News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　Jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Taiwan Railways Administration, “Taiwan Popular Science Train” arrived at Chiayi Railway Station on May 1st. Under the invitation of National Chiayi University, the Chiayi City Government collaborated with the university in making the popular science train event at the station happen. A series of interesting, fun science activities was orchestrated for 500 elementary school students from Yunlin and Chiayi counties to explore the scientific world. Jointly hosted by NCYU Vice President Liu Rong-Yi and Chiayi City Mayor Twu Shiing-Jer, the opening ceremony featured spectacular performances by Sing-An Elementary School to unveil the science checkpoint games of the first edition of the “Popular Science Month” for schools in Chiayi City. The theme of the event, “food,” echoed the everyday life of students, and was central to designing the basic science checkpoint games in such fields as physics, chemistry and mathematics. The checkpoint games allowed the participants to explore the realm of science in an easier way. Not only students but passersby interested in science were welcomed to join and experience the fun of science games.

　　In his speech, NCYU Vice President Liu indicated that the popular science promotion team consisted of teachers and students from NCYU’s Department of Applied Chemistry, Department of Applied Mathematics and Department of Electrophysics, as well as from National Shan-Hua Senior High School. As the highest educational institute in Chiayi City, NCYU is dedicated to promoting popular science education in the Yunlin and Chiayi region for years. It has also been assisting the schools in the Chiayi region in holding the science checkpoint games with a view to fulfilling its role of taking the lead in regional development and serving the society with knowledge. This year marked the first time the science checkpoint games, as part of the “Popular Science Month,” took place in Chiayi City. With support and coordination of NCYU, the 2018 Taiwan Popular Science Train stopped at the Chiayi Railway Station in the Chiayi region for the first time, bringing unprecedented popular science activities to students in Chiayi City.

　　Mayor Twu mentioned the city government held the Science Fair and Contest for Elementary and Junior High Schools in April, and the scientific exhibits were scheduled for display at Da Tung Elementary School. Moreover, led by NCYU Assistant Prof. Lien Jing-Yi, a total of ten science checkpoint games will be held in succession through May at eleven elementary and junior high schools, including Yushan and Chiayi junior high schools, and Chung-Wen, Chia-Pei, Jr Hang, Da Tung, Lan Tan, Sing-An, Chiao-Pin, Shiuan Shin and Yu-Ren elementary schools. Mayor Twu added that the elementary and junior high students from Chiayi City and the wider Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan region were invited to join the grand event in Chiayi City. He also hoped that the diversity of science activities would help stimulate interest and passion for learning science in the students. He expressed special thanks to the Taiwan Railways Administration and Prof. Li Wang-Long, coordinator of the project “Popular Science Activities” from the Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as the team at NCYU for supporting the elementary and junior high schools in Chiayi City in planning a series of exciting science checkpoint games. The science games were expected to allow the participating pupils to gain a glimpse into the mystery of science through fun and play, with the ultimate goal to help cultivate future science practitioners.

　　According to Lien Jing-Yi, assistant professor of the Department of Applied Chemistry, NCYU, the popular science train event that day was participated by 258 teachers and students from Chiayi City Sing-An Elementary School, Chiao-Pin Elementary School, Shiuan Shin Elementary School and Yu-Ren Elementary School. A total of 15 science checkpoint games were jointly hosted in front of the Chiayi Railway Station by students from National Shan-Hua Senior High School, and NCYU’s Department of Applied Chemistry, Department of Applied Mathematics, and Department of Electrophysics. The students joined the checkpoint games within an one hour before boarding the train. After the train arrived, the 240 pupils from Douliu got in on the act. The checkpoint games were held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The passersby with an interest in science were invited to join the games anytime. The materials utilized at the science checkpoint games, whose key idea was “food is the first necessity of the people,” were mostly related to food. In Chemical Molecules DIY, for example, the participants needed to produce molecules such as H2O and methanol with soft sweets and toothpicks. By introducing the concept of molecules to the young students, they hoped to enhance the fun of learning science and allow the pupils to learn science through hands-on practice. The Chiayi City Government has been encouraging schools in Chiayi to take part in the popular science project “Popular Science Week” of the Ministry of Science and Technology. In 2018, with help from the Department of Applied Chemistry, NCYU, the science checkpoint games will take place in turn at eleven elementary and junior high schools, where over 6,500 students will experience the fun of doing science.