The swift progress of modern science has led to a remarkable pace of development in electronic instruments. The interplay between electronics and optics is exceedingly intimate, characterizing this era as a scientific epoch marked by the convergence of optics and electronics. Notable examples encompass the synergy of optoelectronic technologies in innovations such as electron microscopes, lasers, and high-precision projection length measuring devices.
In 1971, the Taiwan Instrument Research Institute (TIRI) under the National Science and Technology Council established Optical Instrument Factory as part of the government's proactive efforts to advance precision technology. Mr. Chih-Jung Hsu, the co-founder of the factory, recognized the importance of having a cohesive institutional framework for optical development within the country in productively saving inefficient allocation of human resources, financial capital, and time.
Mr. Hsu suggested Director of TIRI, Dr. Ching-Sen Su to establish ROCOES, The Optical Engineering Society of R.O.C. (Predecessor of Taiwan Photonics Society, TPS), aiming to unite domestic optical research institutions, scholars, lens manufacturers, and other stakeholders to propel the advancement of our nation's optical industry. With Dr. Su's endorsement, an official conference convened on February 11th, 1980, which marked a significant step forward in fostering collaborative dialogue and action within the optical domain.
During the conference, Dr. Ching-Sen Su, Engineer Chih-Jung Hsu, and Mr. Chia-Jui Duan were nominated as representatives of preparatory committee, Dr. Su assumed the position of chairman. The application for the establishment of ROCOES was promptly submitted after the conference. The Ministry of the Interior granted approval to the application officially via letter No. 42582 on September 26th 1980 after a challenging time. The preparatory committee was truly thrilled about this achievement.
On October 17th, 1980, the first preparatory committee meeting was convened, during which Dr. Ching-Sen Su was elected as the chairman of the first general meeting, Mr. Chih-Jung Hsu assumed the role of Director General, and Mr. Chung-Ching Chang, Mr. Hung-Yen Su, Mr. Sheng-Tsai Chou, Mr. Cheng-Ming Lee, Mr. Chiu-Kuei Chen, Mr. Hsueh-Liang Wu, Mr. Dong-Hai Liu, Mr. Jiu-Hsiung Chen, and Mr. Chung-Cheng Chen were appointed as representatives of the Preparatory Committee for the first general meeting. Miss Yueh-Hsia Hu was invited to manage administrative affairs. During the meeting, Mr. Chih-Jung Hsu proposed that the first general meeting be held on December 12th, 1980, which received unanimous agreement from the attendees. Additionally, Mr. Cheng-Ming Lee from Taiwan Union Glass Industrial Co., Ltd (Renamed Taiwan Union Technology Corporation, TUC) and Mr. Chung-Ching Chang from Optai Corporation Limited generously pledged a donation of NT$30,000 each to serve as preparatory funds.
On the afternoon of November 20th, a second preparatory committee meeting was convened in the conference room of Optai Corporation Limited in Taipei City to discuss the details of the first general meeting. Mr. Rong-Sheng Chen, from the Department of Social Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior, attended the meeting to provide guidance. Some resolutions were approved during the meeting outlined as follows,
1. The Preparatory Committee is authorized to assume complete charge of ROCOES affairs leading up to the first general meeting.
2. Preparation for the nomination of candidates for the board of governors and the board of supervisors.
3. Preparation for the election of membership eligibility assessment representatives
4. Preparation for ROCOES badge, membership cards, and the ROCOES constitutions for members.
Furthermore, it was decided that the first general meeting would be held on December 12th,1980, at the Chientan Youth Activity Center in Taipei, commemorating the birth of ROCOES .
Note:
In September 2010, The Optical Engineering Society of R.O.C. (ROCOES) underwent a name change to become the Taiwan Photonics Society (TPS), an alteration that received approval from the Ministry of the Interior.