Nobel Prize Dialogue Singapore: a meeting of minds between Nobel laureates and youth
Published: 15 Sep 2022
Photo credit: NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Rising global temperatures, global pandemics, war in Europe, intensifying geopolitical tensions in Asia and the Middle East, acute food shortages, systemic poverty, resource scarcity and gender inequality.
These are the endemic, globe-spanning issues that 60 students here who are 15 to 35 years old and their counterparts from the Asia-Pacific region, were invited to discuss with Nobel Prize laureates and international experts at the Nobel Prize Dialogue, held in Singapore on 13 September 2022.
Organised by the Nobel Prize Outreach and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), in partnership with the Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) Singapore, the Nobel Prize Dialogue featured a programme of discussions and a one-day plenary.
Held under the theme, ‘The Future We Want Together’, it was the opportunity for youth and Nobel Prize laureates, together with local and international thought leaders, to share, review and crystalise ideas and suggestions that could help deal with the most critical problems facing the world today.
The opening ceremony for this first-ever Nobel Prize Dialogue held in Southeast Asia was graced by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. The Dialogue was held at the Raffles City Convention Centre and also beamed to audiences online.
“It is a time of great danger, but also a time of exhilarating opportunities. It is a time in history when science, technology, politics, global affairs and humanity are all telescoping into a focal point. You will find that all Nobel Laureates are not just about science or their domain expertise, but they come with values and a very broad worldview. Platforms like the Nobel Prize Dialogue are an opportunity to share ideas, learn from one another, discover our common humanity, look for global solutions to global problems and find new networks of collaboration.” said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore, in his address as Guest-of-Honour at the Nobel Prize Dialogue 2022.
The Dialogue spanned six broad areas in the context of ongoing global crises: Education, Climate Change, Health, Happiness as well as Economic and Digital Wellbeing — areas that garner the most concern from youths today. Faced with alarming potential concerns such as educational disruption and reduced career opportunities, increasing economic and social inequities, digital disruptions and concerns as well as mounting mental health concerns, the programme brought students and youth from all over Asia together with global thought leaders.
Mr George Smoot, 2006 physics laureate, and astropreneur, Ms Karin Nilsdotter, discussing the potential and possibilities of what outer space could mean for mankind in the future. Photo credit: NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
A special session was also included in the event, delving into conflict prevention, management and resolution as well as the exploration and colonisation of space. Participants had fruitful and in-depth discussions on the way forward, to promote humanity’s well-being.
“Students from all over the Asia-Pacific region have a leading role in the Dialogue as they would be engaged in discussions with the Nobel Prize laureates prior to the event. Our experience is that these kinds of inter-generational discussions are of great importance for the students, the laureates and the broader society,” said Laura Sprechmann, Chief Executive Officer of the Nobel Prize Outreach, emphasising the pivotal role of students in solving global issues.
Professor Chong Yap Seng, Dean of NUS Medicine added, “Our youth is our future. How that future unfolds will to a very large extent be determined by the actions that we take today, to face the myriad crises and challenges that confront humankind. Climate change is an existential threat, as is disease. Poverty and conflict are phenomenon that result from the pursuit of narrow, exclusivist interests that are further entrenched through the advent of technology,”
“Young people must be involved in shaping the decisions and actions that are taken to confront and surmount these threats; their voices and views must be heard and respected and their involvement is paramount. That is the ultimate purpose of the Nobel Prize Dialogue Singapore, which we organised together with Nobel Prize Outreach.”
Click here to access the full YouTube playlist of the Nobel Prize Dialogue Singapore on 13 September 2022.
More information on the Nobel Prize Dialogue Singapore here
News Coverage
- “Dialogue between Nobel Prize laureates, youth to be held in Singapore for first time”, The Straits Times, 29 June 2022
- “World can learn from S’pore in urban design and cyber security: Nobel laureate”, The Straits Times, 10 September 2022
- “Researchers hoping mini microscopes on mouse could uncover more about Alzheimer’s disease”, The Straits Times, 12 September 2022
- “A more divisive world could impact collaborations in science: Vivian Balakrishnan”, The Straits Times, 13 September 2022
- “Floods devastating a third of Pakistan ‘just the beginning’ of climate crisis: Panellist”, The Straits Times, 13 September 2022
- “Post-COVID-19 health challenges set to be more complex: Nobel Prize Dialogue panel”, The Straits Times, 13 September 2022
- “Nobel laureate defies attacks, death threats to continue fight to end child exploitation”, The Straits Times, 20 September 2022
- “4th agricultural revolution needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions: Nobel laureate”, The Straits Times, 21 September 2022
