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◎高二二班 邱鈺棋 徐政祺
吳茂昆博士可以說是實驗中學的大家長，不但他是本校的直屬長官，主掌國科會，他的妻子唐慧晴老師任教於雙語部，兩位兒子都畢業於雙語部，長子還曾回雙語部任教。因此，實中園地特別邀請吳博士於11月17日下午，蒞校接受我們兩人及雙語部郭巧楓同學的採訪。
吳主委，在淡江大學取得物理碩士後，赴美國休士頓大學修得物理博士學位，後來在大學任教十多年，並致力於超導研發，獲頒多項獎項：如 美國國家科學院
Comstock Prize
、國際超導研究學會Bernd T. Matthias Prize等。
現今吳主委掌理國科會，大力倡導台灣奈米科技的研發，我們在採訪中向吳主委請教了奈米科技的發展動向，他個人的學習經驗，及對實中學生的期勉。以下是我們所做的紀錄。
吳主委眼中的奈米…
奈米最重要的精神，不是我們現在所看到的奈米商品，那只是其中一部分產出成果，是比較低層次的。奈米科技研發的主要目標是在研究自然所運作的方法，推廣永續發展的科技。在這種新的科學技術中，涉及了
DNA 和葉綠素等生物科技上的研究，其發展層面很廣，所以國科會的計畫也是朝多面向發展的，因為奈米本身就是在研究一種材料，可以應用在很多方面。關於國科會奈米科技發展的重點，大家有機會可以上
http://nanotaiwan.sin
ica.edu.tw「奈米國家型科技計劃」網站去看看，裡面有很多詳細的資訊。(簡要介紹請見文末奈米科技小簡介)
很重要的一點是，可能要到十幾二十年後，才可以看到奈米技術真正應用在很多領域的成果
，所以同學們應該多花點時間去了解奈米，市面上有很多書籍都很不錯，對同學們將來的發展一定會很有幫助的。
吳主委對使用奈米商品的建議
 一般來說，食品可能經過一些處理，而產生奈米作用，一般民眾不甚清楚，但這不是不可能的。就拿水來說，水是一種很有趣的東西，它在結晶以後有很多結構或分子間的關係，連科學家都還不能完全瞭解。當然在某些處裡下，例如電解後會和一般水有多大的差異，這值得化驗，也是從事奈米科技研究人員的責任。有鑑於此，他們正在計畫一套嚴謹的認證系統，來為大家把關，但目前還是處於研究的階段。
▲吳主委、吳校長與三位採訪學生合照
－由左至右為郭巧楓、邱鈺棋及徐政祺
現在市面上有很多商品，我們很難去避免或阻止民眾受騙，只能建議消費者不要輕易相信！價格V.S.
價值，想想看值不值得花那麼多錢去購買，尤其對於不了解的東西，不必迷惑！就像使用名牌貨一樣，其實穿起來舒服度差不多，功效差不多，頂多是多個
logo，就不要讓自己受控於一種盲目崇拜的虛榮心。
再例如有些食品，經過確認後，證實對某些人具有一些特別的功效，這時就應該考量自己實際的身體情況了。主委說：「拿我來說，我是不太能喝酒的，只能喝品質好的紅酒
，不然可是頭痛得很厲害﹝當然是下肚後才能區分囉！﹞，所以就算紅酒已被證實有益於心臟健康，我還是盡量不去嚐的。」
吳主委建議一般消費者，應避免盲目的購買，不要去花這個錢。因為現在市面上很多商品，還不具有很明確的功效。像醫療、食品上的發展都還不是很成熟，但是目前對化妝品和光觸媒的功效就有較清楚認知，若有需要可以適當選擇使用。
「打造一流人物，建立一流社會」
在暢銷立志書＜一流書、一流人、一流社會＞這本書中，吳主委被選為是二十一位知識領袖之一，並分享他的閱讀名言：「打造一流人物，建立一流社會。」我想這句話，應該不僅僅是吳主委想給讀者們的一句話，更是他對自己的勉勵以及對社會大眾的期許。
在採訪中，吳主委對於我們高中生努力成為一流人物的過程中，提示了一些重點。他說現在的高中生面對的最大問題就是：夢想與實際，以及自我的興趣挖掘和選擇類組（科糸）的問題。現在有許多高中生因為現實的考量、家人的建議、同學的選擇或環境的因素等，都傾向於選擇自然類組（第二、三類組）。這個現象，造成社會上許多的人才都遭到埋沒。其實不只是選擇類組﹝科系﹞有這樣的現象，他還舉例，在許多台灣舉辦的科學競賽及科學研習中，常發現有相當天份的菁英學生，因為受到外在環境的影響，而放棄自己的天份領域，選擇朝父母親以及世俗標準所期許的熱門科系發展。主委非常惋惜的說：「
如果他們能從事基礎學科研究，不論是在科學的探討或人文社會的研究上，一定能夠大放異彩，有卓越的貢獻。」
 吳主委認為要在社會上成為一個一流人物，首先就要在工作上是個一流人物。在學生的階段，喜愛和興趣常常會因為身邊的人事物而改變，不是自己真正的興趣或夢想所在。所以當我們要選擇科系時，要慎重地選擇自己真正有興趣和最能夠發揮天賦能力的科系。主委這裡提到了一個例子：在他的兒子小時候，因為看了史懷哲醫生傳記，深受感動，所以從小的夢想便是成為一位醫生，但直到他面對大學選系之時，卻選擇了歷史系﹝目前正就讀中﹞。主委說：從兒子讀歷史系的過程當中，很深刻的感受到兒子對歷史的喜愛和追求，同時也為他找到自己的興趣感到欣慰。此刻，我們也深深的感受到，在主委眼神中流露出對兒子的驕傲。
吳主委還提醒我們，成為一個一流人物，不僅是一個大家追求的目標也會成為一個社會的榜樣。所以一個一流人物除了要在工作崗位上有優異的表現，也要有道德上的修為。吳主委也提到，高中生的重點閱讀當然不外乎教科書，但教科書只是一小部份的知識，閱讀的大海是在課外讀物上。如果中學生能在課外讀物上加深加廣的閱讀，在學識和人品上都會有很大的助益。
在採訪的過程中，我們三位採訪同學分別以中文和英文穿插訪問。而吳主委在面對二個語言的交錯訪問時的不慌不亂及有條有理的回答，讓旁邊相當緊張的我們佩服不已。他的言談表現出他對科學濃厚的喜愛，以及他對培養社會後起人才的重視。我想應該就是這份明確的自我認知、對科學研究的熱忱以及不懈的努力與堅持，造就他成為一位兼具傑出的科學成就以及卓越領導與管理能力的當代知識領袖吧！
奈米科技小辭典
奈米(Nanometer，縮寫為 nm)是極短的長度單位：一奈米是一米的十億分之一長
( 1nm = 1x10-9m )
，僅為十個氫原子的總長。由於科技進步，科學家已能製造出奈米尺度的新材料，並發展出觀察、操控、與量測如此微小物體的新技術。奈米科技即是一門研究上述微觀世界物質的科學與技術。
奈米科技中有許多新奇的特性，和我們日常生活中的經驗大不相同。譬如由碳原子組成的奈米碳管，其機械強度比鋼鐵還要堅硬。由奈米粒子製成的發光體，能展現量子物理特性，發出不同顏色的光。而由雷射光束在顯微境下聚焦而成的雷射鑷夾，可以非機械的方式補捉並操控單一
DNA 、 蛋白質、細胞、或細菌，
因此得以精確研究其本質特性。此一技術進而可用來量測兩個微生物體之間的交互作用，開創利用物理方法來研究基礎生物問題的新領域。
跨領域已成為奈米科技的趨勢與標記。國家科學委員會主任委員吳茂昆博士早於1998年在英國劍橋大學進修一年期間就觀察到：“英國的大學錄取醫學系的學生時，最注重學生的物理、數學、與化學的能力，反而不希望學生提早接觸生物，寧願先多學點物理。”(聯合報88年3月21日)
許多科學家都相信二十一世紀是奈米科技的世紀。目前，奈米科技可大略分為奈米物理、奈米材料、奈米光機電、與奈米生物等研究領域。藉由物理與生命科學的引領，我們正在探索一個全新又奇妙的奈米世界。
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◎10B
Tiffany Kuo
Introduction to Dr. Wu
We had the pleasure of having Dr. Wu Maw-Kuen , minister of the National Science Council, over at our school for an interview. Nanotechnology had been a major topic of research in the National Science Council recently. It is also the focus of this interview.
Dr. Wu has graduated from the University of Houston. He also has obtained a professor degree and taught in the States for many years. After sixteen years in the states, he moved back to Taiwan. When asked why he moved back to Taiwan, he joked that it was because of patriotism. But then, he went on and talked about all the events that led up to the change. “Well, a man at a certain stage will think about the next stage in life. At that time, I was about forty. I did have some accomplishments in academic and work so I started thinking about the next step in life. At the same time, President Li (李登輝前總統) was interested in setting up work in the area of studies I was working in and asked me if I wanted to go back. There were certainly many factors. It had to do with the opportunity, timing, and activity at that time (even though it was right at the peak). The pay in the US was better, but Taiwan's life was more dynamic. The working environment in Taiwan was friendlier. And also, I had made a promise to myself right after I went to the States that I would go back to Taiwan. Another factor was my child's education. If there wasn't this school (NEHS) that my children could have came to, I don't think I would have came back. I always say to prepare at a certain stage and then the opportunity comes, grab it and just go.”
Nanotechnology
After many other jobs in Taiwan, he took the job as the Minister of the National Science Council. A main focus of the National Science council is to research and develop Nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology is the study of an object that has the dimension of a nanometer (10-9). Objects at this dimension are consisted of a cluster of atoms (each atom is 0.1-0.5 times of a nanometer) or molecules. At this dimension, most of the atoms would be sitting on the surface of the object. Because of that, the characteristics of object changes and is different from the characteristics of the object when it is a larger dimension.
The beauty and importance of nanotechnology is that every living organism starts from an atom or a cell. So when we get a fuller understanding of this small object, we will have a more complete understanding of living organisms. For example, we know that plants get energy from photosynthesis. But as to how photosynthesis really works, down to each and every single process, we don't really know. Photosynthesis involves a very detailed mechanism of nano objects. When we get a more complete understanding of nanotechnology, we can better understand how everything works together.
Nanotechnology is now widely researched and developed in the world, Taiwan is not excluded. The products resulting from nanotechnology are in a low end of research to the National Science Council. The most important reason for researching and developing nanotechnology is to improve our knowledge and lives. Nanotechnology is researched and developed to understand DNA, how sicknesses work, it can be used to understand many things. Details on the research and development of the National Science council in nanotechnology can be found on
http://www.nano-taiwan.sinica.edu.tw.
There are many applications for nanotechnology. Toilets are one major application for nanotechnology. Normally, the toilet will stain, but with nanotechnology, the toilets will be more sanitary and easier to keep clean. (“Maybe you can tell your principle to change all the school's toilets,” he adds.) Nanotechnology can be used to restore old paintings that are barely recognizable. Nanotechnology can also be used as air fresher. Another application of nanotechnology is that it can be used as a cloth material. Because of nanotechnology, our clothes can be waterproof and anti-stain, so when anything spills on them, they will not stain. The use of Nanotechnology is very wide.
 Today in the markets, there are many products that classify themselves as nano-products, but many of these products are fake. We asked Dr. Wu. for advice on keeping ourselves from getting cheated. “This is part of National Science Council's responsibility. While making nanotechnology more wide-spread, we have to have a set of rules that identify if the object is made out of nanotechnology of not. We need to have a government regulation. This should come out in a year or two. But for now, the consumers have to make a choice themselves. Is it really worth it to spend so much money on this nano product? It is just like buying brand names. Regular clothes and clothes with brand names are both comfortable. But with brand names, people will take one longer look at you. What is the trade off between utility and price? If the price is too much over utility, then it is not worth it. But if there is a nano product that has evidence that there is a different, better effect, then maybe it is worth it to buy the item. Nanotechnology is still in the process of research hand development and there are no absolutes. Most of the comesmetics with brand names should be really made with nano material. About food, we are still not sure.
Words to students
Dr. Wu had once said in 高希均’s book ＜一流書, ,一流人,一流社會＞ “Training the best human resources will result in a better society.” As students, we are getting trained so we can do society a greater good in the future. He gives some words of advice to us, students:
“It is important to have a rich life. In middle school and high school, friends are very important. My friends from middle school are still my friends now. Because your friends all have different backgrounds, you can learn how society works. The three years of high school is the three years you start to see your future. It is in these three years that it is the easiest for you to learn new things and have a strong ability to judge right and wrong. You need to have your own thoughts and personalities. You have to use this opportunity to express yourself, through music, art, and different books. Not just school books, but also very many novels. I used to read knighterrant novels. We were not allowed to read these books during my time, but I still read them anyways. I want to stress this. Do not work and study just for getting into a good college. I think NEHS does a good job in this aspect. Do not work just to be a good student but work so you can build your life.
Understand what you like and go pursue that path. I was in charge of the Olympic competitions, I saw many people with potential. But sadly, their parents didn't want them to pursue these roads because of the rough life ahead. Do not change because of your parents and society want you to do. If you pursue what you really like, eventually, it will pay off. If you try your hardest, the result will also be good and you will always get a job. The only difference is the difference in pay. And the pay doesn't matter, as long as you love what you are doing”
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