SCU Seminar for History of Physics Focuses on Astronomy

On October 22^nd, scientists, experts and mainland Chinese scholars of physics gathered for dynamic exchanges on the topic of astronomy at Soochow University’s Waishuangsi Campus in the Seminar for History of Physics. Sponsored by the Physical Science Resource Center (PSRC), a unit of Ministry of Education, and held by SCU’s Department of Physics, the seminar was also open to high school physics teachers, providing them a rare opportunity to enrich their knowledge and expertise.

For the fourth year in a row, this seminar was one of the two the Department of Physics has held around early fall annually because the Department believes that the history of physics is crucial in the history of human civilization. This year’s event was hosted by Yuan-Tsun Liu, professor emeritus of physics at Soochow University, and Chun-Hsien Wu, chairman of Department of Physics of Soochow University. Experts who were invited to share their expertise and perspectives in physics and astronomy included: Hoi-Lai Yu, a research fellow from Institute of Physic, Academia Sinica, Bi-Yang Ge, a vice research fellow from Taipei Astronomical Museum, Jing-Yee Lee, an associate professor from General Education Center of Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, and Yun-Qing Ren, an associate professor of physics at Soochow University. 

The seminar presented multiple perspectives while addressing various issues of astronomy, such as "Astronomical Tests of General Relativity," "The Developmental History of the Telescope," "From Copernicus to Hubble," and "The Ancient Chinese Calendar." Most of the topics were all complicated research subjects, but the participants were lively engaged in discussion.

One participant among the audience even questioned about the absence of “Department of Astronomy” in Taiwan’s universities. It was explained that besides the lack of financial support and human resources to the study of astronomy, the major reason is that astronomical observation must rely upon a solid foundation in physics for analysis and explanation. Concerning this issue, a general session at the end of the seminar was held to explain the ties between physics and astronomy.

According to the post-event feedback survey conducted by PSRC, the participants spoke highly of this seminar, and an overwhelming 90 percent of respondents expressed their willingness to take part in a similar seminar in the future. All in all, the seminar won a favorable response and thus had been a great success.