President Ma Ying-jeou met with Dr. James D. Watson, the 1962 Nobel Laureate in Physiology, and Mrs. Watson at the Presidential Office on the afternoon of April 1. The president expressed his admiration for Dr. Watson's research in the life sciences and welcomed him and his wife on their visit to Taiwan.
President Ma remarked that Dr. Watson and Dr. Francis Crick in 1953 jointly discovered the double helix structure of DNA and were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1962. In 1990, he received support from the US National Institutes of Health to lead the human genome project and in 2003 unlocked the human genetic code, creating a stir throughout the world.
The president noted that there is a scientific purpose for this trip to Taiwan by Dr. Watson. He has devoted considerable efforts in recent years to cracking the brain's neural network, the president noted.
President Ma furthermore said that Dr. Watson has expressed a high degree of interest in research into the brain neural network of the fruit fly that is being carried out at the Brain Research Center at National Tsing Hua University, and he believes that the complete neural network and mystery of the operation of the brain will sooner or later be unlocked by scientists. Therefore, Dr. Watson's visit to Taiwan is an indication of his support for Taiwan's life scientists, and in particular the group of scientists involved in brain science research.
President Ma said that National Tsing Hua University has invited Dr. Watson to lecture at the school and has named a lecture hall for him – The James D. Watson Hall. This is an expression of the deepest respect for this giant in the field of science, he said. The president added that the ROC government has always put heavy emphasis on bioscience research. Fundamental research in this field, which is critical to providing a basis for scientific breakthroughs, he said. The president expressed his delight at Dr. and Mrs. Watson's visit to Taiwan, adding that he hopes that they will be able to visit often and provide guidance and assistance in the development of the life sciences here.
Dr. Watson expressed his pleasure at visiting Taiwan and said that besides sharing his experiences and his learning in the life sciences, he also hopes to interact and exchange opinions with the academic sector here. This will enable everyone to work together in an effort to foster development in the field.
Dr. and Mrs. Watson were accompanied to the Presidential Office in the afternoon by Minister without Portfolio Ovid Tseng. Also attending the meeting with President Ma was National Security Council Advisor Mignonne M. J. Chan.