Stars and STEM Stories
GLOBE Taiwan Partnership: Science Festival Advances International STEM Collaboration in Asia and the Pacific
The 2026 GLOBE Taiwan Partnership’s Science Festival and International Student Exchange took place on 19 May 2026, in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Organized by the GLOBE Taiwan Partnership office at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University (NCU), the event brought together approximately 30 teachers and 80 students from Taiwan, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Thailand for scientific exchange, student research presentations, and international collaboration.
The opening ceremony began with a welcome address by Pay-Liam Lin, distinguished professor of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at NCU and Partnership Coordinator of the GLOBE Taiwan Partnership program. Special guest Dr. Wang-Lung Lee, director general of the Department of International Cooperation and Science Education at the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of Taiwan, delivered a speech on behalf of NSTC. The festival also welcomed keynote speaker Evangeline Ambat, community engagement specialist of the GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO), who shared insights into GLOBE initiatives and international STEM education collaboration.
The festival sessions featured a range of student research topics. Taiwanese students demonstrated strong interdisciplinary research capacity by integrating AI analysis, satellite data, and environmental observations into their projects. Student teams from Mongolia, the Philippines, and Thailand presented research on local environmental challenges, including water resources near Ulaanbaatar (the capital of Mongolia), macroinvertebrates as river health indicators, phytoplankton diversity and water quality, landslide risk monitoring, and urban greenhouse gas trends. Overall, student presentations highlighted the shared environmental concerns and scientific curiosity of youth across the Asia and Pacific region.
Beyond the scientific sessions, the event provided valuable opportunities for intercultural exchange and networking among students, teachers, and GLOBE Country Coordinators from different countries. On 20 May, international participants visited the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research at NCU and educational sites in Taoyuan, further strengthening regional collaboration and mutual understanding through shared scientific and cultural experiences.
The GLOBE Taiwan Partnership program will continue strengthening international collaboration, inquiry-based STEM education, and student research opportunities throughout the Asia and Pacific region. Through the integration of AI technologies, satellite remote sensing, and long-term environmental observations, the GLOBE Taiwan Partnership aims to foster globally minded young scientists and promote sustainability and environmental education through international scientific partnerships and exchange.
Learn more about GLOBE Taiwan.
Story and images courtesy of Pay-Liam Lin, GLOBE Taiwan Partnership Coordinator