TMU Mascot and TMU Tree

Mascot – Crested Goshawk;

School Tree – Formosan Sweet Gum

• Mascot – Crested Goshawk

A bird of the genus Accipitridae, the Accipiter trivirgatus formosae (crested goshawk) is a special subspecies of Taiwan. The crested goshawk is distributed in Asia. As it is not migratory, a local subspecies has developed. The Taiwan subspecies measures about 40 to 48 cm in length, but the males are significantly smaller. Its head is slate gray with short crown feathers on the back, giving it the common name of crested goshawk.

The crested goshawk adapts well to the remnants of mild to moderate deforestation. It spends most of the time in the forest. The male takes flight frequently to patrol, and declares its territory by revealing the obvious white wing coverts on its tail and shaking its wings. The crested goshawk is a more common species of raptors in Taiwan. Although smaller than the Hodgson’s hawk-eagle, it has strong survival power. It is the only raptor that can breed in the urban parks of Taiwan.

Since its founding, Taipei Medical University has endured great hardships to blaze a trail and sustain operation. Though not large in scale, it has always upheld the quality and spirit of teaching. With near six decades of efforts by its faculty members and students, TMU gradually thrived. To date, TMU has cultivated outstanding talents who have stepped out into medical institutions and research units in Taiwan and all over the world. Many of them are cross-disciplinary talents with careers in the medical industry, and are known in Taiwan’s political and business circles. TMU believes that its cultural cohesion and strength-fostering environment have produced many leading figures nationwide.

Originally, the crested goshawk lived in forests. Yet with human urban construction, it is also able to live in cities, thus demonstrating its strong survival power. This unique trait of crested goshawk echoes nicely the strong entrepreneurial spirit within generations of TMU members, encouraging future TMU students to grow and put their mark around the world after they graduate.

• School Tree – Formosan Sweet Gum

Liquidambar formosana Hance (Formosan Sweet Gum) is a native plant in Taiwan. Its scientific name was officially given by botanist Henry Fletcher Hance in his paper in the French Natural Science Annual Report in 1866. Since the earliest specimens were collected in Tamsui, Taiwan, the Latin word ‘formosana’ was used as the species name. The sweet gum tree is the most extensive tree species on campus. Planted in TMU in 1962, the dense population of sweet gum trees has become a landmark in TMU. Scenery changes throughout the four seasons encourage lingering, and have become a precious lasting memory for members of the TMU community.