Professor Ryoji Noyori, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and an Honorary Academician of Academia Sinica, has been invited to be the next Academia Sinica Lecturer. He will deliver two lectures at National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica on November 16 and 17, 2010, respectively.  During the lectures entitled "Asymmetric Hydrogenation: Our 30 Years with BINAP” and “Science and Technology for Future Generations”, Professor Noyori will discuss his research, personal experiences and the future of science. Members of Academia Sinica and the media are welcome to attend.

Professor Noyori is best known for the initiation and development of asymmetric catalysis using organometallic molecular catalysts. The efficiency of the asymmetric catalysts discovered by Professor Noyori equals or, in certain cases, even exceeds that of enzymes. Applications of his original and versatile chemistry have allowed him and other scientists to achieve efficient syntheses of organic molecules of theoretical and practical importance. In 2001, Professor Noyori shared half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Dr. William S. Knowles "for their work on chirally catalysed hydrogenation reactions”. The other half of the prize went to Dr. K. Barry Sharpless.

Professor Noyori is currently President of RIKEN (one of Japan’s largest and most influential natural science research institutes), and University Professor of Nagoya University. He previously served as an Associate Professor and Professor at Nagoya University from 1968 to 1972 and 1972 to 2003, respectively, and has also held several other academic posts, including the Dean of the Graduate School of Science and the Director of Research Center for Materials Science at Nagoya University. During his career, Professor Noyori has undertaken numerous administrative roles such as President of the Chemical Society of Japan, Chair of Science and Technology Council for Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Chair of the Education Rebuilding Council.

Professor Noyori’s contributions to chemical research have been recognized worldwide by many prestigious awards. In addition to the Nobel Prize, Professor Noyori has received the Japan Academy Prize (1995), the Order of Culture (2000), the Wolf Prize in Chemistry (2001) and the Roger Adams Award (2001). He is also a member of numerous institutions, including the Japan Academy, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences of the US, and the Russian Academy of Sciences. He was elected an Honorary Academician of Academia Sinica in July, 2010.

In 2002, Japan’s Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry (SSOC) established the Ryoji Noyori Prize to co-commemorate Professor Noyori’s winning of the 101st Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the 60th anniversary of the SSOC. The prize is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to research in asymmetric synthetic chemistry defined in its broadest sense.

Professor Noyori is the fourth lecturer in the Academia Sinica Lecture series. Invitation to speak as an AS Lecturer is extended to top scholars from around the world and represents the highest honor of Academia Sinica. Since its launch in December 2009, the lectureship has been held by three Nobel Laureates: Dr. Roger Y. Tsien, Dr. Roger D. Kornberg and Dr. James D. Watson.

Related website: http://iao.sinica.edu.tw/index.htm

Lecture A
Title: Asymmetric Hydrogenation: Our 30 Years with BINAP
Time: 09:30 - 11:00
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Venue: Integrate Chemistry Building, Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei City
Moderator: Dr. Si-Chen Lee, President, National Taiwan University

Lecture B
Title: Science and Technology for Future Generations
Time:15:00 - 16:30
Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Venue: International Conference Hall, Humanities and Social Sciences Building, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nangang District, Taipei City
Moderator: Dr. Chi-Huey Wong, President, Academia Sinica