“Paean of Life”: Academic Symposium Jointly held by Future Science Prize and PKU
Nov 27, 2019
Peking University, Nov. 22, 2019: On November 16, the academic symposium titled “Paean of Life” was held at Peking University to share frontier scientific achievements and promote interdisciplinary innovation. Around 300 teachers and students attended the event. During the symposium, the scientists delivered keynote speeches and discussed academic issues. The event was co-organized by Faculty of Science at Peking University and the Future Science Prize Committee.
Group photo
Based on his own research experience, Shao Feng, an alumnus of Peking University and deputy director for Academic Affairs of Beijing National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), introduced the defense mechanism of cell pyroptosis against bacterial infection, which is significantly instructive for oncotherapy. Wang Xiaodong, director of NIBS, shared some stories in his laboratory during the investigation of biochemical pathways of apoptosis and necrocytosis. Dong Chen, dean of Tsinghua University School of Medicine, started his speech with the two basic functions of immunology: how to distinguish self from non-self and how to function after recognition. He also introduced many biochemical discoveries that play important roles in curing diseases and developing new vaccines.
In the academic talk session, several distinguished scientists at the symposium exchanged their opinions focusing on hot topics such as cutting-edge research in immunology, integration of multiple disciplines, new drug development and scientific spirits.
The Future Science Prize Committee announced the awardees of 2019 in Beijing on September 7. Shao Feng won the Future Science Prize in life sciences for his seminal discoveries of cytosolic LPS receptors and downstream effectors in inflammatory responses to pathogenic bacteria. He is also the first PKU alumnus who won this prize.
Future Science Prize is the first scientific award in China privately funded by scientists and entrepreneurs. It aims to award those scientists whose original research, conducted mostly in Greater China, has made a significant international impact regardless of their nationality, gender, or age. Through promoting basic research and scientific talents in the region, the Prize hopes to inspire the society to love science, to respect scientists, and to pay attention to scientific and technological developments.
The nomination and selection process of the Prize was established according to the system of Nobel Prize and Turing Award. The Science Committee of the Future Science Prize invites international experts as nominators. After receiving nominations, the Committee solicits evaluation letters from international experts in the relevant fields of the nominated work and then votes to select the final award winners on the basis of the evaluations. At present, the Science Committee consists of 21 leading scientists in the world.
Written by: Liu Chang
Edited by: Zhou Yijing
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
