International Workshop on Building the Asian CoralWatch Coral Reef Ambassador Hub- Curriculum Development / National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST), Taiwan

From October 28 to 30, 2025, the International Workshop on Building the Asian CoralWatch Coral Reef Ambassador Hub was held at the Marine Affairs Research Center, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST), in collaboration with The University of Queensland (Australia), the World Underwater Federation (CMAS), the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology (NMMST), the Fisheries Research Institute, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

October 28 - The workshop began with a visit to Manzhou High School, where an exchange of experiences and a round table discussion with Principal Yu Fu-hao took place. We then headed to the Jialeshui area and the beach for an introduction to the surrounding environment and coastal landscape.

A field study was conducted along the Pingtung coast, where participants and instructors carried out practical activities through snorkeling and SCUBA diving, strengthening coral monitoring methodologies and environmental data collection skills, using the CoralWatch program, reinforcing coral monitoring methodologies and environmental data collection skills.

October 29 - The second day focused on academic conferences and presentations. The session opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Li-Shu Chen, Director of the Division of Research and Collections at the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, followed by an address from Dr. Ming-Yuan Wang, Director General of the same institution.

The following Keynote Speeches were presented:

• CoralWatch: Global reef monitoring, education, and sustainability through citizen science, by Dr. Diana Kliene, Manager of the CoralWatch Project, Centre for Marine Science, The University of Queensland, Australia.
• The current development of CMAS Scientific Diving around the world,
  by María Clotilde Zeckua Ramos, Secretary of the CMAS Scientific Committee.
• AI Underwater Technology Application: A Case Study of Coral Reef Survey and Identification Using Unmanned Surface Vessels, by Prof. Dong-Lin Li, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University.

Later, two Curriculum Development Discussion sessions were held, in which Coral Reef Ambassadors presented various projects and discussed conclusions aimed at formalizing the CoralWatch course framework.

October 30 - The final day began with an introduction by Dr. Hsiao-chien Lee, Director of the Library at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. The following international topics were presented:

• International Topic I: Experiences in coral conservation efforts in Mexico and Central America,
  by CSDI María Clotilde Zeckua Ramos, Secretary of the CMAS Scientific Committee.
• International Topic II: Australia's Experience in Managing Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COT) Outbreaks, by Dr. Tina Skinner, Researcher at the Centre for Marine Science, The University of Queensland.
• International Topic III: "Give Jesus Christ a Pain-Reliever": A Temporal Mitigation of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Outbreaks through Biological and Physical Control,
  by Dr. Hernyi Justin Hsieh, Researcher at the Fisheries Research Institute, Council of Agriculture (Penghu Branch)

The workshop concluded with a general Q&A session, moderated by Dr. Wen-Hong Liu, Director of the Marine Affairs Research Center, NKUST, and Dr. Li-Shu Chen from the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology. Final remarks and responses were provided by Dr. Tina Skinner and CSDI María Clotilde Zeckua Ramos, addressing participants' questions.

The international workshop concluded with excellent results, strengthening academic and scientific collaboration among participating institutions and promoting education, monitoring, and conservation of coral reefs at a global level.