NSYSU hosts "Night of Ideas" to empower youth through a mock trial on island futures
2025-11-24
(Provided by the Office of International Affairs) To strengthen young people's critical thinking skills and expand their global perspectives, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), in collaboration with the French Office in Taipei and Taiwan's Ministry of Culture, hosted the 2025 Night of Ideas. Centered on the theme "The Ocean", the event featured an innovative mock trial that brought together Taiwanese and French thinkers, scholars, and artists, who took on the roles of court chair, lawyer, prosecutor, and witnesses. Through a cross-cultural debate on the question "Can an island save the world?", participants engaged in diverse discourse and dynamic intellectual exchange.
A jury composed of NSYSU students and audience members joined the debate and cast the final vote, symbolizing democratic participation and openness of thought. The event drew more than 500 attendees, showcasing the depth of cultural and intellectual collaboration between Taiwan and France.
NSYSU President Chih-Peng Li remarked that as Taiwan's only comprehensive research university located by the sea, NSYSU has long been dedicated to research on oceans, climate, and sustainability. He expressed his honor in co-hosting this ocean-themed intellectual forum with the French Office in Taipei, echoing the United Nations Ocean Conference held in Nice earlier this year.
President Li also noted that this marks the first time the Night of Ideas has been held in Kaohsiung, symbolizing a "southern perspective" that positions the city as a new global hub for critical dialogue. He hopes the collaboration will further deepen Taiwan–France exchange and inspire younger generations to address global challenges with openness and creativity.
This year's Night of Ideas adopted an interactive format titled "A Courtroom for Future Generations." Taiwanese and French speakers stepped into courtroom roles to debate whether islands—unique ecosystems and testbeds of resilience—can offer solutions to global crises such as climate change, sustainable development, and cultural diversity.
The mock trial was presided over by Josué Serres, Head of Academic Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Office in Taipei, who guided the audience through a structured and engaging reasoning process. Arguing for the defense was Dr. Jing-Yi Lin of National Central University's Department of Earth Sciences, who presented scientific evidence supporting the resilience and potential of islands. Representing the prosecution, French entrepreneur Alexandre Paître examined the tensions between globalization and sustainability, challenging the notion that an island could shoulder the responsibility of saving the world.
Three distinguished experts served as witnesses, each offering unique perspectives drawn from their fields. Dr. Christian Bouché, Fellow of the French Maritime Academy, provided historical reflections on maritime civilizations and their enduring influence. Mei-Yu Chang, Deputy Director of Taiwan Ocean Research Institute, analyzed island resilience through scientific findings and policy insights. From the cultural vantage point of the Pacific, Dr. Mirose Paia, Vice President of the University of French Polynesia, shared the traditional ecological wisdom and lived experience of island communities in the South Pacific.
During the final statements, the prosecution argued that although islands face the brunt of climate disasters, their capacity to protect the entire world remains limited. The defense responded that islands, as crossroads of civilizations, possess exceptional adaptability—and only through openness and cooperation can they exert global influence.
The "jury," consisting of four NSYSU students and all audience members, participated in the deliberation with simultaneous interpretation in Mandarin, French, and English. The student jury reached a 2–2 split, while the full audience voted 56% in favor, concluding that islands indeed hold the potential to bring meaningful change to the world.
French Office in Taipei Director Mr. Franck Paris noted that France, too, is a "nation of islands," facing frontline pressures from technological competition and climate change. Throughout history, leaders from island backgrounds—such as Napoleon Bonaparte from Corsica, Barack Obama from Hawaii, and former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen—have shaped world events through their distinctive perspectives.
Director-General Tung-yang Chi of the Ministry of Culture's Department of Cultural Exchange highlighted that Night of Ideas has now entered its eighth year in Taiwan, with growing participation and increasingly diverse formats. The Ministry will continue to work with the French Office in Taipei to deepen collaboration and foster global dialogue through the language of ideas.
Since its launch in France in 2016, the global cultural event La Nuit des Idées (Night of Ideas) has brought together leading thinkers, scholars, and artists from around the world to engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue on the pressing issues shaping the future of human society. Introduced to Taiwan with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the French Office in Taipei, and the Institut français, the Night of Ideas has steadily grown into a vital platform for the public to reflect, exchange ideas, and collectively explore global challenges.
(Edited by Public Affairs Division)
(Provided by the Office of International Affairs) To strengthen young people's critical thinking skills and expand their global perspectives, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), in collaboration with the French Office in Taipei and Taiwan's Ministry of Culture, hosted the 2025 Night of Ideas. Centered on the theme "The Ocean", the event featured an innovative mock trial that brought together Taiwanese and French thinkers, scholars, and artists, who took on the roles of court chair, lawyer, prosecutor, and witnesses. Through a cross-cultural debate on the question "Can an island save the world?", participants engaged in diverse discourse and dynamic intellectual exchange.
A jury composed of NSYSU students and audience members joined the debate and cast the final vote, symbolizing democratic participation and openness of thought. The event drew more than 500 attendees, showcasing the depth of cultural and intellectual collaboration between Taiwan and France.
NSYSU President Chih-Peng Li remarked that as Taiwan's only comprehensive research university located by the sea, NSYSU has long been dedicated to research on oceans, climate, and sustainability. He expressed his honor in co-hosting this ocean-themed intellectual forum with the French Office in Taipei, echoing the United Nations Ocean Conference held in Nice earlier this year.
President Li also noted that this marks the first time the Night of Ideas has been held in Kaohsiung, symbolizing a "southern perspective" that positions the city as a new global hub for critical dialogue. He hopes the collaboration will further deepen Taiwan–France exchange and inspire younger generations to address global challenges with openness and creativity.
This year's Night of Ideas adopted an interactive format titled "A Courtroom for Future Generations." Taiwanese and French speakers stepped into courtroom roles to debate whether islands—unique ecosystems and testbeds of resilience—can offer solutions to global crises such as climate change, sustainable development, and cultural diversity.
The mock trial was presided over by Josué Serres, Head of Academic Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Office in Taipei, who guided the audience through a structured and engaging reasoning process. Arguing for the defense was Dr. Jing-Yi Lin of National Central University's Department of Earth Sciences, who presented scientific evidence supporting the resilience and potential of islands. Representing the prosecution, French entrepreneur Alexandre Paître examined the tensions between globalization and sustainability, challenging the notion that an island could shoulder the responsibility of saving the world.
Three distinguished experts served as witnesses, each offering unique perspectives drawn from their fields. Dr. Christian Bouché, Fellow of the French Maritime Academy, provided historical reflections on maritime civilizations and their enduring influence. Mei-Yu Chang, Deputy Director of Taiwan Ocean Research Institute, analyzed island resilience through scientific findings and policy insights. From the cultural vantage point of the Pacific, Dr. Mirose Paia, Vice President of the University of French Polynesia, shared the traditional ecological wisdom and lived experience of island communities in the South Pacific.
During the final statements, the prosecution argued that although islands face the brunt of climate disasters, their capacity to protect the entire world remains limited. The defense responded that islands, as crossroads of civilizations, possess exceptional adaptability—and only through openness and cooperation can they exert global influence.
The "jury," consisting of four NSYSU students and all audience members, participated in the deliberation with simultaneous interpretation in Mandarin, French, and English. The student jury reached a 2–2 split, while the full audience voted 56% in favor, concluding that islands indeed hold the potential to bring meaningful change to the world.
French Office in Taipei Director Mr. Franck Paris noted that France, too, is a "nation of islands," facing frontline pressures from technological competition and climate change. Throughout history, leaders from island backgrounds—such as Napoleon Bonaparte from Corsica, Barack Obama from Hawaii, and former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen—have shaped world events through their distinctive perspectives.
Director-General Tung-yang Chi of the Ministry of Culture's Department of Cultural Exchange highlighted that Night of Ideas has now entered its eighth year in Taiwan, with growing participation and increasingly diverse formats. The Ministry will continue to work with the French Office in Taipei to deepen collaboration and foster global dialogue through the language of ideas.
Since its launch in France in 2016, the global cultural event La Nuit des Idées (Night of Ideas) has brought together leading thinkers, scholars, and artists from around the world to engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue on the pressing issues shaping the future of human society. Introduced to Taiwan with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the French Office in Taipei, and the Institut français, the Night of Ideas has steadily grown into a vital platform for the public to reflect, exchange ideas, and collectively explore global challenges.
(Edited by Public Affairs Division)
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