Paul C. W. Chu, University of Houston and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
October 13, 2009
According to Mark Twain, the famed American author and humorist, man’s noblest delight in life is DISCOVERY – to know that you are walking where no others have walked; that you are beholding what no human eye has seen; that you are breathing a virgin atmosphere. Indeed, what better joy can there be for a scientist than to discover a new material, phenomenon or theory; for a philosopher than to give birth to a new thought or paradigm; for an entrepreneur than to create new wealth; for a university president than to develop a haven for innovation and creativity; or for an explorer to find a new world? Discovery goes beyond science. It is discovery that has changed for the better this world where we live. To discover involves pushing back the frontier, thinking outside the box, dreaming the impossible dream and taking the unthinkable risk. The human spirit, courage and ingenuity displayed by these discoverers are always a great inspiration for us all. Ben Franklin, a scientist, a statesman, a diplomat and an entrepreneur, is an embodiment of these all. The path of discovery is full of excitements, although often dotted with agonies of defeat. The year of 2009 holds special meaning and poses great challenges for us all as the U.S. inaugurates its first black president, faces the onslaught of the economic tsunami, and, in a small way, witnesses the discovery of a new class of high temperature superconductors. In this lecture, I would like to share with the audience some of the exciting moments of a scientist oscillating between discovery in his lab in Houston and development of an intellectual powerhouse at the institute in Hong Kong he led, at this extraordinary time. Life is full of never ending dreams and excitements and I am confident that more is yet to come.
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