The "Agri-Food Scientist Cultivation and Training Activity" summer camp, organized by the Department of Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education and undertaken by National Tsing Hua University, successfully concluded its first phase on July 19th. Over 60 teachers and students from 16 teams across Taiwan's counties and cities participated in three days and two nights of intensive training, showcasing impressive scientific inquiry potential.

The camp introduced the "Tsing Hua STEAM School's" DDMT teaching model and AI tools for the first time. It guided students to start from agri-food issues in daily life, use AI tools to collect data, clarify and define core problems, and design research methods, successfully completing feasible project research plans. At the final presentation, each group demonstrated rich creativity and solid research ideas. For example, the team from Laicuo Elementary School in Taichung City focused on the fun of everyday eating, exploring "Why do pineapples cause a tingling sensation? - Investigating the influence of salt and sugar and sustainable applications from pineapple enzymes and pulp structure." The team from Xinxing Elementary School in Taitung County ventured into local indigenous communities to research "How to reduce bird damage to millet and increase harvest rates." The participants successfully transformed these real-life and agricultural pain points into rigorous scientific experimental methods, demonstrating a strong interest in scientific inquiry and innovative thinking.

To make the students' budding ideas more feasible, the organizing team invited Professor Li Ching-Fu from the Institute of Analytical and Environmental Sciences at National Tsing Hua University, former Chairman of the Agricultural Science and Technology Park Association, Dr. Li Wen-Chuan, and a group of experienced science fair mentors and judges to form a strong "Agri-Food Science Inquiry Guidance Group." These experts engaged in in-depth discussions with each student team, shared practical experience, and helped students precisely focus their research questions, laying a solid foundation for subsequent long-term inquiry work.

The supervising teachers all expressed pride in witnessing the students' rapid transformation, from simple dietary observations to skillfully using AI technology for logical deduction and confidently presenting on stage! They are grateful to the Department of Secondary Education and Tsing Hua University for providing high-quality academic resources and look forward to the second phase of expert guidance starting in September to polish their ideas into science fair projects with national competition-level potential.

The Department of Secondary Education pointed out that the summer camp's closing is not an end, but the beginning of in-depth research. After three days of brainstorming and evaluation, outstanding teams will officially enter the "Second Phase: Scientific Inquiry Practice and Guidance" from September to December 2026. Experts with extensive experience in guiding science fairs will personally lead in-depth practical guidance meetings to help students refine their initial concepts into project works that meet national science inquiry competition standards.