Omar M. Yaghi, the recipient of the 2024 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development and the James and Neeltje Tretter Chair Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, is awarded for his extraordinary contributions to sustainable development, particularly his pioneering work with Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and other ultra-porous frameworks that can be tailored for carbon capture, hydrogen and methane storage, and water harvesting from desert air. His research has revolutionized the field of chemistry and materials science, offering transformative solutions for sustainable development through the creation of customizable materials with exceptional properties.
Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern, CEO of the Tang Prize Foundation, personally invited Prof. Yaghi to Taiwan during a recent visit (June 28th) to Prof. Yaghi eagerly accepted, expressing his enthusiasm and anticipation for the trip.
During his week-long visit to Taiwan in September, Prof. Yaghi will participate in several key events, including the Tang Prize Award Ceremony, the Tang Prize Banquet, and the Tang Prize Laureate's Lecture. Additionally, the Tang Prize Foundation has organized a trip to Hsinchu, also known as Taiwan's "Silicon Valley," where Prof. Yaghi will lead a forum on Sustainable Development at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University on October 1st.
The forum, titled "The New Advancement of Sustainable Technology: The Development and Prospect of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and other ultra-porous frameworks," will delve into the development, applications, and future potential of these groundbreaking materials in addressing global environmental, energy, and water resource challenges. The discussion will emphasize the crucial role of reticular chemistry in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the broader significance of advancing sustainable technologies.
On the same day, the Tang Prize Foundation will facilitate a meaningful dialogue between Prof. Yaghi and high school students around the Hsinchu area at the National Hsinchu Senior High School. Recognizing the importance of inspiring the next generation, Prof. Yaghi will share his personal journey- born into a refugee family in the desert on the outskirts of Amman, Jordan, with roots of Palestine, and how, at the age of fifteen, he went to the U.S. on his own to pursue studies, and how he overcame the difficulties of growing up, and ultimately became a world-renowned scientist, as a means of encouraging students to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams.
The Foundation will also arrange a valuable exchange between Prof. Yaghi and representatives from the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and the Hsinchu Science and Industrial Park. The Foundation anticipates that these discussions will generate significant interest and momentum among Taiwan's industries, government bodies, and academic sectors actively working towards carbon reduction, hydrogen, methane, and water resource technologies.
Dr. Chern and Prof. Yaghi engaged in a fruitful discussion on the potential applications of their respective innovations in civil engineering and sustainable development. They recognized Dr. Yin's Spiral technology's parallel contributions to rapidly constructing seismic-resistant and low-carbon buildings for human habitation and industrial use and Prof. Yaghi's molecular chemistry technology for creating reticular structures that capture and store CO2, hydrogen, methane, and water. While distinct in approach, both technologies converge on the shared goal of sustainable solutions. Dr. Chern envisions a future where Prof. Yaghi's technology could revolutionize civil engineering through its integration into smart construction. This and other innovative developments in medicine will be a key focus of their continued dialogue during Prof. Yaghi's visit to Taiwan in September.
UC Berkeley Extended Warm Welcome and High Regards to the Tang Prize Foundation
UC Berkeley, a globally renowned university and home to three Tang Prize laureates, placed great emphasis on the Foundation's visit once again. Among its esteemed faculty are Omar Yaghi, Arthur Rosenfeld (known as the "Godfather of Energy Efficiency"), and Jennifer Doudna. Doudna received the Tang Prize for her groundbreaking work in genome editing, followed by the Nobel Prize four years later.
Despite the demands of his upcoming inauguration as the 12th Chancellor of UC Berkeley on July 1st, Richard Lyons, an expert in business, innovation, and entrepreneurship, enthusiastically welcomed Dr. Chern. Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Benjamin Hermalin and Vice Chancellor for Research Katherine Yelick also engaged in discussions with Dr. Chern, exploring the Tang Prize categories, UC Berkeley's latest advancements, and potential future collaborations.
UC Berkeley's senior leadership deeply values the Tang Prize, recognizing its unique contribution, particularly in promoting sustainability and humanistic values. They will encourage colleagues across relevant fields, including the Institute of East Asian Studies (founded in 1978) and the School of Law, to learn more about the Prize. The university takes immense pride in having its faculty members among the ranks of Tang Prize laureates.
Prof. Yaghi, co-director and chief scientist of the Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet at the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), exemplifies the interdisciplinary excellence fostered by this groundbreaking institution. Dean Jennifer Chayes co-founded the Theory Group, was a former Technical Fellow at Microsoft with over 20 years of experience leading research programs, and was the founder and managing director of three interdisciplinary labs, spearheaded the creation of CDSS.
Dean Chayes noted that CDSS, with its unique interdisciplinary approach, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and the first new college established at UC Berkeley in over 50 years. She stressed the importance of the college's mission to make meaningful contributions that address the real needs of society and humanity in today's rapidly evolving information age.
Dean Chayes expressed her delight at Prof. Yaghi's Tang Prize win, highlighting that this prestigious recognition has elevated the visibility and impact of the two-year-old CDSS among its donor sponsors and the wider public. She praised Prof. Yaghi's profound knowledge of chemistry, ability to foster broad collaborations, and commitment to ensuring the rapid and successful implementation of new technologies. Dean Chayes views his current integration of climate science, artificial intelligence, and materials science as a visionary and impactful strategic approach, led by a scholar of exceptional wisdom and competence.
Similarly, in response to the pressing challenges of the 21st century, Dr. Samuel Yen-Liang Yin, the founder of the Tang Prize, established this award to recognize individuals and organizations making significant contributions to humanity, society, and the environment, with a particular emphasis on sustainable development. Prof. Yaghi's recognition with the Tang Prize further reinforces the award's commitment to honoring those who are driving positive change in these critical areas. We eagerly anticipate celebrating these achievements during Tang Prize Week at the end of September.
