To provide faculty and students with a refreshed space for reading and interaction, the Department of Applied Mathematics and Data Science and the Department of Physics have jointly redesigned and renovated the reading and collaboration areas on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Liu-Hsien Memorial Science Hall. This was made possible through the generous donation of NT$4 million from Tamkang Physics alumnus and Chairman & President of Integrated Service Technology Inc. (iST), Mr. Wei Been Yu. The newly established space is named the iST Study Hall. The opening ceremony was held at 10:30 a.m. on May 8, attended by the vice presidents, Prof. Hui-Huang Hsu, Prof. Chun-Hung Lin, and Prof. Hsiao-Chuan Chen, Dean of the College of Science, Prof. Tzenge-Lien Shih, Dean of R&D, Prof. Hung-Chung Hsueh, along with faculty and alumni from both departments. The renovation totaled NT$6 million, with NT$1 million each covered by the Mathematics and Physics departments, and the remaining NT$4 million generously donated by Mr. Yu.
Wei Been Yu was accompanied by fellow alumni from the Department of English and iST executives, including Vice President Judy Chen, Director of Failure Analysis Shih-Hsiung Shen, Senior Manager of HR Chia-Ju Wu, Manager of Brand Planning Yu-Ting Chiu, and Recruitment Deputy Manager Yu-Chin Tsou. In his remarks, Yu reflected on his time as a physics student at Tamkang, where, despite limited resources, he received outstanding training and inspiration that profoundly shaped his career. "The training in physics taught me how to think and deconstruct problems. I’m forever grateful to my alma mater for that."
Yu also recalled the hardships of iST’s early days, when the company was relatively unknown and struggled to attract job applicants. He once personally went out to recruit talent on the streets, asking potential candidates, "Would you like to chat?" Today, iST has grown into a thriving company, enabling him to fulfill his promise to give back to Tamkang. He emphasized that "talent" is the key to a company’s sustainable development, and he encouraged professors to continue fostering a high-quality learning environment while focusing on research and teaching. Yu pledged ongoing support to Tamkang, including internships, industry-academia cooperation, and talent exchange, working together for a win-win in academia and industry.
VP for Academic Affairs, Prof. Hui-Huang Hsu, recalled visiting the building before renovation and seeing a worn and dim space. Now fully renewed, the area offers students a vibrant and multifunctional learning and interaction hub. VP for Administrative Affairs, Prof. Chun-Hung Lin, expressed how "moved" he was, describing the moment he stepped into the renovated space as a visual delight. He thanked both departments for their thoughtful design, noting that "this is not just a renovation of physical space and equipment, but also an extension of campus culture and spirit." He encouraged faculty and students to use the space for dialogue, discussion, and development, making it a vital base for talent cultivation and industry-society engagement. VP for International Affairs, Prof. Hsiao-Chuan Chen, also thanked iST for supporting education for international students, highlighting the Physics Department’s English-taught master’s program recruiting in the Philippines, which includes internship opportunities and career paths in Taiwan. "Seeing the golden orange design, a symbol of hope and brightness, truly brings joy," she said.
Dean Tzenge-Lien Shih, Mathematics Department Chair Chih-Chun Tsai, and Physics Department Chair Cheng-Hao Chuang introduced the history of the Liu-Hsien Science Hall and the backgrounds of both departments. The Math Department was established in 1958, and Physics in 1963, with early classes in the Chinese Palace-style Classrooms. Founder Dr. Clement C.P. Chang built the Liu-Hsien Memorial Science Hall based on his vision of "building the nation through science." The building was completed in 1967 and fully renovated by 1969. Founder Chang even once served as Chair of the Physics Department. Dean Shih also thanked the university for investing NT$6.8 million two years ago to renovate both floors of the science hall, laying a strong foundation for continued development. “Graduates of the College of Science have excellent career prospects. This generous donation from Wei Been Yu to renovate the study hall provides faculty and students with a high-quality environment, an invaluable and touching gesture.”
Chair Tsai emphasized, “The Department of Mathematics has always taken pride in its solid theoretical training and flexible curriculum design,” which has nurtured talent across diverse fields. He thanked Golden Eagle alumni including Joseph Wang (Chairman of SINBON Electronics) and Hsiao-Chuan Hu, as well as alumnus Yi-Ming Hsu and others graduated in 1971 for their generous support. He hopes the renewed space will serve as a free and inspiring academic platform for exploration and discussion.
Chair Chuang thanked Physics alumni who graduated in 1987, including Yuan-Liang Lu, Cheng-Yu Lee, and Hsin-Yen Chen, as well as Advanced Light Source graduates such as Yu-Kuei Chang and Hsuan-Yu Lai, for their strong support, which demonstrated the unity of the alumni network. He also introduced the specially designed Quantum Commemorative Stamp Folder, which showcases the history and future of quantum development while integrating visual art—an example of interdisciplinary creativity. “The opening of this new space will significantly enhance teaching and research and will greatly help cultivate internationally competitive scientific talent,” he concluded.
