In recognition of Professor Kwang-tsao Shao's extraordinary contribution to marine science and his selfless donation of lifetime research data to the National Ocean Database and Sharing System (NODASS) for public access, the National Academy of Marine Research (NAMR) presented him with the “Meritorious Contribution to the Ocean” Award during the 2024 NODASS Application Workshop held today (Sep 26th). This gesture honors his unwavering dedication to ocean research and his exemplary role as a pioneer in marine biology.
       Professor Shao is an authority in international fish diversity studies. After completing his studies in the United States, he returned to Taiwan with a vision to preserve and make academic research publicly accessible through databases, thereby supporting species conservation and sustainable use policies. In 1988, he established Taiwan's first biodiversity database, the “Fish Database of Taiwan,” which includes information on fish species' scientific names, distribution, morphology, and essential descriptions. Additionally, Professor Shao spearheaded the establishment of several national biodiversity databases and, in 2001, advocated for Taiwan's membership in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). These efforts have brought international attention to Taiwan's rich biodiversity, ensuring its enduring global recognition.
       Although Professor Shao retired in 2016, he remains passionately engaged in marine academia, education, policy-making, and public communication. His tireless efforts in marine biology research and conservation continue to earn him widespread acclaim as a trailblazer in Taiwan's marine biology community. Professor Shao has long supported the Ocean Basic Act directive to establish the National Ocean Database and Sharing System (NODASS) and proactively approached NAMR, offering to donate all his lifetime research data free of charge. His contributions have significantly enriched the database, making him the first marine scholar to contribute such valuable resources to NODASS. Minister Kuan Bi-ling of the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) specifically directed NAMR to publicly recognize Professor Shao's passion for academia and public service as an exemplary role model for society.
       NAMR further noted that NODASS, which opened to the public in May 2022, expanded its offerings in May 2023 to include diversified map data downloads and application services. By this year, NODASS has aggregated 107 datasets from 29 domestic and international organizations. Monthly unique website visits have increased by approximately 27%, surpassing 130,000 visits, with 38 datasets now openly available for free public access. These datasets cover a wide range of marine information, including hydrology, ecology, seabed topography, and cultural data, with over 28,000 downloads recorded to date.
      The NAMR hosted the "2024 National Ocean Database and Sharing System (NODASS) Application Workshop" today (26th) at the Ocean View Flagship Conference Hall, Building A, Kaohsiung Software Park. To honor Professor Shao's contributions, the workshop featured a special award presentation by Hsiang-wen Huang, Deputy Minister of the OAC. Deputy Minister Huang stated that "Data transparency is crucial for effective policy-making. The OAC will coordinate efforts across government agencies to enrich the shared pool of marine data. NODASS serves as a bridge to the future, and we hope more people will join the mission to explore the ocean."
      In his acceptance speech, Professor Shao reflected, "Although we have achieved some progress, we are still in the stage of ‘the revolution is not yet complete; comrades, strive on!' The construction and integration of foundational biodiversity surveys and databases remain areas where we must collectively strive forward."
      Chien-erh Weng, Vice President of NAMR, expressed gratitude for Professor Shao's contributions and expressed hope that his leadership would inspire other marine scholars to share their data and agree to include it in the NODASS platform. This would definitely amplify the value of these precious marine resources. He further emphasized that NAMR is committed to continuously refining its efforts, gathering a wider range of marine data, and sharing it with the public to collectively lead Taiwan into a new era of the blue economy.