Inspiring the young: (From left) Prof Peacock, Prof Balbus, Hong Kong Baptist University associate dean (Teaching and Learning) Prof Shi Jue Jade, Baumeister and Prof Lusztig during the dialogue session at Maryknoll Convent School.
Pursuing genuine passion and embracing challenges with persistence is the key to meaningful learning and success, say Shaw Prize Laureates.
Reflecting on the importance of self-awareness when choosing a path, University of Edinburgh Prof of Cosmology John A. Peacock admitted that he had been influenced by an enthusiastic chemistry teacher and a less inspiring physics teacher, which led him to study a subject that did not fully align with his strengths at the time.
While he eventually found his true calling, Prof Peacock wished he had made a more informed choice from the start.
“I never attempted to find out what it would be like to study either of these subjects at university, so I urge students to ask themselves, ‘What am I really good at?’ and to reach out to those who have studied different subjects so that they get a better idea of what to expect before committing to a decision,” he advised.
Prof Peacock, Daniel Eisenstein and Shaun Cole were jointly awarded the Shaw Prize in Astronomy in 2014 for contributions to the measurements of features in the large-scale structure of galaxies, used to constrain the cosmological model, including baryon acoustic oscillations and redshift-space distortions.
Peacock was speaking at Maryknoll Convent School’s “Inspiring the Young Future” dialogue session on Nov 7, alongside University of Oxford Savilian Prof of Astronomy Steven A. Balbus, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry director emeritus and scientific member and ShanghaiTech University, PRC distinguished Adjunct Prof Wolfgang Baumeister and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Abdun-Nur Prof of Mathematics George Lusztig, who shared personal insights on how curiosity and passion shaped their journeys in science and mathematics.
Emphasising how problems can teach resilience and self-confidence, Prof Balbus recalled how a charismatic geometry teacher had inspired him to enjoy tackling challenges, even when he had no inkling where the solution lay.
“One thing I valued from the beginning was the ability to face a problem without knowing the next step.
“Understanding that you may not have the solution in mind yet is crucial in science. You must not give up.
“Problems can appear more difficult than they really are. If you can’t solve the problem you want to solve, solve a related problem that might help you understand what’s going on,” he offered.
He also encouraged students to follow their interests, not trends.
“Do what you love doing, because you’re going to be stuck with it for a long time, and you’ll do your best work that way.
“Listen to your heart. Don’t try and pick the stock market – do what you love to do,” he said.
Highlighting curiosity as the foundation of meaningful science, Baumeister said science should be enjoyable, and that genuine interest sustains long-term dedication.
Baumeister was awarded the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine in 2025 for his pioneering development and use of cryogenic-electron tomography, an imaging technique that enables three-dimensional visualisation of biological samples, including proteins, macromolecular complexes, and cellular compartments as they exist in their natural cellular settings.
“You have to be genuinely curious about a phenomenon or a problem; only then can you develop the passion needed to persist through obstacles or frustrations along the way,” he said.
Prof Lusztig, who was awarded the Shaw Prize in 2014 for his fundamental contributions to algebra, algebraic geometry and representation theory, and for weaving these subjects together to solve old problems and reveal beautiful new connections, emphasised patience and reflection, noting that breakthroughs often come after stepping back and revisiting problems with fresh eyes.
During the session, students had the opportunity to interact with the Shaw Laureates.
Maryknoll Convent School student Janice Hui, 14, said speaking to the Laureates was inspiring as the school offers astronomy as an elective subject, which helps to boost interest in the field.
“Each year, we host events, such as moon gazing, solo observing and visiting some observatories.
“These experiences really cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the universe and its mysteries,” she said.
The school dialogue session was part of the official programme of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, held from Nov 5 to 8.
