Taiwan’s popular science around the island train sets sail! The Department of Digital Development launches four interactive experiments to lead school children to explore digital technology

Executive Yuan Councilor Wu Cheng-wen (8th from left), Minister of Digital Development Lin Yijing (7th from left) and other dignitaries gathered at the Taiwan Science Popularization Platform. (Provided by the Digital Development Department)

[Reporter Qiu Qiaozhen/Reporting from Taipei] The "2026 Taiwan Science Around the Island Train" officially set sail from Taipei Main Station today (19th), embarking on a six-day science tour across Taiwan. Executive Yuan Political Affairs Councilor Wu Cheng-wen, Minister of Digital Development and Development Lin Yi-king and others attended today's opening ceremony to kick off the science train.

The Digital Development Department has continued to participate this year, bringing communication technology into train carriages. Through four interactive experiments that are close to daily life, elementary school children can understand basic concepts such as message transmission, human-computer interaction, sensor control and communication security through hands-on operations. At the same time, combined with anti-fraud propaganda, they can cultivate digital security awareness from an early age.

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The "Taiwan Science Circle Island Train" is jointly run by the National Science and Technology Commission integrating government departments, academic research institutions, enterprises and local teams. This year, with the theme of "As soon as the door opens, the future unfolds", it will travel through 18 counties and cities in Taiwan and 30 stations from October 19th to 24th.

This year, the Digital Development Department has transformed common technological applications in daily life, such as mobile phones, the Internet and smart devices, into popular science themes. It has planned four interactive experiments: "Circuit Magic on Fingertips", "Lighting Up in the Air", "Please Turn on the Lights in Darkness" and "Encrypted Communication" to allow school children to understand the communication and sensing technologies behind daily digital services through practical operations.

On the first day of sailing, Director of the Digital Industry Agency Lin Junxiu also boarded the popular science train to experience "Circuit Magic on Fingertips" with elementary school children. This experiment uses touch modules to sense changes in the human body's tiny capacitance, and can control LED light switches with just a light touch of a finger. This allows school children to understand the human-computer interaction principles behind mobile phone touch screens.

The other three experiments use electromagnetic induction, photoresistor and radio waves respectively to lead schoolchildren to understand contactless communication applications such as Easy Card and access control cards, as well as basic concepts such as sensing control, Internet of Things and information security, transforming abstract scientific and technological knowledge into hands-on scientific experience.

In addition to communication technology, the Ministry of Digital Development has also integrated fraud prevention concepts into popular science activities. With the theme of "Fraud End Like", through situational questions and answers, students are taught to master the three steps of fraud prevention: "Don't be anxious, be suspicious, and verify", and learn to stay calm when facing suspicious information, identify doubts, and proactively verify.

The Ministry of Digital Development stated that communications must not only be "reachable", but must also take into account stability, reliability and security. This time, it is hoped that through the popular science train, school children can understand the basic principles behind technology based on life experience, and at the same time cultivate the ability to observe, ask questions and use technology safely.

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