Astronomy and astrophysics is the field of natural science that connects very well with the humanities and literature as perhaps one of the oldest sciences originating from a natural curiosity toward nature. Indeed, it can be said that civilizations have its roots in the fearful deciphering of the awesome astrophysical phenomena.

From pedagogical points of view, we have long noticed that a popular science course in astronomy can easily attract hundreds of students in anticipation of an astro-phenomenon, such as Mercury's passing over the Sun in May 2003 or Mars' close approach to the Earth in August 2003. Such phenomena always ensure observatories or distant mountain tops are jammed with sky gazers. Clearly, astrophysics is a natural bridge between humanities and sciences.

For many years, NTU, or Taida as the university is popularly called, has been the top choice for college education among all high school graduates in Taiwan. Taida has been the traditional training ground for generations of young talent in Taiwan. The Institute of Astrophysics is new to the College of Science, opening in 2003.

Taida's Institute of Astrophysics (IoAp) has its roots in the Department of Physics, College of Science, National Taiwan University. Its future developments overlap considerably with the Physics Department and in the immediate or near-term future, it will benefit both institutions to develop together. Even in the long run, there is little reason for Taida's IoAp to function as an institution completely independent from Department of Physics.

The Ministry of Education research excellence project on "Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics" (CosPA), and its NSC sequel, a study of the origin of our universe, will serve as the driving force in developing Taida's IoAp. Accordingly, the IoAp will have three outstanding groups from the outset: (1) radio astronomy observational groups, (2) optical and infrared astronomy observational group, and (3) theoretical astrophysics groups, with research interests of each group overlapping well with those of the CosPA project at least for the first ten years. Thereafter, Taida's IoAp will perform an evaluation of its long-range development plan at least every ten years. Finally, Taida's IoAp is currently the first and only institute at Taida where all instruction is conducted in English.

Contact Information

Office: 4th Floor, New Physics Building
1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, Taiwan 106, ROC
Tel: (886-2) 33665120~3
Fax:(886-2) 23639984
E-mail: wwwadm@www.phys.ntu.edu.tw
Go to the institute website