The eighth annual Ping-Yeh Science Festival in Kaohsiung and the 12th Aerospace Science Education Creative Design Competition Awards Ceremony were jointly held on November 23 (2025) at Heping Elementary School in Gangshan District, Kaohsiung City.
The activity was planned and organized by Professor Hudson Hsu and his team from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST). 45 universities and institutions from around the country participated in the event, which featured a total of 65 educational booths, including 52 science market stalls and 13 “national defense” experience booths. It is estimated that around 4,000 parents and children attended the fair and took part in the activities.
PROMOTING LOCAL ENGAGEMENT AND TALENT CULTIVATION
A key aim of University Social Responsibility (USR) is to foster local connections and cultivate talent. Since taking over the responsibilities for the Ping-Yeh Festival in its third year, Professor Hudson Hsu’s team at NPUST has worked to gradually expanded the event. Over the following years, the festival transitioned from an activity focused on farmers’ markets and picnics for local schools, to a science education carnival centered on interactive science market booths.
Year by year, the number of science market stalls has steadily grown from an initial 26 to over 53. Through hands-on activities and interactive challenges, students are encouraged to develop scientific thinking and problem-solving skills. The festival has now become an annual regional highlight in northern Kaohsiung, serving as a model example for local revitalization and community transformation.
THE SYNERGY OF CORPORATE AND UNIVERSITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
NPUST noted that this year’s event also benefited from the participation and sponsorship of several local industries whose spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) aligns perfectly with NPUST’s commitment to University Social Responsibility (USR).
Thanks to the concerted efforts of industry, government, academia, and local communities, the Ping-Yeh Science Festival has received widespread acclaim in recent years. Meanwhile, enhanced media coverage has helped boost participation from a few hundred attendees in its early days to several thousand.
The festival provides children with an early opportunity to experience science in everyday life, while adults can gain a deeper understanding of scientific applications. The philosophy is clear: humanity is made great by its dreams, and life is improved by technology. Only through continuous, deep-rooted cultivation of science can technology achieve rich and fruitful development.
