[December 10, 2012]

Edinburgh U. Leader Visits NCKU to Set up Academic Cooperation

Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, Principal of University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, accompanied with his wife, visited National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), southern Taiwan, Dec. 6.

O'Shea told NCKU President Hwung-Hweng Hwung that he was interested in academic cooperation in alternative energy, optoelectronics, and clinical medicine.

Principle O'Shea, who was visiting Taiwan for the first time, praised NCKU for being a distinguished university in Taiwan and said he can see a big potential in collaborative projects between Edinburgh and NCKU.

"I think there will be a lot of potential there among the Five Year, 50 Billion projects working on the alternative energy," according to O'Shea who was impressed by the international profile of NCKU. He said he was confident the futre cooperation will yield good results.

O'Shea was very interested in NCKU's wave tank, inquiring detailed information about it. "The wave tank located at the An-Nan campus of NCKU is equipped with a state-of-the-art wave generator, which can not only simulate the regular movements of waves, but the solitary waves that may cause a tsunami," responded President Hwung, a hydraulic expert known for his research in wave modulation, wave dynamics and sediment transport.

As for the optoelectronics, Principle O'Shea mentioned the revolutionary research by Professor Harold Haas in Edinburgh who is leading a project of transmitting wireless data through LED bulbs that could be a real possibility to cooperate with NCKU, which is also strong in this field.

"The other place I think will be a lot of potential is clinical medicine, just like you're number one in Taiwan, we're number one in the United Kingdom and we're interested in issues of robots taking care of patients," according to O'Shea who was informed of the ongoing research on senior health care of Orange (News - Alert) Technology originated by NCKU.

Taiwan's first digital and high-tech future classroom iStudio at NCKU had left a great impression on Principle O'Shea during the visit. "The idea of controlling the devises by standing on the floor and the real-time recording of students' engagement are fascinating and the learning part is very exciting that I should go back to discuss with my architecture colleagues to do the same things you're doing here," he said.

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