Recently, NTHU launched a series of public lectures entitled "2012 Nobel Month at NTHU". Each lecture was presented by a Nobel Prize winner, and attracted large audience. It was a feast for all members of NTHU and professionals in greater Hsinchu.

Dr. Danny Schechtman, a Nobel laureate in chemistry, shared his journal of Quasi-periodic crystal discovery in the year of 1982. Under the title of "The Discovery of Quasi-Periodic Crystals," Dr. Shechtman discussed that the atoms of matter can be either aligned ordered or disordered. When a matter has three dimensional ordered atomic arrangements, it is call a crystal and has translational symmetry, and once a crystal is irradiated by x-ray, beautiful diffraction pattern will show due to its atomic periodic arrangement. Furthermore, according to crystallographic restriction theorem, a typical crystal can have one, two, three, four or six rotational symmetries, but in 1982, Dr. Shechtman discovered Quasi-crystal with five rotational symmetries. This new discovery did not receive much recognition from scientific community right away; people began to recognize the significance of his discovery when he reanalyzed his data and published a report in Physics Letter in 1984. Due to his publication, the discovery of Quasi-crystal began to attract attention internationally. Quasi-crystals are stable and easy to synthesize, its unique structure could have multiple forms and special properties. However, why were Quasi-crystals took such a long time to be discovered? Dr. Shechtman believes it was related to the development of electron microscope technology, and the high standards of research and professionalism, as well as the courage to be skeptical about other's works.

The 1997 Nobel laureate in physics, Dr. Claude Cohen-Tannoudji gave an exciting presentation on "Light and Matter." He indicated that science is a fascinating journey of discovery and this journey welcomes all interested young students to join and to search ways to improve our living environment. Dr. Cohen-Tannoudji won the Nobel Prize in Physics with his technique in synthesizing ultra-cold atoms. He mentioned, regardless of atoms or solids, all objects are collectively called matter. The science of interaction between light and matter allowed technology to progress rapidly. He further pointed out that exploring the true nature of light and its interaction with matter has always been the core subject of research and the beginning of new ideas and technical revolution, such as relativity, quantum physics and laser. At the same time, researching the truth behind light and matter interaction, new techniques, such as optic pump and laser cooling, are being developed to manipulate atoms. In early 1980, Dr. Cohen-Tannoudji, Dr. Alain Aspect and several fellow researchers established a laboratory and focused on the research of laser cooling and binding. Later on, the research team invented the "Zeeman Reducer," which is the technique to slow down the movement of gas atoms and develop methods for laser cooling and atom capturing, which enable the researchers in this area to pursue their project with ease. The invention brought the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics to Dr. Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Dr. William Daniel Phillips and Academician Steven Chu (the current Secretary of Energy in the U.S.)

A successful scientist has no preconceived position in his research project. Instead, he is persistent and willing to learn and cooperate with his fellow researchers, said Dr. Chalfie, a Nobel laureate in chemistry in 2008. With the title, "Lighting Up Life," Dr. Chalfie told his audience that basic research is vital for the progress of science. It brings insight to human conditions and promotes the growth and development of agriculture and industry. Reflecting on his high school and undergraduate years, Dr. Chalfie indicated that nearly all the experiments he conducted during that period ended in failure. Such disappointing experience might have something to do with the fact that he failed to actively sought guidance from others. Fortunately, after a period of soul-searching and by reorganizing what he had learned in high school and undergraduate years, Dr. Chalfie regained his confidence and persistence, he eventually succeeded in making a breakthrough which won him the Nobel Prize in 2008.

In introducing the Nobel laureate to the audience, President Lih J. Chen indicated that "winning the Nobel Prize and other prestigious rewards often has an element of luck because some excellent researchers and their works might had been overlooked due to some circumstantial conditions; but all those who won such awards and honors do deserve it." Having had the opportunity of meeting and hosting many Nobel laureates in recent year, President Chen observed that all of them have some common characteristics. These masters are all friendly, open-minded, and very approachable; they are also very willing to share their knowledge with others. They also impressed him with their clear mind and excellent communication skills. President Chen urged the audience to take note of these characteristics and to learn not only from their successful research accomplishments but also their characters as gentleman-scholars.