2025 / 3 70 pageviews

Rediscovering Taiwan:

Natural History in Chen Cheng-po’s Paintings

In Looking towards Chiayi (1934), Chen Cheng-po (1895–1947) gazes lovingly at his hometown, capturing a highly charged moment of meteorological change. Familiar though it may be to locals, the volatile weather depicted in this oil painting is actually very rare in other places on the Tropic of......

2025 / 2 170 pageviews

Taiwan’s Quintessential Flavor:

Reimagining Local Salt

While serving up a plate of scrumptious-­looking baked fish garnished with rosemary and radishes, the waiter brings us a salt pot—a perplexing sight for those of us who are accustomed to Chinese cuisine. Whetting our curiosity, the waiter says: “You might like to try sprinkling some salt on it......

2024 / 10 166 pageviews

Conservation and Wise Use:

Restoring Taiwan’s Wetland Ecosystems

In November of 2024 the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) will hold its annual meeting in Asia for the first time since its founding 44 years ago. At the meeting, to be held in Taipei, the documentary Wild Wetlands will be shown, showcasing Taiwan’s achievements in wetland conservation to th......

2024 / 10 175 pageviews

Silkie Smooth:

All the Deets on Black-Boned Chickens

There is a Chinese idiom “a crane among chickens,” which refers to something that stands out from the crowd. But if you place a black-boned Asian “silkie” chicken among a flock of ordinary chickens, it may be hard to pick it out, for the great majority of silkie chickens have white feathers, w......

2024 / 4 131 pageviews

In the Air, on Land, at Sea:

The Taiwan–Philippines VOTE Research Program

As a result of their geographic proximity, Taiwan and the Philippines are exposed to similar types of ­natural disasters, and both countries face severe challenges from extreme weather. These shared risks have prompted Taiwan and the Philippines to engage in collaborative scientific research.......

2023 / 4 422 pageviews

Flood-Resilient Cities:

Seeking Peaceful Co-Existence with Floodwater

The Dutch have proudly said of themselves: “God created man, but the Dutch have created land.” But here in the 21st century, the govern­ment of the Netherlands has decided to “return the land to the rivers.” They will restore riverside flood plains that for centuries have been used as farmland......