SDG4
NCKU Science Education Center Promotes International Science Education in Malaysia, Kicking Off with Semiconductor Science
The Science Education Center, College of Sciences, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), was invited by Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School and Kuala Lumpur Confucian Private Secondary School in Malaysia to conduct science courses and recruitment activities from June 2 to June 4, 2025, in both East and West Malaysia. Led by Associate Professor Yu-Hsun Chou from the Department of Photonics, the NCKU Science Education Center team visited Malaysia to promote science education, public science outreach, and international recruitment—demonstrating NCKU’s commitment to expanding global educational collaboration and visibility.
On June 3, Associate Professor Yu-Hsun Chou served as the keynote speaker for the 3rd Science Camp at Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School. His talk, titled “Through Hardships to Ångströms, Turning Aspirations into AI”, offered an engaging and accessible introduction to the principles and applications of semiconductor chips. By connecting theoretical knowledge with everyday technologies, he sparked students’ curiosity about the future of science and technology. Questions such as “Why must chips be made of silicon?” and “How small can a transistor be?” or “If a process goes wrong, does the chip get scrapped?”—which could easily be mistaken for university-level exam questions—were in fact posed by enthusiastic junior and senior high school students attending the "Smart Chips and AI" themed session. More than 140 students participated in the event, with lively interaction and thought-provoking questions reflecting their strong interest and passion for science.
Following the keynote, the NCKU Science Education Center team introduced two hands-on courses that combined knowledge with practical application: “The Great Current Turn” and “Cosmic Rays All Around Us.” Aimed at helping students understand the core concepts of “Smart Chips and AI” through experiential learning, the team designed an innovative activity centered around a “conductive maze with circuit stickers.” Students built their own conductive mazes, allowing them to grasp the principles of circuits and conductivity while learning to troubleshoot and correct errors to complete a working circuit. Blending play, creativity, technology, and teamwork, the activity inspired computational thinking and system design skills, serving as a meaningful milestone on the path to the intelligent future.
The second half of the hands-on session featured the cloud chamber workshop, designed by Professor Yi Yang—former director of the NCKU Science Education Center and currently a researcher at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Physics. The NCKU team and faculty at Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School expressed their sincere gratitude to Professor Yang for generously granting permission to use and promote this teaching module in Malaysia. As cosmic rays—an omnipresent form of radiation on Earth—can even impact advanced industries such as chip manufacturing, this experiment provided students with a simple yet powerful way to explore their effects. By constructing their own cloud chambers, students observed the trails left by cosmic rays, learned about their origins, and discovered how such phenomena can influence everyday life. The experience offered a captivating glimpse into the wonders and excitement of scientific exploration.
On June 4, the NCKU Science Education Center team arrived at Confucian Private Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur to conduct a hands-on workshop featuring spectrometers and diffraction grating chocolate. By applying the rainbow phenomena seen on CDs to the chocolate-making process, students explored how light waves diffract through the fine textures of chocolate surfaces to create dazzling rainbow patterns—making science both delicious and fun.
The NCKU Science Education Center team carefully designed a series of engaging and in-depth science lectures and hands-on activities aimed at inspiring students’ passion for natural sciences and promoting international exchange in science education. Through these events, local students and teachers were introduced to NCKU’s rich academic resources, distinctive programs, and diverse, open learning environment. The team also invited outstanding international students to join NCKU in the shared pursuit of knowledge and excellence.
On June 3, Associate Professor Yu-Hsun Chou served as the keynote speaker for the 3rd Science Camp at Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School. His talk, titled “Through Hardships to Ångströms, Turning Aspirations into AI”, offered an engaging and accessible introduction to the principles and applications of semiconductor chips. By connecting theoretical knowledge with everyday technologies, he sparked students’ curiosity about the future of science and technology. Questions such as “Why must chips be made of silicon?” and “How small can a transistor be?” or “If a process goes wrong, does the chip get scrapped?”—which could easily be mistaken for university-level exam questions—were in fact posed by enthusiastic junior and senior high school students attending the "Smart Chips and AI" themed session. More than 140 students participated in the event, with lively interaction and thought-provoking questions reflecting their strong interest and passion for science.
Following the keynote, the NCKU Science Education Center team introduced two hands-on courses that combined knowledge with practical application: “The Great Current Turn” and “Cosmic Rays All Around Us.” Aimed at helping students understand the core concepts of “Smart Chips and AI” through experiential learning, the team designed an innovative activity centered around a “conductive maze with circuit stickers.” Students built their own conductive mazes, allowing them to grasp the principles of circuits and conductivity while learning to troubleshoot and correct errors to complete a working circuit. Blending play, creativity, technology, and teamwork, the activity inspired computational thinking and system design skills, serving as a meaningful milestone on the path to the intelligent future.
The second half of the hands-on session featured the cloud chamber workshop, designed by Professor Yi Yang—former director of the NCKU Science Education Center and currently a researcher at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Physics. The NCKU team and faculty at Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School expressed their sincere gratitude to Professor Yang for generously granting permission to use and promote this teaching module in Malaysia. As cosmic rays—an omnipresent form of radiation on Earth—can even impact advanced industries such as chip manufacturing, this experiment provided students with a simple yet powerful way to explore their effects. By constructing their own cloud chambers, students observed the trails left by cosmic rays, learned about their origins, and discovered how such phenomena can influence everyday life. The experience offered a captivating glimpse into the wonders and excitement of scientific exploration.
On June 4, the NCKU Science Education Center team arrived at Confucian Private Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur to conduct a hands-on workshop featuring spectrometers and diffraction grating chocolate. By applying the rainbow phenomena seen on CDs to the chocolate-making process, students explored how light waves diffract through the fine textures of chocolate surfaces to create dazzling rainbow patterns—making science both delicious and fun.
The NCKU Science Education Center team carefully designed a series of engaging and in-depth science lectures and hands-on activities aimed at inspiring students’ passion for natural sciences and promoting international exchange in science education. Through these events, local students and teachers were introduced to NCKU’s rich academic resources, distinctive programs, and diverse, open learning environment. The team also invited outstanding international students to join NCKU in the shared pursuit of knowledge and excellence.
Students from Tshung Tsin Secondary School actively asked questions, demonstrating full engagement and strong interest in the course content.
Group photo of students and teachers from the Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School science camp with the NCKU team.
A hands-on course combining science and sweets makes science more fun and engaging.
The students built their own cloud chambers and patiently observed cosmic rays.
