In cooperation with the Forestry Bureau (Executive Yuan, COA), on November 29^th 2019, the Department of Forestry and College of Agriculture jointly hosted the 10th Tropical Forestry Research Conference on campus at NPUST with focus given to the development and application of a “Biological Data Archive and Public Science Information System”. Experts were invited to share on recent research results and provide different perspectives on related issues, with a general set of objectives in mind that included: developing a database on Taiwan’s biological materials, furthering biological diversity research and conservation, establishing biological archives, and providing a scientific information system that can be accessed by the general public. At the conference, NPUST President Chang-Hsien Tai expressed that “the topic of sustainability is very important and is attracting much attention. Based on the special features of the university, NPUST is promoting four main pillars of development, among which include biological conservation. Hopes are that through this research conference, and the sharing of ideas, we will be able to strengthen the integration of different sectors involved and make a strong contribution to sustainable development”. Director Chang Wei-Yi of the Pingtung Forest Management Office, explained that the “public scientific information systems is being built up to provide a platform on which the public sector can access data. This system will help data to flow more smoothly, and thereby contribute to the advancement of related research and discussion”. Specific attention was also given to individual aspects of the archiving system, including development of the Taiwan Biodiversity Database, the vision and outlook of the Ark Conservation Project, techniques and applications for herbarium collections, and the management and application of the public scientific information system itself. Speakers were invited to give presentations, orally or in poster form, on such topics as the relationship between forests and humanity, forests and climate change, the green development of forests and forest products, as well ecosystem services, invasive species, and interactions between forests, soils, and water. Attention was also given to ecosystems of mountain communities which are looking to find balance between human and ecological activity. Hopes are that through the conference a clearer idea of how to implement conservation work in situations where development and conservation conflict with one another can be developed. This way the various environmental or conservational agencies will be able to better assist communities make the most out of the local ecological resources while maintaining the surrounding habitats.

International and local students were recently given the opportunity to bolster their language skills, build relationships with new people and broaden their knowledge on Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage through the “Your Tracks in Taiwan: Explore Tainan City” interactive activity. In response to positive feedback from the year prior, on November 24, the Office of International Affairs and the Language Center once again joined up to host the “Your Tracks in Taiwan” language exchange activity. This year, there were a total 38 “ENG-CHN Language Exchange Partners” who took part in an excursion which was designed to increase levels of interaction between international and local students and encourage international students to learn more “every-day Chinese”. For the activity, the students found themselves wondering down the historic Shennong Street in Tainan, which once served as an important place of commercial activity in the city. The area has now been reinvented as a tourist attraction with many culturally and artistically rich things to do and see. The tour brought them to Blueprint Culture & Creative Park to take part in some creative experience activities as well as the Chihkan Tower, which is connected with many rich and mysterious legends from the past. As there is no shortage of eats and treats in Tainan, the students also had the chance to enjoy a variety of local delectables, such as duck noodles, fried mackerel, winter gourd tea and peanut brittle. In addition to sightseeing and snacking, the “day out” also gave focus to organized language learning activities with groups formed to include mixtures of international and local students. For the final task, the international students were required to use Chinese and Taiwanese students use English as they shared about the tour and worked with one another to create a short video presentation on the experience.

On November 23^rd, during the 95^th Anniversary Celebration at NPUST, the university’s Alumni Service Center hosted a special “Professional Sales Platform and Outstanding Alumni Exhibition” on campus. Alumni who are active in the business world were invited to return to their Alma Mater and share some of their achievements with the school. The Professional Sales Platform and Outstanding Alumni Exhibition provided alumni with a platform to sell products, share technology, and highlighting some of their professional successes. The event also served as a rostrum to promote industry-academic cooperation opportunities. A total of 46 booths were installed for the exhibition, with the NPUST Business Incubation Center providing guidance to businesses on the set-up. The Pingtung County Labor and Youth Development Department was among the exhibitors, with a booth set-up to provide information about international culture and legal services for businesses. The model for the exhibition originated from an event that took place in March of this year. At that time, the NPUST Malaysia Alumni Association organized an “Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Exhibition” in Malaysia with the goal of bringing together alumni from around Malaysia and Taiwan to share on the work they have been doing since graduating. NPUST’s president, Chang-Hsien Tai, and the NPUST Alumni Association president, Kuo-lin Chen, led a group of 100 faculty and students on a trip to Malaysia to be there for the exhibition. On that occasion, the 72 booths that were set up by NPUST Alumni attracted around 5000 visitors who were interested in learning more about the university – clearly demonstrating the reputation that NPUST has earned in Malaysia for its research and education. As NPUST approaches 100 years since its establishment, it has many successful stories to share – and many things to look forward to. The university is very optimistic about the future development it has in store, with so many talented students from both home and abroad currently cultivating skills and exploring knowledge that will shape the world of tomorrow. The examples that have been set by many of its alumni offer encouragement to these students and will hopefully inspire them to aim high and pursue great things.