The Operation of NCTS
Introduction
Background
The national
Center for Theoretical Sciences was established by the National Science Council
in August 1997 at the campus of
The mode of
operation of this center is modeled after KITP of Santa Barbara and MSRI of
Berkeley, while also taking into account the local situation of
1. To foster world class outstanding
researchers, and attract top young researchers to do cutting edge research in
theoretical sciences;
2. To attract worldwide outstanding
theoretical scientists to do research in
3. To develop international and inter-disciplinary
scientific research programs;
4. To promote international cooperation and
collaborations, aiming to become a leading research institution in
In the last 14 years, NCTS had gone through four on-site evaluations by international review committees organized by the National Science Council. The last external review was in December 2009. The performance and achievements of NCTS in these years were highly praised by that review committee. In particular, NCTS is quite successful in fostering internationally competitive research groups and enhancing international visibility of Taiwanese researchers in theoretical sciences. They recommended strongly the support of NCTS into its next ten years. As a result, NCTS is entering the third of the six year phase three project. The center is to be reviewed annually by an external committee.
Since most of
the world centers focus either on Mathematics, or on Physics alone. We will
give more detailed discussion and comparisons of NCTS with world well-known
centers of theoretical sciences in the SWOT sections of the proposal of
Mathematics Division (respectively, of the Physics Division).
The Objectives
NCTS has set
as its objective to promote researches of Theoretical Sciences in
NCTS is to
serve the whole community of theoretical scientists in
With fourteen
years of successful operations and the accumulated experiences, NCTS now moves
toward emphasizing the lasting impact of all the activities, the long range
significances of all of our focus programs. We also plan very active outreach
programs to make efforts to establish links with the public and people outside
theoretical sciences, to continue publicizing the importance and the role of
theoretical sciences in our culture.
Operational Framework
The director of the NCTS represents the center, and is also the PI of the main project, responsible for coordinating with the PI of each subproject. The center consists of two divisions, Mathematics Division and Physics Division. Each division has a division head, who helped by the PIs of the subprojects, runs the division in consultation with the director. Each division has its International Advisory Committee. This committee consists of leading theoretical scientists from abroad, invited by the director and the division head. The committee members make important academic suggestions to the center, advising the division head and recommending candidates for center scientists. They are also encouraged to make site visit every year, so as to keep current on the development of the center.
The Executive Committee consists of leading domestic theoretical scientists, including the PIs of the main project and subprojects, and representatives from all hosting universities. This committee monitors the operation of the center and helps the division head in decision making. The Academic Program Committee is formed by coordinators of focus programs. It makes recommendations on all academic activities. The coordinators of the various focus programs are the major forces who move NCTS forward.
Organization of NCTS
