Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) continues to strengthen its international research partnerships. On October 20, 2026, CYCU welcomed a delegation from the Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The visit focused on discussions concerning artificial intelligence (AI), health risk assessment, and interdisciplinary research applications. Both sides also exchanged views on potential opportunities for joint research projects and personnel exchanges, with the aim of strengthening scientific ties between Taiwan and the United States and expanding international academic collaboration.
The visit was jointly organized by CYCU’s Center for Net-Zero Transition and Sustainability and the Office of International and Cross-Strait Education. Vice President Tsung-Yuan Wu hosted a luncheon attended by Yu-Chun Wang, Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Chief Sustainability Officer; Ying-Yi Hong, Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering; Hsiao-Jung Tien, Director of the Bachelor’s Degree Program in Artificial Intelligence Applications; and Shih-Che Hsu, Head of the Activities and Counseling Division of the Office of International and Cross-Strait Education. Participants discussed potential directions for interdisciplinary research partnerships and academic talent exchanges.
Located in Boulder, Colorado, the NOAA Global Systems Laboratory is one of the research laboratories under NOAA’s research division. The laboratory has long been engaged in advancing earth system prediction, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence technologies, applying its research findings to decision-support systems in areas such as public safety, aviation, energy, and wildfires.
The visiting delegation comprised Alicia Sorcic, Director of the International Affairs Office at NOAA Research; Nathan Hardin, Director of the Weather Information and Decision Support Division at the Global Systems Laboratory; and Tony Liao, Project Manager and Data Scientist at the Global Systems Laboratory.
CYCU Vice President Tsung-Yuan Wu noted that research on environmental and climate issues has gradually shifted from discipline-specific modeling toward interdisciplinary data integration and decision support. He emphasized that CYCU has continued to advance research in artificial intelligence, environmental health, and water resources engineering, providing a strong foundation for potential collaboration between the two institutions.
CYCU Chief Sustainability Officer Yu-Chun Wang outlined five proposed areas of research collaboration: comparative methodologies for AI-based regional forecasting models; standards for preparing observational datasets for AI applications; the use of satellite data in analyzing extreme heat and urban forests; integration of air quality forecasting with health risk assessment; and weather-related health prediction and decision support.
Beyond AI and climate-related research, CYCU’s Department of Civil Engineering also proposed several potential research topics, including wave–structure interactions involving floating photovoltaic systems, seabed responses in surf zones, pollutant transport in estuaries, coastal groundwater dynamics, and diagnostic analysis of typhoon intensity models. These topics could provide additional opportunities for future collaboration with relevant NOAA research units.
Regarding personnel exchanges, both sides discussed opportunities for short-term student research programs, reciprocal research visits, and internships. These initiatives could enable CYCU students and researchers to participate in research activities in the United States while welcoming NOAA researchers to CYCU for short-term academic exchanges. Through hands-on research experience and professional interaction, both institutions hope to strengthen academic engagement and develop practical experience in international research collaboration.
CYCU stated that the visit provided a valuable opportunity for both sides to gain a deeper understanding of their respective research expertise and institutional needs. Looking ahead, the university will continue discussions on potential memoranda of understanding (MOUs), collaborative research initiatives, and personnel exchanges, with the goal of expanding opportunities for international scientific cooperation.
