Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS), Cardinal Peter Turkson, and President Professor Joachim von Braun, visited our academy on the afternoon of September 27th. This marked the first visit of PAS leaders to Academia Sinica, and they were warmly received by President Liao. During his welcoming address, President Liao expressed his hope that this inaugural meeting between the leadership of both academies would establish a channel for future exchanges between the two sides. The two distinguished guests first engaged in discussions with President Liao and AS researchers, exchanging views on topics such as food security, climate change, and the challenges humanity faces in the future.

In the subsequent lecture session, Cardinal Peter Turkson began by introducing an overview of the academy’s organization. The history of the academy can be traced back to the 17th century, and it underwent a reorganization in 1936, renaming itself as the “Pontifical Academy of Sciences.” Its primary mission is to promote research in mathematics, physics, natural sciences, and human welfare-related problems. Among the 80 Pontifical Academicians, several are from Academia Sinica such as Dr. Chen Ning Yang, Dr. T. D. Lee, Dr. Yuan-Tseh Lee, Dr. Steven Chu and Dr. Chien-Jen Chen.

Next was Professor von Braun’s lecture titled “Serving People and Planetary Health: Current and Emerging Science Agenda of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.” Professor von Braun is an internationally renowned expert on global hunger issues and related solutions. In his presentation, apart from providing an overview of the history, governance, and science diplomacy initiatives of the PAS, he also discussed the academy’s current areas of focus from three perspectives. Firstly, he addressed global health issues and strategies for achieving equitable distribution of medical resources. Secondly, he explained how science and knowledge can enhance the adaptability of humanity and ecosystems under the pressures of climate change and food crises. Finally, he touched upon innovative topics such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and neurotechnology, along with their associated ethical and societal implications. He hopes that in the future, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences can collaborate with Academia Sinica on these topics and conduct research, jointly striving to promote the well-being of humanity.