Wang Yuanyuan

    Six Nobel Prize winners sent well-wishes and inspiring thoughts to students at Shenzhen Middle School in Luohu District, encouraging them to create and challenge things that others might fear.

    The Nobel Prize winners attended the 3rd World DNA and Genome Day event, in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, from April 25 to 28. Also at the event were four students from the Luohu school — Xu Zhou, Jin Yiyi, Chen Pengxuan and Zheng Xin — who were invited to attend the annual event and its “Nobel Across China Program” because of their outstanding performances in biology. The program encourages young scientists to learn on the frontier of knowledge, strengthen the exchange of scientific information and generate impacts to life science research in China and the rest of the world.

    “I was very nervous at first because I thought our communication would be very difficult and they might ignore us, but it was not like that at all,” Xu, a Senior 2 student, said of the meeting the Nobel laureates. “They were so nice and easy to talk to, which was very moving. Although my question was very naive, they still answered me very patiently and politely.”

    In order to talk to the Nobel winners, Xu and his friends sneaked into a tea room during a break.

    “I could not tell you how excited I was when I saw Sir Martin J. Evans, the Nobel Prize winner in physiology and medicine in 2007,” Xu said. “He was drinking tea and I just went in and said ‘hi’ to him.”

    The chance meeting appears to have fostered a lasting connection. So far, Shenzhen Middle School students have received thoughts and well-wishes from 13 Nobel laureates around the world.

    “The masters’ words have a great power to encourage students and let them know the importance of academic attainment. With their encouragement, students are more motivated and eager to reach higher achievements in studying,” said Wang Zhanbao, principal of the school.