October 16th, 2006
How Can Science Solve the Problems Man Faces in the 21st Century? This is the question asked by and the title of the first session of a series of discussions by Nobel laureates. Organized by the Yomiuri Shimbun and the NHK, the series of sessions called "Creativity in the 21st Century with Nobel Laureates" kicked off with Mr. Yuan T. Lee, winner of the1996 Nobel Price for Chemistry saying that the current patterns of social development are unsustainable and that scientific research is inadequate if the collaboration is based only on research. Scientist, according to Mr. Yuan T. Lee, "must take the lead in removing national boundaries to solve global issues."
The forum was held at Tokyo University and future sessions will be held at the Kyushu University School of Medicine's Centennial Hall in Fukuoka. In addition, the next sessions will have a tempo geared especially for younger audiences as Nobel laureate Susumu Tonegawa, winner of the 1987 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine pointed out that science must help and encourage students to show potential as social, political, and economic leaders.