News

NTNU Life Science Professor Chung-Hsin Wu Investigates Taiwan Bats’ Echolocation Ability

In the past, scientists discovered that many species of bats produce high-pitched sounds to locate prey and navigate their way. Chung-Hsin Wu, chairman of Bat Association of Taiwan and professor of the Department of Life Science of National Taiwan Normal University, has been studying bats for 10 years. Professor Wu found that bats know how to capture ultrasound waves emitted by themselves, which enables them to fly and catch prey without colliding with other bats.

Bats: Natural Pesticide and Protector of Ecosystem Rather Than Blood-sucking Vampires

In an effort to clear names for the long demonized bats and highlight their great contributions to the world’s ecosystem, United Nations Environment Programme declared 2011-2012 Year of the Bat. This year, Bat Association of Taiwan, one of the United Nations Year of the Bat campaign’s partner organizations in Asia, will join with Taipei Zoo and Endemic Species Research Institute, Executive Yuan to organize a series of celebrations and academic conferences for Year of the Bat. Additionally, Bat Association of Taiwan will build up bat houses in junior high schools and elementary schools around Taiwan and make teaching materials to educate students about bat conservation.

Thesis on “Development of the Hybrid Precision-Miniature Machine Tool” Won the HIWIN Thesis Award

Under the supervision of Dr. Chen Shun-Tong from NTNU Department of Mechatronic Technology, Yang Hong-Ye, a graduate student from Department of Industrial Education, conducted a thesis research project on “development of the hybrid precision-miniature machine tool,” and won Golden Award of the 7th HIWIN Thesis Award—reputed to be “Nobel Prize for the Taiwan Machinery Industry”—as well as one million NT dollars.

Integration of Chinese Teaching and Digital Technology Learning Chinese Through 3D Simulation

With Chinese learning fever underway, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) has developed the first Chinese proficiency grading index and curriculum guidelines, and has also integrated various kinds of Chinese learning materials with digital learning, providing students from Western countries with “Online Interactive Chinese Learning”. Foreign students can have a tour around Taiwan through 3D simulation, learning Chinese as well as gaining a deep understanding of Chinese culture.

The NTNU Cool Chinese Research Team Serves Chinese Learners Worldwide

With the Chinese fever sweeping across the world, the number of Chinese learners is going up. As information technology improves, a latest trend has emerged, which is to teach through digital media. The COOL Chinese research team of National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) has adopted software like JoinNet, Second Life, Wiki Chinese and CHEERS to conduct multimedia Chinese teaching, serving those learners who cannot come to Chinese-speaking countries. If the teaching model is proved feasible, there will be an enormous market to be tap into.