▎GLOBAL OUTLOOK

Taipei — On November 10, National Taiwan University (NTU) hosted the inaugural lecture of the newly launched Taiwan Bridges Program, marking the beginning of one of the most ambitious academic exchange initiatives in Taiwan’s history. NTU joins Academia Sinica and 10 partner institutes nationwide to invite 31 Nobel laureates to Taiwan between 2025 and 2026, fostering high-level dialogue between global scientific leaders and Taiwan’s academic community.

The opening event held at NTU’s Shih-Liang Chien Lecture Hall in the Zonghe Lecture Building and was part of the “Raymond Soong Chair Professorship of Distinguished Research,” established with the generous support of Mr. Raymond Soong, the founder of Lite-On Technology. The keynote speaker—Prof. Sir Andre Geim of the University of Manchester, recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics—set the tone for the program’s international vision and intellectual ambition.

A Nobel Laureate Who Blends Scientific Rigor with Creative Curiosity

Sir Andre Geim is internationally renowned for discovering graphene, the first known two-dimensional material composed of a single layer of carbon atoms. Its extraordinary strength, conductivity, and versatility revolutionized nanotechnology and opened new frontiers in electronics, energy, and biomedical research. For this groundbreaking work, Geim shared the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics with Konstantin Novoselov.

But Geim’s scientific persona is also marked by humor and unconventional thinking. His famous experiment levitating a frog using a magnetic field earned him the Ig Nobel Prize, an accolade that he embraces as a celebration of curiosity-driven science. His career exemplifies a rare combination of intellectual rigor, imagination, and playfulness.

A Full House at NTU: Dialogue Across Generations

The lecture drew a capacity audience of faculty, students, and researchers eager to hear from one of the world’s most innovative physicists. Following the keynote, students actively engaged Geim with questions ranging from foundational physics to research creativity.

In addition to the public lecture, Sir Andre Geim is scheduled to meet with faculty and young scholars from NTU’s Department of Physics for a smaller, in-depth discussion on research challenges, emerging scientific directions, and the value of cross-disciplinary thinking.

NTU leaders expressed hopes that such exchanges will inspire students to pursue bold ideas, cultivate global perspectives, and engage with the scientific community beyond Taiwan’s borders.

Building a Bridge to the Future: Taiwan’s Momentum Toward Global Engagement

The inaugural lecture not only launched the Taiwan Bridges Program but also highlighted NTU’s commitment to fostering meaningful international dialogue across science, humanities, and society. NTU will continue collaborating closely with Academia Sinica and the International Peace Foundation to welcome world-leading scholars to Taiwan.

By building a “bridge of knowledge” that links Taiwan with the global academic community, NTU aims to become a vibrant hub for innovation, peacebuilding, and future-oriented leadership—a place where ideas cross borders and inspire new generations.