On 17 March 2018, Nobel Laureate James Dewey Watson gave a guest lecture at the Southern University of Science and Technology for the second time in 12 months, speaking on the topic “The Double Helix of Life: How to Be a Success in Science.”

Before the lectured started, Professor James Watson was awarded the title of Honorary Professor by SUSTech President Chen Shiyi. He will now advise the University’s Department of Biology.

The Nobel Laureate has visited SUSTech twice since April 2017. Professor James Watson is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist, and is best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953. Professor Watson, with his fellow researchers Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material.”

The theme of his lecture was “The Double Helix of Life: How to Be a Success in Science.” Professor Watson stood excitedly before the students of SUSTech and shared his thoughts for nearly two hours.

Watson believes that the most important thing for achieving success is to have a clear goal. “As a scientist, it is important to be clear about what your goal is. You do not have to follow what others think, but you may be able to learn something from other people’s ideas.”

Professor Watson reminisced about his student days and commented on his class habits with students. Saying that he always tried to sit in the front row of his classes at the University of Chicago and Indiana University, he encouraged the students to “take the front row…if you can sit in the front row, you can hear more clearly and have more opportunities to ask questions.”

When Professor Watson talked about his scientific career, he expressed the strong opinion that although respecting facts may offend people, “respecting and understanding the truth behind the facts is more important.” He hoped that the students could honor the facts and march forward on the road to scientific truth.

Professor Watson also spoke highly of his scientific research team and colleagues several times. “In a team, we should always learn from the best, improve ourselves, and surpass them.” He hoped that the young students would continue to explore the scientific world and conquer one mountain after another throughout their lives.