"Professor, what changes have occurred in your life after and before the award, such as whether the NB real yàn room has considered giving you a raise?"

The two laureates were no strangers to HKUST students, and as soon as Professor Smith took the stage, his female classmates made fun of him.

"I'm still me, just like the day before yesterday."

"Can you tell us how you felt when you learned about the award?"

Amid a round of applause, Professor Smith smiled, "I was excited at first, but after the second call I realized I was just lucky." As we all know, there are many scientists around the world who are engaged in research similar to mine, and although the specific goals are different, this is a similar contribution, and our work will all benefit humanity. Especially when I think that there are many more outstanding scientists, especially those who are stronger than me, have not yet won the award, I naturally should not take this award very seriously. ”

These modest words won another round of applause.

Being able to get in touch with the master at zero distance, and being able to ask questions in front of news reporters, the male student of the University of Science and Technology who served as the host naturally would not just "let go" of him, holding up the microphone and asking with a smile: "Professor, can you tell me what I plan to do with this bonus?" ”

Professor Smith couldn't be fooled, glanced back at the old guys in the band, and said in a humorous tone: "Frankly, I don't have an easy time in Hong Kong, I have a research project, I am a visiting professor at HKUST and CUHK, and I have three graduate students, and I have a full schedule, and I don't have time to think about what to do with that prize money at the moment." ”

What "life in Hong Kong is not easy", that project is a commissioned R&D order from NB Medical, as the vice president of technology of NB Bioengineering Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of NB Medical. To put it bluntly, he's working for himself. As for part-time jobs at HKUST and HKU. It's just a name. There are only two classes a week.

In addition to supervising and supervising three graduate students, he just eats, drinks and has fun in Hong Kong, and he almost burst into laughter when he looks at so many guests in awe.

Looking up and not looking down, the two HKUST hosts also know it.

But the sedan chair is carried by everyone, now is not the time to debunk it, and the master can show up so cooperatively, it is completely to help improve the reputation of the University. Raise funds for the Student Council and Chemistry Interest Group.

According to the agenda of the event, after the female student congratulated him again, she warmly invited him to the temporary podium and begged him to give a speech to all the guests and the teachers and students who participated in the reception.

Most of the domestic guests, including Director Zheng, did not understand English, nor did they understand the Dongguang dialect translated by the male host, so he simply took turns to act as interpreters for them.

“…… One of the difficulties of speaking at HKUST is that some of you may have an opinion that I don't like to repeat what I said in previous speeches. I beg your forgiveness. For two reasons.

First of all, in order to make an impact. It's important to do this by passing the same message over and over again. In science, the first discoverer is important, but the last person to repeat the discovery may be more important before it is recognized. ”

Listening to a Nobel laureate's speech is not an opportunity for everyone. Director Li actually took out a small notebook and recorded it as quickly as the reporters in front of him.

Simultaneous interpreting requires not only proficiency in English, but also a test of the translator's memory.

Afraid that he would not be able to remember so much of the charter at once, Sun Xiaoguang continued to translate very tacitly: "Secondly, a scientist who learns from others is walking on the best path opened up by his predecessors. The famous American poet Emerson once said, "My predecessors have stolen some of my best ideas." The painter Picasso once declared, 'Good artists borrow, great artists steal.' So why don't speakers like me apply the same standard? ”

Next, Professor Smith talked about his experience with emotion and tried to inspire the HKUST students present. "When you start a new phase of your life, follow your hobbies," he said. If you don't have a hobby, look for it, and if you can't find it, don't stop. Life is too short, and if you want to be successful, you have to pour your affection into something. I'm super strong at your age, and my goal is to become a chemist.

After completing my undergraduate studies at the University of Manchester, I moved to Canada and spent a few more years at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver......

Finally, I would like to give a few pieces of advice to all of you, which are rarely taken seriously and are almost destined to be forgotten and never practiced. But, as Wilde said, 'All you can do with counsel is give it to someone else, because it is of no use to you.' ’”

Thought-provoking and funny, everyone, including the Governor of Hong Kong, gave the chemistry prize from the Commonwealth countries a round of applause.

The table of the charter is also very tacitly coordinated, and as soon as Professor Smith paused, Huang Li'an continued to translate: "The professor said. When you first make achievements, don't forget your predecessors. Thank you to the countless scientists who laid the foundation for the field you have achieved, to your parents and friends who support you, to the professors who have inspired you, and especially to the professors who have not given good classes because they have forced you to teach yourself.

In the long run, self-learning is essential for an excellent liberal arts education and will be the key to your success. You'll also want to hug your classmates and thank them for the many long all-night conversations they've had with you, which brings immeasurable value to your learning. Of course, you also have to thank your university, and even if you forget this, the alumni association will come and remind you. ”

It was so humorous that everyone couldn't help but laugh.

"One last piece of advice I have is that hobbies are important, but you shouldn't just think about hobbies. When you have gray hair, old age, and look back on your life, you need to be proud of what you have done. Neither your material life nor the recognition you receive will generate pride. Only those people and things that you have helped and changed by you will make you proud. ”

Professor Smith shifted gears. The spotlight lost no time in hitting the students on both sides.

He said affectionately: "Work at the university. The biggest advantage is the students. They are alive and passionate. Freedom of thought, not changed by the weight of life. They don't realize it, but they're the best audience you can find in this society. If there has ever been a time in your life when you were free of thought and full of creative power, it was when you were in college.

When they first enter the school, they have no doubts about every word in the textbook, and gradually, they will realize that the textbook and the professor are not omniscient, so they begin to think independently. Since then. That's when I started learning from them.

The students I've taught, the PhDs I've taught, and the young colleagues I've worked with are all excellent. More than 40 of them are now professors. Many of their research institutions are among the best in the world, including Harvard University, Princeton University and other Ivy League universities in the United States.

I learned a lot from them. Even now, I occasionally call them on weekends to ask for advice from students who are still working in biochemistry......"

There are no official clichés, they are all heartfelt words.

Director Zheng was deeply touched and couldn't help but sigh: "The so-called university is not only a building, but also a master. Mr. Zhang. There are so many masters in the Guishi yàn room, and there are such good conditions. In the future, we will definitely be able to become an Ivy League school in China! ”

Although the NB office has graduate students and recruits real members, it is all for R&D services, and the proportion of the staff composition is also very small, and the charter has never thought of turning the NB room into a university, and immediately shook his head and said: "It is not easy to become the most first-class education and research institution, not only masters, but also great results." For example, the two masters won the Nobel Prize, but the award-winning achievements were not born in our real yàn room, and because of this, apart from this dinner, there are no other activities in the real yàn room, and there is no hype. ”

It's really embarrassing to think about it, Sun Xiaoguang said coldly: "It's up to Dr. Cai and Dr. Chen, they are engaged in groundbreaking research, they belong to the people who opened the first door, as long as their achievements can be verified, I think there should be a chance." ”

Professor Kang of the Institute of Automation at Z University asked, "Carbon nanotubes? ”

"Yes, it is very hot in the world right now, and thousands of scientists are engaged in this kind of research, and the results are continuous."

The scientific community is also in fashion, and as Sun Xiaoguang said, the call for Dr. Cai Yangzhi and Dr. Chen Wushou to win the award is very high, and the Hong Kong education community even regards them as the seeds of Hong Kong's Nobel Prize.

However, the difficulty of preparing "carbon nanotubes" determines that this road will be difficult to go through within 30 years. The Nobel Prize must be awarded to a recognized achievement, and from this point of view, the possibility of them winning the prize is very slim.

The charter did not want to continue this topic, let alone regard winning the Nobel Prize as the only pursuit of the Faculty of Basic Studies, so he picked up the juice glass and said lightly: "It doesn't matter if you win the award or not, the key is to have breakthrough achievements." The British scientist Stephen Hawking is amazing, but the black hole confines everything - including time and space - within its own gravitational field, which can never be detected by humans, and only remains in theory. It is impossible for him to win the Nobel Prize, but no one can deny his great achievements. ”

Xia Yao couldn't help asking, "Then why can Einstein?" ”

"The Nobel Prize in Physics is given only to scientists who have proven their results and are of practical significance. Einstein won the award not because of his theory of relativity, but because he conducted a small experiment on the photoelectric effect, which shows that heroes cannot be judged by whether they have won awards or not. ”

As he spoke, Professor Smith, who was the first to take the stage, was invited to the Governor's table, and it was said that there would be an investiture ceremony to present him with a knighthood on behalf of the Queen.

The rapid drumming sounded again, and the spotlight once again hit the two hosts.

The male classmate spoke fluent English and said in a low voice: "The last Tsar Nicholas II, the influenza virus in 1918, and the movie "Jurassic Park", which is being screened all over the world during this time, what is the relationship between these three things? The answer is no. But one of the inventions of biotechnology has linked them together, and this is the 'polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology!

PCR technology uses the principle of double-stranded replication of DNA to continuously replicate a DNA sequence, so that trace amounts of DNA increase in geometric progression. Therefore. Whether it's paleontology in fossils, the remains of historical figures. Or hair, skin, or blood left behind by the killer in a homicide decades ago. As long as a small amount of DNA can be isolated, it can be amplified and compared by PCR, which is also the power of 'trace evidence'.

Distinguished guests, distinguished media friends, ladies and gentlemen, I now have the honor to invite Dr. Kari Mullis, the inventor of PCR technology, another winner of this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Deputy Director of the Chemistry Center of the Faculty of Basic Research, Hong Kong NB Clinic, and Chief Chemist of Hong Kong NB Medical Co., Ltd. ”

There is nothing more exciting than the birth of two Nobel laureates in one room. Warm applause rang out again, and the atmosphere of the banquet was once again pushed to a climax.

"Doctor, can you tell us a little bit about how you felt when you won the award?"

As just now, the moderator stood next to Dr. Mullis, who had just taken the stage, and gave a brief interview.

"Absolutely."

Dr. Mullis stood on tiptoe and looked around for a moment, and then laughed self-deprecatingly, "I believe that many of the guests here have attended the wedding of Mr. Zhangzhang, the founder of the NB Shi yàn room and the researcher of the Department of Technology Application of the NB Shi yàn room, and Ms. Xia Yao. ”

As soon as his words fell, a blinding pillar of light suddenly hit table 55.

was named, and the charter had to stand up with Xiao Zhangqing and Xia Yao together, waved his hand at everyone, and then greeted loudly in English: "Hi." Kari! ”

Dr. Mullis asked quizzily, "Hi, Zhang." Remember me? ”

A student of the University of Science and Technology, who had been prepared for a long time, wasted no time in handing over a microphone, and under the laughter of more than 1,000 guests, teachers and students, the charter could only take the microphone and smile: "This is obviously very memorable, not only because we are colleagues, but also because you borrowed 100 Hong Kong dollars from me on the way to the center last time and you haven't paid it back until now." ”

The guests laughed even more fiercely, and even someone as strict as Director Zheng showed a casual smile.

"Sorry, I did forget, but don't worry, I'll write you a check when I get my winnings."

Dr. Mullis paused and continued with a wicked smile: "Just now the host asked how I felt when I learned about the award, and I can tell you now that the first thought that came to me at that time was that if you had another wedding, then I could rightly ask to join your officiating group, instead of being excluded from the list like last time, so that I had to use extraordinary means to stand by Chairman Gao and Professor Alferov." ”

The HKUST kids made the guests think that the meal was worth the money, and they colluded with him to play the video of last year's wedding at the beach on a projector. And his funny behavior in the picture made the guests laugh and lean back.

"Xia, I'm very sorry, I have no intention of ruining your happy marriage, but I just take this opportunity to express my feelings when I won the award. I wish you all eternal happiness and sunny weather, and the next time you go to the real yàn room, you must remember to call Uncle Kari instead of calling me Grandpa Kari. ”

In order to achieve the best effect, the conductor of the orchestra, Professor Alferov, waved his hand, and the rapid drum beat suddenly sounded, turning the comedy into a pantomime at once, and I saw him standing on the stage and talking with his eyebrows fluttering, but I could not hear what he was saying. Especially when he was about to the guy and smash the band, everyone's tears almost burst out of laughter.

As soon as the drums subsided, the hostess said with a sympathetic expression: "Tong Guò's conversation just now, the video of Mr. Zhang and Ms. Xia's wedding, and the band's loss of control, there is reason to believe that Dr. Mullis not only had a hard time in the NB room, but also probably received some injustice." I deeply regret this and strongly urge that our President Wu not miss this opportunity. ”

In the rapidly shifting spotlight, the guests saw President Wu of HKUST.

As soon as he got up and waved his hand to everyone, the male host asked matter-of-factly: "Carrie, I think I heard what you mean, HKUST does need to hire a professor who has won the Nobel Prize, but have you thought about what position to invite a Ph.D.?" ”

"Chemistry professor?"

"Hundreds of thousands of annual salaries, doctors won't consider it."

"Head of the chemistry department?"

"Please, the doctor is the director of the Chemical Research Center in the NB real yàn room, haven't you heard that people go to high places and water flows to low places?"

The female classmate pretended to ponder for a moment, and suddenly held her chin and stopped talking: "Then invite the doctor to come to our University of Science and Technology as the president." ”

"It's a good idea. Principal Wu. I'm sorry. You've been fired, but before you hand over your position to Dr. Mullis, we're going to give you a presentation. ”

ridiculed the president and ridiculed the president of the charter, and the "lawlessness" of Hong Kong college students opened the eyes of Director Li and other guests from China.

If you don't know how to play, you can't do research, Huang Li'an has become accustomed to it, and as soon as Dr. Mullis finished the first paragraph, he translated in a low voice: "The theme of the doctor's speech is "Applause for the truth". He takes us back to some stories that happened in the scientific world in the 17th century, saying that in 17th century England, people began to talk about philosophy, religion and other issues in pubs.

There were no televisions, no football games, and people were likely to rush into the streets and scuffle over topics such as the vacuum pump invented by Robert Boyle, the predecessor of the vacuum cleaner. ”

This time, it was not only Director Li who recorded, but also Dean Zhang, Director Chen, Professor Kang and others who also picked up pen and paper to record. So that I can share this grand occasion with my colleagues, teachers and students when I go back.

In order not to omit anything, the translator should also make a record.

Dr. Mullis paused. Sun Xiaoguang looked at the few points he had just written down and translated in a low voice: "Boyle is a friend of Charles II, he is a devout Christian on weekends, and he is an out-and-out atheist scientist on weekdays. He invented an instrument that could drain the air inside. At first, he didn't know what the air was for, but after pumping the gas, the bird inside the device died, so he named the thing 'Vacuum'.

But trouble ensued, and the priest forbade him to build the instrument, because God is everywhere, and there is nothing in the 'vacuum' instrument, which means that there is no God. Boyle didn't care, and it soon became widely discussed.

Charles II could not sit still, he did not want to be guillotined because people talked about religious science, so that he would follow in his father's footsteps. He paid for the establishment of the Royal Society for these scientists, and anyone could attend, as long as they didn't talk about religion. Scientists can present their actual results on stage, explaining how their machines or instruments work and what they produce. Let all people see it in reality, and not say something illusory. ”

Professor Smith's previous presentations were philosophical and thought-provoking.

Dr. Mullis's presentation was very interesting, as if in popular science, and in a humorous introduction, the guests learned about the word "vacuum" and the origin of the "Royal Society".

Only the bigwigs of the real room, such as the charter and President Gao, really understand his good intentions. He is still skeptical about his eligibility for the award, and is trying to justify the name of real science.

As expected, Dr. Mullis suddenly changed his words: "In this way, by the middle of the 17th century, the science of reality was gradually separated. Until then, science had been entangled with religion, philosophy, and mathematics, and was not science in the true sense of the word. In the more than 300 years since then, science has brought great changes to this world, and this is the origin of real science! ”

For the next 15 minutes, he introduced his encounter with science. He told the story of how he spent 6 months building a rocket in his garage and sending frogs into the sky when he was a child.

He quipped that he was glad that he had been so bold that if he had listened to someone else or asked for government approval, the frog that flew into the sky might have died.

He went on to say that the image of scientists has always been mysterious and strange, and it is speculated that they hide in ivory towers all day long, doing ridiculous things with test tubes. This image began to change after World War II. World War II was fought largely by the power of science. Scientists have invented guns, medicines, bombs, etc., with greater firepower.

However, there are also some people who see business opportunities in it, and the status of scientists has risen dramatically, and many people have started to pursue science for money, so don't expect them to always tell the truth.

Through the story, he warned everyone that in the process of engaging in scientific work, if you have an idea, do not blindly follow the authority. The answer given to you by the authority is "no" a lot of times, and you should go to the real room to find out for yourself. "Everyone knows reality by what he sees, touches, feels, or hears."

Of course, you have to be honest and don't make up the results, otherwise the consequences will be terrible.

As soon as he says he "has an idea, he rushes back to the room, even if it's on the way home." "He also had academic discussions with others, but he never followed them blindly. For him, it is that innate honesty and curiosity that constantly drives his scientific work.

The speech was so successful that it was interrupted six times by applause.

The Governor of Hong Kong was invited to the stage by the two hosts, and watching him shake hands with the two winners to congratulate him, the charter suddenly turned back and said: "Director Zheng, leaders, we are all spectators today, but I am convinced that there will come a day when we will become the masters, go on stage to congratulate the Chinese scientists, and share the joy of their success." ”

Director Zheng nodded heavily, clenched his cup and said, "Yes, I'm looking forward to that day too." (To be continued......)