Connecting Ideas Across Borders: NTU × Kyushu University Joint Workshop on Energy, Mobility, and Society

Date: November 20, 2025
Location: Room 1206, National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE), National Taiwan University (NTU)

On November 20, the E3 Center was delighted to welcome Dr. Sunbin Yoo and her research team from Kyushu University to National Taiwan University for the NTU × Kyushu University Joint Workshop — a full day of international academic exchange bridging Taiwan and Japan. Led by Dr. I-Yun Lisa Hsieh (NTU E3 Center) and Dr. Sunbin Yoo (Kyushu University), the two teams gathered to share their latest research and find common ground across energy, transportation, the environment, and societal well-being.

Two Teams, One Shared Mission

After opening remarks and short introductions to each lab, students and researchers from both universities took the stage to present ongoing work. The program was deliberately bilateral — NTU and Kyushu talks alternated throughout the day, giving everyone the chance to compare methods, datasets, and perspectives across very different national contexts.

Research Across Energy, Mobility, and Society

The morning and afternoon sessions covered a remarkable breadth of topics, and each side brought a distinct lens.

Researchers from the NTU E3 Center focused on data-driven pathways to decarbonize Taiwan's energy and transport systems — quantifying the air-quality, health, and carbon co-benefits of electrification; applying machine learning to manage energy at e-scooter battery-swapping stations under data scarcity; optimizing green-logistics networks for sustainable supply chains; and assessing the decarbonization potential of alternative marine fuels for Taichung Port.

Colleagues from Kyushu University examined the interplay between infrastructure, natural capital, and human well-being — from how the expansion of railways and transportation networks reshapes natural capital and agriculture in Taiwan and Japan, to a life-cycle comparison of steelmaking across major producing nations, to the effect of large-scale facilities such as stadiums on residents' life satisfaction.

Conversations That Cross Borders

Between sessions and over a shared lunch, students and faculty had the chance to step away from the podium and talk one-on-one — comparing research directions, swapping notes on studying abroad, and digging into the practical challenges of data-driven sustainability work. It is exactly the kind of exchange that turns a one-day workshop into the start of a lasting connection.

Strengthening Taiwan–Japan Research Ties

We are sincerely grateful to Dr. Yoo and her team for making the journey to Taipei, and for the thoughtful, generous discussions throughout the day. The workshop reflected a shared commitment to advancing data-driven solutions for a greener future — and opened up real possibilities for collaboration ahead. We look forward to continued partnerships that connect ideas, people, and impact across borders.