Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Professor Robert H. Grubbs, gave a Distinguished Lecture entitled “From Sputnik to Metathesis” on March 17, 2010, at National Dong Hwa University (NDHU).

The Distinguished Lecture was sponsored by the Sayling Wen Cultural & Educational Foundation. In the lecture, Professor Grubbs explained the concepts of catalyst and metathesis. He also highlighted the application of metathesis catalyst in the pharmaceuticals industry, the biotechnical industry, and in foodstuffs production. An audience of over 500, including the NDHU community and the public, crowded the lecturer theatre with interest and enthusiasm.

Knowledge exchange has been an important element of NDHU’s mission. From time to time, distinguished lectures are held to inspire young students by the sharing of the sages and to broaden their horizons by meeting with some of the most brilliant minds in the world today.

Professor Grubbs is a renowned expert in the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis. In 2005, he was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his significant contribution to the chemicals industry in opening up new opportunities for synthesizing molecules, and streamlining the development and industrial production of pharmaceuticals, plastics and other materials.