Society

Nobel laureate inspires Dalian students

By Zhu Chengpei and Zhang Xiaomin (China Daily Dalian Bureau)
Updated: 2011-04-28 14:26

Nobel Prize winner Tim Hunt communicates with students at Dalian No.8 High School on Wednesday in Northeast China's Liaoning province.  [Photo/Zhang Xiaomin]

Tim Hunt, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, gave an inspiring lecture to students at Dalian No.8 High School on Wednesday in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province.

The English biochemist shared his experience of winning a Nobel Prize. He said curiosity is very important in discovering something, as well as the ability to find a problem and keep moving forward to find answers.

"When you find the problem, it is not a problem anymore," he commented, saying his experiment on the sea urchin egg that helped him win the Nobel Prize is "very simple."

Students at Dalian No.8 High School were moved by this humorous and amiable scientist. They bombarded him with various questions and deafening applause.

"The master wears leisure clothes. It makes me feel relaxed to ask him questions," said Yang Fangzhao. During the question and answer session, the 17-year-old student told Hunt that he also hated "useless math," as the scientist said earlier in his speech, and asked for advice on how to become a scientist.

Hunt suggested he and other students "Keep your feet on the ground, but eyes on the horizon." Principal Ding Yancai said Dalian No.8 High School will continue to invite veteran scientists and experts to give lectures to the students.

"Communicating with the great masters face to face will give them inspirations both on academic research and ways of dealing with things," said Ding.

Hunt and eight other Nobel Laureates are attending an international conference on DNA and genome in Dalian.

The 2nd World DNA and Genome Day in Dalian focuses on cutting-edge technologies and the latest developments in the life sciences.

It is sponsored by the Information Research Center of International Talent of State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, the Dalian branch of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and other institutions. Dalian BIT Life Sciences Inc is the organizer.