NUK Sustainability Report

2026-07-13

Water beads, diapers, and sanitary pads may appear unrelated, yet they are all based on the same type of materials science. Beginning on July 9, Distinguished Professor Yi-Chang Chung of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) led high school students through a two-day journey into the “Biomimicry Laboratory.” Starting with superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), participants completed six hands-on experiments to explore how materials technology draws inspiration from nature and everyday life while addressing sustainability challenges such as wastewater treatment, resource recovery, net-zero carbon emissions, and plastic pollution.

The 2026 Biomimicry Laboratory × Green Materials Evolution Science Camp was held at NUK’s College of Engineering. It was organized by the Research Center for Health and Biomimetic Technologies and Biomimetic Biomedical Co., Ltd., with support from the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering. Participants came from Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taitung, and other parts of Taiwan, while some children of Taiwanese businesspeople living overseas returned to Taiwan during their summer vacation to join the program.

The two-day curriculum featured six experiments: “Diaper Decoding,” “Restoring Clean Water,” “Recovering Golden Resources,” “Toward Net-Zero Carbon,” “Feeling the Current,” and “Breaking Free from Plastic.” The activities covered superabsorbent polymers, green photocatalysts, heavy-metal recovery, carbon dioxide absorption, conductive gels, and the use of nanomaterials to decompose plastics.

Discovering Materials Science in Everyday Diapers

The first day began with one of the most familiar household products: diapers. Professor Chung showed students a diaper and an industrial-grade SAP raw material, using them to introduce the materials science hidden within everyday products.

These polymers can rapidly absorb large quantities of water and are commonly used in diapers, sanitary pads, and the commercially available water beads often known as “crystal babies.”

Unlike television advertisements that typically demonstrate diaper absorbency using blue-colored pure water, actual urine contains electrolytes and salts. The camp therefore used a 0.9% saline solution for a one-minute rapid absorption test. Through hands-on testing and data comparison, students evaluated material performance under more realistic conditions and considered the environmental problems that may arise from convenient disposable materials.

The “Diaper Decoding” experiment was not simply a recreational activity created specifically for the camp. It was adapted from formal research currently being conducted in NUK laboratories.

Professor Chung explained that SAP research is being undertaken by graduate students and undergraduate research project teams with support from the National Science and Technology Council. The research team selected the most representative and engaging elements from the advanced research and transformed them into science activities that junior and senior high school students could understand and perform independently.

In other words, participants were not merely conducting entertaining experiments; they were experiencing an accessible interpretation of genuine university research.

Combining Waste Eggshells, Sunlight, and Water Purification

Another experiment, “Restoring Clean Water,” combined SAPs with a green photocatalyst developed by the research team from discarded eggshells.

Students mixed the two materials, placed them inside tea bags, and immersed the bags in simulated wastewater colored with methylene blue. They then took the samples outdoors and exposed them to sunlight, observing how the photocatalyst used solar energy to break down organic pollutants and gradually remove the blue coloration.

By linking discarded eggshells, wastewater, and freely available solar energy, the experiment transformed an abstract green technology into a visible and hands-on scientific experience.

The SAP tea bags used in the water purification experiment did not become waste after the activity. Because of their strong water-retention capacity, students could place plant seeds inside the material and take them home. By adding water only once every few days, they could continue observing germination and plant growth.

The same material therefore progressed through several uses: absorbing water, capturing pollutants, supporting sunlight-driven pollutant decomposition, and finally serving as a plant-growing medium. A single experiment became an ongoing green learning experience embedded in daily life.

Learning How to Ask Questions

Rather than focusing solely on whether experimental results were perfect, Professor Chung placed greater emphasis on helping students understand where scientific inquiry begins.

He noted that current junior and senior high school curricula increasingly emphasize inquiry and hands-on practice, yet many students still do not know how to approach an unfamiliar problem.

The camp therefore incorporated tools such as nine-grid diagrams and mind maps to guide participants through questioning, problem decomposition, and the construction of an inquiry framework. Complex research logic was gradually simplified—from writing a full research article, to responding to structured questions, and finally to completing guided fill-in-the-blank exercises—helping students progressively develop independent thinking and question-formulation skills.

Professor Chung emphasized that scientific research does not consist of physics, chemistry, and biology operating separately. Meaningful research often requires interdisciplinary integration.

The camp did not expect students to produce highly precise or flawless results within two days. Instead, it aimed to help participants of different academic backgrounds and ability levels identify their own entry points into scientific thinking.

By learning to observe nature, raise questions, and use scientific methods to seek answers, students could transform a short two-day laboratory experience into the beginning of a longer journey of exploring science and sustainability.

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@Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering | Activities