01/12/2025
'Discovery Is a Random and Fortunate Process' – Nobel Laureate Sir Peter Ratcliffe Engages with Talented Students in Szeged
Hungary’s National Academy of Scientist Education held its 25th Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Talented Students in Szeged, marking a milestone year for the long-standing initiative. The event has expanded to such an extent that it has outgrown the University of Szeged’s József Attila Study and Information Center and was relocated to the Pick Arena, where nearly 4,000 students and teachers gathered for this year’s program. After the opening remarks, the audience heard a lecture by Sir Peter Ratcliffe, the British cell biologist awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine – a recognition he shared with two fellow researchers – for uncovering how cells sense oxygen levels and adapt to changing oxygen availability.
In his lecture, Sir Peter Ratcliffe told the audience that he regards teachers as the most important – yet far from adequately compensated – members of society. He encouraged students to pay close attention to their teachers, reminding them that 'what you put into your mind determines your future.'
At the Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Talented Students, Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategic Planning at the University of Szeged, also addressed the audience on behalf of the four other Hungarian universities participating in the program. She highlighted that the goals set by Albert Szent-Györgyi in 1940, during his rectorship, remain just as relevant today. Prof. Dr. Széll warmly encouraged the high school students attending the event to consider pursuing their studies at the University of Szeged.
'I wish for you to be inspired by the Nobel laureates and to take part in this event with genuine openness and enthusiasm – and to carry this same spirit forward into your future profession! If you do, recognition will surely follow. It may not come in the form of a Nobel Prize; it might be the grateful smile of a patient whose life is made easier because of your work. Believe me, it will be worth it,' concluded Prof. Dr. Márta Széll.
In his lecture, Prof. Dr. Péter Hegyi, Program Director of the National Academy of Scientist Education, expressed concern that global trends show a declining interest in science among young people. 'We need to demonstrate the power, the benefits, and the true value of science. That is one of the reasons we founded the Academy – to help reverse this trend; because our future depends on how many young people choose a path in science!' said the director, whose own scientific journey also began in Szeged.
'Across the European Union, each year, 1.7 million people die under the age of 75. If we simply applied the knowledge we already possess, 1.2 million of those lives could be saved. In other words, two-thirds of deaths in Europe occur because scientific findings are not incorporated into prevention, treatment, and follow-up care. This is why we need science-oriented physicians,' emphasized Péter Hegyi, whose key scientific contributions include establishing the professional follow-up program for Hungarian patients treated for pancreatitis.
The head of the National Academy of Scientist Education highlighted that out of Hungary’s 650 secondary schools, 400 have already joined the program, with students working under the guidance of 32 biology teachers across 27 regional education centers. He also announced that this year the Academy has expanded its activities to include chemistry by involving 24 chemistry teachers at 24 regional centers.
The University Training program of the National Academy of Scientist Education admits both university and doctoral students – referred to as Szent-Györgyi University Students – whose training currently takes place in four Hungarian cities: Szeged, Budapest, Debrecen, and Pécs. Beginning in 2025, the program will be organized in eight research workshops instead of the previous six, providing even more young scientists with the opportunity to grow, collaborate, and contribute to the discoveries of the future.
Photos: courtesy of the National Academy of Scientist Education
