National Chung Cheng University (CCU) co-hosted the inaugural lecture of the 2025 Nobel Prize Taipei Summit, delivered by Turing Award winner Professor Jack Dongarra. The event, held from May 7 to 9 at National Taipei University of Technology, was organized by the Nobel Prize International Cultural and Educational Exchange Association. The lecture, which took place on the morning of May 8, attracted nearly 400 attendees, including scholars, industry leaders, and young students, who came to hear about the latest breakthroughs in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and Professor Dongarra's personal research journey.

Professor Jack Dongarra, a Turing Award laureate in 2021 and a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee, is also a recipient of the IEEE Sid Fernbach Award and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. A pioneer in high-performance computing, he has made groundbreaking contributions to numerical algorithms and open-source software libraries, significantly advancing fields such as big data, healthcare, weather forecasting, and genomics. His research achievements have driven progress in computer architecture, scientific computing, and deep learning, solidifying his leadership in the field.

Brilliance That Lights the Skies

The summit, with the theme of "Supercomputing Changes Research Methods,” explored cutting-edge trends in AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology. In his opening remarks, Dr. Chen-Kang Su, Vice Minister of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), emphasized that in the new era of AI-quantum integration, Professor Dongarra’s insights highlight that high-speed computing is not just a technological advancement, but a key driver for interdisciplinary innovation. He also noted Taiwan's strong foundation in semiconductors and ICT, and NSTC’s active policies aimed at enhancing global competitiveness in technology.

CCU expressed its honor in co-hosting the lecture by Professor Dongarra, often referred to as a “Nobel Prize of Computing” laureate. In his speech, CCU President Dr. Shaw-Jenq Tsai noted that with the support and guidance of NSTC, CCU’s AI team has joined the national “Smart City Task Force,” demonstrating the university’s forward-thinking capabilities in AI development and talent cultivation. Professor Po-An Hsiung, Director of CCU’s AI Research Center and the Q&A session moderator, added that the team focuses on practical AI applications for smart cities while emphasizing ethics and interdisciplinary integration.

A Guiding Light for Future Scholars

Professor Dongarra’s lecture, “How Young People Can Participate in Science and Innovation in the Future,” was a personal narrative encouraging students to pursue scientific research. He shared his family’s immigration story from Sicily and his own upbringing in modest circumstances. Despite early struggles with reading, he excelled in mathematics. Initially aiming to become a high school teacher, a research opportunity at a national lab changed his career path—leading to a lifelong dedication to research.

President Tsai encouraged students to ask questions during the Q&A, highlighting that questioning is also a form of logical thinking and helps integrate acquired knowledge and theory. Ayush Pratap, a CCU-Indian Institute of Technology joint doctoral student, asked how young scholars can stay passionate about research. Professor Dongarra shared three pieces of advice:

1. Learn from failure: Research is full of setbacks. Each attempt—successful or not—is a step toward progress. Embrace challenges and keep striving.
2. Pursue your passion: Real growth comes from tackling hard problems. Focus on issues you care about, not just what others expect from you.
3. Build a collaborative network: Progress comes through sharing ideas and working with like-minded peers. Feedback and community strengthen research quality and understanding.

Honoring a Scientific Luminary

At the close of the lecture, President Tsai presented Professor Dongarra with two artworks by CCU alumni as tokens of appreciation. One was a calligraphy piece titled "Wisdom Shines Across the Heavens," by alumnus Jia-Bo Rao, symbolizing how Professor Dongarra’s brilliance inspires human advancement. The other, a painting titled "Eluanbi Lighthouse," by alumna Ting-Se Liu, represents how his wisdom and pursuit of knowledge guide young minds through uncertainty.

CCU alumni have long supported the university’s initiatives. The event was made possible in part by a generous NT$100,000 donation from distinguished alumnus Chung-Hsu Wang, Chairman of KAIWEI Information. His contribution reflects strong support for CCU’s commitment to international academic exchange and research development. Additionally, under the leadership of CCU Alumni Association President Yi-Chen Chen, dozens of alumni attended the summit, showing their solidarity and celebrating this prestigious academic gathering.