On April 11, Nobel Prize Laureate (Chemistry 2011), Distinguished Professor Dan Shechtman of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology delivered a lecture entitled "The connection between the Nobel Prize and Education for Innovation and Entrepreneurship" for faculties and students of Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) and Shantou University (STU). Prof. Gong Xingao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chancellor of GTIIT presided the lecture.

Prof. Gong Xingao, Chancellor of GTIIT and Prof. David Gershoni, Vice Chancellor of GTIIT presented the certificate of appreciation for Prof. Dan Shechtman

In 1982, Prof. Dan Shechtman made a groundbreaking discovery of a new form of icosahedral phase molecular structure, which opened up a whole new field into quasicrystals. In 2011, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of quasicrystals.

More than an hour before the lecture, many teachers and students had already waited in the front row of GTIIT auditorium, looking forward to seeing the Nobel Prize Laureate with excitement. As the time of the lecture approached, even the space on the aisle was almost full.

Amidst the thunderous applause, Prof. Dan Shechtman, who was in his eighties, smiled and gracefully walked up to the podium, fulfilling the "decade-long appointment" with the teachers and students of GTIIT and STU.

"I only think about how to succeed."

The yellowing pages neatly recorded his daily work, a habit he has adhered to for over 40 years. "During my research, I made important work notes, documenting every detail of my daily work," he said, showing one of the pages to the audience.

"When I decide to do something, I never think about failure. I only think about how to succeed."

In his opinion, the fact that quasicrystals are rare, unstable, and difficult to produce is not the only reason why they were not discovered before 1982. Apart from technological limitations, it was also due to the scientific quality of researchers. "You must be very professional. It determines whether you can make important scientific discoveries. Therefore, you must become an expert in your field."

On the road towards the Nobel Prize, he faced controversies and rejection. However, he never feared failure. When opposed by authoritative experts in his field, he firmly believed in his discovery and conducted more research and argumentation, eventually gaining the support from peers. "You must have a strong will and believe in yourself. Especially when your research is complex and difficult for people to understand, don't give up. Try your best to explain your ideas to people."

A practitioner in promoting entrepreneurship and science education

Prof. Dan Shechtman has created courses on innovation and entrepreneurship at the Technion, attracting over 600 students per week. This program is ongoing and has benefited countless students over the years. He encouraged only two things in the field of innovation. Number one, teach entrepreneurship and number two, teach science at a very early age.

He believed that a better environment for innovation and entrepreneurship should be created in society. Guiding entrepreneurs to set up start-up companies and introducing the entrepreneurial spirit into universities will allow more innovative and modern high-tech enterprises to be born. Professional talents will bring creativity to enlarge the economy in a very fast pace.

 "I believe that winning the Nobel Prize is a great inspiration for the entire scientific and educational community. It's an important way for us to influence the world through science."

However, becoming a scientist was not Prof. Dan Shechtman's initial goal. "At the beginning, I wanted to be an engineer, inspired by the book 'L'Île mystérieuse' in which the main character was an engineer. That was my aspiration then, and it's why I entered the Technion to study."

In his view, we need to cultivate more engineers and scientists. Prof. Dan Shechtman advocated for imparting scientific knowledge from a young age, even starting in kindergarten. "I initiated this project in my hometown of Haifa, allowing young children to learn the world around them, to think logically and ask questions. People who understand science from the very early age, are more likely to be engineers and scientists as they grow up."

He took his own experience as an example. "When I was seven years old, my grandfather gave me a toy that sparked my curiosity about engineering and science and generated a deep interest in my surroundings. It changed my life."

"Be No.1 in the field you love."

"I believe GTIIT will grow fast and the future looks bright for this university!" Prof. Dan Shechtman, who once served as the main organizer in charge of the establishment of GTIIT, expressed his best wishes to the university.

He said he was impressed by several things of GTIIT during the visit. "Firstly, the infrastructure. Very well-built. Very functional, and it works. And you teach very important subjects that are pertinent to not only China, in general, to world. These days, I have seen the laboratories of GTIIT, which provides very good conditions for teachers, students and researchers. You have wonderful labs, good scientists as professors and 1500 students here and it grows."

The lecture is a "star-chasing" chance for the students, who eagerly raised their hands during the Q&A session. After fascinating interactions, Prof. Dan Shechtman offered valuable life advice to the audience. "If you want to succeed in your career, choose a subject that you like, something you want to spend your life doing and try to be No.1. And you will love your life because you are doing something that you like to do, not something somebody told you, but something that you chose. And you will become No.1."

Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, GTIIT Student Media Center (Fan Xin, Zeng Xianle, Wang Haiyang)