. The program aimed to raise awareness of science and humanities among young learners, encouraging them to reinterpret scientific knowledge through literary writing, science comics, and film creation.

Professor Chia C. Wang, Director of NSYSU's Aerosol Science Research Center and Head of the Foundation's Kaohsiung Office, emphasized that scientific development must be grounded in humanistic literacy. Arts and humanities education helps young learners open doors to knowledge, providing opportunities for participation and reflection. This year marks the fifth edition of the Foundation's science creativity initiative, and for the first time, it integrates both science and the humanities to explore environmental sustainability. The workshop addressed nine ecological sustainability issues through science-inspired creative projects, encouraging both scientific advancement and humanistic cultivation. It aimed to enhance students' ability to engage with sustainability issues from diverse perspectives, fostering a humanistic view of science and a scientific view of the humanities, while translating complex scientific concepts into content accessible to the general public.

Professor Shi-San Lai, Dean of NSYSU's College of Liberal Arts, stressed that the rapid development of the "Anthropocene" has produced disastrous landscapes: environmental devastation, ethical disjunction, species extinction, and the fragility of coexistence. These challenges transcend the capacity of any single discipline and must be addressed through interdisciplinary collaboration. A vital component of this effort is breaking down boundaries between science and the humanities to meet today's urgent ecological needs. Associate Professor Mark McConaghy, Department of Chinese Literature at NSYSU and Convener of the Global Sinology Forum, added that cultivating literary, artistic, and humanistic literacy plays a crucial role in fostering students’ awareness and empathy for the interconnected coexistence of humanity and the environment.

Jwu-Ting Chen, Board Member of the Foundation, Co-Principal Investigator of the Ministry of Education's University Social Responsibility Program, and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at National Taiwan University, is the author of Anthropocene. In his talk, "Learning in the Era of Sustainability," he reminded audiences that while celebrating the advent of the AI era, we must also maintain conscious awareness of the ecological crises and complexities facing the planet. He called for literacy transformation and problem-oriented learning to better engage in social practice and collaboratively work toward solutions.

The program also invited renowned professionals in science writing, comics, and filmmaking to provide students with foundational training, enabling them to creatively interpret scientific issues. The Science Creativity Capacity-Building Workshop Series will be held across northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan, featuring experts and instructors from multiple fields. The workshops will culminate in a science creativity competition, with awards to be presented in late October.