Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) yesterday told the institution's members that a new phenomenon called "cosmopolitanism" is emerging in academic circles. The Nobel laureate said that Taiwan's talented academics are becoming more and more "cosmopolitan" as they increasingly engage in research studies in other countries.
"In order for Taiwan to stay competitive in the newest wave of high-tech industrial competition -- as well as to attract top-notch talent from abroad and to keep them from leaving," Lee said, "there's an apparent need for a readjustment of our present skills-attracting system."
Lee made the remark yesterday during his opening speech of the 25th annual assembly of Academia Sinica members.
Lee told the members that one characteristic of globalization is that the high mobility of talented individuals "is especially true in the field of high-technology research -- a top researcher is often the hot property that many countries are fighting for."
"This has evolved into a situation of a new `cosmopolitanism' that makes nationalism seem like an outdated emotion," Lee said.
Whereas in the past many talented researchers used to go to the US, Lee said that nowadays several of Taiwan's neighboring countries are investing heavily to attract world-class researchers.
Noting this, Lee said that Taiwan needs to readjust its ideas [of nationalism's importance] and invest in attracting high-technology researchers in order to meet the demands of increased competition.
During his speech, Lee also expressed his delight at the record-high number of members taking part in this year's assembly. A total of 156 Sinica members, some who have traveled from abroad for this four-day assembly, were in attendance, as well as ranking officials from the government -- including Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Premier Yu Shyi-kun and Minister of Education Huang Jong-tsun (黃榮村).
While Sinica members held their opening ceremony, a press conference was being held by the body's researchers to announce their decision to found an union, called the Researchers' Union of Academia Sinica.
Chen I-shen (陳儀深), a researcher within the Sinica's Institute of Modern History and one of the 30 researchers who called for the founding of the union, said the union's mission is to re-evaluate the Sinica's position and purpose and to serve as an improved communication channel between the researchers and the Sinica.
"With the founding of the union, we hope to offer an open forum for all, where every voice can be heard," said Chen.
He added that the Sinica is not democratic enough, because lower-level workers get no chance to voice their views. He also said the research review system of the body lacks clear and definite standards and is not open and transparent.
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
UNKNOWN TRAJECTORY: The storm could move in four possible directions, with the fourth option considered the most threatening to Taiwan, meteorologist Lin De-en said A soon-to-be-formed tropical storm east of the Philippines could begin affecting Taiwan on Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The storm, to be named Fung-wong (鳳凰), is forecast to approach Taiwan on Tuesday next week and could begin affecting the weather in Taiwan on Wednesday, CWA forecaster Huang En-hung (黃恩鴻) said, adding that its impact might be amplified by the combined effect with the northeast monsoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the system’s center was 2,800km southeast of Oluanbi (鵝鑾鼻). It was moving northwest at 18kph. Meteorologist Lin De-en (林得恩) on Facebook yesterday wrote that the would-be storm is surrounded by
RSS