NDHU College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography (NDHU CESO; ) is Taiwan's leading interdisciplinary school of

Environmental Studies Environmental studies (EVS or EVST) is a multidisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human behavior, human interaction with the Natural environment, environment. Environmental studies connects principles from the physical sci ...

and

Oceanography Oceanography (), also known as oceanology, sea science, ocean science, and marine science, is the scientific study of the ocean, including its physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of to ...

National Dong Hwa University National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) is a national university, national research university located in Hualien County, Hualien, Taiwan. Established in 1994, NDHU offers sixth widest range of disciplines in Taiwan, including the sciences, engine ...

(NDHU). Founded in 2009, NDHU CESO is formed as Taiwan's first school for

through merger of Graduate Institute of Natural Resources Management, Graduate Institute of Environmental Policy, Graduate Institute of Ecological and Environmental Education, Graduate Institute of Earth Sciences, Graduate Institute of Marine Biology, and Graduate Institute of Biological Resources and Technology from

and National Hualien University of Education. NDHU CESO offers Taiwan's first interdisciplinary MSc program for

Humanity Humanity most commonly refers to: * Human, also humankind * Humanity (virtue) Humanity may also refer to: Literature * ''Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century'', a 1999 book by Jonathan Glover * ''Humanity'', a 1990 science fiction n ...

and Environmental Science through partnership with NDHU College of Humanities and Social Sciences and

NDHU College of Indigenous Studies NDHU College of Indigenous Studies (NDHU CIS; ) is a school of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University (NDHU). Founded in 2001, it traces its root back to the Graduate Institute of Ethnic Relations and Cultures in 1995 with Professor ...

, and co-offer Future Earth Ecology Program with NTU and NTHU to nurture Taiwan's

naturalist Natural history is a domain of inquiry involving organisms, including animals, fungi, and plants, in their natural environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. A person who studies natural history is cal ...

. NDHU CESO also has partnership with Nepal Ministry of Forests and Environment on environmental education training.

History

Prior to foundation

Graduate Institute of Natural Resources Management (1994-2009)

NDHU Graduate Institute of Natural Resource Management (GINRM) was established in 1994 as NDHU's founding institute and is affiliated with NDHU School of Management. It was the pioneer in the field of

natural resource management Natural resource management (NRM) is the management of natural resources such as Land (economics), land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generati ...

in Taiwan. GINRM was founded by Dr. Hsu Kuo-Shih, the Founding Director of

Taroko National Park Taroko National Park () is one of the nine wonders in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park carved by the Liwu River. The park spans Taichung Municipality, Nantou County, and Hualien County and is located ...

, with a focus on

and

nature conservation Nature conservation is the ethic/moral philosophy and conservation movement focused on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. A range of values ...

. Following rapid growth in the academic field of natural resource tourism and

Environmental governance Environmental governance are the processes of decision-making involved in the control and management of the environment and natural resources. These processes includes government, business and civil society. Environmental governance may also refe ...

, it branched out to establish the Graduate Institute of Environmental Policy (GIEP) and Graduate Institute of Tourism and Recreation Management (GITRM).

Graduate Institute of Environmental Policy (1999-2009)

NDHU Graduate Institute of Environmental Policy (GIEP) was established in 1999. It was founded by Dr.Wang Hurng-Jyuhn, a Taiwan's scholar in

environmental policy Environmental policy is the commitment of an organization or government to the laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues. These issues generally include air and water pollution, waste management, ecosystem ...

, and was Taiwan's first institute dedicated to

research. Its main focuses are

environmental management Environmental resource management or environmental management is the management of the interaction and impact of human societies on the environment. It is not, as the phrase might suggest, the management of the environment itself. Environment ...

, and sustainable development strategies, and

between human societies and ecological environments.

Foundation

College of Environmental Studies (2009-2022)

With merger of

and National Hualien University of Education, NDHU College of Environmental Studies (CES) and Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Studies (NRES) was founded in 2009 through merger of Graduate Institute of Natural Resources Management, Graduate Institute of Environmental Policy, Graduate Institute of Ecological and Environmental Education, Graduate Institute of Earth Sciences, and Graduate Institute of Biological Resources and Technology from both university.

College of Marine Sciences (2005-2022)

NDHU College of Marine Sciences (CMS) was established in 2005 as a

graduate school Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachel ...

for

Marine Sciences Oceanography (), also known as oceanology, sea science, ocean science, and marine science, is the scientific study of the ocean, including its Physical oceanography, physics, Chemical oceanography, chemistry, Biological oceanography, biology, a ...

and

Marine Biology Marine biology is the scientific study of the biology of marine life, organisms that inhabit the sea. Given that in biology many scientific classification, phyla, family (biology), families and genera have some species that live in the sea and ...

. NDHU CMS was an academic partnership between

and

National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium The National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA; zh, t=國立海洋生物博物館, poj=Kok-li̍p Hái-iûⁿ Seng-bu̍t Phok-bu̍t-koán, p=Guólì Hǎiyáng Shēngwù Bówùguǎn) is the most notable museum and research institution f ...

(NMMBA) in

Kenting National Park Kenting National Park ( zh, c=墾丁國家公園, hp=Kěndīng Gúojiā Gōngyuán}), commonly known as Kenting ( zh, c=墾丁, hp=Kěndīng), is a national park located on the Hengchun Peninsula of Pingtung County, Taiwan, covering Hengchun, ...

, which set the first record on academic collaboration between higher education and museum in Taiwan. Meanwhile, it founded Graduate Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology and Graduate Institute of Marine Biotechnology to leverage research resources from NMMBA.

Nowaday

With interdisciplinary trend of sustainability studies for

and

, NDHU College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography was established through merger of NDHU College of Environmental Studies and College of Marine Sciences in 2022.

Academic

Ranking

According to '' Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject'', NDHU CESO is ranked A- level in the world for

Geology Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth ...

(4th in Taiwan),

Ecology Ecology () is the natural science of the relationships among living organisms and their Natural environment, environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community (ecology), community, ecosystem, and biosphere lev ...

(4th in Taiwan), and Environment Science and

Engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

(3rd in Taiwan). The ''

SCImago The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) indicator is a measure of the prestige of scholarly journals that accounts for both the number of citations received by a journal and the prestige of the journals where the citations come from. Etymology SCImag ...

'' ranked NDHU CESO 3rd in Taiwan for

Aquatic Science Aquatic science is the study of the various bodies of water that make up our planet including oceanic and freshwater environments. Aquatic scientists study the movement of water, the chemistry of water, aquatic organisms, aquatic ecosystems, the m ...

, 7th in Taiwan for

Animal Science Animal science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of humankind". It can also be described as the production and management of farm animals. Historically, the degree was called animal husbandry and the ...

and

Zoology Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the anatomy, structure, embryology, Biological classification, classification, Ethology, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinction, extinct, and ...

. The ''Research.com'' ranked it 2nd in Taiwan for

and

Evolution Evolution is the change in the heritable Phenotypic trait, characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. It occurs when evolutionary processes such as natural selection and genetic drift act on genetic variation, re ...

Department and Graduate Institute

* Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Studies * Graduate Institute of Marine Biology

Research centers

Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Ecology and Sustainability (CIRES)

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Ecology and Sustainability (CIRES) was established in 2020. CIRES aims to become a Asia's regional center platform for scientific exchange and collaborative research to promote resilience studies in social-ecological systems, advance the governance of social-ecological systems, and thereby address the increasingly severe environmental, social, and economic issues under the impact of

global change Global change in broad sense refers to planetary-scale changes in the Earth system. It is most commonly used to encompass the variety of changes connected to the rapid increase in human activities which started around mid-20th century, i.e., the G ...

Eastern Taiwan Earthquake Research Center (E-TEC)

With Support from

National Science and Technology Council The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is a council in the Executive Branch of the United States. It is designed to coordinate science and technology policy across the branches of federal government. History The National Science and T ...

, NDHU Eastern Taiwan Earthquake Research Center was established through a collaborative effort of several academic institutions, including NDHU CESO,

Central Weather Bureau The Central Weather Administration (CWA; ) is the government meteorological research and forecasting institution of Taiwan (the Republic of China). In addition to meteorology, the Central Weather Administration also makes astronomical observation ...

, Academia Sinica Institute of Earth Sciences,

National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE; ) is an organisation in Daan District, Taipei, Da'an District, Taipei, Taiwan. NCREE was established in 1980 by the National Science Council (NSC), and they are working together wit ...

, Central Geological Survey,

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; zh, t=國立臺灣大學, poj=Kok-li̍p Tâi-oân Tāi-ha̍k, p=, s=) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1928 during Taiwan under J ...

National Cheng Kung University National Cheng Kung University (NCKU; ) is a Public university, public research university located in the East District, Tainan, East District of Tainan, Taiwan. Founded in 1931 during Taiwan under Japanese rule, Japanese rule as an engineering ...

, and

National Central University National Central University (; abbreviated NCU; ) is a public research university based in Taiwan. It was founded in 1902 in Nanjing; initially located in Miaoli after moving to Taiwan, it relocated to Zhongli in 1962 and developed into a com ...

. NDHU E-TEC serves as an integrated platform and a vital research hub for earthquake studies in

eastern Taiwan The regions of Taiwan are based on historical administrative divisions. However, most of the definitions are not precise. Division into two regions * Eastern and Western Taiwan: the Central Mountain Range separates Taiwan into east and west. :* ' ...

. With its distinguished location on the

continental collision In geology, continental collision is a phenomenon of plate tectonics that occurs at Convergent boundary, convergent boundaries. Continental collision is a variation on the fundamental process of subduction, whereby the subduction zone is destroy ...

between

Philippine Sea Plate The Philippine Sea plate or the Philippine plate is a tectonic plate comprising oceanic lithosphere that lies beneath the Philippine Sea, to the east of the Philippines. Most segments of the Philippines, including northern Luzon, are part of ...

and Eurasian Plate in eastern Taiwan, making NDHU E-TEC an optimal natural laboratory for earthquake research. Particularly, the

Huadong Valley The Huadong Valley or Hualien–Taitung Valley (), also known as East Rift Valley, the Longitudinal Valley or as the during the era of Japanese rule, is a long and narrow valley located between the Central Mountain Range and the Coastal Mount ...

, situated in the plate collision and subduction transition zone, is the region with the highest earthquake frequency in Taiwan. The establishment of NDHU E-TEC, in collaboration with national research resources and NDHU CESO, enables more precise observation and analysis of eastern Taiwan's geophysical structures, assesses potential major earthquake threats, and plays a crucial role in Taiwan's earthquake early warning, data integration, precursory research, and disaster prevention applications.

Taiwan Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER)

Taiwan Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (TLTSER) is an essential initiative addressing the interaction and evolution of social-ecological systems over time. These systems, comprising intertwined and evolving ecosystems and social structures, develop unique characteristics and dynamics through prolonged interactions. Understanding these interactions is crucial for constructing and managing social-ecological systems effectively. In Taiwan, the transformation triggered by extensive social-ecological changes and governmental policies poses numerous challenges to rural areas, including demographic shifts, land use changes, and local economic struggles, alongside the broader impacts of

climate change Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in Global surface temperature, global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate variability and change, Climate change in ...

policies like the "2050 zero carbon emission" goal. The TLTSER focuses on study sites in Eastern Taiwan, specifically the Fenling District and Guangfu Township. Fenling, representing a typical rural socio-ecological system, is predominantly agricultural and exemplifies the broader trends affecting similar areas across Taiwan, such as shifts in land use and economic makeup. A notable change is the conversion of artificial forests to ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) systems, with extensive areas earmarked for future PV installations. The proximity of these developments to villages, farmland, and forests raises significant questions about their impacts on local climates, biodiversity, and community well-being. By monitoring these changes across various stages of PV system implementation, the TLTSER aims to provide a detailed understanding of the alterations in land use and their implications. This research is pivotal for addressing local environmental and social issues, offering a scientific basis for informed public policy and governance, and contributing to sustainable development and environmental conservation in Taiwan.

Academic programs

Graduate

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctoral program (PhD) at NDHU College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography is a full-time, in-residence program intended for students who plan scholarly careers involving research and teaching in

and

. There are two PhD programs: * PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies * PhD in Marine Biology

Master of Science (MS)

Master of Science (MS) has four major tracks for MS students follow at NDHU College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography: * MS in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies ** Concentration in Ecology and Conservation ** Concentration in Environmental Education and Ecotourism ** Concentration in Environmental Management and Environmental Policy ** Concentration in Earth Science * MS in Humanity and Environmental Science * MS in Marine Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology * MS in Marine Biotechnology

Undergraduate

NDHU College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography offers one program in different concentrations. * Bachelor of Science (BS) in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies ** Concentration in Ecology and Conservation ** Concentration in Environmental Management and Environmental Education ** Concentration in Earth Science These programs operate on a modular system where students design their curricula to pace their studies. They may also take modules of their interest, subject to any prerequisite requirements and to the availability of modules.

Dual Degree

NDHU College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography offers Dual-PhD in partnership with

Simon Fraser University Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a Public university, public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It maintains three campuses in Greater Vancouver, respectively located in Burnaby (main campus), Surrey, British Columbia, Surrey, and ...

in Canada.

International Partnerships and Relations

NDHU College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography (NDHU CESO) has collaborative relationships with numerous higher education institutions and research institutes worldwide in the fields of

environmental studies Environmental studies (EVS or EVST) is a multidisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human behavior, human interaction with the Natural environment, environment. Environmental studies connects principles from the physical sci ...

and

oceanography Oceanography (), also known as oceanology, sea science, ocean science, and marine science, is the scientific study of the ocean, including its physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of to ...

, including

University of California, San Diego The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego in communications material, formerly and colloquially UCSD) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in San Diego, California, United States. Es ...

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) is the center for oceanography and Earth science at the University of California, San Diego. Its main campus is located in La Jolla, with additional facilities in Point Loma. Founded in 1903 and incorpo ...

in USA,

Oregon State University Oregon State University (OSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate degree programs and a variety of graduate and doctor ...

in USA,

Marche Polytechnic University Marche Polytechnic University or Polytechnic University of the Marches (Italian ''Università Politecnica delle Marche'') is a public university in Ancona, Italy. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Agriculture, Engineering, Economi ...

in Italy, Nausicaá Centre National de la Mer in France,

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preem ...

in USA,

in Canada,

Hokkaido University , or , is a public research university in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Founded in 1918, it is the fifth-oldest government-authorised university in Japan and one of the former Imperial Universities. The university finds its roots in Sapporo A ...

Faculty of Environmental Earth Science in Japan,

Okayama University is a national university in Japan. The main campus is located in Tsushima-Naka, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. The school was founded in 1870 and it was established as a university in 1949. In 2014, the university was selected as one of the 37 T ...

Faculty of Environmental Science and Technology in Japan, China University of Geosciences in Wuhan. NDHU CESO also has long-term collaborations with

School of Environmental Earth Science,

Zhejiang University Zhejiang University (ZJU) is a public university, public research university in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education (China), Ministry of Education. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and D ...

College of Life Sciences, and China University of Geosciences in faculty and student exchanges, and fieldwork education. Furthermore, NDHU CESO has signed cooperation agreements with Nepal Ministry of Forests and Environment and Wildlife Conservation Nepal Foundation to assist in training Nepalese

environmental education Environmental education (EE) refers to organized efforts to teach how natural environments function, and particularly, how human beings can manage behavior and ecosystems to live sustainably. It is a multi-disciplinary field integrating discipli ...

personnel, making it the sole signing entity in Taiwan for Nepal. In addition to academic exchanges, NDHU CESO hosts visits from

Chinese University of Hong Kong The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a public university, public research university in Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1963 as a federation of three university college, collegesChung Chi College, New Asia Coll ...

Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, University of Tokyo Earthquake Research Institute,

Tohoku University is a public research university in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. It is colloquially referred to as or . Established in 1907 as the third of the Imperial Universities, after the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, it initially focused on sc ...

International Research Institute of Disaster Science,

Tokyo University of Science , formerly "Science University of Tokyo" or TUS, informally or simply is a private research university located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. History Tokyo University of Science was founded in 1881 as The Tokyo Academy of Physics by 21 graduate ...

Department of Architecture, and German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) to NDHU Eastern Taiwan Earthquake Center.

References

External links

* {{National Dong Hwa University National Dong Hwa University C Educational institutions established in 2009 2009 establishments in Taiwan Environmental studies institutions in Taiwan Oceanographic organizations Environmental research institutes Environmental studies organizations Forestry education International educational organizations International research institutes