Taiwan’s participation in the U.S. Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program has been renewed for another five years, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology Sept. 10.
The NASA-sponsored initiative offers elementary and high school students, teachers and members of the public the opportunity to take part in data collection and scientific processes as well as contribute meaningfully to strengthening understanding of the global environment. GLOBE covers disciplines including atmospheric, biosphere, hydrosphere and Earth system sciences.
About 50 schools across Taiwan have joined the program, the MOST said, adding that by volume of data, the nation was the sixth and third largest contributor to the GLOBE community in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
According to the ministry, continued involvement in the project will facilitate expanded exchanges on science education with the U.S. and partners throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Since joining GLOBE in 2013, Taiwan has staged conferences for students and teachers from countries such as India, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Thailand. A recent example was an artificial intelligence event held in July at the Central Taiwan Science Park AI Robotics Hub in Taichung City.
Prominent visitors to Taiwan under the initiative include Jack Kaye, associate director for research of the Earth Science Division at NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. He delivered a talk on environmental protection and engaged in data collection activities at Fudan High School in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City in 2016.
The agreement to continue Taiwan’s participation in the program was inked by Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. and the American Institute in Taiwan Aug. 14 in Washington.
GLOBE Chairman Tony P. Murphy has invited Taiwan to share its experiences in promoting science education with the global community, the AIT said, adding that going forward, Taiwan’s involvement in the program will renew automatically every five years. (KWS-E)
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