Forthcoming Events
The Center will also provide information related to Taiwan studies and events hosted by Taiwanese communities.
Incoming Plans
2025 Spring Quarter Plans:
1. Taiwanese Literature Book Exhibition:
- Collaborate with Geisel Library and the National Taiwan Literature Museum to host a Taiwanese literature book exhibition throughout April in Geisel’s public space.
2. Book Talk by Wu Ming-Yi:
- Host a book talk by renowned Taiwanese professor and author Wu Ming-Yi on April 30.
Upcoming Events
Environment and History: Two Pursuits in My Works
The UC San Diego Center for Taiwan Studies is proud to announce a collaboration with UC Berkeley, UCLA, and National Taiwan University for the NTU-UC Project, featuring a special visit by acclaimed Taiwanese author and professor Wu Ming-Yi. As part of this initiative, Professor Wu will deliver two talks on April 30, 2025, exploring the intersection of environment and history in his literary works.
Professor Wu will first speak in Professor Ping-hui Liao’s class from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, offering UC San Diego students an intimate opportunity to engage with his insights. This will be followed by a community event at the Taiwanese American Community Center from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, where he will expand on his talk for a broader audience of academics, community members, and specialists.
About the Author
Wu Ming-Yi is a professor of Sinophone literature at National Dong Hwa University and an environmental activist. His works have garnered numerous international accolades and have been translated into over 20 languages. His novel The Man with the Compound Eyes won the Prix du livre insulaire for best fiction in French and was featured in the Berlin International Film Festival’s “Books at Berlinale”. The Magician on the Skywalk was shortlisted for the Prix Emile Guimet de Littérature Asiatique, and The Stolen Bicycle was longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize in 2018. Wu’s literature bridges environmental advocacy with deep historical reflection, offering a distinctive and powerful voice in global contemporary fiction.
Additionally, Professor Wu’s work is featured in the ongoing “Taiwan Through Words” exhibition at Geisel Library, a literary showcase co-organized by the UC San Diego Geisel Library and the National Museum of Taiwanese Literature.
Register link for Professor Ping-Hui Liao's class here. Register link for Taiwanese American Community Center reservation here. Registration is free.
Commemorating the 228 Incident
Our Center is deeply committed to honoring and commemorating the 228 Incident. This tragic chapter in Taiwan's history serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of understanding and acknowledging past injustices. We strive to shed light on the complexities surrounding the 228 incident, ensuring that its memory is preserved and its lessons are learned. We would also like to show our unwavering appreciation for the individuals affected by this pivotal event and our profound concern for fostering a society built on justice, reconciliation, and mutual understanding.
Please find the links below for more information.
Grand Opening of UCSD’s Center of Taiwan Studies
We are delighted to announce the grand opening ceremony of the UCSD Center of Taiwan Studies, which took place on May 6, 2023. The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Dr. Chiu-Shan Chen’69 (陳秋山 博士) and his wife Rufina Chen, the generous donors who established the center with a $5 million endowed gift; Professor Ping-hui Liao, the founding director and inaugural Chuan Lyu Endowed Chair (川流講座) in Taiwan Studies; Professor Nancy Guy, the co-director of the center from the Department of Music; and Professor Cristina Della Coletta, the dean of the School of Arts and Humanities. The Center is also pleased to have the School Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, EVC Elizabeth Simmons, and the faculties led by Director General C.Y. Chi from the LA Taipei Economics and Culture Office (TECO) for the Center’s opening remarks.
(From Left to Right: Co-Director Dr. Ping-Hui Liao, EVC Elizabeth H. Simmons, Rufina Chen, Dr. Chiu-Shan Chen'69, Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, Arts& Humanities Dean Cristina Della Coletta, Co-Director Dr. Nancy Guy. Photo Credit: Department of Arts & Humanities)
The UCSD Center for Taiwan Studies aims to expand the cultural understanding of Taiwanese and Taiwanese Americans through interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach. The center provides a sustainable platform to grow collaboration and exchange between the U.S. and Taiwan, increase visibility in university Taiwan-centered projects, encourage student engagement across disciplines in Taiwan studies, and offer grant support for faculty and graduate student research. The center also connects local and international communities with diverse events and programming to raise awareness of important social issues impacting Taiwan.
The grand opening ceremony featured speeches by the donors, the directors, and the dean, as well as a musical performance by Professor Guy and her students. We are grateful to have SANPUY (桑布衣), Aiyun Huang, Michael Jones, and Kosuke Matusda to perform excerpts from “A Thousand Sounds Towards Dawn” by Kuei-Ju Lin. Moreover, we are pleased to have the Formosan Generations Ensemble to performed famous Taiwanese pieces such as “Waiting for the Spring Breeze” (望春風) and “Dance from Lanyang” (蘭陽舞曲). The ceremony also showcased some of the center's achievements and initiatives, such as the Taiwanese Americans Archives project, the Taiwan Studies Lecture Series, and the Taiwan Studies Book Talks. In addition, we appreciate the news coverage from Taiwanese agencies and Taiwanese-American media outlets (Taipei Economics and Cultural Office, Taiwan Daily, Epoch Times, World Journal).
(From Left to Right: Director of Taiwan Academy Te-Yuan Chien, TECO Education Director Rebecca Lan, Co-Director Dr. Ping-Hui Liao, Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, EVC Elizabeth H. Simmons, Co-Director Dr. Nancy Guy, TECO Science and Technology Division Secretary Randy Lee, Arts& Humanities Dean Cristina Della Coletta. Photo Credit: Department of Arts & Humanities)
We thank everyone who attended the ceremony and supported the center's mission. We look forward to working with you in the future to promote Taiwan studies at UCSD and beyond.
UCSD Center of Taiwan Studies
Taipei Economics and Cultural Office
Taiwan Daily
Epoch Times
World Journal