The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) announced the election of four Academia Sinica Academicians among its 2013 list of new members on October 2. In addition, three more Taiwan scholars, one from Academia Sinica, received a TWAS Prize, and one research fellow was elected a TWAS Young Affiliate. The announcement of the conferral of the accolades was made at the 24th TWAS General Meeting held from October 1 to 4 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

　　The four new TWAS members are, in order of announcement, Academician Soo-Chen Cheng, Distinguished Research Fellow and Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology; Academician Tao-Shih Hsieh, Distinguished Research Fellow and Director of the Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology; Academician Shaw-Chen Liu, Distinguished Research Fellow of the Research Center for Environmental Changes; and Academician Shih-Chang Lee, Distinguished Research Fellow of the Institute of Physics.

　　The three Taiwan TWAS prize winners are, in order of announcement, Dr. Sue-Duan Lin-Chao, Distinguished Research Fellow of Institute of Molecular Biology and Director of International Affairs Office of Academia Sinica (Biology Section); Dr. Chung-Yuan Mou, Professor of Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University and Deputy Minister of the ROC National Science Council (Chemistry Section); Dr. Mei-Hwei Chang, Distinguished Professor, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine of National Taiwan University and Chairperson of Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital (Medical Sciences Section). In addition, Dr. Jeng-Da Chai, Associate Professor of Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, was elected a 2013 TWAS Young Affiliate, an honor awarded annually to exceptional scientists below the age of 40.

　　Academician Soo-Chen Cheng was elected to the area of Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology. Academician Cheng’s research interests lie in the identification of a major protein complex as a marker of the activated spliceosome, demonstration of the chemical flexibility of the spliceosome, identification of several splicing factors required for catalytic steps and spliceosome disassembly, and providing new mechanistic insights into remodeling of the spliceosome during catalytic steps.

　　Academician Tao-Shih Hsieh was also elected to the area of Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology. Academician Hsieh has made many contributions to the field of DNA topoisomerases and chromatin dynamics. He was the first to identify, purify and characterize a eukaryotic type II DNA topoisomerase from Drosophila. His work provided a mechanistic basis for the induction of DNA breaks by many powerful anticancer drugs.

　　Academician Shaw-Chen Liu was elected to the area of Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences. Academician Liu has made richard mille clone fundamental contributions in atmospheric chemistry, air pollution and climate change. He has published more than 160 papers which have received more than 6500 citations. He is one of the few Chinese scientists listed in the Institute of Scientific Information list of highly cited researchers.

　　Academician Shih-Chang Lee was elected to the area of Physics. His research contributions are in leading a Taiwan team in the CDF discovery of the top quark, in the ATLAS discovery of the Higgs-like particle and in the precision measurement of positron fraction spectrum in space by AMS.

　　Dr. Sue-Duan Lin-Chao’s research interest is in the molecular mechanisms of message RNA during post-transcriptional regulation in E. coli, particularly investigating the elucidation of the function of multi-protein complexes in regulating the stability of message RNA. Dr. Chung-Yuan Mou researches the synthesis of mesoporous silica materials and its catalytic and biomedical applications. Dr. Mei-Hwei Chang studies the effect of the hepatitis B vaccine in preventing human hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes the concept of cancer preventive vaccines.

　　TWAS has more than 1,000 members from 90 countries, more than 85% of whom are citizens of the South. The main mission of the academy is to promote scientific excellence and capacity in the South for science-based sustainable development.

Related website:

2013 TWAS Members:
http://twas.ictp.it/mbrs/members-by-year/members-elected-2013

2013 TWAS Prizes:
http://twas.ictp.it/news-in-home-page/news/twas-announces-2013-prize-winners/?searchterm=TWAS prize