Coral Reef Ambassador Program
The Fan Coral Lab has been a leader in the Coral Reef Ambassador program since 2012. The primary aim of this program is to train youth about coral ecology so that they can act as ambassadors for reefs on an international stage. We host multi-day workshops to teach students (junior high to undergraduate level) about marine ecology and effective English communication skills. Our trips abroad with these students have not only provided students with real-life experience as leaders, but have also build long lasting research connections and friendships with scientists at world-renowned institutes. |
Coral Reef Ambassador collaborating institutes include: The Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, and the National University of Singapore.
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Coral in the Classroom
In southern Taiwan we are fortunate to have the ocean and reefs at our doorstep...but perhaps that isn't close enough - how about coral in the classroom? By partnering with multiple local elementary schools the Fan Coral Lab has spearheaded a program to install aquarium tanks in schools so that students can see for themselves the wonders of the reef! Students also get a chance to care for the organisms in their tanks by learning how to clean the tanks themselves and by monitoring the health of the 'new students' (the corals, fish, sea cucumbers, sea stars, snails, and urchins) in their classroom. |
Coral Ecology Education
Here at the Fan Coral lab we are always excited to talk about coral! We host educational workshops for students of all ages to teach them about the incredible reefs here in Taiwan. Some topics we cover include learning how to: 1) identify coral; 2) set up a coral aquarium tanks; 3) observe coral while snorkeling; and 4) use virtual reality, 3D scanning, and artificial intelligence (AI) to study corals. All of our workshops are conducted in a bilingual context (Mandarin and English) and have involved participation from both domestic and international students. |
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