2026 Presidential Office Visit | Taiwan Women in STEM Delegation Makes Its Voice Heard

(Photo credit: Office of the President, Taiwan. TWiST members with President Lai Ching-te.)

Delegation and Purpose of the Visit

On January 5, 2026, the Taiwan Women in Science and Technology Association (TWiST) joined representatives from the Women in Optics Committee of the Taiwan Photonics Society, Women in Optics, the National Alliance of Taiwan Women’s Associations, the Women Engineers Committee of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, the Women in Engineering Alliance of National Chung Hsing University’s College of Engineering, the Taiwan Proteomics Society, the Taiwan Society for Mass Spectrometry, the Kaohsiung Girls’ Senior High School Alumni Association, IEEE, and the Chinese Taipei Bodybuilding and Fitness Association. Organized and coordinated by TWiST board member Professor Yi-Hsin Lin, the delegation brought together 60 representatives from 11 organizations for a special visit to the Presidential Office, marking a memorable moment for women in science and technology in Taiwan.

Visiting the Permanent Exhibition: Taiwan’s Democracy and Resilience in Research

The delegation toured the Presidential Office’s new permanent exhibition, Ark of Democracy: Taiwan Moves Forward Sustainably, learning about Taiwan’s outlook in semiconductor innovation, water-resource connectivity, net-zero development, and the many industries that sustain society. With arrangements by the Democratic Progressive Party’s Department of Gender Equality, the delegation was also invited to take a commemorative photograph with President Lai Ching-te.

(Photo credit: Office of the President, Taiwan. TWiST members and representatives of participating organizations with President Lai Ching-te.)

An Unexpected Meeting with the President: Key Technologies and TWiST’s Legacy

A highlight of the visit was an unexpected meeting with President Lai. In his remarks, the president said Taiwan would advance three key technologies—silicon photonics, quantum technology, and robotics—to strengthen the country’s leadership in the AI era.

Speaking for the delegation, TWiST Vice President Professor Fang-Fei Chou thanked the president for recognizing the contributions of women in science and technology. She noted that the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) is active within the United Nations NGO community. Professor Chou also shared how founding president Professor Chia-Li Wu brought decades of international experience back to Taiwan and worked tirelessly with Professor Hui-Chun Kao to establish TWiST in 2011. She added that TWiST would host the INWES Asia-Pacific Nation Network (APNN) Meeting in Kaohsiung in November 2026 and expressed hope for the president’s continued encouragement and support.

Policy Dialogue: Gendered Innovation and Childcare Challenges in Academia

During the exchange, delegation members offered concrete recommendations on public policy and the research environment:

• Gendered innovation: Former TWiST President Man-Yu Lin proposed incorporating gendered innovation into Taiwan’s “Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects” so that people of all genders can benefit equitably.

• A more supportive childcare environment: Professor Pei-Liang Yang highlighted three challenges faced by researchers with childcare responsibilities:

1. Parental-leave allowances are often insufficient to support a household.

2. Many universities lack on-campus infant-care centers, making daily transportation and caregiving time-consuming.

3. Weekend conferences often provide neither childcare spaces nor childcare funding.

President Lai emphasized the importance of these concerns and instructed the relevant ministries to develop appropriate responses.

After the Visit: Building Confidence in Science through Education

Since its establishment, TWiST has continued to grow through the efforts of its successive presidents—Chia-Li Wu, Shun-Lien Sung, Man-Yu Lin, Ruey-Hwa Hong, and Chao-Ping Hsu—together with its board members and supervisors. The association welcomes women across STEAMM* fields and works with partner organizations to hold domestic symposia and international conferences, fostering a thriving professional community.

After the visit, TWiST member Professor Yin-Kuo Wang reflected that Taiwan’s “Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects” should begin with education. This principle also inspired S-Girl, a popular-science film about AI co-produced by Professor Wang and Professor Chia-Li Wu. Through storytelling, the film seeks to spark elementary and secondary school students’ interest in AI and strengthen girls’ confidence in science.

*STEAMM extends STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics—by adding a second M for Medicine or Manufacturing. It refers to interdisciplinary fields that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and medicine or manufacturing, with an emphasis on integrated thinking, problem-solving, and developing future innovators.

Editor’s Note: Curious to learn more about S-Girl, our editor was deeply moved and would like to share the film with readers.

Supporting Science Education: How to Watch S-Girl

To continue promoting scientific thinking and gender equality, schools, families, and community organizations are invited to support S-Girl and help plant the seeds of science in young people’s lives:

• School and group screenings: Schools at all levels, libraries, and social-education institutions may arrange licensed public screenings to inspire students’ interest in scientific research.

• Streaming and DVD: The film is available through several online streaming platforms and on DVD, making it suitable for families to watch and discuss together.

Women in Science: Chia-Li Wu and S-Girl—Where the Story Began (2:55)

This three-minute documentary introduces TWiST founding president Professor Chia-Li Wu and her work in science education, bringing gender equality and scientific curiosity into schools.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oMY7ehf0RPM?si=MtNoOzMO5kZAlrQR