"NCKU Cross-Generational Scholars Exchange" fosters cross-disciplinary research and innovation.-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

On January 13th, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) held the "NCKU Cross-Generational Young Scholars Exchange Tea Party" at the Historical Museum on the Kuang-Fu Campus. The event gathered outstanding young professors who have received awards such as the National Science Council's Einstein Program, the Columbus Program, the Ta-You Wu Memorial Award, the 2030 Cross-Generational Young Scholars, and the Yushan Young Scholars. They came together to share their research fields, aiming to acknowledge the achievements of young scholars and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty members from different departments. This initiative aims to foster a positive cycle of research and innovation.

During the event, speeches were delivered by NCKU President, Huey-Jen Su, who expressed gratitude to the teachers for choosing NCKU. She acknowledged the accumulated research achievements, which have raised expectations for NCKU's future academic development. President Su also highlighted the progress and life milestones of the first cohort of scholars, expressing confidence in NCKU's ability to provide the best resources. Even after stepping down as president, she expressed her willingness to continue advocating for administrative support and research resources, offering assistance to scholars facing challenges or seeking to share their accomplishments.

This gathering marked the third edition of NCKU's Young Scholars Exchange, which was postponed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but finally held in person this time. Nearly 40 young scholars attended, representing various fields including natural sciences, engineering, electrical engineering, information technology, life sciences, and medicine. After brief self-introductions and explanations of their research topics, the scholars engaged in free-flowing discussions during a buffet lunch at the Xin Garden, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.Prof. Yi Yang and Prof. Tse-Ming Chen, both from the Department of Physics and holding special appointments, specially attended the event to present flowers to President Huey-Jen Su as a gesture of appreciation. They thanked President Su for her discerning eye as a talent scout and her continuous support for relevant research projects, acknowledging her as a crucial driving force behind the creation of research and development achievements.

Several professors made presentations during the event. Prof. Huang-Tz Ou, from the Department of Pharmacy, shared her research on the "Value-Oriented Pricing Method for New Drugs," inviting interested colleagues to join the discussion on health insurance-related research projects. Prof. Cheng-Te Li, from the Department of Statistics, shared his experiences as a "University Professor with Young Children," addressing the challenges of balancing teaching, research, and family responsibilities. Associate Prof. Sheng-Heng Chung, Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, shared the team's journey in developing high-capacity sulfur electrodes for various applications in environmental and energy fields.

Dr. Chung-Wei Kung, Associate Prof. in the Department of Chemical Engineering, discussed the development of metal-organic framework materials and their applications in environmental and energy-related fields. He shared insights on selecting suitable journals for research publications. Dr. Guan-Da  Syu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Industrial Science, returned to NCKU to establish a laboratory just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. He swiftly pivoted to research on COVID-19 testing and vaccine evaluation, developing a protein chip for analysis, which garnered significant attention. Dr.  Chen-Yu Huang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, who earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering at NCKU, focuses on researching molecular, functional characteristics, and metabolic status of genetic cardiovascular diseases. She aims to establish real-time detection systems to reduce sudden death caused by arrhythmias.

NCKU places great emphasis on talent cultivation and technological research, providing a conducive research environment and abundant resources, which attract numerous outstanding talents. The Research and Development Office reported that from 2018 to 2020, NCKU received approval for 17 Columbus projects and 25 Einstein Cultivation projects from the National Science Council. Starting in 2021, NCKU transitioned to the "2030 Cross-Generational Young Scholar Development Program," with a total of 58 approved projects (including multi-year projects) by 2022. Furthermore, since 2018, NCKU has received approval for 11 Yushan Young Scholars from the Ministry of Education and has successfully recruited 10 of them.