NCKU Undergraduate Research Event Helps Freshmen Explore Research Interests and Consider Future Possibilities
Written by Hsu Tsu-Yueh. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
Group photo at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Undergraduate Research Event.
From September 4th to 6th, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) hosted the “2024 Undergraduate Research (UR) Event,” featuring activities such as Joint Lectures, Poster Contest, and Laboratory Visits, attracting around 200 freshmen. The event offered new students a chance to hear senior students share their experiences, including winning international competitions and forming startup teams. Additionally, visits to cutting-edge and renowned laboratories and research centers gave freshmen with a clearer understanding of the university’s research capabilities, sparking an interest in pursuing scientific research.
To strengthen academic foundations and cultivate a research-oriented atmosphere among undergraduates, NCKU has been organizing the UR activities for freshmen since 2019, held before the start of each academic year. The program aims to help students develop seven key skills: critical thinking, writing research proposal, presentation techniques, academic integrity, teamwork, data collection and analysis, and project planning. This initiative also helps nurture future talents in scientific research and innovation for the nation.
NCKU Vice President Woei-Jer Chuang encouraged students to make good use of the abundant academic and research resources available at NCKU.
NCKU Vice President Woei-Jer Chuang attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 UR Event on September 4th, held at the Future Venue on the Sheng-Li Campus. Addressing the freshmen, Vice President Chuang highlighted the abundant academic and research resources available at NCKU and encouraged students to explore interdisciplinary learning beyond their fields of study. This, he said, would broaden their perspectives and enhance their skills in preparation for the future. He also reminded students that university life is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about learning to communicate, work in teams, and develop leadership skills.
Chuan-Pu Liu, Vice President for Research & Development, pointed out in his remarks that traditionally, students believe there are three essential “credits” to complete in university: academics, club activities, and relationships. However, he emphasized that there is an even more important fourth “credit”—research. He noted that some students only start worrying about whether to pursue graduate school or plan their career paths in their junior or senior year. Engaging in research, he suggested, can help students discover their direction or find answers to these questions early on. The UR Event invites senior students to share their experiences in research, realize their dreams, and participate in international competitions, with the hope of inspiring freshmen to set their goals and strive through research.
Senior students share their experiences in conducting research and participating in international competitions.
This year, the joint lectures invited five teams to engage in face-to-face discussions with the freshmen: the “TAO-HAI-REN - NCKU Human Powered Submarine,” the “Taiwan BT&D² Team,” the “Gemini Space” team, the “Collaborative Badlands” team, and the “Colelpis Team.”
Pan, a freshman from the Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering who attended the entire lecture series, expressed a personal interest in engineering and hands-on projects, noting that the experiences and learning journeys shared by senior students during the UR activities would likely be helpful for the next four years in university. Pan also hopes to join research teams in the future, collaborating with peers from different universities, or even internationally, to become equipped with skills and knowledge for the future.
Hsu, a freshman from the Department of Chinese Literature, pointed out that students in the humanities are generally at a disadvantage in today’s technology-driven world. Hsu deliberately attended the UR Event to learn about the university’s resources and to connect with other departments. Hsu expressed admiration for the teams that presented on stage, noting that many of them recruit members from various disciplines and maintain a balanced gender ratio. This gave Hsu a boost of confidence as a humanities student, hoping to have the opportunity to join a research or startup team in the future.
This year, the TAO-HAI-REN (meaning translates to “Seawarrior”) team participated in the biennial European International Submarine Races 2024 (eISR 2024), held in Portsmouth, UK, in June. Competing with their second-generation self-built submarine, the “Pegasus,” the team impressively secured fifth place in the Race.
The Taiwan BT&D² Team has developed the BT&D² (Biochemical Technology and Drug Discovery) System, which offers services such as drug-target matching and supply chain solutions, formula optimization, pharmaceutical research data, and biomedical efficacy verification. In the field of new drug development, this system significantly reduces the high costs and long timelines typically associated with the preclinical research phase. It also allows for drug structure modification and optimization of both Western and traditional Chinese medicine formulations.
In June of this year, the Gemini Space team traveled to the United States to compete in the CanSat Competition finals hosted by the American Astronautical Society (AAS). The team achieved an impressive global ranking of eighth place and secured the top spot in Asia. This marks the first time in the competition’s 20-year history that a team from Taiwan has participated.
The Collaborative Badlands USR (University Social Responsibility) team at NCKU comprises 12 faculty members and 3 full-time assistants. Through teaching and research, they collaborate with local partners in the Badlands communities of Zuojhen, Longci, Neimen, and Tianliao. By connecting interdisciplinary faculty and students, the team integrates field operations to promote the shared learning, joint creation, and mutual understanding that drive sustainable development in Taiwan’s southwestern Badlands.
In June 2024, the Colelpis team traveled to Boston to compete in the Hult Prize, representing NCKU among 390 winning teams from regional competitions worldwide. Their business proposal focused on applying the nanostructures found in bird feathers to digital devices, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional pigments. This innovation addresses issues such as environmental pollution, regulatory restrictions, material and energy waste, color durability, quality concerns, and health hazards in the manufacturing process.
Students observing the poster contest.
The much-anticipated laboratory visits took place on September 5th and 6th. Students interested in aerospace and energy storage technologies were taken to the Kuei-Jen Campus to visit the Aerospace Science and Technology Research Center and the Lithium Battery Laboratory. Those keen on exploring the fields of biology and marine science visited the An-Nan Campus, where they toured the International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture (ICSDSA), the Tainan Hydraulics Laboratory, and the Marine Biology & Cetacean Research Center. Students interested in biomedical science and technology visited various labs on the main campuses, including the Center of Applied Nanomedicine, the Medical Device Innovation Center, the Electric Motor Technology Research Center, and the Hierarchical Green-Energy Materials (Hi-GEM) Research Center.
Laboratory staff explain relevant research and equipment to visiting students
Chang, a freshman from the School of Medicine, visited the Center of Applied Nanomedicine and expressed enthusiasm for medical science research. Chang had participated in a science fair during high school with a focus on medical devices and desires to engage in research beyond clinical practice in the future. “Since NCKU organized these lab visits for freshmen, I definitely wanted to seize the opportunity to participate,” Chang said.
Researchers explaining various equipment to the freshmen
Wang, a freshman from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, chose to visit the Hi-GEM Research Center. Wang mentioned a passion for hands-on projects, as they provide a strong sense of accomplishment—having previously built items such as Bluetooth speakers and chargers. Wang emphasized that the ultimate goal of research is practical application and expressed a keen interest in exploring interdisciplinary science. “Getting the chance to visit the Hi-GEM Research Center before starting classes was a great experience,” Wang said.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2024-09-19
