9月份見識之旅活動，於2023年9月10日由呂明澐小姐帶領12位祐生見習生及其家長們，至苗栗進行蠶蜂知識暨台灣百年採油史探索之旅。
For the study tour of September 10, 2023, Ms. Lu Ming-yun led 12 Archilife Research Foundation interns and their parents on a trip to Miaoli to learn about silkworm and honeybee, and history of oil exploration in Taiwan.
上午造訪苗栗區農業改良場內的台灣蠶蜂昆蟲教育園區，改良場前身為日治時期的台灣總督府桑蠶養成所，經歷從台北公館到苗栗公館的遷入改制，除續辦蠶業研究，並擴增蜜蜂相關試驗。導覽員首先帶領眾人走入「農業博物館」展廳，透過地理模型講述人口族群、農業特色與農改服務，例如農友可將耕土送場檢驗，找出所缺之營養輔以環境友善的施肥，以培育豐富多元的農作物；接著來到蜜蜂館展區，除了聽取關於蜜蜂品種、生理特性、養蜂技術外，還有蜂群活體、多種蜂產品與取蜜機具的展示，導覽員亦教導大家以搓觸及加水搖晃來分辨真蜜之訣竅。隨後眾人進入獨棟的「台灣蠶業文化館」，一樓中央區展示著早年「繭絲檢定工廠」的繅絲機，還有以不同外皮斑紋特色創造的家蠶吉祥物，在導覽員解說下，見習生們進一步認識台灣家蠶的多樣性、生活史及蠶絲織品的加工過程與織品保養要領；館內亦展出蠶繭文創競賽的得獎作品，蠶繭質地紋理經過創作者的匠心巧手，竟幻化出猛虎、騰龍、飛鳥等靈動造型，令人不禁齊聲讚嘆。
The tour began with a visit to Taiwan Silkworm and Honeybee Insect Education Park in the Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station. Formerly a silkworm rearing unit of the Taiwan Viceroy Office, it relocated from Taipei to Miaoli to continue its research on silkworm and honeybee. Its “agriculture museum” uses geographical models to introduce demographic, agricultural characteristics and agricultural improvement services, e.g. farmers can send in soil samples for testing so as to identify deficiency and obtain eco-friendly fertilizers for crops. In the honeybee exhibition area, everyone learned about honeybee species, physiological characteristics and cultivation techniques, and saw displays of live bees, bee products and honey extractors. Everyone also learned how to identify genuine honey by rubbing in one's hand and by mixing honey with water and shaking it. In the "Taiwan sericulture museum", old filature used in a silk inspection factory and creative silkworm mascots are displayed. The interns learned about the diversity and lifecycle of Taiwan silkworms, and the processing and care of silk fabrics. Prize-winning works from "cocoon design contests" are also showcased, impressing everyone with their lifelike designs and craftsmanship.
下午來到隸屬台灣中油公司探採事業部的台灣油礦陳列館，導覽員先以簡報介紹台灣油礦歷史，並表示目前所處地區—出磺坑，不但是台灣最早（1861年）發現油礦的地點，更是世界上仍在生產的最古老油田，接著以展區解說與時光地纜車VR體驗，讓見習生們了解出磺坑油礦開發的聚落興衰；而油氣形成、探勘、開採與處理為主題的展廳，有豐富的原油標本、精緻模型與互動遊戲，讓參觀的眾人更能領略開採油礦的艱辛。來到戶外展區，除了有日式宿舍歷史建築群、過往載運著機具、生活物資及居民的地軌式纜車道外，還有自後龍溪邊坡遷建而來的「出磺坑第一號古油井」紀念碑，及一旁展示著已退役的抽油桿式抽油機，導覽員特別讓大家仔細觀察路旁看似不起眼的邊坡排水，水面上漂浮著的彩虹油光，這種露出的「油花」，正是古油井挖掘的濫觴。下午行程的最後一站，眾人驅車從苗栗公館來到位於銅鑼鄉的「綺緣樟腦精油觀光工場」，聽取關於樟腦產製與樟樹種類的簡介，亦反思著養蠶、採油等地方產業發展的共同變遷。至此本日活動已告一段落，大家合影留念後各自返家，並期待於下次見識之旅再相見。
Everyone went to Chinese Petroleum Corporation Exploration and Production Business Division's Taiwan Oil Field Exhibition Hall in the afternoon. The tour guide said Chuhuangkeng, where the exhibition hall is located, is not only the first oil mine found in Taiwan (1861), it is also the world's oldest producing oil field. Next, the interns learned about the rise and decline of Chuhuangkeng's settlement through exhibition descriptions and VR experience in its "old time ground cable car". Exhibition halls featuring oil and gas production, exploration, extraction and processing provide crude oil samples, exquisite models and interactive games, allowing visitors to better understand the hardship of oil mining. In the outdoor exhibition area, there are historical Japanese-style dormitory buildings, and a cable car track used to transport machines, supplies and residents in the past. Furthermore, there is a memorial commemorating Chuhuangkeng's first old oil well, and beside it a decommissioned lever-type oil extractor. The tour guide also pointed everyone's attention to a layer of iridescent oil floating on the drain surface. It was in fact an "oil seep", which indicates the source of the ancient oil well. The last stop of the tour brought everyone to Chee Yen Camphor Essential Oil Factory in Tongluo Township where everyone learned about camphor production and camphor trees. It also caused everyone to reflect on common changes in local industries, such as silkworm cultivation and oil exploration. As the day's tour came to an end, everyone took a group photo before heading back home and looked forward to the next study tour.
