The World Laureates Forum 2025, held in Shanghai’s Lingang Special Area, celebrated scientific excellence by awarding the prestigious World Laureates Association Prize (WLA Prize) to three distinguished scientists. The event, themed ‘Science in Future,’ brought together approximately 150 scientists from over 10 countries, including Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, and leading academicians.
The WLA Prize, established in 2021, recognizes exceptional contributions in computer science or mathematics and life science or medicine, with each category offering a substantial award of 10 million yuan ($1.4 million). This year, Richard Schoen, professor emeritus at Stanford University, was honored in the Computer Science or Mathematics category for his groundbreaking work in geometric analysis and differential geometry. Shing-Tung Yau, a renowned mathematician, highlighted Schoen’s pivotal role in unifying geometry, analysis, and physics, which has become a cornerstone of modern mathematics.
In the Life Science or Medicine category, Scott Emr of Cornell University and Wesley I Sundquist of the University of Utah shared the prize for their discoveries in cellular mechanisms related to membrane protein receptor trafficking and degradation. Their work has significantly advanced understanding of virus budding, infection, and HIV drug therapy, leading to the development of a drug that nearly eliminates new HIV infections.
The forum underscored the importance of international collaboration in addressing global scientific challenges, fostering innovation, and inspiring the next generation of researchers.