NCKU Inherence from Masters Program Begins Summer, 2010

TAINAN, Taiwan–(Business Wire)–
The first 2010 Inherence from Masters Program, organized by National Cheng Kung
University (NCKU), Taiwan, will begin this summer, where outstanding alumni will
share their knowledge and experience with the students.

Vice-President for Academic Affairs Ming-Jer Tang expressed, “The words, deeds
and thoughts of the outstanding alumni are the spiritual model and learning
benchmark for students.”

Prof. Ming-Jer Tang also pointed out, “The pursuit for excellence and the
advancement toward top are the common goal for everyone at NCKU. NCKU alumni,
more than 140,000 in the world, are the solid assets of NCKU in becoming an
internationally top university. The outstanding performance of the alumni in
each field has brought great honor to their alma mater.”

NCKU 2010 Inherence from Masters Program, organized by the Office of Academic
Affairs, is accepting applications till June 10th. The masters are Chair
Professor Ying-Tai Lung from the field of humanities, Chief Executive Officer of
Uni-President Enterprises Corporation Chang-Sheng Lin from the field of
management, Chairman of Delta Group Bruce Cheng from the field of technology,
Academician Ching-Wu Chu and Prof. Yia-Chung Chang from the field of science and
Academician Ming-Chiao Lai from the field of biomedicine.

The six masters will each select one student to learn from them from July 15th
to August 31st, 2010. The candidates are limited to third-year undergraduate
students but are open to all the departments. Subsidies will be provided based
on the study location. For instance, the subsidy will be NT$150,000 for overseas
study and NT$50,000 for domestic study.

This summer event may take place in the enterprise, foundation or laboratory
established by the masters. Students may also attend company meetings to
understand how company operates and regularly engage in discussions with the
masters to exchange opinions and ideas.

The masters of the NCKU 2010 Inherence from Masters Program are one of the best
of their fields of humanities, management, technology, science and biomedicine.

Chair Professor Ying-Tai Lung from the field of humanities received her bachelor
degree in Foreign Language and Literature at National Cheng Kung University and
a doctoral degree from Kansas State University in English and American
Literature.

She became the Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taipei City in
September 1999, joined the Journalism and Media Studies Centre of the University
of Hong Kong in 2004, and established the Lung Ying-Tai Cultural Foundation in
2005. Since 2008, she has undertaken the position of Chair Professor of National
Tsing Hua University in Taiwan.

Her writings in the column of China Times were published in a book of
social-political criticism, “The Wild Fire,” in 1985. In 1988, she moved to
Germany. Her essays began to appear on European newspapers such as the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Her work also began to appear in mainland
Chinese newspaper in the early 1990s.

Prof. Lung`s recent book “Big River, Big Sea – Untold Stories of 1949″ is about
the 1949 civil war and the escape to Taiwan of supporters of the Kuomintang. It
sold over 100,000 copies in Taiwan and 10,000 in Hong Kong in its first month of
release.

Chief Executive Officer of Uni-President Enterprises Corporation Chang-Sheng Lin
from the field of management is the chief engineer responsible for the
internationalization of Uni-President Enterprise Corporation.

Chairman of Delta Group Bruce Cheng from the field of technology established
Delta Group in 1971, one of the world`s largest providers of switching power
supplies and DC brushless fans, as well as components, visual displays,
industrial automaton and networking products.

He has donated one million shares of Delta Electronics stock to establish the
K.T. Li Technology Lectureship in 2001. He has also donated NT$100 million to
National Cheng Kung University to establish the Sun Yun-Suan Green Building
Research Center in 2007 and approximately NT$250 million to construct the
NCKU-Delta Building in 2008.

Academician Ching-Wu Chu from the field of science is an American-Chinese
scientist and the former President of Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology.

He received his bachelor degree from National Cheng Kung University, master
degree from Fordham University and doctoral degree from University of California
at San Diego.

He has received numerous awards and honors for his outstanding work in
superconductivity, including the US National Medal of Science and the
International Prize for New Materials. He was an invited contributor to the
White House National Millennium Time Capsule at the National Archives in 2000
and was selected the Best Researcher in the US by US News and World Report in
1990.

Dr. Chu is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, American Academy
of Arts and Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academia Sinica, Russian
Academy of Engineering (RAE) and the Third World Academy of Sciences. His
research activities extend beyond superconductivity to magnetism and
dielectrics.

Prof. Yia-Chung Chang from the field of science is the Distinguished Research
Fellow and Director of Research Center for Applied Sciences Academia Sinica
since 2005. He received his bachelor degree from National Cheng Kung University
in 1974, master and doctoral degree from California Institute of Technology in
1978 and 1980.

He joined the Physics Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in
1980 as a visiting research assistant professor, and became an assistant
professor in 1982, associate professor in 1986, and professor in 1991.

His main research interests are in condensed matter theory, semiconductor
electronics, photonic materials, and devices. In the last three decades he has
worked on a series of related topics including shallow impurities and excitons
in semiconductor superlattices and quantum wells, electronic and optical
properties of semiconductors, surfaces and interfaces, and nanostructures,
phonons and electron-phonon couplings in semiconductors and nanostructures,
non-linear optical properties, many-body effects, exciton condensation, magnetic
multilayers and giant magentoresistance, photonic crystals, optical metrology,
detectors, lasers, quantum transport properties of nanostructures, spintronics,
and quantum computing. He has published over 260 papers in SCI journals.

Academician Michael Ming-Chiao Lai from the field of biomedicine is a
world-renowned molecular virologist with special expertise in the studies of the
RNA viruses. He was the Distinguished Research Fellow and Vice President of
Academia Sinica, Distinguished Professor of University of Southern California
and Investigator of Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

He received his master degree from National Taiwan University in 1968, doctoral
degree and postdoctoral training from University of California, Berkeley,
California, in 1973.

He has made numerous seminal contributions to the understanding of the molecular
biology and pathogenesis of the coronavirus, which causes Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) among other diseases, and is an author of many
textbook chapters on coronavirus.

Dr. Lai was elected to the membership of Academia Sinica, American Academy of
Microbiology and The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. He has served
on the editorial boards of many other scientific journals. He has also received
Lifetime Achievement Awards from USC in 2008 and from Society of Chinese
Bioscientists in America in 2009.

Photo: http://www.cna.com.tw/postwrite/cvpread.aspx?ID=59759

National Cheng Kung University
Crystal Chen, +886-6-275-7575 Ext. 50042
crystal@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Saraswat takes charge as new DRDO chief

New Delhi, Sep 1 (ANI): Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, who is in charge of the development of missile and strategic systems in the country, today took charge as scientific adviser to Defence Minister AK Antony and will also serve as Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Dr. Saraswat, who replaced the present incumbent M Natarajan on September 1, will also serve as Secretary Department of Defence Research and Development,.

He is presently Chief Controller Research and Development (Missiles and Strategic Systems) since November 2005 in DRDO.

In this capacity, he spearheaded the development of country’s strategic and tactical missile systems, including the AGNI series of strategic missiles covering a range up to 3000 kms.

Dr Saraswat, who has a doctorate in Combustion Engineering, started his career in DRDO in 1972 at Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad and was responsible for the development of country’s first Liquid Propulsion Engine.

As Project Director ‘PRITHVI’, he steered the design, development, production and induction of first indigenous Surface-to-Surface missile system ‘PRITHVI’, into armed forces.

The successful testing of DHANUSH missile on board a moving ship with high terminal accuracy brought new dimension in the national defence capability. Dr. Saraswat also pioneered the concept of theatre defence system and integration of national Air Defence elements.

He was Director RCI before taking over as CCR and D(MSS). He has headed various committees of national importance.

Dr Saraswat is forerunner in the development of number of critical missile technologies that were under denial due to Missile Technology Control regime, thus making India self-reliant in Missile Technologies.

He has received several awards including Prof Jai Krishna Memorial Award of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and National Systems Gold Medal by Systems Society of India.

International Academy of Engineering, Russia, elected Dr. Saraswat as Member of Academy and honoured him as an academician. (ANI)

Saraswat appointed new scientific adviser to Defence Minister

New Delhi, Aug 27 (ANI): Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat has been appointed as scientific adviser to Defence Minister AK Antony and will also serve as Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Dr. Saraswat, who will replace the present incumbent M Natarajan on September 1, will also serve as Secretary Department of Defence Research and Development,.

He is presently Chief Controller Research and Development (Missiles and Strategic Systems) since November 2005 in DRDO.

In this capacity, he spearheaded the development of country’s strategic and tactical missile systems, including the AGNI series of strategic missiles covering a range up to 3000 kms.

Dr Saraswat, who has a doctorate in Combustion Engineering, started his career in DRDO in 1972 at Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad and was responsible for the development of country’s first Liquid Propulsion Engine.

As Project Director ‘PRITHVI’, he steered the design, development, production and induction of first indigenous Surface-to-Surface missile system ‘PRITHVI’, into armed forces.

The successful testing of DHANUSH missile on board a moving ship with high terminal accuracy brought new dimension in the national defence capability. Dr. Saraswat also pioneered the concept of theatre defence system and integration of national Air Defence elements.

He was Director RCI before taking over as CCR and D(MSS). He has headed various committees of national importance.

Dr Saraswat is forerunner in the development of number of critical missile technologies that were under denial due to Missile Technology Control regime, thus making India self-reliant in Missile Technologies.

He has received several awards including Prof Jai Krishna Memorial Award of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and National Systems Gold Medal by Systems Society of India.

International Academy of Engineering, Russia, elected Dr. Saraswat as Member of Academy and honoured him as an academician. (ANI)

Hackers can’t hack top-secret data of military: Internet scientist

Beijing, May 21 (ANI): An acclaimed Internet scientist has said that there is no way hackers could access top-secret data by penetrating the firewalls of military on government networks.

Former National Computer Network Emergency response team’s Director Professor Fang Binxing said there is no scientific basis to blame either China’s military or the government for hacking other nations’ networks because most of them are “out of reach”.

Binxing’s statement came after the foreign media blamed the Chinese authorities of infiltrating military networks and government computers in more than 100 countries.

A specialist on Internet security said that Networks containing sensitive intelligence are impenetrable, because the militaries isolate their networks completely from the public domain to prevent hacking.

“If there have been cases of key intelligence being stolen, I believe there would have been undercover agents within the organizations facilitating the theft you cannot simply do it with computer technology,” he added.

Fang Xingdong, a Beijing-based Internet technology expert, said China has become a staging post for hackers worldwide, who use the country’s network security vulnerability to launch attacks on other countries.

“Hackers often use computers based in China as their ‘springboard’. That makes it confusing even for the US military,” he added.

According to an Internet security report released on April 15 by Symantec, the California-based anti-virus software maker, about 71 percent of the computers hacked in the Asia-Pacific region are based in China, which has a cyber population of 300 million.

At the same time, 38 percent of hacking attempts worldwide originate in the US, compared with 13 percent in China, the report said.

“The US military is picking on China because it wants to make its claims appear more plausible,” Fang Binxing said.

Canadian-based researchers have also claimed that a cyber spy network based mainly in China hacked into classified documents from government and private organizations in 103 countries, including the computers of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan exiles.

The researchers also dubbed the alleged infiltration “GhostNet” but “whether it’s called ‘GhostNet’ or something else, it’s just an expression, not a technical term in any sense,” Fang said.

The academician also rebutted reports by foreign newspapers claiming that China’s indigenously-built security operating system “Kylin” has links to military use. (ANI)

Distinguished economist Dr. Badal Mukhopadhyay joins TERI University

New Delhi, Mar 12 (ANI/Business Wire India): TERI University is honoured to have Dr. Badal Mukhopadhyay as the Professor of Economics.

He is a well- known academician, who has taught and headed prestigious institutions like Delhi School of Economics and IILM (Institute of Integrated Learning in Management).

He has been a Visiting Professor in several renowned foreign institutions like Vanderbilt University USA, Sydney University Australia, University of Witwatersrand South Africa and Johns Hopkins University USA.

He completed his doctoral degree under the guidance of eminent scholar Mr. Paul Samuelson from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He has extensively contributed in the field of economics and has written and reviewed several books and articles. His well known works are ‘Mathematical Models for Economic Analysis’, ‘Theory of the Firm in a Zero Interest Rate Economy’ and ‘Theory of Economic Growth: The Tradition of Ricardian Dynamics’ among others. (ANI)

Nalanda Mentor Group holds review meeting in Bodh Gaya

New Delhi, Feb.24 (ANI): The Nalanda Mentor Group (NMG) met in Bodh Gaya on February 19 and 20, 2009.

To date, four meetings of the NMG have been held: July 2007 in Singapore; December 2007 in Tokyo; May 2008 in New York, and August 2008 in New Delhi.

The NMG has examined and recommended the framework and structure of international cooperation and partnership governing the establishment of Nalanda University (NU) that would facilitate continued international support and engagement and help initiate funding arrangements.

It has also made recommendations on the choice of an appropriate academician as the Inaugural Rector to be appointed for NU.

A team of experts will work with the Inaugural Rector and advise on academic and administrative aspects of NU. There would be an International Board of Trustees and also an Executive Council.

At last week’s meeting, members of NMG met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and had extensive interaction with local government, during which discussions were held on development of infrastructure and the proposed master plan of the region.

They emphasized the importance of ensuring effective coordination among all the concerned authorities so that a comprehensive development of the region takes place as NU starts operating.

The NMG also visited the proposed NU site.

The NMG also decided to add the School of Information Sciences and Technology to the already proposed schools that would form part of the forthcoming university.

The NMG discussed and favoured the idea of having affiliations with academic institutions of distinction in other countries such as Chulalongkorn University of Thailand and The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.

The Report of the NMG will be presented to the Fifth EAS Summit.

It was also clarified that reference to the NU in the EAS Chair’s Statement should enable Government of India to initiate suitable steps for the drafting of an international agreement by member countries of EAS, identifying the roles and responsibilities, including funding mechanism, on the establishment of NU.

The Government of India would then undertake the internal process of passing a Bill through Parliament to recognize the international status of NU.

An agreement between Government of India, the Government of Bihar and NU will also be signed which would clarify roles in administration of NU, including the grant of appropriate privileges for the efficient functioning of the University.

The NMG expressed hopes that the proposed NU will be established at the proposed site in Nalanda in the near future following strict time frame for various activities, including legal and administrative procedures. (ANI)

Indian delegation in Pakistan to promote peace

Lahore, Feb 23 (ANI): A 13-member Indian delegation, comprising eminent civil society members, journalists, peace and human rights activists, crossed the Wagah border on Sunday in a bid to promote peace and friendship between India and Pakistan.

The delegation includes eminent Indian personalities like former Indian diplomat and journalist Kuldip Nayar, renowned filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, social activist Swami Agnivesh, historian and academician Prof KN Panikar, former diplomat Salman Haider, human rights activist Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy, journalist Seema Mustafa, Sandeep social activist Pandey, social scientist Kamla Bhasin, etc.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asma Jahangir, South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) Secretary-General Imtiaz Alam and many other representatives of the civil society at the border warmly welcomed the delegation on Sunday.

The News quoted Bhatt as saying that the main objective of the mission was to promote peace and build trust between the two countries.

He symbolised the Indo-Pak situation with a long dark night but hoped that there was a silver lining in every cloud.

The days of tension between the two countries were numbered, he said, adding that peace and friendship would prevail over the region. He said the Indian delegation had come to light candle of peace across the border to shed bad omens of the Mumbai attacks.

SAFMA Secretary-General Imtiaz Alam said his organisation had welcomed the Indian delegation, as it was really a great peace mission. Peace missions in India and Pakistan were aimed at promoting peace and harmony between the two countries after the Mumbai attacks, he said.

HRCP Chairperson Asma Jhangir said going to war was not an option for both the countries.

Talking about the role of peace activists and peace missions, she said the basic objective of any peace mission was to play a role as a peace-builder, as a peace mission always helped promote understanding between the two countries.

The delegation members said they had come to Pakistan at a difficult time, as the Mumbai attacks had shocked and angered India, which had severely affected relations between the two countries and there was an uncertainty what lay ahead.

They also welcomed the recent steps taken by Pakistan to move against some of the persons responsible for the Mumbai attacks. They also underscored the need for repairing broken ties between the two countries. They resolved not to allow anyone to create any untoward situation. (ANI)

Bullying at school could be good for kids

London, Jan 31 (ANI): Being a victim of bullies at school can actually be good for children, according to an academician.

Helene Guldberg, associate lecturer in child development at the Open University suggest that bullying can help students to learn how to manage disputes and boost their ability to interact with others.

In an article on Spiked website, Guldberg urged teachers not to break up “boisterous banter or everyday playground disputes” and let children handle it themselves.

She said that the “obsession” with bullying among teachers and politicians was depriving children of the “experiences they need to develop”.

However, her idea was panned by anti-bullying campaigners.

Despite the government’s crackdown on attacks and intimidation, almost half of children still claim they are bullied at school.

“Teachers are increasingly lumbered with the task of looking after children’s health and wellbeing rather than being allowed to get on with the task of educating them,” the Telegraph quoted Guldberg as saying.

“Children are encouraged to assume their relationships with other children are damaging, and tacitly encouraged to look upon their peers with trepidation and suspicion.

“If we treat children as if they cannot possibly cope with hurtful experiences, then we will likely undermine their confidence and make them less likely to cope with difficult events in the future.

“In effect, we will prevent them from growing up,” she added. (ANI)

SC issues notice to Centre over OBC creamy layer

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the central government on a lawsuit questioning an October 2008 government order that
people of Other Backward Castes (OBC) earning annually Rs.450,000 or above alone would be categorised as creamy layer.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and P. Sathasivam issued the notice on a petition filed by noted academician P.V. Inder Sen.