HomeDate: 2026-04-14
To enhance support for our colleagues, Academia Sinica’s Office of Mediation was officially established on March 31, 2026 in the Environmental Change Research Building. The unveiling tea reception was hosted by President James C. Liao and attended by the Vice Presidents, the Secretary General, Directors, and colleagues of various departments within the Central Office of Administration. Together, they witnessed this important milestone in the Academy's progression toward a more comprehensive and diverse support mechanism for its staff.
President Liao stated in his remarks that in the workplace, whether dealing with friction between peers or conflicts arising from hierarchical relationships, these issues often profoundly impact colleagues' morale and team atmosphere long before reaching the threshold for a formal complaint. To address this, Academia Sinica specifically referenced the Ombudsman system—a practice well-established in top universities and research institutions abroad—to create this dedicated communication platform, marking a pioneering initiative to introduce such a system in Taiwan.
Dr. Yi-Han (Y. Henry) Sun, a retired Distinguished Research Fellow from the Institute of Molecular Biology serves as the first Mediator of the Office of Mediation. Academia Sinica hopes to draw upon his extensive academic experience and impartiality to listen to colleagues' needs from the perspective of a neutral third party and help resolve workplace frictions.
To ensure that colleagues feel secure when seeking assistance, the institutional design of this Office emphasizes strict confidentiality and independence. It is positioned as an informal consultation mechanism, allowing colleagues to seek advice without initiating cumbersome administrative procedures. Furthermore, no official records are kept during the dialogue process to eliminate any concerns regarding administrative tracking. Additionally, this service will not replace current formal grievance mechanisms, ensuring that colleagues' existing rights remain unaffected.
The Office of Mediation commenced trial operations on April 1. It is located in Zone A on the 3rd floor of the Environmental Change Research Building and features a private consultation space. Colleagues in need of consultation can make an appointment via the office's website (https://mediation.sinica.edu.tw/) or by email (mediator1atsinica@gmail.com).
Regarding the long-term development of this office, Academia Sinica will evaluate its operations and consider incorporating additional mediators from diverse backgrounds to offer a wider range of consultation options. Through this mechanism, Academia Sinica hopes to provide colleagues with early, substantive assistance, alleviate their psychological burdens, and create a more friendly academic environment.
