Research Express@NCKU - News Release

To cultivate excellent researchers who are capable of trans-disciplinary studies as early as possible, NCKU launched the “Trans-Disciplinary Program for Freshmen” as the first university in Taiwan and released the list of 31 qualified RFID projects that were carefully chosen on December 19^th. Each project will be funded with at most $50,000 NT. The students will begin from January 1 to August 31^st, 2008, and will hand in the reports on the results of their projects in the end. NCKU hopes to encourage its freshmen to do trans-disciplinary studies with the launch of the Program, which is full of creativity and is refreshing to traditional teaching style.

Professor Yonhua Tzeng (曾永華), VP for Research and Development, stated that the approach of trans-disciplinary research is different from that of interdisciplinary. It can be a brand-new field, and it is suitable for teams from different fields to work together. Therefore, this program can stimulate the freshmen and help them think out of the box and become innovative. They also get to learn to solve complicated social issues (soft science) with science and technology (hard science), and to simplify problems when they are in a complex situation. To produce the complementary effects of trans-disciplinary research, they need to use their knowledge in education, environment, solar energy and transportation. That way, when they face a huge challenge, they can handle it with ease, lower the complexity and take it into simpler elements.

For example, we may design a computer program combining plane-design (aeronautics and astronautics) and bridge-design (civil engineering), and use it in architecture. That way, we can reduce the cost of damages caused during typhoon seasons. Another example is the aging problem of the postwar baby boom. The birth rates have dropped, so that problem became even more severe, and the society is desperately in need of creative solutions. Therefore, students may apply trans-disciplinary approach in home-care monitoring system for the elderly with advanced technology so that the treatment and home-care experience may be more enjoyable. They may also design a testing bed with intellectual sensing function, so that healthy old people would still feel comfortable when they stay home alone.

The freshmen who are qualified for the Program must acquire considerable proficiency in at least two disciplines, and the subjects they study must be useful for the needs of the current society. Besides, the fund for each project will be given to their instructors, who will help them manage the fund.

The 31 projects that are first qualified are as follow: The Application of RFID, A Study of the NCKU English Website Weaknesses, The Obstacles for Foreign Exchange Students at NCKU, IsusPet Plan, The Study of Safety and Convenience of Bathtubs, Impacts of Nanotechnology on the Society in Taiwan, Investigation of the Safety Standard of Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure, Renaissance in Tainan, Super Special Slogans, Dieting problem of modern life V.S Proper dieting way of Ming Ching Dynasty, NCKUAID (APPLIED_RFID), How Graduates Become Scientists: A Laboratory Study, A Community Based Social Online Service for Knowledge Management in NCKU, The Proposal of Aging Society and Decreasing Birthrate in Scientific Society, The Prevention of Natural Disaster, Portable Mug Holder, Pondering on the economic policies, which influence on the economy of underworld in modern Taiwan, from the political reforms such as Yang Shang, An Shih Wang and Chu Cheng Chan, Lock & Luck, Healthful Mouse, Solar City Project, Mi-Chair Project, Transformation for Geriatric Wellness (TFG Wellness), The Second Life of Throw-Aways by Design, NCKU from Foreign Students' Perspectives, Do It Yourself Young &Versatile Products, The Application of Combination of Air-Conditioning and Aromatic Essential Oil, Investigate the Fat-Tail Distribution of E-Business Model Suitability for Taiwan Web-Business, Investigate the Causes of NCKU Students' Depression Leading to Suicidal Attempts and Intervention Methods, Investigate the University Relationship between Pleasurable Music and Alpha Waves Enhancement in Homo Sapiens, Investigate the Popularity Making a Website Hot, A credible Knowledge Basis (KB) for Chinese-American College Students, e.g. Depression KB Asian-Pacific Test-Bed.

Translated by Edward Wang