💕「愛台灣，我的選擇」系列第14發：環境科學家馬耐德發現台灣的生物多樣性與供應鏈的關鍵角色
「我來自美國加州聖地亞哥，畢業於美國創價大學，主修環境科學，當時主要從事淡水魚和基礎漁業的研究。隨後我到加州蒙特瑞國際研究學院攻讀碩士，研究海洋及沿海資源管理。當時其中一位教授就是來自台灣，她告訴我：『你應該去台灣看一看。』很多旅居海外的台灣人都會這樣鼓勵外國人拜訪台灣。
而我後來也的確到台灣進行了一個海峽兩岸的研究，作為唯一一位環境科學學人，我必須要想一個能在台北和上海演講的主題，垃圾就是一個最明顯的題材。因為當你來到台灣，你會發現台灣街道上都沒有垃圾，這點讓我感到非常新奇，為什麼會沒有垃圾呢？當時我也發現並沒有什麼關於台灣廢棄物管理轉型的英文資訊，所以我就決定住在台灣，研究這個讓我很著迷的題目。那是2013年的事，後來我獲得傅爾布萊特獎助金在墾丁海生館擔任訪問學者一年，至此之後我就待了下來。大約六個月前，我開始在銳思碳管理顧問公司上班，我們負責協助大型品牌和他們的供應鏈設定並達成碳供應鏈目標。這是我們剛在台灣成立的新辦公室，公司的總部在香港，但我們想要把重心移到台灣，因為台灣是關鍵的供應鏈環節。我們認為台灣將在永續報告和減碳目標上持續成長，而且台灣真的是個好地方。
台灣有很多我很喜歡的優點，我覺得最棒但很少被注意到的一點是台灣的生物多樣性。台灣是亞熱帶島嶼，擁有非常豐富多樣的原生種和特有種，美麗的蝴蝶、螢火蟲、珊瑚、鯨鯊、鮪魚、熊……物種多到我三天三夜都講不完。而且就算不開車，也很容易親近大自然。我也喜歡騎單車，台灣的單車道做的非常好，還有優質的單車品牌和產品。我在台灣大多時候過的很不錯，沒什麼好抱怨的，食物也好吃。而且台灣人基本上對科學有充分的信任和熱忱，許多民選官員都曾經是醫生、科學家、工程師等等，連總統都曾發表過博士論文。台灣的前副總統大概是地球上最有資格帶領對抗新冠疫情的領袖。感覺上，台灣有很多科學家，當個理工宅男好像也很OK。」
✨馬耐德(Nate Maynard)連續兩年(2014及2015 年)榮獲美國傅爾布萊特獎助學金，現為「鬼島之音Waste Not Why Not」節目製作及主持人，及銳思碳管理顧問股份有限公司高級顧問。
💕Why I chose Taiwan #14 – Environmental sciences scholar Nate Maynard discover Taiwan’s and its key role in supply chains
"I’m from San Diego California originally. My undergrad was from Soka University of America; liberal arts with a concentration in environmental studies, and I work on fresh-water fishes mostly and basic fisheries. And then my Master’s program was at the Monterey Institute of International Studies with a concentration in ocean and coastal resource management. One of my professors was Taiwanese, and she said: ‘you gotta go to Taiwan,’ as most Taiwanese people living abroad will tell foreigners.
And I did go visit Taiwan for a cross-Strait research trip, and as the only environment person, I had to come up with something I could talk about in Taipei and Shanghai, and garbage was the most obvious thing. Because when you come to Taiwan, there’s no garbage, and I became fascinated: Why is there no garbage? I realized there really wasn’t much information in English about Taiwan’s waste management transformation, and that’s sort of how I got hooked and decided I wanted to live in Taiwan. That was 2013. And then I got the Fulbright Fellowship and spent a year at the National Aquarium in Kenting....and they haven’t been able to get me to leave. About six months ago, I started working for a private consulting firm called Reset Carbon. We help major brands and their supply chains set and achieve carbon supply chain targets. This is a new office that we just set up in Taiwan. The company’s headquarter is in Hong Kong, but we wanted to pivot to Taiwan because Taiwan’s the key supply chain link. We expect to see Taiwan growing in terms of sustainability reporting, carbon reduction goals, and Taiwan’s just a nice place.
There’s a couple things that I really enjoy about Taiwan. I think the best thing that doesn’t get enough coverage is biodiversity. Taiwan is a sub-tropical island. It’s full of native and endemic species, beautiful butterflies, fireflies, coral, whale sharks, tuna, bears...I can list the animals for hours. It’s easy for me to go and get access to nature, even without a car. I also enjoy biking and Taiwan has excellent biking infrastructure, and great bike companies that make fine products. Most aspects of my life in Taiwan are pretty good. I can’t complain. Food is great too. I think there’s also a general trust and enthusiasm for science in Taiwan. I mean there’s a lot of elected officials that are doctors, scientists, engineers, and the president has published papers as a PhD. And you know, the vice president was probably the most qualified person on Earth to lead the COVID response. In Taiwan, it feels like the scientists are pretty well-represented, and like being a nerd is kinda okay." -- Nate Maynard
✨Nate Maynard won Fulbright Fellowship two times in a row (2014-15, 2015-16), now serving as a program host and producer of “Waste Not Why Not” with Ghost Island Media and a senior consultant at Reset Carbon.
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