maritimeposts.com/ – The 2022 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, Prof. Morten P. Meldal, visited Hasanuddin University to deliver a public lecture.
Prof. Meldal, who also serves as Head of the Center for Evolutionary Biology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, appeared as the keynote speaker at the event titled “Nobel Laureate Lecture at Hasanuddin University.”
The public lecture, held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, was attended by nearly two thousand participants. They came from various universities across Indonesia, members of the Hasanuddin University academic community, senior high school students, as well as the general public.
The session was moderated by Dr. Hasnawati Saleh, who is also the Research Coordinator of the Australia–Indonesia Center (AIC @Unhas Lab) and Director of the Indonesia Program of the Australia–Indonesia Partnership Research (PAIR).
The event was organized by Hasanuddin University in collaboration with The International Peace Foundation (IPF).
The lecture was also supported by the Directorate for Science and Technology Talent Development of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.
In his lecture, Prof. Morten addressed the theme “Chemistry for a Sustainable World: Everything Is Chemistry and How That Influences Our Choices.”
Prof. Meldal emphasized that almost every aspect of life is inseparable from chemistry, and that an understanding of chemistry plays a crucial role in shaping human choices toward a more sustainable world.
He also invited participants to view science as a source of insight and innovation, conveying the message that what we write and research reflects how we see the world, rather than being merely a collection of theories.
According to him, what a scientist writes and studies mirrors their worldview and the values they hold in understanding the world and the problems surrounding it.
Prof. Meldal further stressed the importance of freedom of thought and action in research. He stated that research is born from free minds, independent actions, and is driven by passion and strong curiosity.
“It is from this curiosity that new knowledge develops, opening space for innovation, and ultimately making real contributions to the advancement of science and the well-being of society,” said Prof. Meldal.
The event was marked by enthusiastic participation, highlighted by an interactive question-and-answer session between Prof. Morten P. Meldal and attendees who actively posed questions. (*/dhs)