Taiwan Tech Associate Professor Sen-Tung Wu from the Graduate Institute of Energy and Sustainability Technology under the Industry-Academia Innovation College offers the course “Introduction to Green Energy and Sustainability Education”. During the winter break, he collaborated with FSP Technology Inc. to lead 35 students - including those enrolled in the course as well as students from National Taipei University of Technology and National Taiwan University’s electrical engineering graduate programs - to Yutian Elementary Schoolin Jiaosi Township, Yilan County. There, they conducted a “Science Popularization Commuter Train” outreach activity with 40 elementary school students.

Sen-Tung Wu, Associate Professor at Taiwan Tech’s Graduate Institute of Energy and Sustainability Technology, collaborated with FSP Technology Inc. during the winter break to lead students to Yutian Elementary School for a “Science Popularization Commuter Train” teaching activity.

Professor Sen-Tung Wu noted that Taiwan Tech students possess strong abilities in both hands-on technical practice and theoretical analysis, along with a humble attitude toward learning. He hopes they can break out of conventional frameworks, contribute their knowledge, and help children in rural schools discover and enjoy science. Through science education, the program aims to reduce the urban–rural learning gap, ensuring that whether in big cities or small towns, “the science commuter train stops at every station.”

The first lesson for the children was “A Glowing Lunar New Year Card (Year of the Horse).

Jun-Qi Chen, a first-year master’s student at Taiwan Tech’s Graduate Institute of Energy and Sustainability Technology, shared that from initial preparation and teaching material design to repeated experimental trials, every stage of the activity was full of challenges. It also deepened his understanding of how difficult it is to “simplify complexity”. To ensure the children could understand and enjoy the activities, the team continuously adjusted their explanations, incorporating real-life examples and interactive elements so that students could realize that science is everywhere in daily life and understand its importance in societal development.

Ying-Hsi Liu, another first-year master’s student, explained that the first lesson, “A Glowing Lunar New Year Card (Year of the Horse)”, involved folding thick paper, attaching a button battery inside for power, and using copper foil to simulate circuit board traces, enabling a small light bulb on the card’s cover to illuminate. The cover featured various horse designs created by the children, who enthusiastically shared their creative works such as “cow-pattern horses” and “unicorn horses.”

Taiwan Tech students explained to the children the principles and construction process of water rockets.

The second lesson involved building “water rockets,” which became the children’s favorite dynamic experiment. After assembling fins and completing construction in the classroom, the activity moved to the center of the playground. Using a pump to pressurize a plastic bottle, the rocket was launched by releasing the locking ring at its base. During the process, the university students bonded closely with the children, discussing how to make the rockets fly farther and more stably. This not only encouraged experiential and imaginative thinking among the children but also allowed Taiwan Tech students to reconnect with a sense of childhood curiosity.

“Water rockets” became the children’s favorite dynamic experiment.

Professor Sen-Tung Wu explained that the course “Introduction to Green Energy and Sustainability Education” focuses on practical issues in renewable energy, related applications, and various methods and principles of green energy generation. In the latter half of the course, students engage in science outreach lesson design and problem-based learning (PBL), working in groups to develop experiments grounded in scientific theory. These experiments are designed to be energy-related, engaging, and safe. The activity at Yutian Elementary School fully demonstrated the outcomes of these course designs. He also encouraged graduate students to give back to society whenever possible, in addition to coursework, academic research, and project execution.

Dr. Tseng-Chuan Huang (left), Principal of Yutian Elementary School, presented a certificate of appreciation to Professor Sen-Tung Wu (right).