2024 Tang Prize Week & Glory of the Tang Prize Exhibition Officially　Opens: A Feast for the Eyes and the Mind

Following the announcement of the 2024 Tang Prize laureates in June, the Tang Prize Foundation will welcome them to Taiwan in September for the award ceremony and "Tang Prize Week" events. The festivities commence with the "Glory of the Tang Prize Exhibition," opening today (3rd) at the Central Hallway of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern (CEO, Tang Prize Foundation), Dr. Chung-yao Yin (Chairman, Nan Shan Life Insurance), Dean Chih-Ping Lin (College of Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), and Secretary Shu-hua Deng (Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School) officiated the opening ceremony, cutting the ribbon to mark the start of the 2024 "Glory of the Tang Prize Exhibition" and the "Tang Prize Week" events (see appendix).

This year's exhibition, curatorial concept as “Conversations between Tang Prize Excellence and the Pursuit of a Better Life” (themed "Eternal Pursuit: The Legacy of the Tang Prize"), seamlessly blends technology and art in an innovative display, offering visitors a captivating experience that engages both the eyes and the mind. The exhibition features interactive walls and immersive, "dialogue-style" exhibits. Through thoughtfully curated scenarios, visitors are invited to actively explore the groundbreaking achievements of Tang Prize laureates in the four fields of Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology, and Rule of Law, and discover how these accomplishments enhance and enrich our daily lives. Additionally, treasured gifts from past laureates to the Foundation are on display, promising a truly inspiring visit.

The exhibition is open to the public free of charge and will be held at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall from now until October 31st. Starting on November 7th, it will move to the National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung for a two-year run.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Chung-yao Yin, on behalf of Founder Samuel Yin, extended his deepest gratitude to the laureates for their remarkable contributions to the world. He expressed his enthusiasm for the "Glory of the Tang Prize Exhibition," hoping it would introduce these exceptional individuals to a broader audience. He particularly encouraged parents and teachers to bring young students to the exhibition. Dr. Yin also highlighted the "Tang Prize Week" series of events as a unique opportunity for people from all walks of life in Taiwan to engage directly with the laureates, showcasing the Tang Prize's role as a vital platform for international exchange.

Dr. Jenn-Chuan Chern then provided a glimpse into the exciting lineup of "Tang Prize Week" events, including the grand "Tang Prize Award Ceremony" at the Taipei Performing Arts Center on September 27th. On the 28th, the "Tang Prize Laureate Lectures" will take place at the National Central Library, followed by four "Master Forums" at National Taiwan University, Soochow University, China Medical University, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University on September 30th and October 1st, respectively. Additionally, two "Youth Symposia" will be held at Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School and National Hsinchu Senior High School.

Dr. Chern particularly recommended the "Tang Prize Laureate Lectures" and "Master Forums." The former features six laureates sharing the essence of their lifelong research in four captivating lectures all in one day. The latter invites experts and scholars to engage in stimulating dialogues with the laureates on campus, fostering intellectual exchange. The public is warmly invited to visit the Tang Prize's official website or contact the universities directly to register for these exceptional academic events and experience the wisdom and charisma of the Tang Prize laureates firsthand.

Dr. Chern elaborated on the innovative design of this year's "Glory of the Tang Prize Exhibition," introducing the metaphorical concept of the "Tang Prize Town." This metaphorical town, built around the idea of "home," connects six major themes: "For a Better Life for All," "Sustainable Home," "Medical Symposium," "Sinology Study," "Rule of Law Civic Center," and "Digital Interactive Zone." The exhibition's architecture incorporates the familiar gabled roof element of a house, with each room dedicated to a specific theme. Through portraits of the laureates and engaging dialogue boxes, a "conversational" atmosphere is created, inviting visitors to learn and draw inspiration from the laureates within these relatable living spaces. The highlight of the exhibition, the Digital Interactive Zone, offers an immersive experience, presenting complex academic achievements in an intuitive and engaging manner, effectively bridging the gap between the laureates' groundbreaking research and our everyday lives.

Located in the Digital Interactive Zone, the "A Day in the Life of Dr. Tang" interactive display wall employs a novel exhibition approach that merges technology and art. Visitors can trigger various dynamic effects by simply touching the Chinese and English buttons on the wall, bringing the laureates' research achievements to life. For instance, the kitchen sink connects to the Surya project of 2018 laureate Veerabhadran Ramanathan, highlighting the crucial role of clean cooking utensils in improving women's health and mitigating global warming. The smart window showcases the energy efficiency research of 2016 laureate Arthur Rosenfeld, demonstrating how buildings can conserve energy while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures. The wall-mounted thermometer symbolizes the GISS model developed by 2018 laureate James Hansen in the 1970s. This model explores the impact of water vapor, cloud cover, and surface reflectivity on global temperature, providing invaluable insights into our understanding of climate change.

Appendix

• Tang Prize Week Series of Events (For detailed information and registration methods, please refer to the Tang Prize website: www.tangprize.org)

About the Tang Prize

Since the advent of globalization, mankind has been able to enjoy the convenience brought forth by the advancement of human civilization and science. Yet a multitude of challenges, such as climate change, the emergence of new infectious diseases, wealth gap, and moral degradation, have surfaced along the way. Against this backdrop, Dr. Samuel Yin established the Tang Prize in December 2012. It consists of four award categories, namely Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology, and Rule of Law. Every other year, four independent and professional selection committees, comprising many internationally renowned experts, scholars, and Nobel winners, choose as Tang Prize laureates people who have influenced and made substantive contributions to the world, regardless of ethnicity, nationality or gender. A cash prize of NT$50 million (approx. US$1.7 million) is allocated to each category, with NT$10 million (approx. US$ 0.35 million) of it being a research grant intended to encourage professionals in every field to examine mankind’s most urgent needs in the 21st century, and become leading forces in the development of human society through their outstanding research outcomes and active civic engagement.