History of IAMS

In 1978, Dr. Yuan Tseh Lee (Yuan T. Lee), professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, met Dr. Robert T. Poe, a professor at the University of California, Riverside. The two, both with roots in Taiwan, had a great conversation and shared a common vision for the development of scientific research in Taiwan, hoping to contribute to its progress. To help Yuan T. Lee fulfill his wish to return to Taiwan and promote scientific advancement, Prof. Poe actively organized resources and connections to plan the first Taiwan International Science Symposium on Atomic and Molecular Sciences in 1979. Experts and scholars around the world who attended the symposium reached an initial consensus: Taiwan should establish a research institute specializing in atomic and molecular sciences to enhance the country's scientific research capabilities.

Around the same time, Dr. Shih-Liang Chien, then President of Academia Sinica, visited the United States to discuss ways to bolster scientific research in Taiwan with several renowned scientists. These scholars unanimously agreed that Academia Sinica should establish new research institutes in emerging fields, one of which was the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences (IAMS). They further recommended that Yuan T. Lee, the youngest among them and already a distinguished figure in the U.S. academic community, lead this initiative to build a world-class research institute for atomic and molecular sciences in Taiwan.

In 1982, Professor Yuan T. Lee, who had already been elected as a member of both the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Academia Sinica in Taiwan, along with several other academicians, formally proposed to Academia Sinica the establishment of the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences (IAMS). The Council of Academia Sinica approved the proposal, and following authorization from the Presidential Office of Taiwan, the IAMS Preparatory Office was officially established. Academia Sinica then appointed a group of distinguished experts and scholars from both Taiwan and abroad to form the IAMS Academic Advisory Committee, consisting of Professors Ta-You Wu, Yuan T. Lee, Robert T. Poe, Chau-Ting Chang, Tu-Nan Chang, Kwong-Tin Tang, and Edward Yen, with Yuan T. Lee serving as the Chairman.

The establishment of a new research institute within Academia Sinica necessitates rigorous professional evaluation and long-term planning. Consequently, the formation of the IAMS Preparatory Office represented a significant milestone in the journey toward the Institute's official founding.

In December 1982, the Academic Advisory Committee appointed Professor Chau-Ting Chang, a highly respected and trusted scientist based in Taiwan, as the Director of the IAMS Preparatory Office. Under his leadership, the establishment of the Institute progressed smoothly.

The site selection for the IAMS research building was the result of extensive deliberation. Two key figures, Yuan T. Lee and Robert T. Poe, provided the vision for this direction, believing that research resources should be closely integrated with the university environment to foster academic exchange and cultivate the next generation of scientific talent. They further emphasized the necessity of a good living environment to support the work of researchers. Consequently, it was decided to establish the IAMS research building on the National Taiwan University (NTU) campus.

Realizing this plan required the full support of NTU. To that end, Yuan T. Lee met personally with NTU President Chao-Chung Yu to discuss the project's long-term benefits for the university. Following these discussions, President Yu and the NTU Campus Planning Committee approved the proposal, formally rooting IAMS within the NTU campus.

In 1984, construction of the IAMS research building officially commenced. To attract preeminent scientific talent, efforts were also made to develop dedicated on-campus housing for IAMS researchers.

In December 1984, while visiting Taiwan to attend a conference, Dr. Robert T. Poe tragically passed away following a heart attack. As a central figure in the establishment of IAMS, his loss was deeply felt. To honor his profound contributions to the Institute's founding, Director Chau-Ting Chang moved to name the main auditorium the "Dr. Poe Lecture Hall," ensuring that his legacy remains a permanent part of the IAMS community.

In 1986, the official inauguration of the IAMS research building marked a transformative phase for the Institute. This milestone established a solid foundation that has enabled IAMS to uphold academic freedom and excellence throughout its decades of growth. In 1991, the facility was further expanded to include a dedicated laser center, with a new wing consisting of one basement level and five above-ground floors. The expansion was completed in July 1994, providing the Institute with significantly increased laboratory space.

In 1986, Dr. Yuan T. Lee, then Chairman of the Academic Advisory Committee of IAMS Preparatory Office, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Dr. Chau-Ting Chang was a brilliant, dedicated, and selfless scientist, who earned the deep trust and respect of his colleagues. As the Director of the IAMS Preparatory Office, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Institute, laying the groundwork for its future success. In 1993, Dr. Chang tragically passed away at the age of 59. Following his passing, Dr. Sheng-Hsien Lin assumed the Directorship of the Preparatory Office, ensuring the continuity of Dr. Chang's vision and the ongoing development of IAMS.

In 2005, the IAMS building underwent renovations, which included the establishment of a new lecture hall to honor Dr. Chau-Ting Chang's foundational contributions. Formally named the "Chang Chau-Ting Memorial Hall", it stands as a tribute to his vital role in the Institute's history.

After years of preparation and development, IAMS was officially approved by the Office of the President of Taiwan as a formal research institute under Academia Sinica in April 1995, and began fully dedicating itself to academic research.