世界之美就在台灣 (國家公園季刊 National Park )

黃美秀，一個在台灣的生態保育圈中絕對引人注目的亮點。目前也是世界自然保育聯盟物種存續委員會
委員（IUCN/SSC）亞洲黑熊專家小組共同主席。年輕削瘦的她，從攻讀美國明尼蘇達生物學博士班起，
就常背著二、三十公斤的器材縱走山林，追尋行蹤飄忽的台灣黑熊。黑熊不只是她論文的主題，更是信念與熱情之
所向。她對於黑熊的付出，讓人們叫她台灣的珍古德，讓原住民耆老稱呼她為黑熊媽媽。但你問她有多喜歡黑熊，
她會斬釘截鐵的告訴你：「我有說過我很喜歡黑熊嗎？我只是放不下牠們，我想為牠們揹苦而已！」

尋求典範，一腳踏入黑熊的世界

   黃教授走入台灣黑熊研究領域的契機，是因為選擇老師的關係，因為她十分欣賞她的指導教授的學術涵養，而
這個老師的研究領域是熊。黃教授對於博士班有相當大的期許，她不想只拿一張文憑，而是期待在學院內的最後階
段，獲得屬於個人的最紮實也最能大幅提昇的磨練。而當時的明尼蘇達大學保育生物研究所之中（這是黃教授的母
校），注意到她的，從事較大型動物研究的，唯有教授大衛．賈塞利斯（Dr. Dave Garshelis）能滿足黃教授的求知
慾，成為她心中的學術典範。

   問到這位「學術典範」對黃教授的最大影響，黃教授毫不遲疑的回答：「國際保育視野與做人做事的態度。」黃教授曾
問過賈塞利斯，為什麼願意收她做為學生？尤其是她的英文又不太好，賈塞利斯的回答讓她震撼：「如果需要學生幫
助我做美洲熊類的研究，在文化及語文之考量下，妳大概很難在名單之列。但是妳來自亞洲，那邊關於熊類的研究
很少，如果妳好好做，妳會啟發、推動亞洲地區的熊類研究與保育活動，貢獻可能更大。」.........

Currently as the co-chairman of the Asian black bears Expert Team of IUCN/SSC, an international
unit for rare species, Mei-hsiu Hwang is definitely an eye-catcher in the ecological conservation circle in Taiwan.

Young and skinny, she has been accustomed to carrying heavy gears and walking through forests
to track Formosan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus ), the subject of her dissertation and also
the inspiration of her belief and passion. Her devotion has earned her the name of“ Taiwan's Jane Goodall.”
Aboriginals call her“Mother Bear”but when asked about her love for the animal, she would answer: “Not love, it is compassion.”

A Good Example She Sets

Thanks to her mentor, Dave Garshelis, her Ph.D.adviser at the program of conservation biology at
University of Minnesota and also an expert about large animals, Hwang, who wanted more than just a doctoral
degree and wished to receive the most solid-grounded and far-reaching training, had the ideal academic model to look up to.

What was the biggest influence this "academicmodel”had on her? Hwang answered without
hesitation: a global view of conservation and rightattitude. She once asked Garshelis why he took her
as his advisee since her English was not good. His answer was candid:“ If I were studying American bears,
you would hardly become a candidate considering your cultural background and language ability. But, for
studies on Asian bears, if you do it right, you probably can inspire conservation efforts in Asia with huge contributions.”.....

─詳細精采內容請見2009年6月號國家公園季刊─