NTU President Si-chen Lee led an NTU delegation to California August 22-26 to pursue technology cooperation agreements with leading research institutes there. The delegation included NTU Vice President Ming-je Tang, Dean of the College of Medicine Pan-chyr Yang, Prof. Min-liang Kuo of the Graduate Institute of Toxicology and Dean of the College of Life Science Grace Chu-fang.

On August 23, the delegation paid a visit to the University of California, Irvine, where Vice Chancellor for Research John Hemminger briefed the group on UCI’s academic and research efforts. With a student body of about 27,000, UCI is known for its research in technology but is also strong in linguistics, social sciences and neurobiology, as well.

While at UCI, the delegation visited the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, aka Calit2, where it was hosted by Calit2 Director G.P. Li. Jointly established by UCI and the University of California, San Diego, the institute utilizes the strengths of academia, government and industry cooperation.

On August 24, Lee and his delegation visited the University of California, Los Angeles, where they were welcomed by Executive Vice Chancellor Scott Waugh. While there, they also met with Paul Weiss, director of the California NanoSystems Institute, who briefed them on the institute’s organization and research. CNSI employs 120 professors from 29 different research units, specializing in such fields as science, engineering, medicine, health care, law and art. The institute produces world-class research in biomedicine, devices, energy and the environment.

President Lee’s delegation called on the University of California, San Francisco, on August 25. UCSF is a world leader in health sciences education and research as well as patient care. The university boasts three Nobel laureates and 43 members of the United States National Academy of Sciences. UCSF’s priorities include biochemistry, chemical biology, cancer research and hospitals.

On August 26, the delegation met with Senior Associate Dean Curt Frank of the School of Engineering at Stanford University. The school’s main research areas are information technology, nanotechnology, bioengineering, energy and the environment, and curriculum. The delegation also called on F.K. Chang, director of the school’s Structures and Composites Laboratory. Chang conducts research on composite materials for high-value structures, such as airplanes and bridges .