瑞典皇家科学院常务秘书GöranHansson宣布后，专家解读获奖成果。/北欧时报现场图
（北欧时报斯德哥尔摩讯记者何儒通讯员郭明）瑞典当地时间10月6日上午11：55分，2021年诺贝尔化学奖揭晓。德国科学家本杰明·李斯特和美国科学家大卫·麦克米伦因“在不对称有机催化方面的发展”被授予2021年诺贝尔化学奖。
本杰明·李斯特（Benjamin List），1968年出生于德国法兰克福。1997年从法兰克福大学获得博士学位。目前为德国马普煤炭研究所研究人员。
大卫·麦克米伦（David W.C.MacMillan），1968年出生于英国贝尔斯希尔。1996年从美国加州大学欧文分校获得博士学位。目前为美国普林斯顿大学教授。
2021年的诺贝尔奖单项奖金为1000万瑞典克朗（约合736万元人民币）。
公布结束后，北欧时报专访了诺奖评委华人科学家邹晓冬院士。
公布结束后，北欧时报总编辑专访诺贝尔化学奖评委、瑞典皇家科学院院士邹晓冬（右）/北欧时报图
北欧时报：邹教授您好！非常高兴采访您。刚刚诺贝尔化学奖公布，网上一下爆屏了。今年公布的诺贝尔奖从医学到物理,到化学，网友们觉得很有意思，我们可以联想到从神经学科的触觉感应，到环境与气候的物理学解释，再到今天的不对称有机催化，似乎是连贯的伟大发现。最近我们在美国《科学》杂志看到中国科学家用二氧化碳合成淀粉的科研成果，联想起上世纪六十年代中国首次合成牛胰岛素，联想到杨振宁、李政道三十多岁就发现宇称不守恒理论，网上看到他100岁生日回忆与爱因斯坦的交往。您作为诺贝尔化学奖评委之一，能不能给我们谈一谈中国科技飞跃与诺奖的情缘，今天获奖的两位科学家的伟大发现，在现实生活中会给我们带来哪些福音？谢谢！
邹教授：谢谢！大家知道化学催化在我们生活中是非常重要的，世界上35%的生产总值都离不开催化。今年的诺贝尔化学奖颁给了小分子不对称性有机催化。不对称性催化以前有两个分支,金属有机催化和生物酶催化，曾分别在2001年和2018年授予诺贝尔化学奖。今年两位诺奖获得者发现有机小分子也具有金属有机催化剂和生物催化剂同样甚至更有效的催化功能，因此开辟了催化领域里第三个分支。我们的现实生活中都离不开各种各样的有机分子，比如说用的塑料、吃的药物，太阳能电池等等都含有有机分子，这些都是通过化学催化合成出来的。
最近中国科学家用二氧化碳成功地合成出淀粉，这个过程中也用到了有机小分子催化反应。可以这么说，催化的作用就是把物质反应的效率提高，从而大大提高生产力。几乎任何化学合成都需要通过催化反应来完成。
Nordic Chinese Times:Hello Professor Zou.I am very pleased to interview you.The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was announced just now and with that there is a wave of hot reviews online.The Nobel Prizes announced this year range in categories from medicine to physics to chemistry.Netizens find it very interesting.We can think of tactile sensing in neuroscience,physical interpretation of environment and climate and today’s chemistry winner,asymmetric organocatalysis.It is a coherent,great discovery.Recently,we noticed the scientific research achievement of scientists in China using carbon dioxide to synthesize starch outperforms nature published in American Journal Science.It is reminiscent of China’s first synthesis of bovine insulin in the1960s.I saw his100th birthday reminiscences of his relationship with Einstein online.As one of the judges of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry,can you tell us about the relationship between China's technological leap and the Nobel Prize.The great discoveries of the two award-winning scientists today,what good news will they bring to us in real life?
Prof.Zou:Thank you.Everyone knows that chemical catalysis is very important in human life.In fact,35%of the world’s total GDP involves chemical.2021Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to asymmetric organocatalysis,that is,to use small organic molecules to catalyze the synthesis of organic molecules.Asymmetric catalysis used to have two branches,organometallic catalysis(metals)and biocatalysis(enzymes),which were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in2001and2018,respectively.This year,the two Nobel Prize winners discovered that small organic molecules have the same or even more effective catalytic functions as metals and enzymes,thus opening up the third branch in the field of catalysis.Many examples in real life,such as plastics,medicines and solar cells,are constructed from various organic molecules.These substances are synthesized via chemical catalysis.
北欧时报：没想到物质催化作用的贡献如此之大，如何更进一步解释？
邹教授：今年的诺贝尔化学奖颁给了小分子不对称性有机催化，这一个新概念，它的一发现为“催化家族”增添了一个新催化工具。与金属有机分子和生物大分子酶相比，小分子既容易合成，也不需要金属元素，不但成本低，而且环保。可以说，不对称性有机催化剂会给我们的生活带来里程碑的飞跃。特别是制药方面，很多药物分子的合成需要用很多步骤，很多反应来实现，有些只能从自然产物中提取，因为产量有限，所以很贵。如果有更好的化学合成方式来提高产能，将来药物就会更便宜更容易满足人类需要。比如说现在很多疑难病症，艾滋病，新冠病等，都需要大量药物。
Nordic Chinese Times:I didn't expect the contribution of material catalysis to be so great,how can we explain it further?
Prof.Zou:This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to small molecule asymmetric organocatalysis,which brought up a new concept.Its discovery added a new catalytic tool to the toolbox of the"catalysis family".Compared with metals and enzymes,small molecules are easy to synthesize and do not require metal elements,which are not only low in cost,but also environmentally friendly.It can be said that asymmetry organic catalysts will bring milestones in our lives.Especially in the pharmaceutical industry,the synthesis of many drug molecules requires many steps and many reactions to achieve,and some can only be extracted from natural products,because the yield is limited,so it is very expensive.If there are better chemical synthesis methods to increase the product yields,drugs will be cheaper and easier to meet human needs in the future.For example,many intractable diseases,AIDS,and new coronary diseases now require a lot of drugs.
北欧时报：听您这么通熟易懂介绍让我们受益匪浅，又回到刚才提到的中国科学家用二氧化碳合成淀粉问题，是否意味着不用种粮食了，这样的贡献将来有没有可能获诺奖？
邹教授：用二氧化碳合成淀粉有没有可能获诺奖，这个问题我无法回答。诺贝尔奖的提名和筛选过程在50年之内是保密的。诺贝尔奖是奖励在某个化学领域做出最开创性工作的科学家，但获奖领域及获奖人是需要被提名的。
Nordic Chinese Times:We have benefited a lot from your familiar and easy-to-understand introduction,and we return to the previous question regarding Chinese scientists who demonstrated the use of carbon dioxide to synthesize starch.Does it mean that there is no need to grow food?Is it possible for such a contribution to win a Nobel Prize in the future?
Prof.Zou:Whether the work that uses carbon dioxide to synthesize starch can win the Nobel Prize,I cannot answer this question.The Nobel Prize nomination and selection process will be kept confidential for50years.The Nobel Prize is to reward scientists who have made pioneering work in a chemistry field,but the award-winning field and winners need to be nominated.
北欧时报：随着中国科技的快速发展，诺委会如何邀请中国科学家参选？
邹教授：中国科技发展在近几十年来引起很大关注，诺委会每年都会向全世界包括中国在内的指定科研院校和教授发出邀请信，征集诺奖候选人提名。
Nordic Chinese Times:With the rapid development of science and technology in China,how does the Nobel Committee invite Chinese scientists to participate in the election?
Prof.Zou:The development of science and technology in China has attracted a lot of attention in recent decades.Every year,the Nobel Committee sends invitation letters to designated universities and research institutions and professors all over the world,including China,to solicit nominations for Nobel Prize candidates.
北欧时报：您是皇家科学院诺贝尔化学奖第一位华人女性评委，能否给我们介绍一下您的工作和成就？
邹教授：谢谢！我的主要研究方向有两部分，一个是发展新的晶体结构分析方法，另一个是开发新的多孔材料。比如我们发展的电子晶体学可以用来研究包括有机药分子及生物分子的原子结构。无论是新药研究，还是开发新催化剂，都需要确定分子的原子结构。作为诺贝尔化学奖委员会八大评委的一员负责诺奖的评审，是我学术生涯中的最重要最有意义的工作。作为华人科学家，我在科研上取得的一些成绩，应该归功于我的学生。我更愿意看到年轻一代做出更大的成绩，就像当年30多岁的杨振宁李政道一样取得的成果，为人类进步作出积极贡献。
Nordic Chinese Times:You are the first Chinese female of the Nobel Committee in Chemistry of the Royal Academy of Sciences which is an inspirational achievement.Can you tell us about your work and achievements?
Prof.Zou:Thank you.My main research focuses contain two parts,one is to develop new methods for crystal structural analysis,and the other is to develop new porous materials.For example,the electron crystallography we developed can be used to determine the atomic structures of drug molecules and biomolecules.No matter it is developing novel drugs or developing new catalysts,it is necessary to determine the atomic structures of the molecules.As one of the eight members in Noble Committee in Chemistry,I have a strong responsibility.This is the most important and meaningful work in my academic career.As a Chinese scientist,I have made important achievements,which should be attributed to my students.I wish to witness greater achievements by the younger generation,just like what were achieved by YANG Zhenning and LI Zhengdao in his30s,making great contributions to the mankind.
北欧时报:您的研究如何激励年轻一代的科研人员？
邹教授:我想以今年的诺贝尔化学奖为例。你们可能已经注意到，两位诺奖得主都比较年轻。他们的获奖作品是在取得博士学位后仅3-4年后完成的。这是因为他们改变了研究方向，没有遵循主要的研究方向。相反，他们开发了一个新的研究领域，即不对称有机催化。年轻科学家有时应该“跳出现有的框架思考”，并提出更关键的问题：“这是最好的方法或解决方案吗？”“我们能不能以不同的方式来做？”
我有很多学生，其中很多来自中国。我的主要中心点就是创造一个良好的研究环境，让他们对研究产生兴趣，激发他们思考和寻找自己的想法，鼓励他们探索自己的想法。我想给他们灵感。
Nordic Chinese times:How can your research inspire the young generation of researchers?
Prof.Zou:I want to use this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry as an example.You may have noticed that the two Nobel laureates are relatively young.Their prize-winning work was done only3-4years after their PhD.This is because they changed the research directions and didn’t follow the main research streams.Instead,they developed a new research field,asymmetric organocatalysis.Young scientists should sometimes“think out of the box”,and raise more critical questions:‘‘Is this the best approach or solution?’’‘‘Can we do it differently?’’
I have a lot of students,many of them are from China.My main focus is to create a good research environment,make them interested in research,motivate them to think and find their own ideas,and encourage them to explore their own ideas.I want to give them inspiration.
北欧时报:您从哪里获得研究灵感，如艺术，音乐还是社交？
邹教授:我从与同事和学生的讨论中获取灵感。我也从具有挑战性的科学问题中获得灵感。哪些问题既重要又具有挑战性？我有解决问题的独特能力吗？为什么其他人以前没有做过？我有解决问题的新想法吗？如果我坚信，我会全身心投入，专注于问题多年。
Nordic Chinese Times:Where do you get your research inspiration(i.e.arts/music/networking)?
Prof.Zou:I get inspiration from discussions with colleagues and students.I also get my inspiration from challenging scientific problems.What are the problems that are both important and challenging?Do I have unique competences to tackle the problems?Why haven’t other people done it before?Do I have new ideas to tackle the problems?If I am convinced,I will devote myself and focus on the problems over many years.
北欧时报:我有时对我的研究感到沮丧。例如，合成的催化剂后可能测试时表现不佳。你有什么好的想法或者开导良策吗？
邹教授:多年来，我指导了许多学生，所有学生在学习过程中都遇到过挫折。这是正常的。事实上，挫折并不总是坏事，它是作为科学家训练的一部分。在研究中，大多数实验都会失败。你是想放弃还是继续？作为一名科学家，你不应该轻易放弃，而是尝试从失败中吸取教训。尽管遇到挫折，学习如何找到新想法和新的解决方案很重要。正如我们中国的谚语所说“失败乃成功之母”。
Nordic Chinese Times:I sometimes feel frustrated about my research.For example,the synthesized catalyst may not perform well.Do you have any solutions regarding it?
Prof.Zou:I have supervised many students through the years,and all students have had frustrations during their studies.This is normal.In fact,frustration is not always a bad thing,it is part of the training as a scientist.In research,most of the experiments will fail.Do you want to give up or continue?Being a scientist,you should not easily give up and instead try to learn something from your failures.It is important to learn how to find new ideas and new solutions despite the frustration.As we say in China:“Failure is the mother of success”.
北欧时报：你们和中国有什么合作吗？
邹教授:是的，我与中国有合作。我的课题组也有很多中国学生。他们都是很优秀的学生。我的一些学生已回到中国，并通过努力在中国的大学和公司成为了研究带头/负责人。
Nordic Chinese Times:Do you have any cooperation with China？
Prof.Zou: Yes,I have collaboration with China.I also have a lot of Chinese students in my group.They are excellent students.Some of my students returned back to China,and established themselves as research leaders in Chinese universities and also companies.
北欧时报:周围环境或社会环境或实验室条件如何影响您的工作或整个工作的进展？
邹教授:良好的工作环境非常重要。我的主要重点是为科学家创造一个开放和激发灵感的研究环境，确保他们能够专注于他们的研究，并鼓励他们探索新事物并检验自己的假设。在我的职业生涯中，我一直受益于这样的环境。能够识别具有挑战性的科学问题并找到解决这些问题的途径和方法是极其重要的。拥有良好的研究设施也很重要。在过去的几十年里，中国在科学和技术方面进行了大量的投入。大多数实验室都拥有良好的基础设施。中国的发展对海外科学家非常有吸引力，我的许多学生也想回到中国。
Nordic Chinese Times:How did the environment,your surrounding or the society or laboratory conditions influenced the progress of your work or your work in general?
Prof.Zou:A good working environment is extremely important.My main focus is to create an open and stimulating research environment for scientists,make sure they can focus on their research,and encourage them to explore new things,and test own hypotheses.During my career,I have been benefited from such an environment.It is extremely important to be able to identify challenging scientific questions and find approaches and methods to tackle them.It is also important to have good research facilities.During the last decades,China has made enormous investments in science and technology.Most laboratories have excellent infrastructure.China has been very attractive for many overseas scientists,many of my students also want to go back to China.
北欧时报：非常感谢接受采访！
谢谢！
Nordic Chinese Times:Thank you very much for accepting the interview!
Thank you for your time.
