“Together in Gongliao - Creating Beautiful Natural Landscapes of Symbiosis, Coexistence, and Shared Benefits”
National Taiwan Ocean University USR Project - “Together in Gongliao - Creating Beautiful Natural Landscapes of Symbiosis, Coexistence, and Shared Benefits”
Gongliao is sparsely populated, with low development. Its coastal areas have ample aquaculture, and there are mountains with abundant wildlife and ancient trails. Farming and fishing towns have declined, so the area suffers from emigration, low birth rate, an aging population, environmental damage, and lost culture. Revitalizing the community and sustainable development are pressing issues.
Local issues: Abandoned terraced fields, deserted mountain trails, overgrowth.
Solutions: Restore terraced fields, clear historic Baojia trails, outdoor art installations
“When it is harvest time at Jimuling, ears of golden rice sway in the wind” - this is a scene from 200 years ago. But youths have moved away, 99% of fields are abandoned, farming villages have declined, and overgrowth is rife.
Our team surveyed Jimuling on July 2, where we discovered Mr. Hsiao working alone to restore terraced fields and cultivate the land. Mr. Hsiao moved back home because he saw an interview with Wu Nien-Jen in CommonWealth Parenting Magazine, where Wu said, “I don’t have a hometown, because there’s no one left, the people have scattered.” Wu’s hometown, the mining village of Da-Cu-Keng, is gone from maps! To protect Jimuling from this fate, Mr. Hsiao went home to restore the terraced fields and return the area to its former glory. National Taiwan Ocean University offered its research capabilities to help with these efforts. During the summer, teachers and students cleared the paths between fields, and chopped trees and bamboo. The large trees and marshy areas demanded focus and skill. Baojia Road was cleared by NTOU students and teachers. They also helped harvest and mill the rice.
The team created art installations such as a bamboo arch and wind chimes, and a large bird’s nest, while also clearing away overgrowth. Through their experiences, the teachers and students understood how hard it is to restore and cultivate the land. However, the true test will be whether young people can make a living after moving home.
Local issues: Cultural heritage, sustainable use of environment and resources, value-added products, industry revitalization
Solutions: Promote the culture of female divers, revitalize the area, develop economic products
Mao'ao Fishing Village is an old village bypassed by development. The traditional elements of the village are well-preserved, with century-old stone houses and a culture of female divers. The houses are made of stone because early settlers had to use local materials, and these houses are important cultural assets of northeastern Taiwan.
Faculty and students from National Taiwan Ocean University worked with locals to clean the river and promote environmental education, to protect the environment and use resources sustainably by cultivating the fishing industry. The NTOU team also learned about the female divers at Mao’ao through a survey of cultural industries. The divers collected resources such as agar weed, carrageen seaweed, and shellfish when they were young. As marine resources dwindled, these female divers could no longer make a living. Coupled with the strenuous and risky nature of the job, this line of work seems destined to die out.
After a survey of local resources, the team realized that the community needed a place to express their culture and welcome tourists. Working with students from the Department of Cultural and Creative Industries, the team renovated the second floor of an abandoned kindergarten. It became a classroom of ocean culture, with posters of the village, diver culture, and agar jelly DIY instructions, as well as community tours and information about divers.
NTOU professor Tsai Jenn-Shou also created aquacultural products with local characteristics. In Gongliao, abalones are farmed with seawater. The professor developed meatballs and XO sauce made with abalones, which are easily prepared and served. Agar weed is rich in gelatin, polysaccharides, and water-soluble fibers and minerals. Most moisturizing cosmetics use seaweed extracts or polysaccharides, so NTOU developed a line of agar face masks and soaps. The team has also developed low-calorie, high-fiber agar noodles.
NTOU’s students and faculty are reviving nearby communities, developing marine tourism, leisure, cultural-creative, and community reconstruction projects, to promote the sustainable use of marine resources and realize the “Together in Gongliao” project. NTOU fulfills its USR by developing marine industries, cultivating talent, and sustainable development.
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University characteristic Startup Stage Project
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Keelung City
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National Taiwan Ocean University
Further reading
Measures for Leaving a Message to Enter the Draw for the Live Streaming of the Opening Ceremony
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Event Period
From 13:00 to 14:00 on December 12 (Saturday), 2020
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Event Measures
Log in to your personal Facebook or Google account to proceed with leaving a message; each account with a successful message of #2020usrexpo left before the end of the live streaming of the opening ceremony will have an opportunity to enter the draw, and each account is restricted to winning the prize once only.
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List of Winners
On December 14 (Monday), 2020, the list of winners will be announced on the event official website https://2020usrexpo.org/) Announcement of the list of winners
Event Prize Content
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1st Prize
“Huei Yeh” Power Extreme Massage Gun 1 winner
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2nd Prize
Nestle Dolce Gusto Genio 2 1 winner
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3rd Prize
KINYO Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Speaker 2 winner
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4th Prize
7-11 Gift Voucher valued at NT$200 27 winner
Announcement of the list of winners
The various prizes are expected to be notified via email and also announced on the event official website on December 14 (Monday), please will the prize winners pay attention to the prize-winning information, and send back the relevant documents according to the notices & explanations; no separate notification will be issued.
Notices
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