NTNU Science Team Inspires Tsou Students with Hands-On Experiments in Remote Alishan

For over a decade, a dedicated science education team from National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) has been bringing laboratory experiences to remote and island communities across Taiwan. Recently, the team spent nearly two weeks at Dabang Elementary School in Alishan Township, Chiayi County, hosting the "Summer Fun Learning - Tsou Little Scientists Camp."

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The NTNU team not only brought courses to the school but also brought professional teachers and experimental equipment into the tribal community. This allowed children to understand scientific concepts from textbooks through practical operations, building their interest and confidence in science.

The camp engaged nearly 50 elementary students from the Tsou indigenous community, offering hands-on experiments in physics, chemistry, and biology. This initiative is part of a long-standing effort by NTNU's science education center to extend scientific resources to underserved areas. Annually, they host around 600 disadvantaged junior and senior high school students on campus for science camps and also travel to remote locations like Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, and various counties on the main island.

Chen Li-chuan, principal of Dabang Elementary School, highlighted the importance of such programs for students in remote areas who have limited opportunities to engage with science experiments. "The NTNU team not only brought courses to the school but also brought professional teachers and experimental equipment into the tribal community," she said. "This allowed children to understand scientific concepts from textbooks through practical operations, building their interest and confidence in science."

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Science cannot just stay on textbooks and blackboards; students should understand scientific principles through practical work.

The camp emphasized "hands-on and minds-on" learning, encouraging students to actively participate, observe phenomena, ask questions, and articulate their findings. Yao Ching-fa, an honorary professor at NTNU's Department of Chemistry and the lead instructor, stressed that science should not be confined to textbooks and blackboards but experienced through practical application.

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The electrolysis experiment made me see unexpected color changes. The course content was suitable for my level, and the teacher explained the experimental principles in depth, making me realize that science is very related to life and I learned a lot.

Fifth-grader Pu Chen-yu shared his excitement about an electrolysis experiment that produced unexpected color changes, noting how the teacher explained the principles, revealing the relevance of science to everyday life. Sixth-grader Yang Man-an particularly enjoyed the microscopy class, observing leaf cells and tissues invisible to the naked eye. Fourth-grader Wang Rui-chien found that conducting experiments with acids and bases solidified her understanding of these concepts, boosting her confidence and interest in future science learning.

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I especially liked the microscopy class. Through the microscope, I saw leaf cells and tissues that the naked eye cannot see. The course explanation was also very detailed.