People

Chao-Chih George Chen  陳朝志   chih@earth.sinica.edu.tw

Current project: Laser-heated DAC experiments

對於一般人來說，「地心探險」是透過電影院裡的大螢幕及音響設備所獲得的聲光體驗。但是在實驗室裡，研究人員利用小小的高壓鑽石砧及相應的光學設備，就能將地底下的奧祕「掌握在手中」。

For ordinary people, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" is a sound and light experience obtained through the big screen and sound equipment in a movie theater. But in the laboratory, researchers can have all the secrets "in their hands" through the use of a small diamond anvil cell (DAC) and corresponding optical equipment.

Yi-Chi Tsao  曹懿麒   yctsao@earth.sinica.edu.tw

Current project: Laser-heated DAC experiments

我們對地球深處的神秘充滿好奇。從許多電影、小說和影集中，我們可窺見人們對地球內部的想像，包括未知的生物、機器人，甚至是另一個未知的文明。地球內部彷彿是一場奇幻之旅，我們的工作像是解開謎團，透過科學實驗模擬地球內部的環境和演化歷程。這份工作相當迷人，充滿了無限的趣味性。

Our engagement in this line of work primarily stems from a curiosity about what exists deep within the Earth. From numerous movies, novels, and series, we can discern people's imaginations about the Earth's interior, imagining unknown creatures, robots, or even an entirely different civilization. The Earth's interior resembles a fantastical journey, and our work feels like solving a mystery—using scientific experiments to simulate the environment inside the Earth and its evolutionary history. It's an exceptionally intriguing job.

Chun-Hung Lin  林俊宏   chunhung@earth.sinica.edu.tw

Current project: High PT electrical resistivity measurements within a DAC

我小時候對地球內部的想像，最初是受到漫畫哆啦A夢：大雄與恐龍騎士團，之後接觸無論是電影或小說出現的地心歷險，地球空洞說，都是神祕充滿幻想的，地球內部的奧秘，始終吸引人們的好奇心深入研究.

從早期藉借助地震波，到近期電腦計算模擬，透過研究一步一步地揭開神秘的面紗. 通過了解地球的核心、地殼板塊運動，地震、火山等現象，有助於預測自然災害，窺探地球誕生的歷程.

這不僅是科學追求的過程，更是對地球的敬畏.

In my childhood, my earliest imaginations of the Earth's interior were inspired by the manga "Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs." Subsequently, whether in movies or novels featuring journeys to the center of the Earth or the hollow Earth theory, they were all mysteriously filled with fantasy. The mysteries within the Earth have consistently fueled people's curiosity, prompting in-depth research.

From the early days of utilizing seismic waves to the recent advancements in computer simulations, through research, we gradually unveil the mysterious veils surrounding the Earth's interior. Understanding phenomena such as Earth's core, crustal plate movements, seismic activities, and volcanoes not only aids in predicting natural disasters but also allows us to peer into the Earth's birth process. 

This is not only a process of scientific pursuit, but also a profound reverence for Earth. 

Jen-Wei Chang  張仁韋   junwei@earth.sinica.edu.tw

Current project: Laser-heated DAC experiments

在大學時，我主修應用科學系的物理組。當時一直在思考我的本科專業能夠應用在哪些領域，除了科技廠之外，難道就沒有其他可能性了嗎？因此，在碩士階段，我選擇了地球與環境科學系，希望能更深入地探索我的興趣並尋找未來的職業目標。

我碩班研究的課題是極端環境的微生物群落（溫泉與蛇紋岩區）。畢業後，我發現自己對地球相關研究相當有興趣。可惜的是，校內相關的研究主要集中在地球表層。因此，在當兵期間，我開始思考如何將我的興趣與專業結合起來，並找到了謝老師的實驗室。我發現這個實驗室確實非常適合我作為未來的研究方向。

During my undergraduate years, I majored in the Physics stream of the Applied Science Department. I consistently pondered about the potential applications of my undergraduate specialization, beyond the scope of technology factories. Was there no other possibility besides the tech industry? Consequently, during my master's studies, I opted for the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, with the hope of delving deeper into my interests and identifying future career goals.

For my master's research, I focused on the microbial communities in extreme environments, such as hot springs and serpentinite areas. After graduation, I realized my strong interest in Earth-related research. Unfortunately, most of the relevant research within the university was centered around the Earth's surface. Hence, during my military service, I began contemplating how to align my interests with my expertise. That's when I discovered this laboratory, and I found it to be an excellent fit for my future research direction.

Yen-Yu Chen  陳彥宇  NTU-Geo   johnson5295@hotmail.com.tw

Current project: Characterization of kerogen with FTIR

Chiao-Chen Wu  吳喬宸  NTU-Geo   jjerry0410@gmail.com

Current project: Thermal conductivity of hydrous minerals along slab subduction and bridgmanite at deep mantle

我對於地球科學有著極濃厚的興趣，大學期間接觸低溫低壓下的換質礦物，了解到礦物是研究地球組成、結構以及歷史的最佳工具，並思考是否能利用礦物在不同溫壓條件下的性質，對地球進行更深入的研究。帶著這樣的想法，發現人們對於深部地球的探索近年來有持續性的突破，使我們漸漸能解釋地球內部的物理、化學性質以及動力學特性，或許也暗示著地球存有許多尚未發掘的秘密。憑著對深部地球的好奇心，加入ECL，希望能夠結合理論與實驗，提出新穎的觀點。

I have a profound interest in Earth science. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I focused on low-grade metasomatic minerals. This experience led me to realize that minerals serve as exceptional tools for investigating the composition, structure, and history of the Earth. Additionally, I pondered the possibility of leveraging mineral properties under various pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions for deep Earth research, while observing sustained breakthroughs in recent years in the exploration of the deep Earth. These advancements enable us to gradually elucidate the physical, chemical, and dynamic properties of the Earth's interior, hinting at the existence of numerous undiscovered secrets. Driven by my curiosity about the deep Earth, I joined the Extreme Conditions Laboratory (ECL), aiming to integrate theory and experiments to propose innovative perspectives. 

Hsun-Yun Chang  張薰勻  NTU-Geo   sallychang20021214@gmail.com

Current project: Thermal conductivity and spin transition of Fe-rich ferropericlase at core-mantle boundary for ULVZs

深部地球深深吸引著我。

我承認在我來ECL暑期實習前，我對深部地球沒有太大的興趣，但我對於礦物、晶體結構和地球物理的興趣引領我來到了這裡。不同領域的研究（地球物理、地球化學、地球動力學⋯⋯等等）建構了我們對深部地球的認知，而我很享受從不同領域切入去了解深部地球，也常被不同領域在深部地球研究中巧妙的結合運用而驚艷。隨著我一步步深入深部地球的世界，我越來越能領會深部地球研究的重要性和它的魅力，所以我加入了ECL，期望揭開深部地球的神秘面紗。

The deep earth was so appealing that l couldn’t help but keep approaching it.

I must admit that I wasn’t a big fan of the earth’s deep interior studies before my summer internship at ECL. However, my interest in mineralogy, crystallography and geophysics led me here. The combination of geophysics, geochemistry, mineralogy, geodynamics and so on shaped our understanding of the deep earth. I enjoyed exploring it from different perspectives and was stunned by the delicate integration they’ve achieved. Realizing the importance and fascination of the deep earth interior as I learned more about it, I decided to join the team  to reveal the mysteries deep inside our planet.

Yi-Ting Chiang  江奕霆  NTU-Phys/Geo   b10202023@ntu.edu.tw

Current project: High PT thermal conductivity of iron for terrestrial planet's core thermal evolution and dynamo

自接觸地球科學以來，行星磁場的機制一直都是我最渴望理解的主題。地球內部至今難以直接採樣分析，又不如恆星有眾多粒子物理的觀測手段可窺探內部，種種難題將這個領域蒙上一層神祕的面紗。所幸地震波提供了一扇窗口，讓我們得以確認地球內部的力學模型，並衍伸出發電機理論來詮釋地磁。

在ECL，我們透過高溫高壓實驗量取目標物質的熱導率，希望以此作為約束條件建構更完備的發電機數值模型，試圖更靠近真實的行星磁場機制。我非常享受這種研究方式：從固態物理及超快光學出發給出理論支持，以此設計出實驗裝置，並將結果運用在地球物理上。過程中結合了眾多我熟悉並正在學習的物理及地質領域，這些定量化的分析使我感到新奇而自在。希望在未來能在ECL並解開更多行星內部的謎題，更加的接近神秘宇宙的真實。

Since I first delved into earth science, I have been eager to unravel the mechanism behind the planetary magnetic field. Until now, humans still cannot directly penetrate the Earth's interior, sample its mineralogical composition, and analyze it. Also, we lack similar particle physics approaches to those used in observing the interiors of stars, as the energy-mass scale is considerably lower for planets. Various challenges cast a mysterious veil over this realm. Fortunately, seismic waves provide primary confirmation of the mechanical model of the Earth's interior, leading scientists to construct the dynamo theory in an attempt to explain the geomagnetic field.

At ECL, we measure the thermal conductivity of target materials under extreme conditions. These results are quite promising in providing constraints on the numerical dynamo model, making the construction of a more accurate model more feasible. I immerse myself in this research approach: solid-state physics and ultrafast optics provide the theoretical foundation; experimental instruments are designed based on these theories, and the results are utilized to derive more detailed parameters for geophysical models. In this research, the realms of physics and geology, with which I am familiar and currently learning, become entangled in a way I did not expect. The combination of these quantitative analyses impresses me, and I am comfortable dealing with them. I hope to unveil more mysteries of the planet's interior and get closer to the essence of the universe.

Yueh-Lin Wu  吳玥箖, NCKU-Earth MS, 2021-2025

Master thesis: Thermal conductivities of garnet and majorite at high pressure-temperature conditions and their effects on the thermal evolution of Earth's interior 

在大學時期，我主修地球科學系的物理組，同時輔修物理系。在震測實驗室進行專題研究的經驗使我深刻體會到，儘管人類對宇宙的了解不斷擴展，對地球深部的研究仍然相對有限。透過實驗和理論模擬，我們得以窺探那些存在於無限想像中的真實奧秘。

很幸運地，在極端條件實驗室中，我能夠結合所學，在有限的資源下，挖掘更深層的真相。這段旅程也讓我更加瞭解到基礎物理知識的不可或缺，它是我們深入探索地球內部結構和過程的關鍵。

During my university years, I majored in the physics stream of the Earth Science department while also minoring in the Physics department. The experience of conducting research projects in the seismology laboratory has profoundly impressed upon me that, despite the continual expansion of human understanding of the universe, our knowledge of the Earth's deep interior remains relatively limited. Through experiments and theoretical simulations, we are able to glimpse into the true mysteries that exist beyond limitless imagination.

Fortunately, in the extreme conditions of the laboratory, I was able to integrate my academic knowledge and delve deeper into the truth within the constraints of limited resources. This journey has further enlightened me on the indispensability of fundamental physics knowledge, serving as a key to exploring the internal structures and processes of the Earth.

Ji-Ching Chen 陳季晴, RA, 2023-2025

Project: Geodynamics modelling of deep Earth and icy body

我最初對地球科學的興趣絕非深部地球。與大多數的台灣人一樣，台灣長年的地震活動幾乎是所有人對地球科學的主要印象(在台灣，地震學才是顯學)。

在地球物理的學習訓練中，逐漸發現許多地質現象可以用簡單的物理概念解釋(相信大家都做過類似的作業：夏威地形變化可以用四次全微公式計算撓曲量)，逐漸明白地球系統就是個巨大的物理模型，板塊構造學說的建立讓人類藉由簡單的物理力學模型描述已發生的地質事件，近一步預測未來的地球內部構造。當然這其中還有許多未知參數，但隨著現代實驗與觀測技術的進步、電腦計算能力的提升，我相信這些未知數最終可以被很好的解開。

事實上，地球科學中很重要的一個目標是了解地球的演化歷史。這目標源自於地球的與眾不同：地球具有磁場、具有水圈大氣圈、具有板塊構造活動，具有生命，地球很明顯跟其他類地行星、甚至所有我們已知的行星不同。而藉由地球內部的構造，或許能夠回推地球的演化歷史，逐漸為每一塊未知數拼圖拼出解答。目前這些問題包含 LLVPs與ULVZs的來源、物理化學性質、以及其對地球內部動力學的影響; 地球從早期的岩漿海到逐漸分層地函與地核的熱與化學過程等。這些問題縱使困難且無標準答案，但這正是研究深部地球最美好的部分：眾多未解之謎在其中縈繞，等待被揭示，只有透過全面的研究(包含地質學、地球化學、地球物理學、礦物物理學與地球動力學)才能解答。

While I can't say that I always knew I'd end up studying the deep earth, growing up in Taiwan gave me the chance to experience earthquakes.

Choosing to pursue a degree in geophysics stemmed from my fascination with earthquakes, yet I yearned to explore something beyond lithosphere seismic events. My interest in geodynamics was sparked by plate tectonic theory. Earth’s evolutionary history extends far beyond its surface; it’s the entire planet that exhibits dynamic consistency (including mantle convection, slab subduction, core-mantle interaction…etc), nearly perfectly explained by simple physical and mathematical descriptions.

We have known about LLVPs and ULVZs for more than 20 years, yet their true nature remains elusive. Despite proposing various solutions for core formation and mantle differentiation, many questions persist. The actual age of either the inner core or plate tectonic activity remains unknown. This is the most beautiful aspect of studying the deep Earth: numerous unsolved problems linger within, waiting to be unravelled, and can only be addressed through comprehensive studies. This journey ahead is long, and I am honoured to be a part of this team.

Publication: 

Ji-Ching Chen*, Frédéric Deschamps, and Wen-Pin Hsieh, ”Temporal changes in Europa's ice shell thickness: Insights from models of convection,” J. Geophys. Res. Planets, under review 

Next: PhD student at Caltech

Jen-Chien Chiu 邱仁謙, NTU-Geo MS, 2022-2025

Master thesis: Thermal conductivity of superhydrous phase B at high pressure and temperature: implications for Earth's deep water cycle

Next: Military service

Chen-Yun Zhou 周晨芸, summer intern and undergrad, 2024 

Project: Thermal conductivity of hydrous minerals along slab subduction

Next: Junior at NTU-GEO

Chu-Wei Chen 陳竺葳, summer intern, 2023 

Project: Thermal conductivity of magnesiowustite at deep mantle conditions

Next: Junior at NTU-GEO

Yu-Hsiang Chien 簡祐祥, RA and PhD candidate, 2014-2023 

Project: Thermal conductivity of antigorite and brucite in Earth's deep interior

Publications: 

Yu-Hsiang Chien, Enrico Marzotto*, Yi-Chi Tsao, and Wen-Pin Hsieh*, “Anisotropic thermal conductivity of antigorite along slab subduction impacts seismicity of intermediate-depth earthquakes,” Nat. Commun., 15, 5198 (2024) 

Yu-Hsiang Chien*, Kai-Chi Wei, and Wen-Pin Hsieh*, “Thermal conductivity of single-crystal brucite at high pressures with implications for thermal anomaly in the shallow lower mantle,” American Mineralogist, 107, 790 (2022). 

Wen-Pin Hsieh* and Yu-Hsiang Chien, “High pressure Raman spectroscopy of H2O-CH3OH mixtures,” Sci. Rep. 5, 8532 (2015). 

Next: Alishan Tech

Dr. Sofi Suhail Majid, Postdoc, 2021-2022 

Project: Thermal conductivity and Raman spectroscopy of correlated oxides

Next: Postdoc Fellow, National Inst. Tech., India

Yu-Ping Grace Hung 洪瑜苹, undergrad and NTU-MS, 2020-2022

Project: Thermal conductivity of garnets at high pressures

Publication:

Yu-Ping Hung, Yi-Chi Tsao, Chun-Hung Lin, and Wen-Pin Hsieh*, ”Thermal conductivity of aluminous garnets in Earth’s deep interior,” American Mineralogist, 109, 482 (2024)  

Dr. Dylan Meyer, Postdoc, 2018-2021 

Project: Thermal conductivity and elasticity of methane at high pressures

Publication:

Dylan W. Meyer*, Wen-Pin Hsieh, Han Hsu, Ching-Yi Kuo, and Jung-Fu Lin, “Thermal conductivity and compressional velocity of methane at high pressure: insights into thermal transport properties of icy planet interiors,” J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 127, e2021JE007059 (2022). 

Next: ScienceLogic

Dr. Wei Sun 孫偉, Postdoc, 2019-2020 

Project: Thermal conductivity of forsterite at high pressures

Next: Assistant Professor at Wuhan Geosciences University, Mainland

Ryan Wang 王朝曦, RA, 2019-2020

Project: Thermal conductivity of minerals

Wan-Hsiang Yang 楊宛湘, RA, 2019-2020

Project: Thermal conductivity of minerals

Next: Assistant at NTHU-Phys

Du-Ting Cheng 鄭篤庭, undergrad, 2019-2020

Project: Thermal conductivity of oxidized graphene

Next: Master student at NTU-Photonics

Kai-Chi Wei 魏愷琪, summer intern and undergrad, 2019-2020

Project: Thermal conductivity of brucite at high pressures

Publication: 

Yu-Hsiang Chien*, Kai-Chi Wei, and Wen-Pin Hsieh*, “Thermal conductivity of single-crystal brucite at high pressures with implications for thermal anomaly in the shallow lower mantle,” American Mineralogist, 107, 790 (2022). 

Next: Junior at NTU-GEO

Chih-Bo Li 李治伯, summer intern, 2019

Project: Thermal conductivity of brucite at high pressures

Next: Master student at NCKU-Earth

Keng-Hsien Chao 趙耕賢, NCU-MS and RA, 2015-2019

Master thesis: Spin transition and thermal conductivity of (Fe0.78Mg0.22CO3) siderite under high pressure

Publications:

Wen-Pin Hsieh*, Takayuki Ishii, Keng-Hsien Chao, Jun Tsuchiya, Frédéric Deschamps, and Eiji Ohtani*, ”Spin transition of iron in δ-(Al,Fe)OOH induces thermal anomalies in Earth’s mantle,” Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2020GL087036 (2020). 

Keng-Hsien Chao and Wen-Pin Hsieh*, “Thermal conductivity anomaly in (Fe0.78Mg0.22)CO3 siderite across spin transition of iron,” J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 124, 1388 (2019). 

Next: PhD at U Hawaii, Manoa (2024) with Prof. Bin Chen

Dr. Yun-Yuan Chang 張耘瑗, Postdoc, 2014-2018

Project: Thermal conductivity of hydrous olivine and glasses at high pressures

Publications:

Wen-Pin Hsieh*, Yun-Yuan Chang*, Yi-Chi Tsao, Chun-Hung Lin, and Kenny Vilella, “Exceptionally low thermal conduction of basaltic glasses and implications for the thermo-chemical evolution of the Earth's primitive magma ocean,”, J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 129, e2023JB027722 (2024).  

Yun-Yuan Chang, Wen-Pin Hsieh*, Eh Tan, and Jiuhua Chen, “Hydration-reduced lattice thermal conductivity of olivine in Earth’s upper mantle,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 114, 4078 (2017). 

Next: Assistant Research Fellow at IES, Academia Sinica

Chih-Yu Liu 劉芝羽, summer intern, 2018

Project: Thermal conductivity of pyrope garnet at high pressures

Next: Master student at NTUST-MSE

Shao-Yu Ho 何紹瑜, summer intern, 2018

Project: Thermal conductivity of pyrope garnet at high pressures

Next: Master student at NTU-MSE

Dr. Su-Ying Chien 簡淑櫻, Postdoc, 2017

Project: Thermal conductivity of hydrous minerals at high pressures

Next: Technical Staff at NCKU

Yu-Han Yang 楊伃涵, summer intern, 2016

Project: Thermal conductivity of minerals

Next: Senior student at NCU-Earth

Sheng-Chih Chuang 莊勝智, summer intern, 2015

Project: Thermal conductivity of pyroxene at high pressures

Next: Master student at NCKU-Earth

Jhih-Ying Jason Chen 陳志穎, summer intern, 2015

Project: Thermal conductivity of pyroxene at high pressures

Next: Master student at NTU-Geo