National Sun Yat-sen University Signed MOU with Tuvalu, Establishing a Tie of International Collaboration

President Ying-Yao Cheng, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tuvaluan Minister of Public Constructions, Ampelosa Manoa Tehulu at the Taipei Guest House on September 5th, 2022, witnessed by the Tuvaluan Prime Minister Kausea Natano and Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu. They jointly established the Taiwan and Tuvalu Center on Marine Science and Engineering (TTCMSE). NSYSU is the first University in Taiwan to have an agreement with Tuvalu for maritime research and education.

Tuvalu is located in the South Pacific Ocean and consists of nine ring-shaped coral islands with rich maritime resources. It is one of the 14 UN member states that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan. President Cheng pointed out that climate change caused ocean acidification and sea level rise. Both Taiwan and Tuvalu face daunting challenges in marine ecology and coastal conservation. As one of the leading universities in Taiwan, NSYSU is noted for research in marine sciences, especially in the research areas of the South China Sea internal waves, underwater sonar, climate change and ocean acidification, and marine ecological conservation, as well as underwater vehicles. Over the years, NSYSU was designated by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to manage the "Dongsha Atoll Research Station". There are scientists and researchers from more than 29 countries who conduct oceanographic research in the South China Sea, with an average of 2,000 visits per year, which is of great help in promoting the international academic reputations of NSYSU and Taiwan. Since the agreement has been signed for the TTCMSE, NSYSU will also provide scholarships for Tuvalu students to study at NSYSU.

Dr. Chen-Tung Arthur Chen, Chair Professor of Research of NSYSU will be the first director of the TTCMSE. His outstanding research performance in marine science won him the first-position scientist in Asia and the eighth in the world. He will lead the research team of NSYSU to conduct marine biogeochemical research in Tuvalu, focusing on the topics of the carbon cycle, establishing the DNA database of Tuvaluan fish and plant diversity, and investigating marine natural products for medical application. The collaborative agreement also involves developing a local tsunami forecasting mechanism and providing assistance in maritime and ecological engineering.