Stepping into Professor Yang Yang’s office as the new head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), apart from the array of books and documents, there are also a pair of baseball and gloves displayed on the shelves, with two bicycles leaned against the wall, catching the eye. Professor Yang smiled and explained that these sports equipment were prepared during his younger days to engage in physical activities with his children. Despite the busy schedule of research and administrative tasks at the school, he always makes sure to spend time with his family, as they are the driving force behind his work.
On the 4th of this month, as an alum of the Department of Physics from the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, Professor Yang Yang was honored with Taiwan’s highest academic recognition – the lifelong title of “Academician of the Academia Sinica”.
Being a member of the American Physical Society, the Materials Research Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Professor Yang Yang, who has received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Science and Technology in Southern California, grew up in a rural area of Changhua, Taiwan, where he spent his days catching crickets with his friends in the fields. In 1985, before moving to the United States, he felt unsure about his future. However, during his senior year at Cheng Kung University, a late-night conversation with Dr. Wu Da-You solidified his determination to pursue further studies abroad.
Just two weeks after arriving in the United States, Professor Yang Yang started working at a restaurant, putting in hours from 4 p.m. until midnight. He recalled that while it was tough, he quickly assimilated into American life, learned a great deal, and made significant progress in English proficiency. The learning environment in the United States suited him well, as he appreciated the encouragement for students to ask questions and the strong teacher-student interactions.
During his time as a teaching assistant at the University of Massachusetts, Professor Yang Yang found that he had good rapport with students and enjoyed the working environment at the university. Therefore, when faced with various options like entering industry or government work, he ultimately chose to pursue a post-doctoral research opportunity offered by the University of California, Riverside.
Reflecting on their initial enthusiasm for Riverside County with his wife, Li Duanmei, Professor Yang was disappointed to find upon arrival that the county was an inland area with barren vegetation and research prospects that did not match their expectations. This led him to begin exploring new career opportunities. Professor Yang considers himself to have a rebellious streak—staying too long in a comfort zone makes him want to try new possibilities. He especially thanks his wife for her understanding and support, enabling him to wholeheartedly devote himself to his work without worries.
Shortly after working in Riverside County, Professor Yang resigned and joined the startup company UNIAX in Santa Barbara. Founded by Professor Alan Heeger, Professor Yang was the 12th employee to focus on polymer materials research. This experience further enhanced his ability to integrate research topics with practical applications. However, as the company’s structure changed, Professor Yang once again stepped out of his comfort zone and switched to teaching at UCLA.
Professor Yang’s research encompasses a wide range of fields, from organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) applicable to electronic display screens to the solar photovoltaic device team he leads, making UCLA a leading research institution in thin-film solar energy. In 2016, he was listed by Thomson Reuters as one of the “World’s Most Influential Scientific Thinkers” among 19 scientists.
According to Professor Yang, scientific research should not only focus on the theoretical level but also emphasize practical applications. His industry experience has made him more mindful of the applications of fundamental research. The transparent solar cells he developed turn windows into solar energy generation devices. In recent years, his team has been researching perovskite solar cells, which could potentially revolutionize the green energy industry.
It is well known that concerns about environmental issues stemming from the disposal of solar panels have been a significant deterrent to embracing solar energy. Professor Yang believes that the key lies in finding more efficient ways to recycle solar panels. By implementing appropriate recycling policies, more research talent would be incentivized to delve into this field.
In fact, numerous companies are already engaged in researching the recycling and reuse of solar panels, extracting precious metals from them to give these panels a second life. Professor Yang pointed out that using solar energy to address the carbon dioxide produced during high-temperature silicon microfabrication is an important area of study for scientists today. He firmly believes that technological problems should be tackled with technology.
Professor Yang expressed his gratitude for the honor bestowed upon him by the Academia Sinica, delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside world-class scholars. He hopes to establish more collaborations between academia and industry in Taiwan in the future, encouraging Taiwanese students to explore different cultures and educational systems around the world to broaden their horizons and gain experience and inspiration.
Looking back, as he neared graduation from Cheng Kung University, Professor Yang was torn between studying abroad and staying in Taiwan. At the time, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry was on the rise, suggesting promising prospects if he stayed in Taiwan. However, Dr. Wu Da-You recommended that he pursue his studies overseas, urging him to bring back his foreign experiences to Taiwan.
After nearly forty years of studying and working in the United States, Professor Yang is grateful for following Dr. Wu Da-You’s advice. He has found that both Taiwan and the United States have distinct educational systems with their own strengths and advantages, and believes that both sides should learn from each other to chart their own paths. Taiwan students should not assume that everything in the US is superior. Using Taiwan’s success in the semiconductor industry as an example, he noted that the US lacks researchers with patience for conducting detailed research, an area where Taiwan’s education system and culture excel in cultivating specialized talents.
Taiwan’s education system emphasizes well-rounded development, requiring students to excel in Chinese, English, math, history, geography, physics, chemistry, and biology, setting high standards in each subject. On the other hand, the US education system focuses on allowing students to develop their strengths and interests, providing opportunities for specialization that can lead to fruitful career prospects.
Therefore, Professor Yang hopes that Taiwan will provide an environment that enables students to showcase their unique talents and not miss out on opportunities due to certain shortcomings. He aims to strengthen exchanges between UCLA and Taiwan, envisioning the Taiwanese academic community fostering a more diverse and inclusive environment where every student can excel in their respective fields.