SDG3
Nobel Laureate Gregg Semenza Visits NCKU Unveiling Molecular Mysteries of Sustainable Life
Written by NCKU Office of Internation Affairs. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
On the afternoon of April 14, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) hosted the second session of its “NCKU Meets Nobel | Life Sciences × Sustainability: Insights for the Future” lecture series. The university welcomed Professor Gregg L. Semenza, the 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, to deliver a keynote address. In his keynote address titled “Life Cycles on Earth: Global and Personal,” Professor Semenza provided a microscopic molecular biology perspective on how oxygen-sensing mechanisms in cells are intrinsically linked to macroscopic global sustainability, prompting faculty and students to reflect on the symbiotic relationship between humanity and the environment.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Shyy-Woei Chang, Executive Vice President of NCKU, emphasized that the university is deeply honored to participate in the “TAIWAN BRIDGES” program initiated by the International Peace Foundation (IPF). He noted that NCKU’s Nobel Laureate lecture series is a proactive response to the program’s mission: to build bridges of communication and peace between Taiwan and the world by facilitating direct dialogue between top scientists and Taiwanese scholars. Vice President Chang stated that Professor Semenza’s address on how the molecular "breath" of life sustains our existence and our environment aligns with NCKU’s mission and commitment in medical research and healthcare innovation, demonstrating how science transcends borders to solve global challenges. He expressed hope that the lecture would inspire innovative thinking in Taiwan’s academic community regarding health and environmental crises while deepening connections with the international scientific world.
In his keynote address, Professor Semenza illuminated the profound link between human cellular physiology and the Earth’s atmospheric cycles. He offered a sobering reminder: while it took two billion years for Earth to develop an oxygen-rich atmosphere, these foundational ecosystems have been severely destabilized in mere decades by the intensive burning of fossil fuels. He warned that any collapse in the delicate equilibrium between carbon dioxide and oxygen threatens the very existence of life as we know it, fueling global warming and catastrophic climate change.
In his keynote address, Professor Semenza illuminated the profound link between human cellular physiology and the Earth’s atmospheric cycles. He offered a sobering reminder: while it took two billion years for Earth to develop an oxygen-rich atmosphere, these foundational ecosystems have been severely destabilized in mere decades by the intensive burning of fossil fuels. He warned that any collapse in the delicate equilibrium between carbon dioxide and oxygen threatens the very existence of life as we know it, fueling global warming and catastrophic climate change.
Professor Gregg L. Semenza possesses a distinguished academic background, having earned his B.A. from Harvard University and his M.D. and Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Pennsylvania. As a longtime faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he serves as a Professor of Genetic Medicine and is the founding director of the Vascular Biology Program and the Armstrong Oxygen Biology Research Center. His groundbreaking discovery of how cells sense and adapt to changing oxygen levels has had a profound impact on modern medicine, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2019.
The lecture was moderated by Chair Professor Yi-Ching Wang from the Department of Pharmacology, a renowned expert in cancer molecular mechanisms. Her expertise in cancer molecular mechanisms provided a synergistic backdrop to Professor Semenza’s research, adding significant depth to the discussion. The discussion spanned from the behavior of Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in extreme environments to medical challenges posed by climate change. Through this profound exchange of insights, the event showcased the powerful synergy of intellectual convergence.
To offer the distinguished guests a sense of the academic vibrancy and cultural heritage of Southern Taiwan, the NCKU Office of International Affairs (OIA) arranged a campus tour in the morning. Professor Chung-Ping Young, an expert in local culture and university history, guided the morning tour alongside Prof. Shu-Ying Wang from Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Director of Division of Study Abroad. The group strolled through the Banyan Garden—a symbol of NCKU’s resilient spirit—and visited the historic “Qióng Lǐ Zhì Zhī” University Gate. This warm interaction showcased NCKU’s rich cultural heritage and served as a heartening prelude to the afternoon’s academic forum.
The “NCKU Meets Nobel | Life Sciences × Sustainability: Insights for the Future” lecture series is organized by the NCKU Office of International Affairs in collaboration with the International Peace Foundation as part of the “TAIWAN BRIDGES” program. The success of this event underscores NCKU’s prominent influence in international academic exchange and injects new momentum into the cross-disciplinary integration of life sciences and global sustainability.
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-04-15
On the afternoon of April 14, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) hosted the second session of its “NCKU Meets Nobel | Life Sciences × Sustainability: Insights for the Future” lecture series. The university welcomed Professor Gregg L. Semenza, the 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, to deliver a keynote address. In his keynote address titled “Life Cycles on Earth: Global and Personal,” Professor Semenza provided a microscopic molecular biology perspective on how oxygen-sensing mechanisms in cells are intrinsically linked to macroscopic global sustainability, prompting faculty and students to reflect on the symbiotic relationship between humanity and the environment.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Shyy-Woei Chang, Executive Vice President of NCKU, emphasized that the university is deeply honored to participate in the “TAIWAN BRIDGES” program initiated by the International Peace Foundation (IPF). He noted that NCKU’s Nobel Laureate lecture series is a proactive response to the program’s mission: to build bridges of communication and peace between Taiwan and the world by facilitating direct dialogue between top scientists and Taiwanese scholars. Vice President Chang stated that Professor Semenza’s address on how the molecular "breath" of life sustains our existence and our environment aligns with NCKU’s mission and commitment in medical research and healthcare innovation, demonstrating how science transcends borders to solve global challenges. He expressed hope that the lecture would inspire innovative thinking in Taiwan’s academic community regarding health and environmental crises while deepening connections with the international scientific world.
In his keynote address, Professor Semenza illuminated the profound link between human cellular physiology and the Earth’s atmospheric cycles. He offered a sobering reminder: while it took two billion years for Earth to develop an oxygen-rich atmosphere, these foundational ecosystems have been severely destabilized in mere decades by the intensive burning of fossil fuels. He warned that any collapse in the delicate equilibrium between carbon dioxide and oxygen threatens the very existence of life as we know it, fueling global warming and catastrophic climate change.
In his keynote address, Professor Semenza illuminated the profound link between human cellular physiology and the Earth’s atmospheric cycles. He offered a sobering reminder: while it took two billion years for Earth to develop an oxygen-rich atmosphere, these foundational ecosystems have been severely destabilized in mere decades by the intensive burning of fossil fuels. He warned that any collapse in the delicate equilibrium between carbon dioxide and oxygen threatens the very existence of life as we know it, fueling global warming and catastrophic climate change.
Professor Gregg L. Semenza possesses a distinguished academic background, having earned his B.A. from Harvard University and his M.D. and Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Pennsylvania. As a longtime faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he serves as a Professor of Genetic Medicine and is the founding director of the Vascular Biology Program and the Armstrong Oxygen Biology Research Center. His groundbreaking discovery of how cells sense and adapt to changing oxygen levels has had a profound impact on modern medicine, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2019.
The lecture was moderated by Chair Professor Yi-Ching Wang from the Department of Pharmacology, a renowned expert in cancer molecular mechanisms. Her expertise in cancer molecular mechanisms provided a synergistic backdrop to Professor Semenza’s research, adding significant depth to the discussion. The discussion spanned from the behavior of Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in extreme environments to medical challenges posed by climate change. Through this profound exchange of insights, the event showcased the powerful synergy of intellectual convergence.
To offer the distinguished guests a sense of the academic vibrancy and cultural heritage of Southern Taiwan, the NCKU Office of International Affairs (OIA) arranged a campus tour in the morning. Professor Chung-Ping Young, an expert in local culture and university history, guided the morning tour alongside Prof. Shu-Ying Wang from Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Director of Division of Study Abroad. The group strolled through the Banyan Garden—a symbol of NCKU’s resilient spirit—and visited the historic “Qióng Lǐ Zhì Zhī” University Gate. This warm interaction showcased NCKU’s rich cultural heritage and served as a heartening prelude to the afternoon’s academic forum.
The “NCKU Meets Nobel | Life Sciences × Sustainability: Insights for the Future” lecture series is organized by the NCKU Office of International Affairs in collaboration with the International Peace Foundation as part of the “TAIWAN BRIDGES” program. The success of this event underscores NCKU’s prominent influence in international academic exchange and injects new momentum into the cross-disciplinary integration of life sciences and global sustainability.
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-04-15
Nobel Laureate Gregg Semenza Visits NCKU to deliver a keynote address titled “Life Cycles on Earth: Global and Personal”.
Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang (right) of NCKU presented a gift to Gregg L. Semenza (left).
The lecture was moderated by Chair Professor Yi-Ching Wang from the Department of Pharmacoloy (right)
Participants attentively listen to the lecture.
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