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NATIONAL
Tsing Hua
UniVersity
N E W S L E T T E R
President Hocheng Exhorts Class of 2014
to Introspect and Dedicate Themselves to
Life-long Learning
Yale President Peter Salovey Receives
Honorary Doctorate from NTHU
Co-founder of Qualcomm Irwin Jacobs
Awarded NTHU Honorary Doctorate
October 2014 Vol. 8 No. 4
Contents
1 President Hocheng Exhorts Class
of 2014 to Introspect and Dedicate
Themselves to Life-long Learning
2 Yale President Peter Salovey
Receives Honorary Doctorate
from NTHU
3 Co-founder of Qualcomm Irwin
Jacobs Awarded NTHU Honorary
Doctorate
4 Leaving No Stone Unturned : Two
NTHU Faculty Members Elected
Academicians at Academia Sinica
5 Nobel Laureate Samuel Chao
Chung Ting Addressed NTHU
Students
6 Professor Po Wen Chiu's
Research on the Growth
Mechanisms of Graphene
Published in Nature
Communications
7 Providing Students with More
than Just an Education : The Sixth
Annual Outstanding Mentor Award
8 Shin-Huei Wang wins Innovation
Award for Young Researchers
9 A Long and Winding Road
Leading to NTHU：The Life and
Times of Chang Ling Chia
10 Budding Virtuoso Nian-Kai Chung
Wins National Contest
NTHU
I
n this year's commencement,
held on June 7,1,699 students
received bachelor's degrees,
1,615 received master's degrees,
and 342 received doctorates.
Been-Huang Chiang, Minister
without portfolio of the Executive
a
Yuan, gave the commencement
b
a. President Hocheng addressing the graduates.
b. President Hocheng conferring a degree.
become fetters. Your task as
and Fines Lee, Chief Editor of
recent graduates is to work
The Big Issue magazine Taiwan,
cooperatively with others to
addressed the graduate students.
establish yourselves in your
In his speech, President Hocheng
careers while benefitting
quoted Mahatma Gandhi: "Live as
society."
graduates and stated that he has
if you were to die tomorrow. Learn
President Hocheng further pointed
great confidence in their potential
as if you were to live forever."He
out that both Mahatma Gandhi
to make significant and lasting
also exhorted the new graduates
and Nelson Mandela relied on
contributions to society.
to cultivate self-awareness and
inner strength and self-control to
In his address Minister Chiang
dedicate themselves to life-long
overcome enormous challenges.
stated, "The true measure of
learning.
Similarly, upon graduation all
success is not how high you
President Hocheng also pointed
sorts of difficulties are bound
climb, but rather how you grow
out that each era has its own set of
to crop up, but with continual
while striving to succeed!"Minister
challenges and opportunities, and
introspection and diligence they
Chiang also asserted that upon
that in fact, "It's the challenges
can all eventually be overcome.
entering the job market one's
which help us to realize our
Quoting Steve Jobs, President
attitude and character will be the
potential. However, if instead
Hocheng said that "Stay hungry,
key factors of success. For this
of rising to the occasion and
stay foolish"is the right attitude to
reason it's important to adopt a
actively striving to overcome
adopt when it comes to increase
good attitude and cultivate one's
the challenges, we give in to
your professional knowledge and
character.
the temptation to grumble and
overcome obstacles, but that when
Quoting Confucius, Chiang
complain, then challenges would
it comes to introspection and
exhorted the graduates to "Be
turn into major obstacles. In other
self-cultivation we need to add
vigilant and circumspect, as if on
words, if we fail to see challenges
on "stay honest."He also praised
the edge of a deep chasm; as if
as opportunities, then they
the personal integrity of NTHU's
treading on thin ice!"For success in
2
address to the university students,
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
U
President Hocheng Exhorts Class of 2014
to Introspect and Dedicate Themselves to
Life-long Learning
3
N a t i o n a l Ts i n g H u a U n i ve r s i t y
the job market requires doing away
their own place in the world, and
Ho and Chen encouraged all the
with impetuosity and arrogance,
hold true to their highest values.
graduates to be sure to continue
while continually striving to
Yuze Luo, the representative of the
to support NTHU in whatever way
enhance one's professional
graduating graduate students, also
they can.
abilities and make up for one's
made a speech. Luo stated that
During the ceremony the eight
inadequacies. Chiang also warned
having a degree from NTHU hasn't
recipients of the Mei Yi Chi
the graduates not to covet fame
made him a mister know-it-all, but
Memorial Scholarship—NTHU's
and fortune, for all they have to do
that while pursuing his studies he
highest academic honor, received
is diligently apply themselves to
did learn a loopportunitiet about
by no more than one percent of
their work and sooner or later their
how to get along well with others
seniors—were also feted: Wu
ability will gain due recognition.
and get established in the world.
Chenghan of the Department of
Finally, Chiang encouraged the
Finally, Luo encouraged all the
Electrical Engineering, Cai Yehan
graduates to create their own
graduates to be proud of their
of the College of Technology
futures, and reminded them that
association with NTHU, to adhere
Management, Zhang Xianting of
great success comes through the
to high standards of personal
the Department of Mechanical
application of wisdom, flexibility,
integrity, and to hold fast to their
Engineering, Li Yangxiu of the
and a broad field of vision.
dreams.
Department of Economics, Xu
In his address Fines Lee pointed
The representatives of the
Zejun of the Department of
out that due to the prestige which
graduating undergraduates,
Computer Science, Cai Yuxuan
comes from being graduates of
Bing-Lun Ho and Furong Chen
of the Department of Industrial
NTHU they are bound to someday
expressed their gratitude for
Engineering and Engineering
hold positions of responsibility
all they have learned during
Management, Yao Rouqing of the
in society, which entails making
their four years at NTHU, both
Department of Life Science, and
decisions as to how resources
academically and in terms of their
Liu Youxuan of the Department of
are distributed. Lee reminded the
expanded view of the world. They
Quantitative Finance.
graduates that when doing so they
also pointed out that, despite
need to adhere to the principles of
the inevitable changes which
fairness and personal integrity.
come with time, NTHU's school
Lee also encouraged the graduates
motto—Self-discipline and social
to explore the world, strive to
commitment—will always remain
transcend limiting ideologies, find
as a timeless wisdom. Finally,
a. President Hocheng and a group of
graduates.
b. Minister Chiang pointing out that the
true measure of success is not how
high you climb, but rather how you
grow while striving to succeed!.
a
b
b
Yale President Peter Salovey Receives
Honorary Doctorate from NTHU
O
n August 11 a delegation
a. President Hocheng conferred an Honorary
Doctorate to President Peter Salovey.
b. President Hocheng ( right ) and Chuang,
Hwei-Lin, Dean of General Education(
left ) presented President Salovey a piece
of Chinese calligraphy with NTHU motto
"Self-discipline and Social Commitment "
written.
of NTHU representatives
visited Yale University
to confer an honorary doctorate of
humane letters to Dr. Peter Salovey,
the president of Yale University.
During the ceremony held on the
a
Yale campus at the Maurice R.
to academic excellence, NTHU
its academic excellence. In the
NTHU President Hong Hocheng
also emphasizes the educational
21st century, however, the global
stated that as a pioneering
process and the molding of the
spotlight is beginning to shine on
researcher in the field of emotional
entire person, for which purpose it
Asia, and presently a number of
intelligence, Salovey has made
is important to have Dr. Salovey as
East Asian nations are transforming
extensive contributions to society,
a role model.
themselves into economic and
and personifies the spirit of NTHU
During his conferral speech
academic powerhouses. President
school motto: Self-discipline and
Hocheng stated, "Without a
Hocheng also pointed out that
social commitment.
doubt, Dr. Salovey is a paragon
despite its relative youth; NTHU
President Hocheng also mentioned
of intelligence, and for the past
is already regarded as one of the
that the connection between Yale
century Yale has been one of
leading research universities in Asia.
and NTHU goes back over 100
America's premier institutions of
Emphasizing that NTHU is
years, since Tang Guo'an, the first
higher education and a world leader
endeavoring to build on its
president of Tsinghua College (the
in innovation."He also mentioned
strengths, as well as the
predecessor of NTHU) was a Yale
that together with his colleague
significance of the event for
graduate. President Hocheng went
John Mayer, Salovey developed
both universities, President
on to state that while NTHU is
a variety of tools for measuring
Hocheng also stated, "This is
known around the world for its high
emotional responses and the
a first for Taiwan. Today marks
academic standards, in addition
influence they have on human
the beginning of a relationship
between Yale and NTHU, a
his research has had a major
relationship which will surely grow
impact on the field of health
in importance."President Hocheng
psychology and public
also expressed his hope that
health policies.
additional institutions of higher
Established over 300 years
learning on both sides of the
ago, Yale has long been
Pacific Ocean will join together and
famous worldwide for
develop into an "integrated global
4
b
thought and behavior. Thus
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
Greenberg Conference Center,
Co-founder of Qualcomm Dr.
Irwin Mark Jacobs Awarded NTHU
Honorary Doctorate
5
N a t i o n a l Ts i n g H u a U n i ve r s i t y
O
n August 19 Dr.
Irwin Mark Jacobs,
co-founder and
former chairman of the
Qualcomm Corporation,
was awarded an honorary
doctorate of engineering
from NTHU. At the conferral
ceremony held in San Diego,
California, NTHU President
Hong Hocheng stated that in
addition to being a renowned
engineer and entrepreneur, through
his long-term support of education
and social causes, Jacobs
embodies the spirit of the NTHU
a
school motto: Self-discipline and
his efforts to promote social
social commitment.
responsibility in business.
President Hocheng went on to state
Because NTHU was established
that while NTHU is known around
at a turbulent time in East-West
the world for academic excellence,
relations, the school has always
NTHU also emphasizes the
had a global outlook. President
a. Delegation of NTHU took photo with Dr. Irwin
Mark Jacobs and his wife Joan after the conferral
ceremony of the Honorary Doctorate. From lef to
right : Secretary General Min Lee,Academician
A.S. Chiang, Senior VP Prof. Y.S. Liu,Senior VP
Prof. D. H. Feng, Dr. Irwin Mark Jacobs and his
wife Joan, President Hong Hocheng, Prof. C.K. Toh,
and VP S.W. Chen
b. President Hocheng ( left ) and Professor C.K. Toh (
Right ) presented Dr. Irwin Mark Jacobs ( middle )
a piece of Chinese calligraphy with NTHU motto "
Self-discipline and Social Commitment" written.
education of an entire
Hocheng also mentioned that it
person, and Dr. Jacobs
was the technology developed at
is an ideal model for
Qualcomm which enabled mobile
all NTHU students. In
phones and devices to have a
addition to mentioning
world-wide range, and that this
that Dr. Jacobs'
is the spirit of innovation which
invention of code
NTHU wants to acknowledge and
division multiple access
promote.
(CDMA) was a major
Today Qualcomm is a leading
factor in the rapid
designer of semiconductors,
development of mobile
as well as a major producer
b
phone technology,
of wireless communication
President Hocheng
devices. President Hocheng also
also pointed out
stated that in recognition of his
that Jacobs is
outstanding contributions in the
widely admired
areas of business, education, and
for his support
philanthropy, in 2013 Jacobs was
of humanitarian
honored with a Distinguished Chair
projects and
Professorship at NTHU.
Leaving No Stone Unturned: Two NTHU
Faculty Members Elected Academicians at
Academia Sinica
O
n July 4 Academia Sinica
published a list of newly
elected Academicians,
and two NTHU faculty members
were included: Ann-Shyn Chiang of
the Institute of Biotechnology, and
Cheng-Hwa Tsang of the Institute
a
of Anthropology. Professors
at a reception held at NTHU on
newly established Institute of
July 11. Among the many notable
Biotechnology because he admires
guests were Academicians Wu
NTHU's spirit and forward-looking
Chao, Lih J. Chen and Yi-Long
approach to research. At that time
Huang, and Professor Emeritus
most researchers in his field were
Shih-Lin Chang.
probing into the secrets of genetic
In his address President Hocheng
sequences, but Chiang decided
said that the outstanding research
to conduct research on the neural
of Professors Chiang and Tsang
pathways of fruit flies. Despite a lot
demonstrates the three pillars
of ups and downs, his research has
of academic excellence at
already yielded significant results.
NTHU: significance, scope, and
Because he was conducting
perseverance. As for significance,
excavation on Green Island, Prof.
both Chiang and Tsang have
Tsang was unable to attend the
selected research topics which are
reception, but was able to address
important and unique. In terms of
the assembly via telephone. He
scope, both have assembled large,
stated that NTHU is the leading
interdisciplinary research teams.
school in Taiwan in the field of
When it comes to perseverance,
anthropology, since professor
both are highly dedicated to their
Yih Yuan Li joined the faculty
research and have the patience
and established the college of
to carry out a project over a long
Humanities & Social Science.
period of time.
He also indicated that, as an
In his speech Chiang said that
archeologist he often recalls
although he is not a graduate
the words of Hu Shi: "Let your
a. From left to right: Academicians Yi-Long
Huang, Lih J. Chen, Ann-Shyn Chiang,
President Hong Hocheng, Academician Wu
Chao, and Prof. Emeritus Shih-Lin Chang.
b. Professor Ann-Shyn Chiang is well
known around the world for his work in
neuroanatomy and behavioral genetics.
6
of NTHU, he decided to join the
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
Chiang and Tsang were felicitated
b
Professor Cheng-Hwa Tsang (wearing white),
a noted authority on archeology and the
prehistoric cultures of Taiwan, with his
underwater research team researching a
shipwreck in Penghu.
7
N a t i o n a l Ts i n g H u a U n i ve r s i t y
search take you to the ends of
the neural cells the fruit fly uses
With his seemingly inexhaustible
the earth."Despite the difficulty of
to store medium- and long-term
zeal for discovery and exploration,
traveling to and working in remote
memory.
Prof. Tsang is currently supervising
locations, for Tsang the joy of
A noted authority on archeology,
archeological fieldwork on the
discovery makes it worthwhile.
Tsang has made major
wreck of a Spanish merchant ship
Prof. Chiang is well known around
contributions to our understanding
near Green Island, as well as a dig
the world for his contributions to
of the prehistoric cultures of
at a Paleolithic site in Taidong's
the fields of neuroanatomy and
Taiwan. Moreover, Tsang organized
Changbin Township.
genetics. As a youth he was so
Taiwan's first underwater
moved the first time he viewed
archeological team, with which
living tissue under a microscope
he has already conducted
that he decided to pursue a career
investigations in Penghu, Anping,
in the biological sciences. After
Green Island, and the Dongsha
many years of hard work he has
Atoll, resulting in the identification
received a number of awards for
of around 80 shipwrecks.
his groundbreaking research on the
When ancient artefacts were
memory and neural network of fruit
discovered during the construction
flies.
of the Tainan Science Park in
Chiang is the first researcher to
1994, work was halted so that
completely map out the neural
an archeological team led by
pathways of the fruit fly, for which
Prof. Tsang could conduct an
purpose he invented an anatomic
investigation. In what turned
tissue-clearing solution for high-
out to be one of the longest and
resolution 3D confocal imaging
most significant archeological
of thick biological samples. Since
projects in the history of Taiwan,
2007, in addition to mapping the
his team unearthed a large number
neural pathways used to transmit
of artefacts which have shed
olfactory and aural information in
considerable light on the prehistory
the tiny brain of the fruit fly, his
of Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and the
research team has also discovered
Pacific Islands.
Nobel Laureate Samuel Chao Chung Ting
Addressed NTHU Students
O
n July 8th Samuel
nuclear particle. In 1995 Ting
decisions. He also pointed out
Chao Chung Ting,
began developing the AMS, a
that in meetings he encourages
who was awarded
particle physics detector for
everybody to openly share their
the Nobel Prize in Physics in
conducting research on antimatter
views and listen closely to what
1976, visited NTHU and gave
and searching for evidence
others have to say. Speaking on
a talk focusing on his work
supporting the existence of dark
the philosophy of science, Ting
developing the alpha magnetic
matter. In Ting's view, research
pointed out that "majority rule"is
spectrometer (AMS). In his talk
on dark matter and antimatter
not the spirit of science; rather,
Ting emphasized the importance
is fundamental to contemporary
scientific advancements come
of curiosity, confidence, and
physics.
about only if it is possible for the
hard work: "Human curiosity is
After 16 years of joint research
minority to overrule the majority.
the driving force behind basic
involving researchers from 16
Speaking further on his view of
research."Warning his listeners
countries, in 2011 the 7.5-ton
science, Ting again emphasized,
of the pitfall of overemphasizing
AMS was finally launched into
"Human curiosity is the driving
technology transfer at the cost
outer space and mounted on the
force behind basic research."Ting
of basic research, he pointed out
International Space Station, where
also stressed that advances in
that "basic research is the driving
it is being used to advance our
physics are made by continually
force behind the development of
knowledge of the universe.
disproving others' hypotheses,
new technology and industries."
While speaking on the work of
and that experimentation is the
Over 400 people, including a large
the transnational research team,
final word in science. In the
number of high school students,
Ting emphasized the need to be
case of his own research on J/
packed into the conference hall,
highly circumspect when making
ψ meson, his hypothesis was
with latecomers sitting on the
aisles.
were together awarded the
Nobel Prize in Physics for the
discovery of the J/ψ meson
Ting's talk attracted a standing-roomonly audience.
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
In 1976 Ting and Burton Richter
8
repudiated by the vast majority
Feng Da Hsuan
(left), Senior Vice
President of Global
Strategy, Planning, and
Evaluation, presenting
Samuel Ting with a
memento of his visit to
NTHU.
of physicists. At that time it was
widely accepted by physicists
that there existed only three types
of quarks, and that these three
could account for all phenomena
9
observed in physics. However,
Ting held fast to his hypothesis,
N a t i o n a l Ts i n g H u a U n i ve r s i t y
and his experiments eventually
versus applied research and
technology transfer and neglect
proved the existence of three
technology transfer: "Basic
basic research, then after a
additional types of quarks.
research is the driving force
while there won't be anything to
Ting also spoke on the current
behind the development of new
transfer!
debate as to the relative
technology and industries."In
importance of basic research
his view, if we limit ourselves to
PREFESSOR Po Wen Chiu's Research on
the GROWTH MECHANISMS OF GRAPHENE
PUBLISHED IN NATURE Communications
P
rof. Po Wen Chiu of the
atoms form into graphene.
nanoscience. Firstly, it enabled
Department of Electrical
Their report on this innovative
researchers to use the single-atom
Engineering and Institute
breakthrough has been published
thickness of graphene to verify
of Electronic Engineering leads
in the June issue of the
the peculiar zero-mass fermions
a research team investigating
prestigious British journal Nature
exhibited by low-energy electrons.
double-layer graphene. Using a
Communications (DOI: 10.1038/
Also, graphene is an excellent
scanning transmission electron
ncomms5055).
conductor of electricity and heat,
microscope, they have become
Prof. Chiu often points out that
making it highly suitable for high-
the first researchers to observe
the discovery of graphene led
speed electrical components,
the process by which carbon
to many advances in the field of
touch panels, and transparent
conductive film.
From left to right,
Chao Hui Yeh and
Prof. Po Wen Chiu
in their lab.
As for practical applications,
large-area graphene films
need to be prepared through
a process of chemical vapor
deposition. The key factors in
determining the quality of the
graphene film are the grain
boundaries and derivatives. Chiu
the process of the experiment, he
says that understanding the growth
says that each member of his team
mechanism of graphene and how
is a highly talented, has a high
to control its growth characteristics
degree of enthusiasm for science,
is the focus of his research.
and is willing to spend lots of
However, the graphene structure
time and effort to develop new
grows relatively quickly (at a
technology.
rate of about 100–200 atoms per
second), and is therefore difficult
Team members Chun-Chieh
Lu and Chao-Hui Yeh, widely
to observe.
In cooperation with Japan's
AIST, Prof. Chiu used bilayer
graphene in a single-crystal, smalllayer border to form an epipole.
When the temperature dropped
from 1050 C to 500 C, with the
remaining ultra-low hydrocarbon
gases as a carbon source, it was
possible to control the growth rate
of the graphene. Then they used
adsorption of single silicon atoms
acknowledged for their skill in
of the graphene. At the same time,
growing graphene, were able to
they used a scanning transmission
use the chemical vapor deposition
electron microscope to
method to achieve perfect crystal
simultaneously observe the carbon
stacking. Yung-Chang Lin, whose
atoms slowly crystallize one by
graphene transfer technique
one, in the process discovering
is unsurpassed, has become a
how to use five-ring and seven-ring
celebrity, and his contribution
deficiencies to rotate the direction
has been a key factor in the
of the crystalline structure.
team's success. Finally, Zheng
As Prof. Chiu puts it,
Liu's superb skill in the use of the
electron microscope has been
are the keys to breakthroughs in
honed over a long period of time.
science and technology!" The keys
In fact, the contributions of each
to success are teamwork and a
and every member of the team
detailed division of labor, so that
were indispensable, and the entire
every member of the team works in
team is very pleased to see their
a highly efficient manner. Recalling
efforts recognized.
10
"Inventiveness and persistence
Professor Po Wen Chiu's team members
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
to catalyze the side-edge growth
Providing Students with More than Just an
Education : The Sixth Annual Outstanding
Mentor Award
11
N a t i o n a l Ts i n g H u a U n i ve r s i t y
O
n May 26, 2014, in a
gradually mature during their
line looking for parts that need
ceremony held in the
four years at university, gain self-
improvement. Recognizing the
International Conference
confidence, and find their direction
remarkable care Prof. Chang puts
Hall, the Sixth NTHU Outstanding
in life. Indeed, Chang delights in
into checking their codes, his
Mentor Award was conferred
the prospect that someday his
students naturally strive to improve
to Professor Chang Mi-Chang
students may surpass his own
their work.
of the Department of Electrical
achievements.
Although Prof. Chang is the official
Engineering, Professor Chen Lin-
Chang has over 70 students in
advisor for only six students, he
Yi of the Institute of Molecular
his C programming class and
actually provides guidance to a
Medicine and the Department of
teaches them over 140 codes
large number of students and
Medical Science, and Professor
every week. Yet he somehow finds
makes it a point to have a personal
Huang Jia-Hong of the Department
time to run each code and looks
chat with as many of his students
of Engineering and System
them over and makes comments.
as possible. Ever solicitous of his
Science. During the ceremony
Chang strives to teach by personal
students' needs, at times Prof.
NTHU President Hong Hocheng
example and often says that
Chang even goes so far as to put
felicitated all three for their
the code his students wrote has
his students into contact with
excellent teaching and student
a certain kind of beauty. Not
his associates in the industrial
guidance.
satisfied with merely running his
sector who are willing to share
students' codes and seeing that
their knowledge and experience.
they work, Chang emphasizes the
Indeed, Prof. Chang goes all out
thinking process that goes into
to help his students, not only with
creating them. Thus he endeavors
their school work, but also with
to take the student's point of
whatever problems they may be
view as he goes through each
facing in life.
Chang Mi-Chang—A
Teacher for All Seasons
Professor Chang says that his goal
in life is to pass on all that he has
learned to the younger generation.
He also hopes that students will
The sixth NTHU Outstanding Mentor Awards
were personally conferred by President
Hocheng Hong. From left to right are Sun YuhChang, director of the Student Counseling
Center; Chang, Hsiang-Kuang, VP of the
Office of General Affairs; Chou, Hwai-Pwu,
vice-president of operations; President Hong
Hocheng ; Professors Chang, Mi-Chang,Chen,
Lin-Yi, and Huang, Jia-Hong; VP of the Office
of Student Affairs; and Tai Nyan-Hwa, VP of
the Office of Academic affairs.
As a way of encouraging students
Even today, when using a
to develop their critical faculties,
simple microscope without
Prof. Chang generally refrains
photographic capabilities
from providing simple answers.
you still need to draw.
Sometimes he smilingly stands
In my classes I show
back and observes the student
students drawings made by
groping about for a solution, and
biologists 100 years ago.
when the time is right he nudges
Then I show them an image
the student in the right direction
made using a modern microscope
Knowing what it's like to grapple
so that they can see that there is
with a problem, he takes much
very little difference."So research
pleasure in observing the process
in the biological sciences is both
by which students undergo a
an art and a science.
kind of metamorphosis. When
Chen knows the importance of
the student finally breaks out of
being a good listener. Whenever a
his cocoon he makes it a point
student comes to her, she would
to compliment them and give the
first listen to everything the student
student all the credit.
has to say, and only then gives
Find your career, find
your life!—Chen Lin-Yi
When she was growing up,
Associate Professor Chen LinYi never thought that she would
become a teacher. She had an
interest in the biological sciences
and thought she would pursue
a career in medicine. Although
enthusiastic about teaching, if
she had a chance to do it all over
choose the field of creative design.
While design and biology may
seem to be poles apart, for Prof.
Chen they are closely interrelated:
"Actually, there is a close
biology. Prior to the invention of
the high resolution microscope it
was necessary to use drawings.
telling their story, they already
have the answer they are looking
for."Once the student has arrived
at the answer in this way, all they
need is some affirmation and
encouragement.
As Prof. Chen sees it, trust is
an essential part of the teacherstudent relationship, and trust is
established by taking an active
interest in one's students. "If I
notice in class that a student looks
out of sorts, I make it a point to
ask how he or she is doing."Once
they sense that their teacher
is genuinely concerned, their
apprehension disappears. When
it comes to helping her students,
Chen maintains an open-door
won't be afraid to come to her with
their problems.
Even off campus, Prof. Chen is
literally on call round the clock.
Whenever they need help dealing
with an unexpected problem,
Chen is the first person they think
of. For Chen, being a teacher at
NTHU entails playing the role of a
"backup parent,"someone students
can lean on while away from home.
Despite her role as a second
mother outside of class, in the
classroom Chen is strict with her
students. In the first class she
lays down a few simple rules, and
makes it clear that she expects
all her students to work hard, and
that in her lab she is especially
meticulous about observing her
students' every move. Chen
smilingly mentions that even
though she is very strict in the
classroom, she is also very positive
and reaffirming: "As long as you
use the right teaching methods,
12
connection between drawing and
that by the time they finished
policy, and hopes that her students
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
again, the outgoing Chen would
some feedback: "It often happens
Professor Chang Mi Chang of the
Department of Electrical Engineering.
students will be willing to learn,
Chin, his thesis advisor when
under-studied specialization of
and will realize their potential, and
he was working on his master's
membrane research.
come to welcome challenges."
degree in materials science
While Prof. Huang has a good
13
N a t i o n a l Ts i n g H u a U n i ve r s i t y
and engineering at NTHU. In
relationship with his students,
addition to what he learned in the
he doesn't want them to see him
classroom, Huang credits Chang
as a father figure: "In the past,
with encouraging him to go abroad
education was carried out using
for further studies, a course of
an apprenticeship system. When
action which eventually led him
a boy reached the age of around
into the teaching profession. The
13 he was sent to his teacher's
When he was a boy Prof. Huang
third teacher was Carl Altstetter,
house to begin his apprenticeship.
had no idea he would one day
Huang's dissertation advisor at
That kind of teacher really was
become a teacher, for his dream
the University of Illinois. During
like a father. But as part of the
was to become a scientist.
his four years in the US, Huang
contemporary education system,
Recalling his student days and
learned from Prof. Altstetter not
my primary role is to transmit all
the teachers who had the greatest
only about materials science,
my knowledge to my students, who
influence on him, he states,
but also gained much insight
one day might become one of my
"There are four teachers who had
into American culture and greatly
colleagues, or perhaps even my
a highly positive impact on my
increased his ability to think
boss.
development. If not for them, I
independently and critically.
When students come to him with a
wouldn't be here today."
After graduation Huang met
problem, rather than giving a quick
The first of these was his primary
the last of these four influential
answer, Prof. Huang relates his
school teacher Chung Kun Hsiung,
teachers, Prof. Haydn H. D.
own experience in dealing with a
who was highly solicitousness
Chen of the University of Macau,
similar problem, giving the student
towards his students, an approach
which led to a significant turning
an opportunity to think things
which has been adopted by Huang
point in his career. At that time
out for himself and find his own
in his own career as a teacher.
membrane technology was not
solution. For example, three years
Prof. Huang also credits Chung
highly developed, nor was it a
ago a student who was flunking
with arousing his interest in
popular research topic. However,
out came to Huang to ask for
reading and learning. The second
Prof. Chen encouraged Huang to
help. Instead of trying to intercede
of these teachers was Chang Shih
make a shift from metals to the
on his behalf, Huang merely
If 20 years from now
your knowledge and
ability are equal to
or superior to mine,
only then would I
consider myself to be
a successful teacher—
Huang Jia-Hong
a. Assistant Professor Chen Lin Yi of
the Institute of Molecular Medicine
and the Department of Medical
Science.
b. Professor Huang Jia-Hong of the
Department of Engineering and
System Science.
a
b
suggested that he consider his
has become clear about their
options for transferring to another
professional goals, that's where
department or another school. A
the starting line is drawn; and
year later the student had gained
that's when the race really begins."
admission to the Department of
During his 25 years of teaching,
Medical Science and came to
Prof. Huang's enthusiasm for
Huang's office to thank him for
teaching has continually grown.
his advice: "He was grateful that I
Asked about what expectations
helped him to see things clearly. If
he has for his students, Huang
I had just found a way to help, then
confidently states, "Of course,
he would have kept on struggling
I hope that someday they will
in the same way."Prof. Huang
surpass my own accomplishments.
doesn't fawn on his students;
When their knowledge and ability
rather, he helps them understand
surpass mine, I will consider
the nature of the problem, thereby
myself to have been a successful
increasing their ability to think for
teacher."In Huang's view, a
themselves.
successful teaching career is
Some people hold the view
measured not by how many
that students from a privileged
excellent students one has, but
background enjoy an abundance of
rather by how much progress one's
educational resources, thus have
students make!
an unfair advantage in comparison
to other students. However,
Huang sees things differently: "No
doubt, coming from a privileged
background can be an advantage,
but you have to consider where the
starting line is actually drawn. A
student may come from a wealthy
if he doesn't have a strong sense
of purpose, then he hasn't really
left the starting line. For those
who have such an advantage
early in life, the starting line may
contestants, but that doesn't mean
that they will run faster once the
race begins. Once somebody
14
be somewhat ahead of other
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
family or have a lot of talent, but
Shin-Huei Wang wins Innovation Award for
YOUNG RESEARCHERS
15
N a t i o n a l Ts i n g H u a U n i ve r s i t y
I
n order to encourage creativity
procedure for adjusting asset
and in-depth research amongst
allocation are of primary
young scholars in Taiwan, the
concern to investors, portfolio
Foundation for the Advancement
managers, and policy makers at
of Outstanding Scholarship
central banks.
established the Innovation
Wang's previous work includes
Award for Young Researchers ,
designing a real-time tracking
for scholars working in three
and forecasting system for
areas: mathematical sciences; life
measuring changes in data, her
and Luc Bauwens, Christian
sciences; and the social sciences
research have been published
Hafner Kevin Yang, Laurent
and humanities. This year Shin-
in prestigious academic journals
Sebastien, and Chrysovalantis
Huei Wang of the Department of
abroad. Her research on the
Vasilakis, her colleagues at the
Quantitative Finance won such an
valuation of the Chinese renminbi
Center for Operations Research
award in the humanities and social
has also been published in
and Econometrics at the Catholic
sciences division.
international journals .
University of Louvain. Wang also
Professor Wang's main research
In her acceptance speech
thanked four mentors who have
areas are time series analysis,
Prof. Wang expressed her
given her valuable feedback over
empirical international finance,
appreciation for the excellent
the years: Javier Hidalgo of the
asset pricing models, and portfolio
research environment at NTHU,
University of London; Jun Yu of the
management. Wang says that her
as well as for the support and
Singapore Management University;
inspiration for taking up research
encouragement she has received
Chen Shengxian of National Taiwan
in these areas comes from her
from a number of people:
University; and Zhu Jiaxiang of
practical experience working in
Professors Ching-Fan Chung and
Beijing University.
the field of commerce. It was this
Shih-Ti Yu of NTHU's Department
Wang also expressed her
experience that taught her that
of Quantitative Finance; Cheng
appreciation for the assistance
real-time financial crisis tracking
Hsiao of USC; Rui-Chi Wen of the
she received from her students
systems and a corresponding
Hong Kong Baptist University;
while she was teaching in China,
a
in particular the data-processing
support she received from Xie
a. Shin-Huei Wang, recipient
of this year's Innovation
Award for Young
Investigators.
b. Shin-Huei Wang with her
husband.
Yimeng and Pan Zhiyao. Finally,
Wang thanked her husband and
family for their patience and
understanding while she spent so
much time abroad pursuing her
b
dream.
A Long and Winding Road Leading to NTHU:
The Life and Times of Chang Ling Chia
A
long journey came to a
happy ending with a visit
to NTHU by the daughter
of Chang Ling Chia, the first
director of the NTHU Library.
Hsu Ming-Teh graduated from
NTHU's Department of Nuclear
Engineering in 1968 and is the
current director of Office of the
Chang Ling-Chia, the first director of the
NTHU Library.
received an unexpected phone call
the director of the Department of
from Mr. Chang's daughter, Chang
Physical Education. In 1964, when
Tai Tsui, who made a long trip from
NTHU enrolled its first batch of
Bolivia to get in touch with her
undergraduates, the entire number
roots.
of students, faculty, and staff
US, where he earned a master's
As Hsu recalls, NTHU was
amounted to only about 80 people.
degree in physical education
reestablished in Hsinchu in 1956
Everybody lived on campus, and
from Springfield College, and
with the Institute of Nuclear
every morning at 7:00 Chang
then obtained his Ph.D. from the
Science as its first department,
would lead the entire school in
University of Iowa. Afterwards, he
and in 1957 Chang Ling Chia was
a vigorous round of calisthenics,
moved to Bolivia, where he got
appointed the first director of
push-ups, and a jog around the
married and became a government
the university library, a position
track. Chang was also instrumental
official.
he held until 1972. Starting off
in expanding NTHU's athletic
During his time in Bolivia Mr.
from scratch, Chang energetically
facilities, and in 1969 he helped to
Chang held various important
applied himself to the task of
initiate the Meizhu Tournament, an
government posts, and while
setting up the new library. Built
annual sports competition between
representing Bolivia at a meeting
in 1968 and commonly referred
NTHU and National Chiao Tung
in New York he happened to
to as "The Red Building,"NTHU's
University.
meet President Mei Yi Chi. After
first library was a three-story brick
Despite his unassuming
learning about all the ups and
building located on the site now
appearance, Chang had a long and
downs Chang was experiencing in
occupied by the Taida Building. Mr.
varied career. After graduating from
Bolivia, President Mei invited him
Chang helped design the library,
Tsinghua College (the forerunner
to come to Taiwan and teach at
which received a lot of attention
of NTHU) in Beijing and working
NTHU. Chang replied, "Since you
due to its large size and modern
as a teaching assistant at the
are the president of the university,
facilities.
same school, Chang went to the
that makes me your student, and
16
Chang concurrently served as
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
University Development, recently
Hsu Ming The (third from right) with
Chang Tai Tsui (third from left) and
family.
17
N a t i o n a l Ts i n g H u a U n i ve r s i t y
a student has to do whatever the
my father was right; he lives on not
president tells him to do."Soon
only in the heart of his students,
afterwards Chang bid farewell to
but also in the heart of NTHU."
his wife and daughter, left Bolivia,
At the end of their meeting, Hsu
and came to Taiwan.
presented Chang with a copy
While teaching in Taiwan,
of Appointment with NTHU and
whenever Chang ran into people
pointed out where her father's
he knew from Bolivia, they would
name appears therein. During her
always suggest that he's better
stay in Taiwan Ms. Chang visited
off staying in Taiwan. When his
her father's grave, and NTHU went
wife and daughter came to visit,
all out in helping her meet up with
President Mei gave his daughter
her father's relatives in Taiwan.
the name " Chang Tai Tsui"which
Following Chang's visit to NTHU,
to this day are the only Chinese
Director Hsu was so moved by all
characters she knows how to
the reminiscing about his student
write. Of course his wife tried to
days that he has written an article
persuade him to return to Bolivia,
titled "Return to NTHU,"in which
but every time she did so he would
he recounts all the contributions
reply, "It's true that I could enjoy
Chang Ling Chia has made to the
a very comfortable life in Bolivia,
school.
but when I die, nobody would
remember me. Here in Taiwan,
however, even after my death I will
continue to live in the heart of my
students."By the end of her visit
to NTHU, Chang Tai Tsui earnestly
told Hsu, "Now I finally know that
Budding Virtuoso Nian-Kai Chung
Wins National Contest
N
ian-Kai Chung, a junior
is magical."In Chung's
in the Department of
experience, it's as if the
Biomedical Engineering
zhonghu chose him, rather
and Environmental Sciences,
than the other way around.
came in first place in the zhonghu
Chung began learning
solo category of the University
zhonghu when he was
B Division in the 2013 National
in the fifth grade, and in
Young Musicians Competition,
the sixth grade he joined
bringing honor to his school and
the Miaoli County Youth
giving a major boost to his music
Orchestra. During junior
career. In his acceptance speech
high school he joined
Chung stated, "Learning to play
the Hsinchu City Youth
the zhonghu is like venturing into
Orchestra, and currently
an endless cavern; every time you
plays with the Hsinchu
think you are nearing the end, you
Youth Orchestra. His main
suddenly discover that you still
teachers have been Li-Ting
have a long way to go."
Yeh,Wei-HaoWu, Jia-Yu Li, and
For the shy-looking Chung,
Bi-Ru Tsai. In his short career he
learning to play the zhonghu is
has already shared the stage with
best described as developing a
a number of highly accomplished
relationship with the instrument.
musicians, including Min Hui-fen,
He's always had an interest in
Tang Feng, and Sun Huang.
Chinese classical music, and
Although the zhonghu has long
that's how he fell in love with the
been his constant companion,
zhonghu : "It's has only two strings,
it has not always been smooth
a small body, and a slender
sailing. When he was in primary
neck, but the sound it makes
school there weren't many
a
a. Nian-Kai Chung practicing the zhonghu .
b. Nian-Kai Chung (right) studying directing with HuiChang Yan.
zhonghu , so his talent soon
became apparent, leading
him to become a bit arrogant.
playing with orchestras he
soon discovered that there
b
were lots of other talented
also at that time that he first
encountered the frustration of
practicing hard without attaining
the expected results. As a result
he learned the supreme value of
patience and perseverance.
His diligence has paid off. In
December of last year he came
in first place in the Hsinchu
City Music Competition, and in
March of this year he represented
Hsinchu City in the national
competition. Despite the stiff
competition from a wide array of
outstanding musicians, Chung
managed to again come in first
place.
18
However, when he started
disabused his illusions. It was
2 014 Vo l . 8 N o . 4
other students learning the
musicians, and he quickly
Published by National Tsing Hua University
101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan R.O.C.
TEL：03-5715131．E-mail：[email protected]．http://www.nthu.edu.tw/
PUBLISHED BY OFFICE OF THE SECRETARIAT
PUBLISHER : President Hong Hocheng
EDITOR : Prof. Min Lee
EXECUTIVE EDITOR : Prof. Chung-Min Chen
EDITORIAL BOARD : Prof. Cheng-Wen Wu, Prof. Hwai-Pwu Chou,
Prof. Da-Hsuan Feng, Prof. Nyan-Hwa Tai, Prof. Hsiao-Chin Hsieh,
Prof. Ci-Ling Pan, and Prof. Sinn-Wen Chen
EDITORIAL TEAM : Yi-Ru Yu and Katherine Lee
14091702
National Tsing Hua University NEWSLETTER
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