Taipei Times: In your opinion, what are the limitations that prevent Taiwan from being counted among the top ranks when it comes to research?
Wong Chi-huey: From the time I started work for Academia Sinica [in 1991, when he was elected to be an advisory board member of the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry], I have been clearly aware that the quality of Taiwanese researchers is on a par with international levels. Some of them are even better than their foreign counterparts.
The problem is that with constrained funding and manpower, research projects must be centered on merely a few worthwhile subjects. In many Taiwanese laboratories, research resources are too sporadically distributed to allow any critical breakthroughs to take place.
Besides being more sufficiently funded, research institutes in the US enjoy numerous other advantages -- the prompt interchange of knowledge, the speedy transmission of information and the advancement of scientific equipment.
Another factor is that the younger generation in Taiwan is no longer willing to devote themselves to training in fundamental science. Research work can be arduous and not as rewarding in comparison with, say, information technology. When people's priorities depend on how much money they earn, it is unavoidable that research will deteriorate.
TT: Based on your learning experience in both countries, can you compare the educational systems in Taiwan and the US? Any suggestion for Taiwan's teachers?
Wong: There are merits and disadvantages for both systems. In Taiwan, the educational system is more suitable for mediocre learners. Schools provide all the necessary guidelines; creativity is hence not properly stimulated. Parents and teachers are content as long as students follow the established principles and fulfill the requirements.
But under such conditions, the possibility of producing outstanding performance is relatively remote. In general, schools in Taiwan do not offer adequate assistance for specially talented or slow students. That is to say, Taiwanese educators fail to give instruction in accordance with individual needs (
In contrast, the educational system in the US is more diversified and allows plenty of freedom for students to develop their own interests. If students are proven to be gifted in certain fields, they will be instructed under specially designed programs. Nonetheless, such a system also has its drawbacks. For example, it is difficult for learners with a more introverted disposition to benefit from open classroom interaction. Because they are too shy to ask or to perform, the learning process can not be as efficient.
In my view, Taiwan's schools have to be free from the constraints of the rigid teaching style to enable distinguished students to build up their potential.
But things seem to be improving gradually. For the past two days, I have been tremendously impressed by the performance of the students at the camp. The students have been posing imaginative and smart questions. I hope their capabilities can be fully cultivated in a more inspiring learning environment.
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