China News Service, Shanghai, October 12 (Reporter Chen Jing) "Although I cannot provide a complete 'recipe' for winning the Nobel Prize, I will tell you what you need to do to win the Nobel Prize." Benjamin List, the 2021 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry and director of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Germany, gave the answer in a speech in Shanghai on the 12th: pursue your passion, try different things, and have ambitious goals.
The 16th "Pujiang Science Master Forum" was held at Fudan University on the 12th. With the theme of "Catalyzing a Beautiful World: Three Messages for the Next Generation", Lister had a face-to-face talk with representatives of teachers and students from universities and middle schools in Shanghai, focusing on the cutting-edge direction of organic catalysis.
Benjamin List, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and director of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Germany, attended the Pujiang Science Master Forum on the 12th. (Photo courtesy of Fudan University)
It is reported that in 2021, he and American scientist David MacMillan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of "asymmetric organic catalysis". The significance of this concept is that it allows chemists to build molecules more precisely using non-metal catalysts.
In Lister's view, catalysis is not only "magic", but also one of the important technologies that promotes the development of modern human society. "The future of the earth depends largely on catalysts." He gave an example. In the energy field, through three-way catalysis, the carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides produced by gasoline combustion can be mainly converted into carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen; through catalysis, coal can be converted into gasoline; through catalytic cracking of alkanes, smaller hydrocarbons can be produced to provide fuel for aircraft, cars, ships, etc.
Lister's love for chemistry began as a teenager. At that time, Lister believed that since the world, including the human body, is composed of molecules and atoms, chemists might be able to understand everything about the world. At that time, there were no chemistry courses in middle schools, so he was full of curiosity and decided to do it himself. When he was 13 years old, he built a chemistry laboratory in the basement of a friend's house.
While studying for a PhD in chemistry, Lister studied vitamin B12 synthesis. He admitted that the three years of research were very difficult. Vitamin B12 is a very complex small molecule that is very difficult to synthesize. During the three years, he studied it day and night. He said: "If it weren't for 'pursuing love', it would be difficult for me to persist."
Later, he set his research field in the field of catalysis. "I think catalysis is the most fascinating part of all science. In principle, a catalyst molecule can repeatedly participate in reactions to promote the generation of thousands of product molecules. This is the magic of catalysis," Lister said.
After winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Lister didn't think it was the end. "As chemists, we must be humble enough. What we can do is still a drop in the ocean compared to the natural world." He said, "Everyone must have high goals and do something truly challenging."
"We will solve three pressing issues facing mankind: sustainable chemical industry, energy supply, and climate change." Lister said frankly, "To do scientific research is to go where no one has gone before and enter the 'dark forest' alone. First of all, you must have a love for chemistry, so that you can persevere."
Talking about the experience of conducting scientific research in multiple countries, Lister said that scientific research cannot be completed by a single country and requires transnational collaboration. He likes the international team very much and said: "There are currently five Chinese colleagues in my team. I really appreciate their optimism and hard work in scientific research."
