Features

A Lifetime Devoted to Hepatitis Research: Prof. Pei-Jer Chen’s Commitment Beyond Retirement

Pointing to a framed photograph on the wall, Prof. Pei-Jer Chen fondly recalls that moment in 2006 when he was elected as an Academician of Academia Sinica, standing beside his esteemed mentors, Prof. Juei-Low Sung and Ding-Shinn Chen. This photograph not only symbolizes three generations of mentorship but also testifies to the lifelong dedication of three eminent hepatitis researchers. Like his beloved mentor, Prof. Ding-Shinn Chen, Prof. Pei-Jer Chen has received the 2025 Baruch S. Blumberg Prize—the highest honor awarded by the Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) in the United States.

...more

HONOR

Prof. Pei-Jer Chen Awarded the 2025 Baruch S. Blumberg Prize for Outstanding Contributions to Hepatitis Research

Prof. Pei-Jer Chen of National Taiwan University’s College of Medicine has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Baruch S. Blumberg Prize by the Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) for his outstanding contributions to the study and treatment of hepatitis. This international honor not only affirms Prof. Chen’s leadership in hepatitis research but also testifies to Taiwan’s significant role in global medical advancements.

...more

GLOBAL OUTLOOK

Towards a Sustainable Future:

NTU Hosts Exchange Forum with Kyoto U & Hamburg U

National Taiwan University (NTU) hosted the Tri-Party Forum, inviting Kyoto University (Japan) and Hamburg University (Germany) to join in discussions on cross-national cooperation for a sustainable future, during November 18-19, 2024. The forum explored its theme of building “Next Generation Partnership Through Multi-Dimensional Cooperation Approaches—Towards a Sustainable Future,” and discussed such topics as renewable energy, environmental studies, social welfare, healthcare management, and disaster prevention. Nearly 100 faculty and students attended the forum.

...more

Political Science Alumni Win MOE Distinguished Taiwan Alumni Award

Every two years, the Ministry of Education (MOE) honors international alumni who have excelled in their respective fields with the Distinguished Taiwan Alumni Award. The award recognizes their contributions to society and highlights the international impact of Taiwan’s higher education. Among 2024’s 11 awardees, National Taiwan University (NTU) stood out with two distinguished alumni, Cheng-Hsien Lee, the current Deputy Speaker of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly in Malaysia, and Fernando Luis Ramirez Gonzalez, the incumbent Mayor of Pilar, Paraguay. Coincidentally, they are both graduates of NTU’s Department of Political Science!

...more

Yonsei U ME Faculty Visit NTU

On January 16, Prof. Woochul Kim, Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Yonsei University (연세대학교), led a delegation of 10 professors to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Taiwan University (NTU). Their visit marked the launch of a bilateral academic forum held at NTU’s newly inaugurated Mechanical Engineering Building. Aimed to stir academic exchange and lay the foundation for future collaboration, the event demonstrated Yonsei University’s strong commitment to the partnership, with visiting professors representing fully one-third of the entire department’s faculty.

...more

Achievements

The Largest Genetic Study of Bipolar Disorder Identifies Genes That Likely Increase the Risk for the Condition

Prof. Po-Hsiu Kuo of NTU’s Department of Public Health and Institute of Epidemiological and Preventive Medicine participated in a groundbreaking global research collaboration with the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. This study conducted the largest multi-ancestry genomic analysis of bipolar disorder to date. The study findings were published in Nature (January 22, 2025).

...more

Global Study Identifies Genes for Depression Across Ethnicities

Prof. Po-Hsiu Kuo of NTU’s Department of Public Health and the Institute of Epidemiological and Preventive Medicine contributed to a groundbreaking global study in collaboration with the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Researchers from the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Australia, and several Asian countries also participated in the study. Funded by the U.S. NIH, the Wellcome Trust, and the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, the study results were published in Cell on January 14, 2025.

...more

Predictability of Tropical Cyclone Track Density in S2S Reforecast: A NTU Collaborative Study with Significant Implications

Tropical cyclones (typhoons) play a crucial role in supplying water resources to East Asia during the summer months. However, the intense rainfall they deliver sometimes poses significant threats to Taiwan and the surrounding regions. Improving the accuracy of tropical cyclone forecasts is essential not only for water resource management and supply chain efficiency but also for disaster preparedness, helping to mitigate potential risks and losses. Understanding tropical cyclone genesis and the underlying sources of track predictability remain fundamental challenges for atmospheric scientists.

...more

James Webb Space Telescope Unveils the Mysteries of “Silent Galaxies”: Why Did They Stop Growing?

Galaxies are vast astronomical systems composed of billions or even trillions of stars. To astronomers and space scientists, galaxies are the fundamental building blocks of the universe. Our Earth and solar system are just a miniscule part of the Milky Way, one of countless galaxies in the cosmos. Throughout the universe’s 13.7 billion-year history, the first few billion years marked a golden age for galaxy formation when galaxies actively converted their gas reserves into new stars. However, recent discoveries have disclosed that some galaxies stopped growing as early as one billion years after the Big Bang—less than 10% of the universe’s current age. These “quiescent galaxies” have become a major mystery to astronomers: why did such galaxies suddenly cease growing so early?

...more

NTU ZERO Team Launches Innovative Zero-Emission Technologies

As carbon dioxide (CO2) significantly contributes to global warming and climate change, urgent efforts are underway worldwide to develop carbon reduction and negative carbon technologies. In response, five National Taiwan University (NTU) professors-- Dun-Yen Kang, Hao-Ming Chen, Chia-Wen Wu, Hsiu-Po Kuo, and Bor-Yi Yu—formed the NTU ZERO team to address this challenge. Through their collaborative efforts, NTU ZERO has pioneered innovative carbon capture and utilization technologies with potential for substantial industrial-scale applications.

...more

Teaching & Learning

Increasing Public Understanding of Science: Life Science College Hosts 3MT Finale

Since its inception in 2012, the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition in Life Sciences has aimed to increase public understanding of scientific research. In 2024, the event was jointly organized by the Life Science Research Promotion Center, National Chung Hsing University, National Cheng Kung University, and the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences at Academia Sinica. Following preliminary rounds held across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, the grand finale, hosted by NTU’s College of Life Science, was held on October 26, 2024.

...more

NTU "King Sailor" Joins Enthusiasts to Explore the World

Nicknamed “King Sailor” on NTU campus, Huaipu Chen, a student in the Trans-disciplinary Bachelor Degree Program (TBD), participated in D-School’s Exploratory Learning program during the 2023 academic year. Together with Bryon, an American captain, King Sailor embarked on a sailing adventure from Mexico which became a journey of self-discovery and adventure for him. Chen documented his journey by producing and editing the film, “Explorer’s Adventure: Sailing in Search of Home.” Through this film, he shared the pivotal life-changing moments that have shaped him, as well as the challenges of his life at sea, port stops, and local cultural experiences. He says, “I want to spend my life exploring the unknown. I don’t want to rely on maps drawn by others—I will visit every corner of the world on my own. The Arctic and Antarctic are among my destinations, and from that, I will paint my own picture of the world.”

...more

People

D-Night at D-School: Students, Alumni Engage in Energizing Exchange

The D-School at National Taiwan University (NTU) departed from the traditional practice of posting course results by hosting D-Night at the Excellence Research Building. “The spirit of D-School is about having fun. From D-Day to D-Night, everyone here is a pioneer,” declared D-School Vice Dean Sheng-Lin Chang in his warm welcome remarks at the opening of D-Night.

...more

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative Launched on Zhubei Campus

The Zhubei Campus Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative was officially launched with a grand ceremony by National Taiwan University (NTU) in Hsinchu on December 13, 2024. The four main functions of this initiative are to support “Cutting-edge Technology Research,” “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation,” “Industry-Academia Collaboration,” and “Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development.” The initiative will form an innovation hub that connects local industries with a unifying global vision, while driving the new wave of campus entrepreneurship. The ceremony was attended by several key leaders, including Ching-ching Liu, Chairman of the National Development Council, and Wen-ke Yang, the Magistrate of Hsinchu County, together with other local representatives.

...more

NTU Chairs Sustainable Development Forum

On December 27, 2024, National Taiwan University (NTU) hosted the Next-Generation Smart 3D Land Information Center Sustainable Development Forum. The event highlighted groundbreaking advancements by NTU’s “Science and Technology Research Institute for DE-Carbonization” (STRIDE-C) in geothermal energy development, carbon sequestration, and land resource digitization. Discussions were also focused on strategies for achieving green energy transformation and carbon net-zero goals.

...more

A New Landmark Connecting Faculty, Students, Alumni, and the Community

On December 26, 2024, National Taiwan University (NTU) held a dedication ceremony and opening tea party for the newly renovated NTU Hub & Store at the New Moon Pavilion. The event marked the grand opening of the NTU flagship store and featured the unveiling ceremony attended by NTU President Wen-Chang Chen, Executive Vice President Shih-Torng Ding, together with key department heads, faculty, staff, and students. A special guest, Mr. Akihiro Monden, Chairman of Liberty Stationery Corporation, who generously supported the renovation project, was invited to join the ceremony and celebrate the completion of this new project, bringing renewed energy and charm to the main campus.

...more