5th Conference of the International Society of Fish & Shellfish Immunology
NCKU, ICSDSA and Tainan
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)
NCKU, established in 1931, is located in Tainan, a city known for cultural heritage and cutting-edge technology. NCKU has invested tremendous effort in contributing towards marine biology and aquaculture through effective interdisciplinary integration and outstanding academic achievement. The NCKU state-of-the art research centers engage with social trends and developments. It undertakes a core role in industry and public policy, and sustainable innovation, and its achievement in these are well recognized around the world.
The climate change in recent years is driving most of the countries to plan and implement strategies for the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs), as proposed by the United Nations. NCKU has initiated a Sustainable Development Strategic Principle (SDSP) & NCKU 2030 Vision to accelerate the process of achieving the SDGs and hope to share the vision and to derive a global impact. The aim of initiating these two programs was to assess the current situation of all SDGs and create a platform to explore infinite possibilities in sustainable development besides utilize our on-campus resources for solving global issues. To achieve this, we have partnered with several international alliances and we believe that SDGs is a common global language for various sectors to communicate and eventually integrate our knowledge and resources across stakeholders. According to the 2023 THE Impact Rankings, NCKU was ranked 24th within 1591 universities and ranked 1st in Taiwan for the fourth consecutive year. This would not have been possible without the constant effort and enthusiasm from our students and faculty.
The Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Science (DBBS) has advanced in related researches on shrimps, zebra fish and microalgae for a long time, and has made significant contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG14. The fish and shrimp development of NCKU underwater biology (Life Below water) is focused on the Impact Rankings 2020 published by THE (Times Higher Education) this year. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 underwater creatures (Life Below Water) ranked 14th in the world and first in Asia. Apart from that, the DBBS encourages international forums and symposium. In the last few years, we had organized the 13th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (13th AFAF) and Control of Aquatic Animal Diseases (CAAD, 2021, 2023) that emphasized on the disease control in aquatic animals and implementing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture by partnering with global researchers.
NCKU Website: https://www.ncku.edu.tw/index.php?Lang=en
DBBS Website: https://dbbs.ncku.edu.tw/index.php?Lang=en
International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture
International Center for the Scientific Development of Shrimp Aquaculture (ICSDSA) was established in 2013 with an aim to revive and advance shrimp aquaculture in Taiwan, in particular, tiger shrimp, a superior shrimp species along the Taiwan coast. The Center aims to develop a specific pathogen-free (SPF) black tiger shrimp breeding program with regional development advantages, global competitiveness, and unique research and development characteristics. ICSDSA program addresses challenges faced by the tiger shrimp aquaculture industry in Taiwan and worldwide, including disease outbreaks, scarcity of quality breeding stocks, and poor aquaculture environments. Over a decade, ICSDSA houses Tiger Shrimp Nuclear Breeding Center, Shrimp Multiplication Center, Commercial Tiger Shrimp Seedling Production Center, two World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly known as OIE) reference laboratories for shrimp diseases (WSD and AHPND), and a core laboratory for shrimp diseases and genomics. Leveraging decades of research on shrimp diseases and linking with international organizations, the ICSDSA has successfully translated its findings and applied them to address key issues in the industry, particularly, biosecurity management. Currently, the Center has successfully established indoor rearing and breeding technologies for tiger shrimp, employing international three-tier SPF shrimp broodstock screening techniques by maintaining a high level of biosecurity standards. ICSDSA has cultivated over 30 SPF tiger shrimp broodstock families and conducts selective breeding based on global and industry requirements. Next, ICSDSA aims to promptly respond to global trends in shrimp aquaculture and develop genetically characterized black tiger shrimp families as well as breeding facilities capable of meeting future needs of a changing world due to climate change.
ICSDSA Website: https://sites.google.com/view/icdsa-zh/
Tainan, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Southwest Taiwan's Tainan is the oldest city and the ancient capital. It is the location of several historical sites and temples; going there is like traveling back in time. You can find a historical site or a temple that symbolizes Tainan's rich culture, traditions, and heritage at every corner of the city. Tainan has outstanding natural surroundings with stunning mountains and breathtaking scenery in addition to its historical and cultural attractions. Tainan is renowned for its culinary arts and is frequently referred to as a sanctuary for authentic Taiwanese cuisine. Tainan is also well-known for its agricultural and fishing products; one may observe the magnificent shrimp farms by traveling along the county side.
Travel Tainan: https://www.twtainan.net/en
