Session T8: Panel Discussion: Emerging Scientific Powers in the East: China

Progress and Prospect of Physics Research and Education in Taiwan

Started about two decades ago, the global trend of shifting industrial manufacture power from western developed countries toward developing countries in Asia has in turn become the impetus in building up physical science and research in these areas. A very good example is the remarkable progress of physical research and education in Taiwan, in terms of quantity and quality. The continuous elevation of Taiwan's high education into graduate level plus the government's strong commitment to research and development on a level of 2.62 {\%} GDP have led to an impressive physics program with an annual budget $\sim $32 million USD from National Science Council in supporting 568 PIs. The investigation scope encompasses high energy and astrophysics, nano and condensed matter, and semiconductor, optoelectronic physics, etc. The former is vigorously conducted via international collaborative efforts of LHC, KEK, ALMA, Pan-STARRS, etc. The latter is driven by vital Taiwan high tech industry mostly semiconductor IC and optoelectronics flourished during this period. The early trend of outflows of BS physics majors to western world for advanced studies has reversed dramatically. Nearly 80{\%} of the BS students continue their MS and PhD degrees in Taiwan, attracted by lucrative job markets of high tech industry. In addition, healthy inflow of high-quality science manpower of well trained PhDs and senior scholars returning to homeland has strengthened the competitiveness. Overall, the physics community in Taiwan is thriving. The annual Physical Society meeting is expanding at a rate of 6{\%}, reaching $\sim $1800 attendants and 1200 papers, and dedicated to promotions of female physicists and students. The publication quantity of Taiwan in top journals of PRs and PRL is ranked among top 20$^{th}$ for all fields of physics, and ranked the 6$^{th}$ in APL. Clearly Taiwan has now emerged as a strong power in applied science, not limited by its population size. Concerted efforts on scientific exchanges are being taken to connect to international societies. The bright outlook of physical science and its vital power in Taiwan is anticipated to provide a stimulus to benefit South East Asia, and have far-reaching impacts on China and worldwide.   

Physics in China: the Past and Next Decade

In assessing the current status and future direction of physics research and education in China, one critical period receiving particular attention is the past and next decade. Riding with China's wave of unprecedented pace and stability of economical developments, the various natural sciences disciplines, including physics, have been experiencing a golden period as well for developments and advances. In this talk, I will review the recent progresses of physics in China, including those drawn from my own personal experience, and also share some prospective view on its future directions. Some of the examples are based on my own experience while working at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and in the School of Physics at Peking University.   

Students: made in China, contribute to the world

It has been over one and a half century since the first Chinese student studied abroad in the Unite States. A recent report from U. Chicago showed that among all 45596 doctorate recipients from US institutions in the academic year 2006, 4774 (over 10{\%}) are from China. Also, Tsinghua University (571 graduates) and Peking University (507), both located in Beijing China, are ranked as top two colleges on baccalaureate origin list, even leading UC Berkeley (427) in the third. Chinese students became a significant source of doctoral candidates and science researchers. It brings both great opportunities and challenges to China and US.Known as the world's factory, China is now exporting not only industrial products but also intelligence. However, unlike commercial trades, brain flows are more complex. It is not justified to simply criticize that China lost intellectual power over the last 30 years while US dissipated fundings to support international students. Indeed, the students' impacts have not been more emphasized in the history than today.When come to US, Chinese students are not only working for their advisors but also contributing to the whole society. They bring their concrete knowledge, fresh ideas and methods of thinking from east to west. After graduation, even not returning China, Chinese scholars are still dedicated to their home country in various ways. Currently, significant portion of APS publications are from China, most of which are from collaborations between Chinese scholars in China and US. Students, acting as the communication bridge, are connecting worldwide resources, stimulating projects in developing world and helping form a globalized pattern of research. During this process, the localization of global resources, including students, has recently been of great interests. Chinese student is and will be always contributing to this process to share their own perspectives of the science world in the future.