The opening ceremony and plenary session of the World Laureates Forum were held in Shanghai on Saturday (October 31). This year`s forum brought together 32 preeminent scientists who are recipients of top international scientific honors, including the Nobel Prize, the Turing Award, the Wolf Prize, and the Fields Medal. In addition, 23 academicians from China`s two academies (Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering), 140 senior scientists, and 78 young researchers participated in the milestone gathering.

Themed "Shifting Paradigms in Science: New Frontiers for the Next Decade of Scientific Advancement," the forum features an opening ceremony and main plenary session, six parallel thematic forums, four specialized focus sessions, and a closing ceremony.

Across the six parallel forums, in-depth discussions centered on emerging frontier disciplines: future semiconductors, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, aerospace and space-based information, artificial intelligence, future energy, and quantum science. The forum is scheduled to conclude on Sunday (November 1).

During the award presentation ceremony, 11 scientists were honored across the "Intelligent Science or Mathematics Prize," the "Life Science or Medicine Prize," and the newly introduced "Young Scientist Prize."

First established in Shanghai in 2021, the World Laureates Association (WLA) Prize initially featured two core categories: the "Intelligent Science or Mathematics Prize" and the "Life Science or Medicine Prize." Each category carries a total prize purse of 10 million yuan, with a maximum of four laureates honored per discipline. The newly inaugurated "Young Scientist Prize," open to emerging researchers worldwide, selects six winners annually, with each recipient awarded 1 million yuan.

Source: Shishir, Alim, Akash | China Media Group (CMG)