When the light of science pierces the barriers of time and space, and currents of wisdom converge into a wave of transformation, the 6th World Laureates Forum (WLF) unfolded in grandeur from November 6 to 8 at the Forum’s permanent venue in Lingang Special Area, Shanghai. Under the theme “Science Leads Transformation, Shaping a Resilient World,” this global gathering brought together over 300 leading scientists from 25 countries and regions, including 27 Nobel Prize laureates, over 40 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and more than 120 young scientists. A symphony of science resonated along the shores of Dishui Lake, bridging disciplines, nations, and generations.
Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Laureates Forum
Science Without Borders: Embracing a Shared Future with Openness：
At the opening ceremony, Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), outlined Shanghai’s vision to become a global center for scientific innovation. He framed his speech around three guiding concepts: “Answering questions together, moving in the same direction, and working with united hearts.” Emphasizing collaboration and forward-thinking, he stated, “We would explore the frontiers of science hand in hand with the world and boldly pursue innovation for the future.”His remarks reflected the spirit expressed by Roger Kornberg, 2006 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and President of the World Laureates Association, who described the WLA as “a beacon of hope in difficult times.” This alignment of perspectives reaffirmed the enduring value of science as a shared language capable of uniting humanity across borders and challenges.
Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
Roger Kornberg, President of the World Laureates Association and 2006 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
Wan Gang, President of the China Association for Science and Technology, elevated the forum’s mission to an ethical dimension by emphasizing, “technology for good is a responsibility that lies with scientists.” This belief was brought vividly to life throughout the forum. From the WLA Carbon Conference, where WLA and ONCE jointly launched a global initiative on ocean-based negative carbon emissions, to the Mobius Forum, where 60 scientists engaged in passionate debate over the future of science education. In this vision, science is not only a pursuit of truth, but a moral force tasked with bridging cognitive divides and safeguarding our shared planet.
Wan Gang, President of the China Association for Science and Technology
Passing the Torch: The “Double Helix” of Youth and Legacy
Resilience was reflected not only in the forum’s themes but also in its deep commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists. At the WLA Sci-T Conference, hundreds of Nobel laureates and young students came together to create a “puzzle of wisdom,” symbolizing intergenerational collaboration. Meanwhile, in the Youth HUB, 120 rising young leaders delivered compelling presentations that showcased the confidence and vitality of a new scientific generation. The WLA Prize also plays a vital role in this ecosystem by supporting early-career scientists in conducting independent research, thereby sustaining long-term momentum in scientific advancement. As Chen Zhu, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, rightly pointed out, “Letting young people take on major responsibilities is the key to ensuring the sustainable future of science.”
The 2023 WLA Prize in Intelligent Science or Mathematics was awarded to Arkadi Nemirovski (third from left), Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Yurii Nesterov (second from right), Honorary Professor and Senior Researcher at the Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE), UCLouvain.
The 2023 WLA Prize in Life Science or Medicine was awarded to Daniela Rhodes (fourth from left), Emeritus Group Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the University of Cambridge; Karolin Luger (third from left), Professor and Endowed Chair in Biochemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder; and Timothy J. Richmond (second from right), Professor Emeritus of Crystallography of Biological Macromolecules at ETH Zurich.
Moments throughout the forum offered touching reminders of science’s human dimension — such as the heartfelt embrace between Nobel Laureate May-Britt Moser and 89-year-old Chinese academician Kuang Tingyun, a gesture that captured science’s power to transcend age and nationality. In another highlight, Nobel laureate K. Barry Sharpless engaged in a “master-level” dialogue with Chinese scientist Yu Jinquan, showcasing the intellectual richness and distinctive character of the WLF.
A New Innovation Paradigm: From Lab to Civilization via the Mobius Loop
The 2023 forum marked the first full-scale use of its permanent venue in the Lingang Special Area, a space of architectural grandeur that symbolically mirrors the essence of scientific exploration — requiring both expansive vision and quiet resilience. The Life Science Forum, Intelligent Science Forum, and Carbon Conference each delved deeply into their respective fields, while initiatives like the She Forum and the Entrepreneur Roundtable broke down traditional disciplinary boundaries, sparking meaningful dialogue among science, culture, and business. As WLA Prize laureate Timothy J. Richmond noted, “The efforts of the WLA are shaping the long-term development of multicultural scientific progress.”
In just six years, the World Laureates Forum has grown from a single annual gathering into a vibrant culture of scientific exchange. It has hosted more than 1,500 participating scientists, held nearly 600 sessions, and reached over 6 billion people worldwide through media and engagement. In a symbolic convergence, the calm waters of Dishui Lake meet the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, mirroring science’s journey — from a single drop to a boundless sea.
From a Drop to an Ocean: Science is Eternal
As the lights dim on this year’s forum, the radiance of science continues to illuminate the road ahead. From the confluence of the ancient four great civilizations to today’s Global Scientific Partnership Initiative, and from the original ambition of “Science Leads Transformation” to the current mission of “Shaping World Resilience,” the World Laureates Forum sails ever forward — with science as its vessel and openness as its oar — toward a shared future for all of humanity. Just like Dishui Lake itself reminds us: every drop matters, and every spark of scientific thought leaves a lasting echo in the river of human civilization.
