Scientifically Researching Taipei
“What makes a city great?” is the question I posed to a group of well-travelled friends of mine on one particular afternoon. As the discussion unfolded, it became apparent that each of them valued different aspects - history, culture, aesthetics and cleanliness, the people, etc., but we all could agree that good food, convenient transit systems, beautiful sceneries, and vibrant art were all must-have components of a successful city. I couldn’t help but think that Taipei isn’t so far from our definitions of a ‘great city’: Taipei has excellent food, various shopping areas, architectural staples such as Taipei 101, or Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, countless art galleries, and wonderful cultural-creative parks such as Huashan 1914 Creative Park. So what more is there to improve on? Next, I thought about my previous home away from home - Paris, the city of lights. What does Paris have, that Taiwan doesn’t? The first thing that came to mind is that we do not have as much gorgeous architecture that reflects different historical periods of our country; and secondly, Taipei does not have as many trees and parks as Paris. So, how can these two aspects - history and nature - be combined into a single idea, as the future for the plot of land that is the former Air Force base in Taipei?
Well, after visiting the former Air Force and taking a tour of the ‘United Landing Modules Project’ exhibit, I was inspired by 曾志偉’s “原始感覺研究室” plan, and want to further it by suggesting that the former base be built into an integrative science park, with two main components: one, an interactive Museum of Natural History, and the other a research center that is open to offering fellowships or internships to university students in Taiwan as well as cooperative work with international scientists and researchers. The rest of the park should be an open, comfortable green environment, that meshes well with the beautiful scenery of Renai Road. As for the museum, think of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, it is one of the most famous and most frequented museums in the world, located in the capital city of the United States, and while Taiwan does also have a Natural history museum, it’s all the way in Taichung. I think it would be a fantastic opportunity for the general public to learn all aspects of not only Taiwan’s natural history but of the world’s. I stress the importance of an interactive style museum, meaning that it should include a lot of hands-on or participatory elements for visitors, for example, an Ocean exhibit could include a life-size hollow model of a whale which allows people to walk into it (through its’ mouth, á la Moby Dick) and perhaps see either its anatomical structures, or have more information regarding whales within the hollow walls presented through a video projection). Exhibitions on animals, plants, or marine life, can specifically point out which items are unique to Taiwan only. There could be a planetarium and butterfly pavilion that the public can visit if they want to have a relaxing walk on the weekends, as it allows them to be close to nature. There could even be an aquarium for people to learn about marine life, or an outdoors area which could simulate historical gardens or lakes, providing an escape from the realities of the modern world. The research center should be an equally important component in this park, with a national lab that boasts the best technology Taiwan has to offer. As an idea, the research center could find solutions to global issues, perhaps solar power, which is already a field in which Taiwan is quite advanced in. This research center should be the most prestigious center in Taiwan yet, which would hopefully one day attract international attention, enticing more international students to come to Taiwan, as well as scholars, becoming a place where genius minds can gather.
Well, after visiting the former Air Force and taking a tour of the ‘United Landing Modules Project’ exhibit, I was inspired by 曾志偉’s “原始感覺研究室” plan, and want to further it by suggesting that the former base be built into an integrative science park, with two main components: one, an interactive Museum of Natural History, and the other a research center that is open to offering fellowships or internships to university students in Taiwan as well as cooperative work with international scientists and researchers. The rest of the park should be an open, comfortable green environment, that meshes well with the beautiful scenery of Renai Road. As for the museum, think of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, it is one of the most famous and most frequented museums in the world, located in the capital city of the United States, and while Taiwan does also have a Natural history museum, it’s all the way in Taichung. I think it would be a fantastic opportunity for the general public to learn all aspects of not only Taiwan’s natural history but of the world’s. I stress the importance of an interactive style museum, meaning that it should include a lot of hands-on or participatory elements for visitors, for example, an Ocean exhibit could include a life-size hollow model of a whale which allows people to walk into it (through its’ mouth, á la Moby Dick) and perhaps see either its anatomical structures, or have more information regarding whales within the hollow walls presented through a video projection). Exhibitions on animals, plants, or marine life, can specifically point out which items are unique to Taiwan only. There could be a planetarium and butterfly pavilion that the public can visit if they want to have a relaxing walk on the weekends, as it allows them to be close to nature. There could even be an aquarium for people to learn about marine life, or an outdoors area which could simulate historical gardens or lakes, providing an escape from the realities of the modern world. The research center should be an equally important component in this park, with a national lab that boasts the best technology Taiwan has to offer. As an idea, the research center could find solutions to global issues, perhaps solar power, which is already a field in which Taiwan is quite advanced in. This research center should be the most prestigious center in Taiwan yet, which would hopefully one day attract international attention, enticing more international students to come to Taiwan, as well as scholars, becoming a place where genius minds can gather.
