College of Science Sees Increasing Female Leadership and Academic Growth
The College of Science at NTNU is seeing a notable shift in leadership, with women now occupying 70% of key positions. This change reflects growing gender diversity in academic leadership and is encouraging more young women to consider careers in science and academia.
NTNU's College of Science has fostered academic research for nearly 70 years. The increasing representation of female faculty has contributed to this growth, adding new perspectives to research and helping to address longstanding gender imbalances. Administrative data from 2021 to 2023 show that women constituted approximately 42% of full-time faculty members each year, with the number of female faculty rising from 348 to 353 during this period.
Established in 1955, the College of Science initially housed the Departments of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Natural History. Today, it includes the Department of Life Science and additional departments in Earth Sciences, Computer Science and Information Engineering, and various graduate institutes. The School of Life Sciences also offers programs in Nutritional Science, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries, and an international PhD program in Biodiversity.
Leadership in the college, which was once predominantly male, has experienced a significant transition. Dean Jein-Shan Chen recently pointed out that during a meeting with department chairs and directors, he, Associate Dean Wei-Ta Fang, and Mathematics Department Chair Chih-Nung Hsu were the only men present. Women now hold 70% of leadership roles, including Vice Dean Tsu-Yi Fu of the College of Science; Chair Yu-Ying Hsu of the Department of Life Science; Chair Ting-Hua Lu of the Department of Physics; Head Yu-Tzu Elise Li of the Department of Chemistry; Chair Kate Huihsuan Chen of the Department of Earth Sciences; Chair Mei-Chen Yeh of the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering; and Director Shiang-Yao Liu of the Graduate Institute of Science Education.
These female leaders have brought valuable contributions to both gender diversity and academic development. Ying-Shao Hsu, vice president of Research and Development, emphasized that diversity enhances innovation by broadening research perspectives and encouraging more women to enter the sciences. Dean Chen noted that the college continues to organize lectures, workshops, and mentorship opportunities aimed at supporting female scholars and students. For example, NTNU recently recommended Chemistry student Hsin-he Lin and Physics student Wen-yen Wu for the MACHI Program at Rice University, which provides scientific research internships and cultural exchanges for promising female undergraduates in STEM.
Vice Dean Tsu-yi Fu, an expert in surface science and a prominent member of the faculty, specializes in atomic resolution microscopy. Her research focuses on surface atom dynamics and material defects, and she has been a leader in producing thermally stable single-atom needles. While significant progress has been made toward gender equality, Fu points out that female scientists still encounter challenges such as the “glass ceiling” and the “leaky pipeline,” where women exit academia due to gender bias and family responsibilities.
Fu has long been involved in advocacy for gender equality, including the establishment of the Women's Work Committee by the Physical Society of Taiwan and the founding of the Association of Women in Science and Technology. These efforts have improved working conditions and funding opportunities for female researchers. NTNU’s College of Science, with its relatively high proportion of female faculty, also provides mentorship and support for young women entering scientific careers.
Other notable female leaders at the college include Chair Yu-Ying Hsu of the Department of Life Science, who studies animal behavior; Chair Ting-Hua Lu of the Department of Physics, who focuses on materials spectroscopy and laser physics; Head Yu-Tzu Elise Li of the Department of Chemistry, who has advanced computational chemistry research, particularly in chirality nanotubes; and Chair Kate Huihsuan Chen of the Department of Earth Sciences, who leads research in fault monitoring and seismology.
These faculty members contribute significantly to their respective fields, while also promoting academic inclusivity and leadership opportunities for women at NTNU.