Media

The Fourth Centenary Distinguished Lecture – The Protein Universe and Daily Life by Professor Kurt Wüthrich, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

17 Mar 2011

On its 100^th anniversary, the University of Hong Kong proudly presents a series of Centenary Distinguished Lectures, bringing eminent scholars and their world-class scholarship to HKU. On March 18, Professor Kurt Wüthrich, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2002, will deliver the Centenary Distinguished Lecture, entitled The Protein Universe and Daily Life. In the lecture, Professor Wüthrich will present the results of the exploration of the protein universe with the NMR spectroscopy and how the techniques useful for drug design.

What does protein look like? Professor Kurt Wüthrich answered the question by developing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for studying protein. By using NMR, we are able to determine the three-dimensional structure of biological marcomolecules in solution. This revolutionary breakthrough allows researchers to analyzing proteins in detail, which is not only helpful for new pharmaceuticals development but also allows early diagnose of some dangerous diseases, such as cancer. In 1996, mad cow disease broke out in Britain. Within 10 days of the outbreak, Professor Kurt Wüthrich analyzed the three-dimension structure of the prion protein which involved in the development of mad cow disease.

Besides, by making use of some of the NMR properties, the Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique is also developed and it is now commonly used in clinical diagnose.

Apart from his professional career in the studies of protein, Professor Kurt Wüthrich is also a sports lover. He was intended to be a sports instructor and obtained a degree in sports in the University of Basel. He was also a ski instructor, a gymnastics teacher in high school. In his leisure, he enjoys fishing and he played in the competitive soccer league until his fifties.

Members of the media are invited to cover the events:

Media interview session

Date: March 18, 2011 (Friday)
Time: 3pm - 4pm
Venue: Room G12, Chong Yuet Ming Physics Building, HKU

Lecture

Date: March 18, 2011 (Friday)
Time: 5pm - 7pm
Venue: Rayson Huang Theatre, The University of Hong Kong
Moderator:
- Dr Sarah Liao Sau-tung, Senior Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor on Environmental and Sustainability Matters, HKU
Panelists:
- Professor Lee Hon-cheung, Chair Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, HKU
- Mr Lo Yuk-lam, Vice President, Sinovac Biotech Company Limited
- Professor Sun Hong-zhe, Professor, Department of Chemistry, HKU

Lunch with a Laureate

On March 21, a group of 20 senior secondary school students and science undergraduates will meet Professor Kurt Wüthrich for "Lunch with a Laureate".

As an extension of the Centenary Distinguished Lectures, the "Lunch with a Laureate" aims to foster Knowledge Exchange between university and secondary schools, and help students broaden their horizons by meeting face-to-face with some of the most brilliant minds in the world today.

Date: March 21, 2011 (Monday)
Time: 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Venue: 1 University Drive, The University Lodge, The University of Hong Kong

To know more about the lecture, please visit: http://www.scifac.hku.hk/event/lec/ProfWuthrich/

For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Trinni Choy, tel: 2859 2606 email: pychoy@hku.hk  or Ms Melanie Wan tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk  .