2019.02.14. The DLSU-NTHU Physics Research Meeting

(Currently: Just got home.) 

The Department of Physics, College of Science (COS), De La Salle University (DLSU) - Manila hosted an Academe/Research Dissemination Meeting with Physics Administrators of the National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan. I was lucky to have been invited in this important sit-down meeting to discuss possible areas of cooperation in research and academic pursuits between these two universities in the region. 

Some of the participants during the DLSU-NTHU Physics Research Meeting.
Front row (left to right): Prof. Ite Albert Yu, Chair, Department of Physics, NTHU; Prof. Gil Nonato Santos, Head, iNanoLab Research Group and Vice Chancellor for DLSU Laguna Campus; Dr. Ma. Carla Manzano, Conducting Polymer Group and Chair, Physics Department, DLSU.
Back row (left to right): Prof. Nelson Arboleda, Computational Materials Design Research Group, DLSU; Prof. Yi-Wei Liu, Professor, Department of Physics, NTHU; Prof. Al Rey Villagracia, Computational Materials Design Research Group, DLSU; Prof. Shih-Ping Lai, Vice Chair, Department of Physics, NTHU; Prof. Romeric Pobre, OPTICS Research Group, DLSU; Dr. Rene Batac (yours truly), Complex Systems Research Group, DLSU; Dr. Christopher Que, Associate Dean, College of Science, DLSU.

Dr. Maria Carla F. Manzano, the Chair of the Physics Department of the DLSU, welcomed everyone and explained the importance of cooperation between the Physics Departments of the two universities. She also gave a brief introduction about the De La Salle University, since its inception in 1911. The current research and academic thrusts of the Physics Department in DLSU are also discussed. 

Her counterpart, Prof. Ite Albert Yu, the Chair of the Department of Physics of the NTHU, also gave an introductory talk about the National Tsing Hua University. The University was first established by the Kuomintang as the Tsing Hua University in Beijing, also in 1911, the year that the DLSU was established in Manila. After the Kuomintang eventually settled in Taiwan, the University was re-established as the National Tsing Hua University in 1955. Today the NTHU and the Beijing-based Tsinghua University are still collaborating. He then proceeded to discuss the different fields of interests of the scientists and faculty members of the Physics Department of the NTHU. 

Dr. Maria Carla F. Manzano, Chair of the Physics Department of the DLSU, presents a gift from the DLSU to the NTHU to Prof. Ite Albert Yu, the Chair of the Physics Department of the NTHU.

Prof. Yu also gave a presentation about his own research interests. In particular, he discussed his research works on cold atoms and its interactions with photons. 

Prof. Romeric Pobre, Chair of the Graduate Committee of the DLSU, presents Prof. Ite Albert Yu with a token of appreciation for his talk.

Afterwards, the Vice Chair of the Physics Department of the NTHU also presented some of her research works. Prof. Shih-Ping Lai is also the Chair of the Institute of Astronomy under the Physics Department of the NTHU. She discussed some of the “birth pains” they encountered in establishing a strong astronomy research tradition in Taiwan. Now, she is part of multinational efforts to image and analyze astronomical data. 

Prof. Shih-Ping Lai receives a token of appreciation from Dr. Maria Carla F. Manzano and Dr. Romeric Pobre.

Prof. Yi-Wei Liu, Professor, Department of Physics, NTHU, also discussed some of his research works on spectroscopy. One of their works was featured in the cover of Science, with the title Shrinking the Photon. They have been working on these topics for quite some time now and they have a strong research presence in the area. 

Prof. Yi-Wei Liu receives a token of appreciation from Dr. Maria Carla F. Manzano and Dr. Romeric Pobre.

After the NTHU talks, the researchers from the DLSU also presented their research expertise. The following groups have presented their research works during the meeting:

• Conducting Polymer Group, Dr. Ma. Carla Manzano

• iNanoLab Research Group, Prof. Gil Nonato Santos

• Computational Materials Design Research Group, Prof. Nelson Arboleda / Prof. Melanie David/ Prof. Al Rey Villagracia 

• EARTH Research Group, Prof. Edgar Vallar and Prof. Ma. Cecilia Galvez

• Theoretical Physics Research Group, Prof. Emmanuel Rodulfo

• OPTICS Research Group, Prof. Romeric Pobre

• Complex Systems Research Group, Dr. Rene Batac

Personally, I benefited from the discussions that ensued. I realized that the DLSU is very much active in seeking international tie-ups and collaborations. I also gained some insights about the work that my colleagues in the Department are doing. Most importantly, as a young scientist just starting to make his mark, I gained valuable lessons from the experiences that these seasoned scientists have shared. I am really thankful for the opportunity to have participated in this academe/research meeting. ■