On the afternoon of October 24, the 2025 World Laureates Forum (WLF) Youth Scientists Conference was held at the Lingang Center in Shanghai. Gathering the wisdom of global science and focusing on the power of young researchers, the conference, held under the theme “Pioneers of Future Science: Innovation and Excellence”, successfully built a world-class dialogue platform that is high-level, international, and interdisciplinary. Nearly 30 outstanding young scientists from China and abroad joined laureates of the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, and other top scientific awards to collectively envision a vibrant scientific future.
The successful convening of the conference vividly demonstrates the strengthened core functions of Lingang’s innovation ecosystem and marks a solid step forward in realizing the commitment to “Empower the Next Generation of Scientific Leaders.”
Messages from the Laureates
Michael LEVITT, Co-Chair of the Youth Scientists Conference
In his opening address, Professor Michael LEVITT, 2013 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Professor of Structural Biology at Stanford University, emphasized the importance of trusting the intellectual vitality of young scientists and granting them autonomy and responsibility. He called on research institutions and funding systems to strengthen support for early-career researchers to enable more groundbreaking scientific achievements.
Several world-leading scientists attended the conference in person to engage in dialogue with young scholars, including K. Barry SHARPLESS (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 2001 & 2022), Laurent LAFFORGUE (Fields Medalist, 2002), Sir Shankar BALASUBRAMANIAN (Canada Gairdner International Award, 2024), Don W. CLEVELAND (Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, 2018), Pascal MAYER (Canada Gairdner International Award, 2024), Matthew ROSSEINSKY (Eni Award for Advanced Energy Frontiers, 2023), and Clifford P. BRANGWYNNE (Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, 2023). Their participation significantly elevated the conference’s academic caliber and international influence.
Innovative Formats Inspire Sparks of Thought
Three-Minute Flash Talks
Three-Minute Flash Talks
A highlight of the conference was the specially designed “Three-Minute Flash Talk” session, where young scientists took turns presenting concise overviews of their core ideas, key technologies, or disruptive innovations within a tight time limit. These presentations spanned cutting-edge topics across life sciences, materials and energy, and artificial intelligence, showcasing both the breadth and depth of frontier research.
Maxie Roessler from Imperial College London shared her research on using electron transfer reactions to design more effective catalysts. Sergio CARBAJO from UCLA and Stanford University introduced breakthroughs in attosecond physics for capturing electron and atomic dynamics, achieving femtosecond-level precision. Makoto SAITO from RIKEN, Japan, presented three newly developed genome editors and explored directions for next-generation therapeutic drug development. Yoonseob KIM from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology showcased his team’s innovations in constructing high–energy-density batteries based on covalent organic frameworks (COFs).
SharpMind Roundtable: Passing the Torch of Science Across Generations
Young Minds Ask, Laureates Respond
During the SharpMind Roundtable Dialogue, young scientists directly engaged with leading laureates in an open and thought-provoking exchange. The discussions spanned research challenges, international collaboration, support for basic research, and science communication.
K. Barry Sharpless encouraged young scientists to be fearless in exploring unknown territories and to cultivate perseverance. Many laureates emphasized that young researchers should be given sufficient time and resources to pursue novel ideas, along with stronger support for high-risk, “uncharted” research areas. On science communication, Clifford P. Brangwynne stressed the importance of scientists engaging in public outreach and avoiding overly technical language to enhance public understanding. Pascal Mayer noted that the disruptive nature of science requires researchers to take an active role in shaping public perception.
The Lingang Special Area, the venue of the conference, is rapidly becoming a global source of scientific innovation and a hub for high-level talent. During the event, Fudan University’s Institute for Advanced Studies (IASM) outlined its development goals, positioning itself as a world-class institute for basic and interdisciplinary research. The IASM aims to provide top-tier research environments and long-term, stable support for outstanding young scientists, an ambition that aligns closely with Lingang’s strategy to foster an exceptional scientific ecosystem and cultivate world-class talent.
As an organizer of the 2025 World Laureates Forum, the Shanghai Lingang Science and Technology Innovation Development Foundation will continue to strengthen international networks for scientific cooperation, offering young scientists a broader stage and stronger support to scale new scientific heights. Together, Lingang and the world’s young pioneers will contribute wisdom and strength to addressing global challenges and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge.
Source: Fudan University
