On May 18, at the invitation of China Three Gorges University, Professor Benjamin List, 2021 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Germany, visited the university for academic exchanges and lectures. The event was jointly organized by CTGU’s College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Department of International Relations, and the Institute of Science and Technology Development.It was also supported by the “World-Renowned Scientists Lecturingin Hubei” program, which is funded by the Department of Education of Hubei Province.
In the morning, the university held an honorary professorship appointment ceremony for Professor Benjamin List. Wang Jianping, Party Secretary, and Li Dongsheng, Party Standing Committee Member and Vice President, attended the ceremony. On behalf of the university, Secretary Wang Jianping extended a warm welcome to Professor List and provided an overview of China Three Gorges University's history and current development. He expressed his admiration for Professor List’s outstanding achievements in scientific research and talent cultivation, and voiced the hope that Professor List would offer guidance and support in areas such as international exchange, recruitment of high-level talent, and the advancement of chemistry and related disciplines. In response, Professor List expressed his gratitude for the honorary professorship and affirmed his willingness to provide assistance for the development of CTGU to the best of his ability.
Following the appointment ceremony, Professor List delivered an academic lecture titled“Catalysis for our world--three messages to the next generation”(Tianwen Grand Forum, Session No. 275) to faculty and students in No. 2 Lecture Hall of the Shengcai Building (Biopharmaceutical and Materials Chemical Engineering Teaching Experiment Center Building). The session was chaired by Party Standing Committee Member and Vice President Li Dongsheng.
During the lecture, Professor List shared his research journey and personal insights in depth, centering on three key themes:“enthusiasm,”“try something different,”and“aim high.”The lecture hall was packed to capacity, with over 300 faculty members and students in attendance. During the interactive session, the audience raised questions enthusiastically, and Professor List responded to each with thorough answers, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere throughout.
Later that afternoon, accompanied by Zhou Haifeng, Dean of the College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Dr. Liu Sensheng, Professor List visited Yichang Humanwell Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a corporate partner of CTGU. At the company’s R&D center, Professor List gained an in-depth understanding of the complete innovation process for anesthetic and analgesic drugs, from compound screening to formulation development. He spoke highly of the company’s sustained and substantial R&D investment and its international vision. The two sides also held preliminary discussions on potential technical collaboration and talent cultivation.
The visit of the Nobel Laureate not only provided faculty and students of CTGU with a valuable opportunity for face-to-face interaction with a world-class scientist, but also further enhanced CTGU’s international profile in chemistry and related disciplines. It has injected fresh momentum into the advancement of high-level international cooperation and disciplinary development.
