September 16, 2019 – Texas A&M University Superfund Center Research Translation Core and Center administration welcomed a delegation from Taiwan to present the research and training efforts related to disaster research. The delegation was led by Hung-The Tsai, deputy Minister of Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration and Yein-Rui Hsieh, Director General of the Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau (TCSB) of Taiwan EPA. They were accompanied by several colleagues from the Evaluation Management Division of TCSB, National Cheng Kung University, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Environment Resource & Information Co., and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston.
Several topics were discussed with substantive discussion and consideration of the joint research, translation and training opportunities. These included the detailed overview of the research projects and core facilities of the Texas A&M Superfund Center, examples of ongoing community engagement and research translation efforts, and the strategy of the Center to conduct research that informs disaster recovery and community resilience. Two areas were of especial interest to the visitors – the use of new approach methodologies for rapid decision-making and workforce development opportunities through disaster research-focused training activities. “We are pleased to welcome our colleagues from Taiwan and share in the knowledge and experiences of the Center,” said Ivan Rusyn, University Professor in the Department of Veterinary
Integrative Biosciences at Texas A&M University and director of the Superfund Center. “There are many opportunities for us to share our successes and also learn from our guests about their solutions to common challenges in disaster preparedness and emergency response.”
Texas A&M Superfund Center already has a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Taiwan University and planning is underway for several hands-on training programs in exposure assessment, development of Community Action Plans, and risk communication. Expansion of these plans to other government and academic institutions in Taiwan was found to be of mutual interest between the Taiwan EPA and Texas A&M Superfund Center.