NCKU Science Education Center flies to Kinmen for a science-themed trip

Under the support of the "Science Outreach Program for Rural and Remote Areas" by the Office of Academic Affairs at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), from August 23rd to 25th, a team from the College of Science, led by Dean Chin-Chun Tsai, along with the Science Education Center (NCKU Science Center), flew to Kinmen to engage local junior and senior high school students in hands-on scientific activities. The event was primarily planned by Professor Yi Yang, the director of the Science Education Center, along with Professor Rue-Ron Hsu from the Department of Physics and Professor Yu-Hsun Chou from the Department of Photonics.

On the first day, August 23rd, Professor Yi Yang kicked off the activities at Kinmen High School, introducing the concept of cosmic rays and the AMS experiment led by Nobel laureate Dr. Samuel C. C. Ting, which NCKU has been involved in over the years. He shared anecdotes from the AMS upgrade project, emphasizing the importance of experience over theory, cautioning against blind trust in others (especially experts), and the need to defend one's own integrity. Following this, students were guided in constructing cloud chambers to observe the tracks of cosmic rays firsthand, realizing their omnipresence. Finally, Professor Yang demonstrated the practical training of AI models sponsored by Landing AI, allowing students to experience how to train AI models to detect cosmic rays.

On the second day, August 24th, the Science Education Center visited Jincheng Junior High School. In the morning, Professor Yi Yang and Professor Rue-Ron Hsu engaged junior high school students in scientific activities. Professor Yi Yang introduced students to cosmic rays, while Professor Rue-Ron Hsu prepared a "Radiant Heat and Science Escape Room Experience," sharing teaching materials and tools developed by the NCKU Science Education Center for the National Science Week activities organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In each of the three sessions, students participated in science escape room challenges, learning about the physics of heat and force, and engaging in hands-on activities to understand the principles behind them. In the afternoon, Professor Rue-Ron Hsu and Professor Yu-Hsun Chou continued the scientific activities with the students, focusing on the exploration of light's mysteries.

Throughout this outreach program, the NCKU Science Education Center not only shared cutting-edge scientific research with the students in Kinmen but also provided them with hands-on learning experiences in fundamental scientific concepts. Additionally, the team visited the "Jincheng Junior High School Observatory" managed by Teacher Sung-Hui Tsai , sharing experiences in science education and expressing aspirations for future collaboration in promoting astronomy education and outreach efforts.