“I think the important thing is to give young people independence and responsibility,” said Michael Levitt, a 2013 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and World Laureates Forum (WLF) vice-chairman. “We need to have new minds and real responsibility, and must protect that space for risk and discovery.” He delivered an opening address at the WLF Young Scientists Forum 2025, held at the Lingang Center within the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone on October 24.
An exceptional gathering of laureates marked the conference, including K. Barry Sharpless (2001 & 2022 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Laurent Lafforgue (2002 Fields Medalist), Sir Shankar Balasubramanian (2024 Canada Gairdner Award), Don Cleveland (2018 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences), Pascal Mayer (2024 Canada Gairdner Award), Matthew Rosseinsky (2023 Eni Energy Frontiers Award), and Clifford Brangwynne (2023 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences).
FANG Ming, head of the Publicity Department at Fudan University, delivered the opening address at the forum. Presiding over the proceedings was MA Jianpeng, dean of the Multiscale Research Institute for Complex Systems at Fudan University.
Xiaohong Helena Yang, executive dean of Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies, elaborated on the development goals of the institute during the opening session.
According to her, the Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies is positioned as a world-class center for fundamental and interdisciplinary research. Its core mission is empowering top young global scientists by providing world-class research conditions and long-term funding. The institute aims to address major global challenges through bold innovation. It is now actively recruiting and considering research proposals, seeking to grow alongside the world’s most promising young talents.
The WLF Youth Scientists Forum aims to establish a high-level, international, and interdisciplinary platform to promote the growth and collaboration of young scientific forces worldwide.
Designed as a platform for idea exchange, inspiration, and collaboration, the forum combines fast-paced lightning talks, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and direct engagement with world laureates and leading scholars.
Participants shared their visions for the future of science, presented their latest research progress, and engaged in open discussions with Nobel Laureates and senior scholars.
The conference broke from tradition with an innovative “3-minute lightning talk” session, requiring each young scientist to present a core problem, key technology, or disruptive idea within the strict time limit.
Young scholars delivered successive presentations spanning life sciences, materials energy and environmental science, tackling both fundamental challenges and recent research output.
“Electron transfer is ubiquitous, underpinning various biological and chemical processes,”stated Maxie Roessler of Imperial College London, whose work focuses on corresponding reactions and real-time tracking of free radicals. “Our new methods for studying and utilizing electron transfer and free radicals enable the design of better catalysts, among other applications.”
“We can measure real-time physical processes on the order of 10-15 seconds (femtoseconds) for the first time,” said Sergio Carbajo from UCLA and Stanford University, introduced his exploration in the field of attophysics. According to him, this technology can simultaneously visualize the structure, composition, and function of materials with 0.7 angstrom spatial resolution.
“Genome is the blueprint of life, and mutations can cause diseases,” revealed Makoto Saito from Japan’s RIKEN institute, who has developed three new genome editing and sees genome editing as transformative for therapeutics. He is exploring how to leverage natural diversity to develop molecular tools for next-generation drugs. He advocates for genome editing research that prioritizes efficiency, safety, deliverability, and mechanistic innovation.
Yoonseob Kim from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology leads a team developing advanced electrochemical energy storage systems. “2D covalent organic frameworks demonstrate high ion transport efficiency and exceptional electrode stability,”he explained. Leveraging these properties, Kim’s team constructs high-energy-density battery using lithium metal anodes with lithium-rich, nickel-rich, or sulfur-based cathodes.
The “SharpMind Roundtable”session fostered candid exchanges, where laureates offered reflective and forward-looking insights to questions from young scientists. The session was moderated by DONG Liang, Senior Scientific Editor of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
“Don’t work on what you can do, find something that’s challenging,”said K. Barry Sharpless, a two-time Nobel laureate. “It’s a tough business to be a scientist. You have to be able to a really tough minded person.”He encouraged young scientists to take a pragmatic approach, combine it with their interests, and create more valuable research output.
On international collaboration, Matthew Rosseinsky suggested scientists should practice “science diplomacy”to play a constructive role in complex global situations. Laurent Lafforgue emphasized providing young people ample time to explore new ideas and methods. Shankar Balasubramanian highlighted the persistent underfunding of high-risk research into “unknown”territories, calling for greater investment from those with capacity and vision.
Regarding “blue-sky”basic research versus top-down strategic projects, Michael Levitt argued that science must both pursue challenging frontiers and leverage applied expertise. When discussing scientific errors and public misunderstanding, Clifford Brangwynne stressed that scientists must avoid jargon and actively engage in science communication. Pascal Mayer viewed science as inherently disruptive, requiring public adaptation—a process where scientists should play an active role.
“Scientists from different eras face different challenges, but their experiences show that perseverance leads to meaningful research output,”said CHEN Pengcheng, a young researcher at Fudan’s College of Smart Materials and Future Energy, attending his second conference. Interactions with laureates and peers broadened his knowledge, and their inspiring stories reinforced his scientific aspirations.
This conference marks a new beginning for the Xue Min Institute of Advanced Studies in fulfilling its mission to cultivate outstanding young scientific talent. The institute will continue building platforms for cross-generational, interdisciplinary, and international exchanges, empowering more young scientists to grow into pioneers shaping our future.
At the closing ceremony, DING Ding, editor-in-chief of the People’s Daily Press, WU Jing, a faculty member of Fudan’s School of Journalism, and graduate students XU Zuirui and HU Jia’ni, presented the book In Conversation with World Laureates to representatives of top scientists and young scientists.
This book, crafted by the People’s Daily Da Jiangdong - Fudan Media Innovation Studio during WLF 2024, compiles reports, interview notes, and scientific presentations of ten scientists. It embodies the wisdom and spirit of the scientists and serves as a precious record of their journey in scientific exploration.
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Writer: LU Yulu
Proofreader: YANG Xinrui
Editor: WANG Mengqi, LI Yijie
