Today—right now—there is no better time to be a graduate with a degree in science and/or technology.  Science and technology are potent engines for economic growth. Notably, they are also powerful tools for addressing societal challenges, such as in public health–providing access to life-saving drugs & devices; energy science–discovering new catalysts & battery materials; and data science–securing our privacy & more in a data-driven world. Importantly, in my view, science and technology’s most enduring impact is likely to be on the environment of our planet. Specifically, by contributing to its sustainability. Class of 2023, I urge you all to do what you can to protect our home, Planet Earth, on its journey through our evolving universe.            

Our college is exceptional, because you, Class of 2023, helped make it a special place to learn, to do research, and to make an impact on the world.  You all worked hard, in the lab, in the classroom, at internships, in the City of Philadelphia, across the nation, and around the world. You looked for opportunities and took on tough challenges. You learned from your successes, and you learned even more from your challenges.  These experiences—of trying new things and not being afraid of setbacks—mean you will be in demand to help solve society’s toughest problems.

And because you worked so hard, well we, up here on this stage, had to work harder, too!! As dean, I want to thank you, Class of 2023, for all you have done to make the College of Science & Technology a stronger college, and an exciting place for others to learn and to grow.

Class of 2023, I am so proud of you for what you have accomplished and for all you will achieve in the years ahead. Whether you will become a teacher, or a technician, a health specialist, or a public servant. Whether you take your CST training to research in academia or industry, or whether you become a consultant or go to medical school.

You will change the future of society forever. What you learned here, at the College of Science & Technology, will take you far in the years ahead.

You will explore and discover. You will invent, create, and innovate. You will become leaders. And you will make a brighter—and better—future for all of us.

Class of 2023,  I wish all of you the very best of luck in whatever endeavor you decide to pursue!!
 

Charles Tsan-Jian Chen, a citizen of Taiwan, Republic of China, is a world leader and entrepreneur in the biotech industry with more than four decades of accomplishments in developing, producing and implementing forefront vaccine and diagnostic technologies benefiting human and animal health. He is founder and CEO of the publicly listed Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. (MVC) and the privately owned Sweitzer Biotech Co. of Taiwan. He is also a major investor of Taiwan Bio Therapeutics Inc., a company dedicated to regenerative medicine and cell therapy.

MVC, in collaboration with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Dynavax Co., successfully developed a COVID-19 subunit vaccine that has been received by millions of people in Taiwan and several other countries. The vaccine, because of its excellent immunogenicity, safety profile and stability at elevated temperatures, is the first vaccine selected by the World Health Organization’s Solidarity Program for worldwide clinical trial and applications. In addition to COVID-19 and human influenza, MVC has also successfully developed the first vaccine for 2-month-old babies against EV71, a virus that infects millions of toddlers worldwide each year.

Chen received his BS in psychology from National Taiwan University in 1974. He has since self-taught to become an expert in vaccine and diagnostic technologies for human and animal diseases. He has coauthored dozens of scholarly papers in top journals such as The Lancet and Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Chen was a Chair Professor of Industry-Academia Collaboration at National Yangming Chiaotung University, one of the top universities in Taiwan. In 2015, he was appointed a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Biotechnology in the Department of Biology at Temple University.

Nathan Zubin is graduating with a bachelor’s in neuroscience. His research experience include work in Department of Neural Science at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Fox Chase Cancer Center.In addition to lab research, Zubin has volunteered at Jefferson University Hospital reviewing patient information for clinical studies. As a Global Health Virtual Fellow for the Foundation for International Medical Relief for Children, he helped develop an education curriculum for a domestic violence project in India. He also has extensive volunteer experience through Temple Hospital, a crisis network and program aimed at support older people and schoolchildren.

At Temple, he is an active member of the student group Leadership, Education, & Development in Science and first violin in the Temple University OWLchestra Symphony Orchestra. After graduation, Zubin will attend the Lewis Katz School of Medicine with the goals of becoming an oncologist specializing in neurological tumors and eventually to teach future medical students.