STUST USR's Carbon Storage and Fishing USR Project—a cross-border integrated sustainable net-zero development plan for green energy creation and smart farming in the ancient capital of Tuchengzai—recently connected with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with its practical plan for a green energy smart fish farm. In the Item 7 of the Development Goals (SDGs), Affordable and Clean Energy, STUST has made fruitful achievements in the field of environmental sustainability, and won the Silver Award of the Taiwan Sustainability Action Award (TSAA) from the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE). Acting President De-guang Chou of STUST received the award on behalf of the university. This honor is an encouragement and affirmation of the environmental sustainability of STUST. In the future, the university will continue to exert its influence and promote the concept of sustainability to the society.

【STUST won the Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Award—Silver Award. Acting President De-guang Chou (right) was receiving the commendation.】

STUST takes "fulfilling the social responsibility of the university" as one of the main pillars of school development. It has established the Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability Center to implement the administrative support of the University Social Responsibility Practice Plan (USR Plan) and mobilize the investment of teachers and students. Solving local issues and deepening the campus' awareness of social responsibility, the third phase of the project received a total of five USR project funding from the Ministry of Education, with outstanding results, ranking first among public and private universities in the country. The Carbon Storage and Fishing project of STUST received a grant from the Ministry of Education as one of the third USR sprouting projects. With "talent cultivation" as the main axis of action, STUST planned social practice courses on campus and led teachers and students to introduce green power technology and smart mobility in Tucheng Fish Farm, Tainan. The system is committed to reducing carbon emissions, improving efficiency, and developing a transformation direction for aquaculture fisheries, thereby maintaining the resilience of the local food production chain.

【In the 2024 Asia-Pacific and Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards Ceremony, the USR Carbon Storage and Fishing project team of STUST won the Silver Award. The picture shows a group photo of the distinguished guests attending the meeting.】

You-ren Chen, the host of the Carbon Storage and Fishing project and a teacher from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said that since the project was implemented for more than a year, teachers have observed that students have discovered that they can contribute to society through interactions with local partners, thereby strengthening their own teamwork. The technical level and theoretical knowledge can significantly enhance self-confidence and learning motivation. In addition to continuing to conduct tests on small-scale green power installations and environmental sensing devices at cooperative fish pond sites, the team is also conducting multiple green energy promotion, environmental education and practical workshops inside and outside the school to drive school cohesion and social influence , looking forward to showing the public the energy of the team, allowing the concept of environmental sustainability to take root, and creating a beautiful landscape of symbiosis and co-prosperity between the university and the local area.

【Prof. You-ren Chen, the host of the USR Carbon Storage and Fishing project at STUST, was conducting energy and environmental education at Sharon Junior High School.】

De-guang Chou, Acting President of STUST, said that it is the current world trend to use the academic energy of colleges and universities to deeply cultivate the ground and integrate sustainable development. For many years, STUST has used the majors of various departments to connect local issues and sustainability indicators. Teachers and students have jointly thought about solutions and put them into action. Its abundant social practice energy has been recognized by all walks of life. The award-winning Carbon Storage and Fishing project has successfully led teachers and students on campus to apply renewable energy knowledge and AIOT technology to implement projects. In addition to promoting the green transformation of local industries, students can obtain gain more practical experience, improve technical capabilities and social responsibility, become talents in the field of environmental sustainability, and promote broader social changes.

【STUST's Carbon Storage and Fishing USR project led students to contact local fish farmers to personally understand the needs of the local industry.】