Today on Taiwan, women are encountering an increasing number of opportunities in academic and professional fields. In this open and multi-faceted environment, many working women have achieved eminence in their work and have made significant contributions to society. Taiwan's "Ten Most Outstanding Young Women" are periodically selected and recognized for their outstanding achievements.

This year's selection is the tenth in the activity's history, which began in 1965. Previously, only men were so honored. The activity's founder, Ch'u Sung-ch'iu, then the director of the China Daily newspaper, recognized women's growing contribution to modernization and progress in Taiwan, and the need to offer them equal praise and encouragement. All under forty years of age, 1984's selections for the Ten Most Outstanding Women are: Chien Ming-sai, Wu Hsiu-chin, Sun Li-fang, Su Kuo-ai, Ho Wei-chen, Hsu Pi-hu, Chou Pi-se, Tsuo Ju-mei, T'u Ah-yu, and Teresa Teng.

Selected as outstanding in an academic field was Chien Ming-sai, whose research on produce spoilage has advanced Taiwan's handling of produce exports.

Involved in Biology since she first entered college, she received a doctorate at the University of Toronto before returning to Taiwan to teach graduate courses at Ts'ing Hua National University. Later she began research into the proper handling of agricultural produce after harvesting.

Dr. Chien observes that advances in agricultural production techniques have greatly increased harvest yields. Many fruits and vegetables however, are lost after harvesting due to inadequate handling. She explains that spoilage is directly related to the respiration rate of the produce, which continues for a time after picking. The produce absorbs oxygen, water and heat, and as a result loses taste and color, gradually becoming inedible.

Dr. Chien researched methods of slowing down respiration rates of various types of fruits and vegetables. These include lowering the temperature and humidity of produce storage areas, and separating the vegetables during packing. Her studies have had a significant impact on Taiwan's produce exports.

An assistant professor in the Physics Department at Ts'ing Hua National University, Wu Hsiu-chin was honored for her achievements in the teaching field. Using an accelerator, an apparatus which imparts high velocities of charged particles by electromagnetic means, Dr. Wu studies what types of materials can be best focused into high-speed streams of energy for use in computers and information systems.

Dr. Wu notes that a knowledge of physics has helped her to understand the natural forces behind everyday objects. The construction of a piece of furniture, or the broadcasting of a television program have taken on new significance when viewed from her physicist's perspective.

Lauded for her contributions to science and technology, Sun Li-fang has employed her gifts in the field of telephone communications.

Currently working on her doctorate, Sun is also a researcher at the Telecommunications Research Institute. She has done extensive research on the development of a computerized branch exchange system which can be applied to telephone line systems. Particularly useful to large companies which use as many as 500 separate inter-office telephone lines, computerized systems like that developed by Sun, are considerably faster and more compact than their manual predecessors.

In the medical field, Dr. Su Kuo-ai has advanced research of infectious diseases. In the lab at Taiwan National University Medical School, she is known to be meticulous and fully committed to her studies of the microscopic world.

Researching the body's immunities to certain parasites and infections, Su is presently focusing on trichomonas vaginalis, a small organism which grows in the vagina causing pain and inflammation. Su's studies have contributed to the understanding of how to treat and detect this type of infection.

Ho Wei-chen's successes are in the field of agriculture. Dr. Ho researches improving the quality and propagation rates of various plants. She examines structure and growth to determine what nutrients are most effective. Ho has successfully raised the quality and propagation rates of profitable plants such as the Tiger Lily, Single Leaf Lily and Carnation. Previously scarce, such plants can now be grown in greater quantities and with a higher margin of success. An expert on plants, Dr. Ho has never managed to overcome a fear of insects.

Hsu Pi-hu was honored for her achievements in the law field. An honest and upright judge, Hu is known for her impartiality in the courtroom. Judge Hsu attributes her disciplined and serious nature to a strict upbringing. Her father set up and enforced rules which governed family activities. Now Judge Hu prepares carefully for all her court cases, and refuses to show favoritism in the courtroom.

In her first year as a judge, Hu refused a classmate's request for a lenient sentence. The following year, when she allowed a defendant to return home for the New Year, she was rumored to have accept a bribe. She later discovered that the actual recipient of the bribe was an office errand-man who took advantage of an opportunity to make a small profit. This incident spurred Judge Hsu to investigate the causes of, and possible preventative measures for such activities. Her actions have set a precedent for other legal officials.

Chou Pi-se has been honored for her dedicated service to the Cancer Society of the Republic of China. A graduate in pharmacology from Taiwan National University, she originally planned to find a job and get married. At her roommate's insistence, Chou entered the Public Health and Sanitation Department's examinations and was readily admitted.

In 1974, Chou Pi-se was asked to help organize the newly-founded Cancer Society of the Republic of China. Working on the treatment of uterine cancer, the most widespread and easily treated type of cancer on Taiwan, the Society was then involved in circulating posters and leaflets to raise awareness of the importance of periodic check-ups to prevent the cancer's spread.

In 1979 Chou Pi-se began teaching Public Health and Sanitation at Yang-Ming Medical College. During summer vacations she organizes students to travel to rural areas to educate women in the treatment of uterine cancer. She also organizes women who have undergone treatment for cancer into support groups where they can share their experiences.

Another woman of outstanding merit from the Health and Sanitation Department is Tsuo Ju-mei. She does outpatient work vaccinating patients against communicable diseases, as well as field work educating the publicin basic health care and hygiene.

A strong advocate of preventative medicine, the amiable nurse attributes her pursuit of a nursing career to an encounter with a nurse who cared for her when she was seriously ill as a teenager. Tsuo Ju-mei has since devoted herself to doing the same for others.

Renowned golfer T'u Ah-yu was recognized for her outstanding achievements in the field of athletics. Joining the professional ranks in 1974, T'u has captured top honors in thirty-five championships, including a World Championship. In 1982, she won nine championships in the women's circuit in Japan, the highest record of wins for an Asian contestant. Her fame continued to grow when she broke her own record the following year.

T'u Ah-yu explains that the life of a professional golfer can be trying and exhausting. She participates in thirty-six to thirty-seven competitions a year, and must continually maintain her reputation. T'u Ah-yu realizes that she must make an extra effort to forge a name for Taiwan in the professional golf world. Three months out of her year are spent training in Taiwan, as she continually strives to learn and improve.

Everyone in Taiwan recognizes the sweet, lovely voice of Teresa Teng, one of the island's most popular young singers. Her concert tour of Asia this year was a wide success, reflecting her international fame and her qualifications for selection in the entertainment field.

Teresa Teng began singing at the age of sixteen and has been singing for fifteen years, frequently going abroad to perform. Chinese on the mainland are also very fond of her songs. When the Communist government began confiscating tapes and records made in the Republic of China, people persisted in secretly listening to her music.

In fields from physics to agriculture, nursing to golf, the achievements of women in Taiwan are more than deserving of recognition and praise. The impressive contributions of these ten exceptional women are an inspiration to all.

(Jill Ardourel)

[Picture Caption]

1. This year's Ten Outstanding Young Women after receiving their awards from Governor Li Teng-hui. 2. Chien Ming-sai, outstanding in the field of academics, with her family. 3. Chien Ming-sai at work in the laboratory.

1. Wu Hsiu-chin, honored for her achievements in education, with her two children. 2. Dr. Wu instructing students in a laboratory experiment. 3. Sun Li-fang was awarded for her successful research in telephone exchange systems. 4. Su Kuo-ai was awarded for excellence in the field of medicine. 5. Ho Wei-chen examines seedlings grown in test-tubes as she researches seed improvement.

1. Judge Hsu Pi-hu was chosen as the most outstanding young woman in the law field. 2. Chou Pi-se has dedicated her career to promoting cancer prevention. 3. Nurse Tsuo Ju-mei vaccinates a child in an outpatient clinic.

1. Professional golfer T'u Ah-yu ecstatically receives her award. 2. Teresa Teng, awarded for her excellence in the field of entertainment, is as lovely as her music.

2. Chien Ming-sai, outstanding in the field of academics, with her family.

3. Chien Ming-sai at work in the laboratory.

1. Wu Hsiu-chin, honored for her achievements in education, with her two children.

2. Dr. Wu instructing students in a laboratory experiment.

3. Sun Li-fang was awarded for her successful research in telephone exchange systems.

4. Su Kuo-ai was awarded for excellence in the field of medicine.

1. Judge Hsu Pi-hu was chosen as the most outstanding young woman in the law field.

1. Judge Hsu Pi-hu was chosen as the most outstanding young woman in the law field.

2. Chou Pi-se has dedicated her career to promoting cancer prevention.

3. Nurse Tsuo Ju-mei vaccinates a child in an outpatient clinic.

1. Professional golfer T'u Ah-yu ecstatically receives her award.

2. Teresa Teng, awarded for her excellence in the field of entertainment, is as lovely as her music.