Moldova's Academy of Sciences hosts historic meeting: James Rothman, Nobel laureate with Bessarabian roots, alongside Hiroshi Amano, hold dialogue with young scientists

Two of the brightest minds in global science – Professors Hiroshi Amano and James Rothman, Nobel Prize winners in Physics and Physiology or Medicine respectively – have been guests at the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM), at an exceptional event dedicated to the dialogue between generations of scientists.

The meeting, held under with the subject, Historic Meeting at ASM: Nobel Laureates in Conversation with Young Science Enthusiasts, provided the public with a rare opportunity to interact with personalities who have changed the world through their discoveries. The Azure Hall of the Academy hosted hundreds of pupils, students, researchers and professors who listened emotionally to the messages of the guests.

“Today, Chisinau is on the world map of science, in direct dialogue with the great values of the universal knowledge. Dear guests, pupils, students, and young researchers, this event is primarily for you. The presence of Nobel laureates in Chisinau shows us that, through work, passion, and perseverance, science can transform the world, and today's dreams can become tomorrow's reality,” declared President of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova Ion Tighineanu.





Professor Hiroshi Amano from Nagoya University of Japan, Nobel Laureate for Physics in 2014 for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) – a technology that revolutionized modern lighting – delivered a lecture titled, Let's Work Together to Build a Sustainable World. In recognition of his scientific contributions and close collaboration with the academic environment of Moldova, he was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova.



For his part, Professor James Rothman from Yale University, USA, Nobel Laureate for Physiology or Medicine in 2013 for his discoveries on the mechanisms by which cells transport vital substances, received the Dimitrie Cantemir Medal, the highest distinction of the ASM. The moment had a special significance, given the scientist's Bessarabian roots, with ancestors from Falesti and Telenesti, who emigrated to the USA more than one century ago. His visit to Moldova was thus also a symbolic return to the land of his ancestors.





 

“The presence of Professors Amano and Rothman in Chisinau is a historic event for Moldova, as well as a strong message: science unites nations, builds bridges between cultures and lights the path to a sustainable future,” added Ion Tighineanu.

Professor Rothman will continue his visit in Moldova with a string of scientific and cultural activities – including participating in the International Conference on Nanotechnology and Biomedical Engineering and visiting the localities of Falesti and Telenesti.