In October 2024, 34 students from School of Journalism teamed up in ten groups, and conducted in-depth interviews with ten world-renowned scientists at 2024 World Laureates Forum in Shanghai. It is a collaboration project between Fudan University and People’s Daily, the premier newspaper in China. The reporting tasks were successfully accomplished under the guidance of 5 journalists from People’s Daily, and 5 academics from School of Journalism. Below are the collections of the 10 interviews from our students’ team work.
(Please click the name to read the full interview)
1. Andre Geim (2010 Nobel Physics)
Twenty years after discovering graphene through the “scotch tape method,” Geim reminded students that science isn’t magic—it requires time to create miracles. “Make your work a hobby,” he advised. “I measure life by experiences—interesting people you love, places you visit, stories you can tell.”
2. Carol Greider (2009 Nobel Medicine)
“When you think you've answered one question, three or four new ones emerge.” Her advice resonated: “Don’t be afraid to challenge what’s already established. Diverse teams make better decisions.”
3. Jeremy Nathans (2024 WLA Prize, Vision Science)
“I like these tasks—I can verify my hypotheses with my own hands. Failed experiments remind me to stay humble.” His parting words: “Enjoy this journey—university is a rare gift.”
4. Jon Kleinberg (2024 WLA Prize, Computer Science)
“Algorithms have no motivation to create bias—they simply reflect what they see in data, and that data comes from human behavior.” Students discovered why this Cornell professor is affectionately known as both “Rebel King” and “Cornell Dad”—someone who champions interdisciplinary collaboration and believes science must connect with the real world.
5. Michael I. Jordan (Machine Learning Pioneer)
“AI will never replace humans—it has animal-like intelligence but can never think critically like us.” His advice: “Don't fear difficulties, don't chase quick success. Let meaningful problems guide your journey.”
6. Michael Levitt (2013 Nobel Chemistry)
“My wife says I'm as curious as a 7-year-old child. Ask questions—try asking AI about everything!” He encouraged embracing mistakes and cross-disciplinary exchange.
7. Randy Schekman (2013 Nobel Medicine)
“Science has only one boundary—it should not be driven by commercial interests. I will continue speaking out for the free flow of knowledge until the end of my life.”
8. Daniela Rhodes (2023 WLA Prize, Structural Biology)
“Women don't need to mimic men—just be yourself. Work hard, study hard, but don't forget to have fun.”
9. Serge Haroche (2012 Nobel Physics)
“If I hadn't gone into physics, I would have liked to be an archaeologist,” The 80-year-old physicist who captured Schrödinger’s cat emphasized curiosity’s power: “Science and the arts both pursue something mysterious and fascinating. A good scientist should also understand the humanities.”
10. Efim Zelmanov (1994 Fields Medal)
“Work hard and think independently. Don’t just listen to your teachers—challenge them.”
