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Academics rewarded for research

Seven scholars were honored yesterday with the 46th Academic Awards presented by the Ministry of Education in recognition of their contributions to their fields of study.

Lao Sze-kwang (勞思光), professor at Huafan University's (華梵大學) department of Philosophy, and Wu Yu-shan (吳玉山), researcher at Academia Sinica's Institute of Political Science Preparation Office, won the award for humanities.

Chou Pi-tai (周必泰), of the Department of Chemistry at National Taiwan University, and Chao Lian-chu (趙蓮菊), of the Institute of Statistics at National Tsing Hua University, shared the award for mathematics and science.

Lin Na-sheng (林納生), of the Institute of Botany at Academia Sinica, was honored with the award for biology and medical and agricultural science.

Tsai Wen-hsiang (蔡文祥), vice president of National Chiao Tung University, and Chen Fa-lin (陳發林) of the Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University, got the award for engineering and applied science.

Minster of Education Huang Jong-tsun (黃榮村) praised the recipients and emphasized the value of the awards.

"Through the competition for different awards in recent years, the quality of research in Taiwan has improved tremendously. Now winners of the Academic Awards often appear in distinguished international publications, and are well-known in the international community," Huang said.

"By this award we also hope to cultivate the leaders in education and research circles," Huang said.

Speaking on behalf of all the recipients, Lin said that the most uplifting part of research work is the fact that one can be satisfied both in spirit and in wisdom. She also encouraged young people to follow this path.

"Winning this award is not the end of our academic achievement, but a new beginning," Lin said.

Chou, who contracted polio as a child, said that although the lab work is very physical, he has been determined to reach his goal and establish himself firmly in the academic world.

"I have always believed that I could overcome my disadvantage," Chou said.

Lin, Chou and Lao -- a highly respected philosopher -- all offered similar opinions regarding the new generation of students.

The three scholars said that today's young people lacked faith in the future of Taiwan and were not interested in long-term plans. As a result, they agreed, students were not keen on devoting themselves to a life of research.

Chou made a point of saying that Taiwan should not follow blindly the US pattern of delving into any and all fields of research, because Taiwan does not have the kind of funding available to American researchers.

Instead, Chou said, Taiwan should find its own niche and concentrate on the kind of research that is most applicable and suitable for this country.
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