Distinguished Lectures Series Showcases Global Expertise
Over the past six years, NTNU has made strides in advancing academic excellence and enhancing its global reach through the Ministry of Education's Yushan Scholar Program. This initiative has brought 13 distinguished scholars from world-renowned institutions, including Harvard University, the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Hong Kong, to join NTNU’s academic community. Their contributions have bolstered NTNU’s research capabilities and interdisciplinary collaboration, and provided students and faculty with valuable opportunities to engage with leading academic figures.
The Distinguished Lectures Series
NTNU officially launched its 'Distinguished Lectures Series,' with 11 world renowned scholars from diverse fields, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and the humanities. The series was inaugurated on November 14 in a ceremony attended by NTNU Executive Vice Presidents Yao-Ting Sung, Yung-Hsiang (Frank) Ying, and Kwun-Min Chen. Participating in the launch were Dean of the College of Science Jein-Shan Chen, Director of the Office of Research and Development Ying-Shao Hsu, Associate Vice President for International Affairs Hsiu-Mei Hsieh, the featured speaker NTNU Yushan Scholar and Chair Professor of the Department of English C.-T. James Huang, and moderator Chiu-yu Tseng, a researcher from Academia Sinica. The ceremony featured an interactive display, symbolizing global academic collaboration, with illuminated points on a world map highlighting the institutions and countries of the participating scholars.
The November and December 2024 lectures include Professor C.-T. James Huang (Harvard University), Professor Riichiro Saito (Tohoku University), and Professor Nai-Chang Yeh (Caltech). These lectures, delivered in English, are open for in-person attendance to students, faculty, and researchers across Taiwan and are globally accessible via online streaming. The program will expand in 2025 to include lectures by Nobel Laureates and other prominent academics.
Highlights from the 2024 Lectures
C.-T. James Huang: Linguistics and the Intersection with AI
The first speaker in the series, delivering a presentation titled 'Linguistics: Brain Hacking and Generative AI,' was Professor C.-T. James Huang, Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Harvard University and a distinguished alumnus of NTNU’s Department of English (Class of 1971) and Graduate Institute of English (Class of 1974). Professor Huang's academic journey began as a young cowherd in the rural fields of Hualien and led to a distinguished career as a professor at several world-renowned universities. He has received numerous accolades from international research institutions, including election as an Academician of Academia Sinica and a member of Academia Europaea, reflecting his outstanding contributions and ongoing efforts in the field of linguistics.
Professor Huang returned to NTNU as a Yushan Scholar in 2022. His November 14 lecture explored how technological advancements influence language use, offering insights into the intersection of linguistic theory and generative AI. The event drew over 150 in-person attendees and 180 online participants from countries including Norway, the U.S., Japan, and Korea, highlighting its broad international appeal.
Riichiro Saito: Exploring Challenges in Semiconductors
Professor Riichiro Saito, Honorary Chair Professor at Tohoku University in Japan, joined NTNU in 2023 as a Yushan Scholar in the Department of Physics. He also serves as the research supervisor for the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project, 'Fundamental Technology for Semiconductor Device Structures Using Nanomaterials.' A leading authority on carbon nanotubes, Professor Saito is affiliated with Tohoku University, a globally recognized center for materials science research. The university is renowned for having hosted Albert Einstein and for counting Nobel Prize winners, IEEE Edison Medal recipients, and Lasker Award laureates among its alumni.
In September 2023, Professor Saito taught a course at NTNU titled 'Applications of First-Principles Calculations in Solid-State Physics.' Known for his accessible teaching style, he used cartoons to explain complex physical concepts, that enabled students to more easily understand and discuss solid-state physics.
On November 29, Professor Saito will deliver a lecture titled 'Challenges in Semiconductors.' The talk will cover the fundamental concepts of semiconductors and examine the technical bottlenecks that arise as devices are scaled down to nanometer dimensions. He will also explore the growing global reliance on Taiwan’s advanced manufacturing processes and discuss critical factors in the future of semiconductor development.
Nai-Chang Yeh: Advancing Quantum Materials
Professor Nai-Chang Yeh specializes in condensed matter physics, superconductors, and two-dimensional materials, with significant contributions to research on overcoming the physical limitations of electronic components. At the age of 25, she earned her Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and by 33, she became the first Asian female professor to receive tenure at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) since its founding. She has also been featured in Time magazine as one of America’s most promising young scientists.
Three years ago, as a Yushan Scholar in NTNU’s Department of Physics, Professor Yeh collaborated with young scholars such as Professors Yann-Wen Lan and Ting-Hua Lu to form an international research team. In 2023, the team published a groundbreaking transistor design measuring just 1.3 nanometers, capable of operating at low voltages. This innovation is expected to become a core technology for future semiconductors, addressing the dual challenges of miniaturization and efficiency.
Following the success of her summer course 'Introduction to Nanoscience and Technology' in 2022, In September, Professor Yeh’s four-week course on ‘Applications of Group Theory in Condensed Matter Physics’ attracted graduate students from NTU, NCU, and researchers from Academia Sinica. On December 19, she will present a lecture on Taiwan’s pioneering scientific advancements in semiconductor manufacturing technologies that transcend the limitations of traditional silicon CMOS processes.
Yang Cheng-Hsun, a research assistant at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, observed that while group theory is widely used in physics, related courses are typically offered by mathematics departments and seldom focus on its applications in physics. Professor Nai-Chang Yeh's four-week intensive course addressed this gap by reinforcing foundational knowledge and deepening understanding of relevant theories, significantly enhancing research efficiency and depth.
Luo Yu-Tang, a research assistant at the Center for Condensed Matter Sciences at National Taiwan University, remarked that Yushan Scholars’ courses are particularly valuable for students with a strong foundational background. In his own research in condensed matter physics, Luo found that while he could handle experimental techniques and results, his understanding of the underlying group theory was insufficient. Professor Yeh’s course bridged this gap by deriving experimental results through calculations. Luo also noted that group theory courses are almost nonexistent in most university physics departments, making Professor Yeh’s four-week theoretical course at NTNU an invaluable resource for understanding the theoretical basis of experiments.
About the Yushan Scholars Program
The evaluation criteria for Yushan Scholars extend beyond academic contributions, research output, and publications. A scholar’s potential impact on institutional development and expected research outcomes are also critical factors. In addition, to retain talented young scholars in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education offers the Yushan Young Scholar Program, targeting those within 10 years of graduation or under the age of 45. This initiative provides internationally competitive salaries to enable universities to recruit top global talent, enhancing Taiwan’s academic environment and attracting more outstanding scholars to the region.
For more information on upcoming lectures in this series or to register, visit: https://top.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnulectures/EN/lecture.html