Ministry outlines plans for national science academy

Taiwan’s Ministry of Education announced plans to establish the Taiwan Advanced Academy of Science, a joint initiative involving Academia Sinica and the country’s top four universities—National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and National Cheng Kung University. The academy will operate without a physical site, focusing on recruiting students specializing in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and Earth sciences through a two-stage selection process, including a written exam followed by interviews and practical assessments conducted by a cross-university committee. Successful applicants will choose their preferred university and department, with the program designed to provide flexible, self-directed research opportunities for students with clearly defined interests. The Ministry of Education also proposed national science experimental high schools to nurture tech and academic talent, allowing qualifying students to bypass the written exam and proceed directly to the second stage of recruitment. High school students participating in Olympiads or international science fairs will be exempt from the first-stage written test, according to the ministry. The initiative aims to concentrate resources under a unified platform while ensuring limited openings do not disrupt existing education pathways. Ministry Secretary-General Lin Po-chiao emphasized that the program is preliminary and not intended to replicate existing interdisciplinary bachelor’s degrees. The academy’s goals align with President William Lai’s March remarks at the National Chair Professorship Award Ceremony, where he outlined plans to enhance Taiwan’s research environment and produce Nobel Prize winners in key scientific fields within the next 30 years. The proposal reflects broader efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s scientific capabilities and foster innovation in STEM disciplines.