History
History
The interdisciplinary nature of Raman spectroscopy has fostered a large and vibrant international community of scientists. The International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy (ICORS), held biennially since 1969, continues to serve as a major global platform for advances in this field.
In Taiwan, Raman spectroscopy has been widely adopted across diverse disciplines, including chemistry, biology, clinical science, and semiconductor research. To further strengthen collaboration among researchers from different backgrounds and to promote the advancement of molecular science in Taiwan, the establishment of a dedicated platform for Raman spectroscopy has become increasingly important. With this vision, the Taiwan Association of Raman Spectroscopy (TARS) was initiated.
The founding members of TARS include:
Chia-Liang Cheng (National Dong Hwa University, Chair)
Arthur Chiou (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)
Chi-Kuang Sun (National Taiwan University)
Wen-Lung Chen (National Chiayi University)
Ian Liau (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)
Shinsuke Shigeto (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Secretary)
Chih-Ta Chia (National Taiwan Normal University)
Yuh-Lin Wang (Academia Sinica)
Juen-Kai Wang (National Taiwan University)
Yu-Ming Chang (National Taiwan University)
These members represent a strong and active community of researchers dedicated to advancing spectroscopic science in Taiwan. In addition, several internationally renowned scientists have been invited to serve as advisors of TARS, including:
Hiro-o Hamaguchi (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan)
Wolfgang Kiefer (University of Würzburg, Germany)
Sanford A. Asher (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
To mark the inauguration of TARS, a two-day international symposium on Raman spectroscopy and imaging was held in 2013 at National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), Hsinchu. This inaugural event successfully brought together not only the founding members but also researchers and graduate students interested in Raman spectroscopy. It was a truly international meeting, featuring distinguished speakers from Germany, the United States, and Japan.
Since then, the symposium has been held regularly, becoming an important platform for academic exchange and collaboration in Raman spectroscopy. The Taiwan International Symposium on Raman Spectroscopy (TISRS), together with the TARS Summer Camp, continues this tradition by integrating cutting-edge research presentations with educational and training activities for students and young researchers.
In 2026, the Eleventh Taiwan International Symposium on Raman Spectroscopy (TISRS 2026) and the TARS Summer Camp will be held at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), Taipei, further strengthening international collaboration and advancing the development of Raman spectroscopy and related fields.