Schools win top awards for sustainability and cultural research projects

Kaohsiung's Nanlong Junior High School and Taoyuan's Chang Geng Elementary School have clinched the top awards in the third National Primary and Secondary School Action Plan Competition. The event, organized by the Meinong Association of Taiwanese Scholars, celebrated innovative strategies addressing critical issues such as net-zero emissions, agricultural education, AI, and sustainable management.

Nanlong Junior High's "E-Gen Maker Team" impressed judges with their forward-thinking project, "Walk for Watt: Unbelievable E-Gen Rise - Nanlong AI Net-Zero Campus and Microgrid Action." Their proposal ingeniously uses piezoelectric sensors to convert kinetic energy from footsteps into electrical power, embodying a pioneering energy recovery concept. Professor Kao Chih-ming, head judge for the junior high category, highlighted the project's value in addressing real-world problems, noting students' keen observation of dim lighting, limited funding, and potential safety risks in rural campuses, leading them to seek technological solutions.

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Starting from real problems.

Chang Geng Elementary School's "Building Hakka Village Dreams, Designing Fun Together" was lauded as a "model of action research." Professor Liu Yung-yuan, lead judge for the elementary division, praised the students' in-depth exploration of Taoyuan's Hakka village culture, characterized by extensive research and a rigorous framework. Notably, the participating students actively engaged with local representatives, legislators, and government officials to discuss the practical implementation of their research findings, demonstrating a core understanding of action research principles.

Both winning projects were commended for their practical application and connection to Sustainable Development Goals. Nanlong Junior High's initiative directly links to SDG 7 (Clean Energy) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), transforming net-zero sustainability from a slogan into a daily campus reality. Chang Geng Elementary's students showcased remarkable communication and practical skills, presenting their findings with clarity and logic that belied their age.

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A model of action research.