Meeting the Paradigm看展覽
Scientific progress is not driven by individual discoveries alone. Rather, it emerges through the collective efforts of researchers who, within specific historical contexts, establish new frameworks for understanding the world. In The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, historian of science Thomas Kuhn described such systems of thought that shape future research directions and ways of thinking as “paradigms.”
In post-war Taiwan, despite limited resources and a developing research infrastructure, a modern scientific community gradually took shape and nurtured scholars whose work has achieved international recognition. Election as an Academician of Academia Sinica represents one of the highest academic honors in Taiwan. Beyond recognizing individual excellence, it signifies contributions that have profoundly advanced global knowledge. The research paths pioneered by these scholars have often become milestones in their respective disciplines, influencing how future generations explore and understand the world.
Centered on the achievements of twelve Academicians of Academia Sinica, this exhibition explores Taiwan’s scientific development through three interconnected dimensions: the material world, living systems, and society. Together, these stories reveal how scientific research has helped address important challenges related to nature, health, the environment, and human society.
Rather than serving as a tribute to individual accomplishments, the exhibition invites visitors to examine how scientific knowledge is discovered, tested, and transmitted across generations. It highlights how transformative paradigms that reshape humanity’s understanding of the world have emerged and continued to evolve in Taiwan.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the special lecture series “Meeting the Paradigm: Conversations with Academicians—Their Life Stories and Scientific Inspirations” provides a unique opportunity for visitors to engage directly with the scholars. Through personal reflections on their upbringing, education, research breakthroughs, and life choices, the Academicians share the experiences behind their achievements. By discovering not only the outcomes of scientific research but also the stories that made them possible, visitors may come to see that a paradigm is more than a concept in the history of science—it is a source of inspiration that encourages future generations to explore the unknown, pursue knowledge, and embrace innovation.