As the first anniversary of the Matai’an Creek landslide-dammed lake breach disaster approaches, Guangfu Township—once severely impacted by mudflows and sediment deposits—remains on the path to recovery and reconstruction. One year after the disaster, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has launched a three-year Hualien Science Workstation to bring the university’s academic research capacity into the affected area. Covering farmland, forests, and communities, the workstation maintains ongoing dialogue with local residents and responds to real and urgent needs.

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) held its 2026 Teachers’ Day Celebration on September 23 at Cheng-Hsing Hall on the Cheng-Hsing Campus. The event honored faculty members for guiding students through knowledge and inspiring them to explore new ideas and possibilities through both teaching and personal examples. A total of 151 faculty members received 162 honors across nine award categories, including the Excellent Teacher Award, Education Contribution Award and Professor Emeritus. The awards recognized their dedication and contributions to teaching, research and service.

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) recently hosted a delegation from Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT), led by President Nariman Farvardin, alongside representatives from Taiwan's Ministry of Education. Welcoming the guests, Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang highlighted a shared ethos of applying knowledge to tackle real-world challenges. Highly praising NCKU’s R&D capabilities and industry linkages, the SIT delegation agreed to initiate course alignment, establish "3+2 Dual Degree Programs," and launch summer semiconductor study initiatives to cultivate high-tech talent.

Associate Professor Wei-Hsuan Hsu of NCKU’s Institute of Food Safety, Hygiene and Risk Management focuses her research on gut microbiota and extracellular vesicle-mediated interspecies communication. Her work goes beyond examining how microorganisms affect human health to explore how microbes and their hosts communicate with each other, with applications extending to next-generation probiotics, food safety, environmental pollution, and precision health. Moving beyond the traditional research framework of explaining health and disease primarily through the composition of the gut microbiota, Prof. Hsu proposes that extracellular vesicles may serve as important messengers linking diet, the environment, gut microorganisms, and human health. Her research provides a new scientific foundation for disease prevention and health promotion and has earned her recognition with the 2026 Ta-You Wu Memorial Award.

On September 15, the Academia-Industry Consortium for Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) held its 13th Member Assembly and Board of Directors and Supervisors Election at the National Science and Technology Council’s Cybersecurity and Smart Technology R&D Building in Shalun, Tainan. National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) President Meng-Ru Shen was re-elected Chairman by a wide margin, and Vice President Yung-Chun Lee was elected Chief Supervisor. In the afternoon, a themed forum on silicon photonics and advanced packaging followed at the same venue, featuring a keynote speech by National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Cheng-Wen Wu titled “The Greater South’s Future: Taiwan’s New Science and Technology Policy Framework.” Wu shared insights on industrial development and technology policy planning for the Greater South region. The event drew nearly 200 participants from southern Taiwan’s related industry-chain companies, corporate and institutional bodies, and university representatives.