To encourage reflection on the relationship between personal well-being and the natural environment—and to cultivate sustainability literacy in everyday life—the Aerosol Science Research Center (ASRC) of National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) collaborated with the Amrita Mindfulness Education Center in Pingtung to host two sustainability workshops centered on food. Using olives and cacao—two powerful cultural symbols—as entry points, the workshops guided participants to reflect on how daily eating habits can support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Inner Development Goals (IDGs).
Professor Chia C. Wang, Director of the ASRC, emphasized that achieving sustainable development requires a shift in mindset and behavior. The workshops combined scientific lectures, ancient culinary wisdom, mindfulness practices, and hands-on experiences to help participants relearn how to relate to themselves and to the world.
The first workshop, "Rediscovering Athena's Gift: Mediterranean Sustainable Eating and Mind–Body Purification," explored sustainability through olive culture. In ancient Greek civilization, olives were considered a divine gift from the goddess Athena—symbolizing wisdom and protection. Olive groves serve as natural carbon sinks and support soil and ecosystem health. With low environmental impact, high resilience, and strong circular economy value, olives have coexisted with human civilization for more than 6,000 years and embody sustainability across agriculture, ecology, culture, circularity, and low-carbon diets.
The course featured Lin Shui-Mao, founder of Olivicon Biotech, who produces olive oil through smart agriculture. His team introduced participants to pure olive oil, Mediterranean cooking, and the science of food. Senior dietitian Yuan-Ju Chen of Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital explained how natural ingredients help reduce chronic inflammation and protect cardiovascular health, illustrating how dietary choices can advance both SDGs and IDGs.
The second workshop, "Eating Sustainably · Sharing Love through Cacao,” used cacao to guide participants into deeper connection with land, culture, and embodied awareness. In ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, cacao—known as the "food of the gods”—was regarded as a sacred bridge connecting humans and the Earth. Yi-He Li, founder of the Mu-Yu Zhong-Lin Mindfulness Center, led participants through mindful breathing and five-senses cacao practices. The Pingtung-based Linhou Cacao team then guided participants in making cacao-butter lip balm and grinding cacao beans by hand.
Professor Wang explained the active compounds in cacao and their roles in health, disease prevention, and emotional regulation, revealing the deep connections between cacao, ecological sustainability, and well-being. She also shared insights from aerosol science, highlighting the interconnectedness of Earth's systems and the urgency of sustainable action.
The workshop recreated a traditional cacao blessing ritual from Mesoamerican culture, arranging an Earth mandala on the grass under soft sunlight to create a serene and focused atmosphere. Guided by Yi-He Li, participants engaged in mindful walking, connecting with the land, offering gratitude, and meditating to the healing sound of singing bowls performed by musician Fei-Jen Tsai. The session culminated in an improvisational Indigenous dance, symbolizing presence, empathy, connection, and the emergence of inner strength—key qualities emphasized in the IDGs.
Professor Wang noted that the two food-focused workshops reflect the ASRC's advocacy for "inside-out sustainability," which calls for deep awareness of one's inner state, motivations, and lifestyle. Beginning with the most intimate aspect of daily life—food—is one of the most tangible and relatable ways to awaken this awareness. Through the integration of science, culture, and mind–body practices, participants were encouraged to understand sustainability from a holistic and systems perspective, rebuilding their relationship with themselves, with others, and with the Earth.