President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of December 3 with 2010 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Prof. Ei-ichi Negishi and Mrs. Negishi. Besides praising Prof. Negishi for his outstanding contributions in the field of synthetic organic chemistry, the president also expressed his hopes that Prof. Negishi's interaction with Taiwan academics will help to cultivate research talent here and boost Taiwan's visibility in the international academic community.
In remarks, the president noted the close relationship between synthetic organic chemistry and the enhancement of the quality of life for humans. Over the past several decades, he said, a number of products used in our daily lives have been invented as a result of the research carried out in this field. The president pointed to the invention of liquid crystal displays (LCD) as one example, saying that, thanks to the introduction of LCD screens, the black and white television sets of 40 years ago have been replaced by the large flat screen TVs of today, which enrich our lives with their vivid colors. President Ma said that research in synthetic organic chemistry has also yielded benefits in healthcare, as effective synthesis methods have been used to create tens of thousands of drugs that can be administered to treat illnesses that previously were untreatable.
President Ma noted that the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognized the contributions of three chemists, including Prof. Negishi, for "palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis." This synthesis method, the president remarked, has wide applications, and has become a fundamental tool for the synthesis of "carbon-carbon bonds," an advance which has helped many chemists solve difficult problems in the synthesis of materials and drugs, and can be applied to the preparation of all types of organic molecules. Dr. Negishi has thus done much to help improve the quality of life for humankind, said the president.
President Ma mentioned that over the past several decades the Academia Sinica and many academic institutions have worked on basic research, and are highly regarded internationally for their many research achievements in the fields of chemistry, medicine, physics, and the humanities. The work of the Academia Sinica, he added, has contributed much to the development of both science and the economy in Taiwan.
The president remarked that Prof. Negishi served as a visiting professor at National Taiwan University in 2009 and provided enormous encouragement to young academics and students during his time here. President Ma said that he previously read articles written by Ph.D. candidates that Prof. Negishi served as advisor for in the United States, and that the content of these articles reflected very well on the professor's literary attainments as well as his excellent people skills. President Ma said that the articles also mentioned that Prof. Negishi and Mrs. Negishi show special concern for the well-being of their students. Mrs. Negishi particularly exhibits the industriousness for which Japanese women are noted, he said, pointing out that she frequently invites students to their home for meals that she has personally prepared. The couple is extremely hospitable and considerate, he praised.
President Ma stated that Prof. Negishi on this trip plans to visit and deliver lectures at the Academia Sinica, National Taiwan University, and National Tsing Hua University. The president expressed his hope that Prof. Negishi will be able to share the fruits of his research with instructors and students here, as well as exchange opinions with them on various issues. This, he said, will help to spark learning and increase interaction between the two sides.
Prof. and Mrs. Negishi visited the Presidential Office in the morning to meet with President Ma. Also attending the meeting were Academia Sinica Vice President Peng Shie-Ming (彭旭明), former Vice President Sunney I. Chan (陳長謙), and National Security Council Advisor Chung Chien (鍾堅).