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Popular Science Film Produced by National Sun Yat-sen University Won Six Awards in 2019 Accolade Global Film Competition

With the support from Department of International Cooperation and Science Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, Professor Ing-Jer Huang and Associate Professor Ko-chi Kuo in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University collaborated with the director Chia-lin Tan from Deepwaters Digital Support Inc. to produce a popular science film named IT Superhero. The film has won the Gold Remi Award of The 52nd Annual WorldFest-Houston, Award of Merit (Documentary Feature) in the 2019 Impact DOCS Awards and six awards in the categories of Documentary program, Educational, Science, Script, Videography, and Original Song in the 2019 Accolade Global Film Competition, all in U.S.A.. The team planned to submit the film to compete in the Golden Bell Awards in Taiwan and other international awards.

Prof. Huang emphasized that they hoped this film could attract the interest of teenagers and the public in information science, deepen their understanding of “information technology is everywhere,” and stimulate their motivation to learn mathematics and natural science subjects and develop an innovative attitude. IT Superhero is a popular science film that introduces the knowledge and application of information science by using the three major trends in this area, namely sensors, smart transportation, and artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. Local issues of Kaohsiung were incorporated in this film, and the materials were mostly collected from the academia, industry, social events, and the outstanding technological achievements in Taiwan, such as the satellite FORMOSAT-5, electronic nose, and self-driving car. The film involves how teenagers become IT superheroes during the process of science and technology learning. This popular science film was produced in a creative way that shortened the distance between the public and the industry and academia; it also enabled Taiwan to be seen by the global community.

IT Superhero comprises three episodes; the duration of each is 48 minutes. The first episode is Smart Sensors, which introduces the application of sensors to the prevention of gas explosion and earthquake through true and profound emotions. This episode enables the audience to realize that “information science is not cold and hard knowledge distant from our daily life, but a superhero safeguarding our land and family.” The second episode is Smart Transportation, which analyzes the high technologies that are required to be integrated into auto-driving and what problems can be solved by using auto-driving in daily life. The third episode is IT Superhero at the South of Taiwan: Dongsha Islands. This episode, comprehensively encompassing topics related to sensing, auto-driving, big data, and AI, describes how people working around the Dongsha Islands use technology to protect the ecological environment, the land, and their future.

Prof. Huang noted that AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) could be widely applied to disaster prevention, country defense, and life quality enhancement; these technologies have been popular topics in today’s society. Where the opportunity is for young people to enter the industry of artificial Internet of Things (AIoT) and what basic scientific principles are used behind these advanced technologies are the questions that should be explored. He suggested that only by using the basic theories of information sciences, such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry, can everyone become an “IT superhero.” He expected to use this film to cultivate outstanding younger generations in Taiwan.
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