General Introduction
The Institute of Physics was founded in Shanghai in 1928 and was reestablished in Taiwan in 1962, with Dr. Ta-You Wu as its first Director. The succeeding Directors of the Institute were: Dr. W. N. Wang (1976-1977), Dr. E. K. Lin (1977-1989), Dr. L. T. Ho (acting, 1989-1990), Dr. T. T. Tsong (1990-1999), Dr. Y. D. Yao (acting, 1999-2002), Dr. Maw-Kuen Wu (2002-2004), Dr. S. P. Li (acting, 2004- 2006) , Dr. Maw-Kuen Wu (2006- 2012), Dr. Ting-Kuo Lee (2012-2018), and Dr. Chia-Seng Chang (2018-present). In 1966, the Institute, together with the National Tsing-Hua University and the National Taiwan University, co-organized the Physics Research Center, under the auspices of the National Science Council, in order to promote physics research in Taiwan. In 1970, an interdisciplinary research program for atmospheric science and fluid mechanics was initiated in the Institute of Physics, and later a similar program for biophysical research in 1975. During the First Five-Year Plan (1981-1985) of the Academia Sinica, the original two-story Physics Building was replaced by a four-story building at the same site in April, 1983. The Institute's scope of research was then further expanded to include theoretical physics, covering mainly field theory and particle physics, nuclear physics, and statistical and computational physics. Since the beginning of the Second Five-Year Plan (1986-1991), the Institute has continued to grow, both in research staff and facilities. To meet the demands of rapidly growing research activities in the Institute, a new ten-story building immediately adjacent to the original building was completed in 1999. The Physics Building is named the Ta-You Hall to commemorate its first director, who passed away on March 4, 2000.
At present, the Institute has 36 research staffs, 8 research scientists, 98 research assistants, 46 supporting staff, 78 postdocs, 68 PhD students and 44 MS students. Current research areas can be grouped into three main categories: Quantum Materials Physics, Physics of Active and Biological Systems, Medium and High Energy Physics. The Institute of Physics is expected to play an increasingly important role in the development of physics and technology in Taiwan.
Video Introduction
The Institute of Physics Logo
The logo for the Institute of Physics was the winning design from a logo submission contest held by the Institute. It was an idea born on April 15, 2003 by Dr. Chia-seng Chang, an Institute Fellow, with the following spirit in mind:
The letters I.O.P are drawn with the additive primary colors blue, green, and red, and they are placed in such a way that one can depict G，c，h，k, the 4 fundamental constants which represent classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. With further imagination, one can conceive the number 1928 from the design, which is the year the IOP was founded.
The Logo File of Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica
The Logo File of Academia Sinica
Brief History
- 1928 Founded in Shanghai, China
- 1962 Re-established in Taipei, Dr. Ta-You Wu as director
- 1966 Co-organized the “Physics Research Center” with local universities to promote research
- 1983 4-story physics building completed, scope of institute expanded considerably
- 1999 10-story new building completed, number of faculty members reached 40
- 2000 Physics building complex named after its first director as “Ta-You Hall”
- 2002 Re-integrated into three groups, formally divided into “Nanoscience Group”, “Complex System Group” and “Medium and High Energy Physics Group”
- 2003 The idea of AsIoP’s logo was born. The letters I, O, P are drawn with the additive primary colors blue, green, and red, and they are placed in such a way that one can depict G, c, h, k, the 4 fundamental constants which represent classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics
- 2015 Three research groups were renamed “Quantum Materials Physics”, “Medium and High Energy Physics”, and “Physics of Active and Biological Systems”
- 2015 Under the auspices of Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica and Shui-Chin Lee Foundation for Basic Science, “ASIOP & Shui-Chin Lee Physics Lecture Series” were launched
- 2019 Establishment of the “Best Research Paper Award for Junior Research Investigators, Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica”
Directors
- Dr. Ta-You Wu （First Director, 1962－1976）
- Dr. Wei-Nong Wang （Director, 1976－1977）
- Dr. Erh-Kang Lin （Director, 1977－1989）
- Dr. Tung-Min Ho （Acting Director, 1989－1990）
- Dr. Tien T. Tsong （Director, 1990－1999）
- Dr. Yeoung-Der Yao （Acting Director, 1999－2002）
- Dr. Maw-Kuen Wu （Director, 2002－2004）
- Dr. Sai-Ping Li （Acting Director, 2004－2006）
- Dr. Maw-Kuen Wu （Director, 2006－2012）
- Dr. Ting-Kuo Lee （Director, 2012－2018）
- Dr. Chia-Seng Chang（Director, 2018-present）
Research Projects
Currently the researches can be grouped into three major areas: Quantum Materials Physics, Physics of Active and Biological Systems, Medium and High Energy Physics. Specific interests are in the areas of
- Advanced Microscopy and Spectroscopy; Quantum Materials Growth and Characterization; Qubit Physics and Quantum Phenomena in Nanostructures
- Theories, Modeling and Simulations; Physical Biology; Soft Matter and Granular Materials
- Theoretical Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, and Cosmology; Experimental Nuclear and Particle Physics