NTHU recently announced the winners of the 2010 "Ho Chin Tui" Outstanding Honorary Award. Professors Chien-Hong Cheng and Chen-Chi Ma from the Department of Chemistry were the winners selected to receive such an honor. These two researchers were selected for their significant contributions in the fields of fundamental science and materials science.

Professor Chien-Hong Cheng, who is also the Vice President for Academic Affairs, joined the Department of Chemistry in 1979 upon his return to Taiwan. His work is divided between the areas of metal-organic chemistry—in which Prof. Cheng investigates and designs novel organic reactions catalyzed by metal complexes—and the design and fabrication of electroluminescent organic materials, with the ultimate goal of application to industry. Prof. Cheng's career has been highlighted by exceptional research results. In his research on reactions catalyzed by metal complexes, one of his selected papers explained the exchange reaction of aryl groups in palladium metal complexes with the aryl group in phosphorus ligands.

This is a major discovery in metal-catalyzed reactions and can be used to explain the creation of palladium by products at the end of catalyzed reactions. This paper was deemed significant enough to receive special publication in the American Journal Chemtracts. Another paper by Prof. Cheng addresses the non-toxic gas generated by a catalyzed reaction during the conversion of carbon monoxide from nitrogen monoxide.

This discovery received considerable attention as it contributes to the activation of small molecules and environmental pollutants, and the work was specially reported by the English weekly science and technology magazine New Scientist. In terms of compound materials, one of Prof. Cheng's selected papers addresses research results on electroluminescent iridium compounds having red-orange emission. This discovery attracted enormous interest. This type of compound was found to be one of the few iridium compounds which is capable to have red emission, and is referred to by the Japanese colleagues as "the Light of Taiwan." The material developed by Professor Cheng for blue emission was also mentioned by the Nature Publishing Group as an important material for deep blue color.

Professor Cheng was the director of the department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in the National Science Council of ROC. He was also the vice chairman of the Chemistry Division of the Chemical Society. Professor Cheng has received many academic awards, including the Outstanding Research Award from the National Science Council (1988–1990, 1991–1995), the Research Achievement Award from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Education National Chair Professorship (2004, 2009), and a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Chemistry (2009). Professor Cheng is now the President of Chemical Society.

Professor Chen-Chi Ma obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1978 from North Carolina State University. After working for Monsanto (1977–1979), the Lord Corporation (1979–1980) and Phillips Petroleum Co. (1980–1984), he was invited by the National Science Council to return to Taiwan in 1984 and joined the University's Department of Chemical Engineering. In addition to his involvement in the synthesis of advanced polymer composite materials, he regularly designs, prepares and evaluates research laboratories. Recently, Professor Ma has been involved with fluence, MWCNTs and grapheme to investigate their properties and their applications in the energy, environmental and electronics industries. Professor Ma has published more than 220 papers in international journals and presented 120 papers in international academic conferences. He holds more than 70 local and international patents. Many of the technologies he developed have been transferred to Taiwanese industry.

In the past 30 years, Professor Ma has performed profound research on advanced polymer composite materials and nanomaterials. He has also studied special thermoset resins (PI, POSS, PSSQ etc.), synthesis of high performance thermoplastic advanced polymers (PPS, PEEK, PAI etc.), detection of changes in properties and manufacturing of nanocomposite materials (C-60, MWCNT, grapheme etc.) In recent years, he has been actively involved in the development of composite bipolar plates for fuel cells, working electrodes for dye sensitized solar cells and the preparation of a composite material for wind turbine blades. Since fundamental research on advanced polymers has a significant impact on applications in navigation, electronics, semiconductors, optics, energy and environmental protection, Professor Ma has received many awards from several sectors, including the Award for Outstanding Performance in Technology, conferred by Executive Yuan; the Distinguished Research Award from the National Science Council; the First National Research Innovation Award; the Outstanding Academy-Industry Cooperation Achievement Award, granted by the Ministry of Education; the Industrial Technology Advancement Award from the Ministry of Economic Affairs; the Environmental Science and Technology Award; and the Research Excellence Award from the Society of Plastics Engineers International.

Professor Ma is currently the Chair of the Chinese National Association of Reinforced Plastics, the Vice Chair of the Taiwan Chemical Industry Association, the standing director of the Taiwan Nanotechnology Industry Development Association, the Chair of the Taiwan Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers, a standing director of the Taiwan High Polymer Society, director of the Chinese Association for Industrial Technology Advancement (Taiwan), and representative director of AACM, Taiwan. He has dedicated a great deal of his effort to research in advanced polymers, playing an active and impressive role in academic research, teaching, as well as providing consulting services to industry and government, and promoting international cooperation.

The Hou Chin-Tui Honorary Award was created by the Hou Chin-Tui Foundation to reward high-achieving individuals in the field of fundamental science (including both physics and mathematics, and biology), material science, metallurgy, environmental conservation, and green building.