Advanced Public Transportation Research Center
Advanced public transportation systems incorporating multiple disciplines have become more common around the world as a way to increase livability and provide greener, more sustainable and innovative people-oriented services. The need for a user-centered public transportation system has become even more imperative due to advanced onboard information and communication technologies, increased demand for suburban public transportation, the rise of innovative operating models, and the challenges faced in an aging society. To achieve this goal, NTU established the Advanced Public Transportation Research Center in 2010 with subsidies from the National Science and Technology Council and support from the Intelligent Transportation Society of Taiwan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs Telematics Promotion Office, and the Industrial Technology Research Institute’s Information and Communications Research Laboratories. The Center aims to train top public transportation professionals, expand knowledge and skills to all sectors, and establish an exchange platform between industry, government, and academia to promote public transportation research and development in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region. It actively participates in local government urban planning & development, helping to integrate public transportation and land planning. It has made significant contributions to Taiwan's intelligent payment system, intelligent public transportation, highway passenger transport route reviews, as well as recent policy initiatives in sustainable transportation, rural transportation, public bike-sharing, and Mobility as a Service (MaaS).
Conserving Taiwan's Precious Iijima's Gudgeon: A Collaborative Research and Action Initiative by NTU
The Houlong River and its tributaries in Miaoli County are crucial habitats for the endangered Tier-1 conservation species Squalidus iijimae (Iijima's gudgeon) in Taiwan. Since 2022, the research team from NTU has been assisting the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency in conducting a comprehensive study on Iijima's gudgeon. The primary objective is to gain insights into the extent and suitability of their habitats and identify potential threats. This research will serve as a foundation for future conservation and breeding efforts. Moreover, in collaboration with the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, NTU has launched the "Iijima's Gudgeon Conservation Action Conference." This conference is dedicated to offering expert advice on critical aspects, including the population status, survival challenges, and conservation strategies related to Iijima's gudgeon.
Contributions of NTU Faculty to the Government
Several faculty members from NTU serve as members of National Council for Sustainable Development, assisting in advancing Taiwan’s sustainability goals. They provide expert advice and guidance such as the Voluntary National Review and the formulation of the "12 Key Strategies" for achieving Taiwan's ambitious goal of "2050 Net-Zero Emissions."
Further, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our professors from the College of Medicine and College of Public Health provided expert policy recommendations on pandemic control and vaccine distribution, contributing to the effective management of the domestic outbreak.
