【25 years of dedication: NCNU's success in local revitalization】
In 1999, Puli, located in Nantou (central Taiwan), was devastated by the Jiji earthquake. In the aftermath of the disaster, a group of teachers and students from National Chi Nan University supported residents in Puli in the rebuilding of their homes. To this day, NCNU continues to engage in in-depth field studies and seeks solutions for the locality in the spirit of co-prosperity and coexistence by using its professional expertise and technology.
Focusing on water resources and environmental sustainability, the team aimed to transform the Puli water bamboo, which produces over 90% of Taiwan's water bamboo. Environmental problems include the power consumption and light pollution; overexploitation of underground water; and air pollution from burning bamboo husks. An LED light module developed by the team can replace conventional lamps, conserve 75% of power consumption and carbon emissions, reduce light pollution, and maintain satisfactory quality and quantity of production. The team is developing a technology to purify, recycle, and reuse field water. It has developed a technology that reuses bamboo husks to create biochar and bioethanol, aligned with the circular economy. The team promotes the carbonization of bamboo husks after high-value are extracted and purified field water is reused to achieve zero waste. The team aims to develop a circular economy model; share and promote its technology globally; and achieve six SDGs by the UN.
【Bringing warmth in the cold 】
It was only 10 °C the evening when we shouted out the measurements of leaf length, leaf width, and plant height to be recorded, and the shouts reached the home of the farm owner. She could not bear to see us work in the cold wind and stewed some ginger duck for us. She ran out of the house, called us in, and said the following: "It's cold outside. Come have some hot ginger duck. It doesn't taste so good when it gets cold!" The farmers' care for us was imprinted on our hearts through bowls of ginger duck. We then realized the warmth we could experience when participating in the USR project!
【Dance of colors】
Every aspect of the course was based on the concept of ecological conservation and sustainable environment. Approximately 600 students participated in the course. Teachers and students worked together to establish a butterfly habitat and reproduced the glory of the Butterfly Kingdom, a name used to be bestowed on Puli. This enabled students to appreciate the significance of butterfly conservation, perceive the efforts involved in being a green university, and devote themselves to practicing university social responsibility.
【Restoring the cleanness of the Pipa drain 】
In local people's memory, the Pipa drain was a stinky ditch with plastic bags floating in the water. Some quickly passed by the drain with their noses pinched, whereas others strived to clean the area. We look forward to the day when we may once again see the clean and beautiful "mother river" as we pass by.
【Our distance with the community】
In a team course, the Wugong community was designated as the main practice field for four consecutive semesters. The curriculum was designed to establish a sustainable community environment based on its development in ecology, humanity, and history. Students taking the course practiced the concept of the Satoyama Initiative through community interviews, observations, and other practical approaches.
【Sending love to Cambodia】
In the first stage of the USR project, teachers led students to establish a drinking water purification system in a remote primary school in Cambodia, including the planning, design, discussion, and construction of the facility. The system provided clean drinking water for over 2000 people in the school. In the second stage, NCNU cooperated with the Rotary Club in Cambodia, International Institute of Cambodia University of Technology, and China Charity Federation to introduce solar panel technology into rural Cambodia. This initiative included the provision of power for the school and LED lighting systems to address the lack of lighting in classrooms.