Robert B Laughlin, winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize in physics, gave a speech to more than 2,000 students and professors at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) as part of the Honeywell initiative for Science & Engineering (HISE). The objective of the initiative is to motivate students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through various communications with Nobel laureates and Honeywell technologists.
The initiative, which includes a series of laureate lectures and career discussions with Honeywell engineers, has benefited thousands of students and teachers at top universities in China, the Czech Republic, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Romania and the United States for more than a decade.
Laughlin is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass professor of physics and applied physics at Stanford University. He previously held the position of president of South Korea public research university KAIST. His many awards include the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Physics and the Onsager Award.
During his speech, Laughlin encouraged students to seek their dreams, regardless of the challenges they face. “Great people come from all walks of life. Stay true to yourself, stay focused and you will succeed,” he quipped.
Honeywell ASEAN President Briand Greer shared that youth of today will need to be equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills to resolve challenges in today’s dynamic environment. Therefore, Honeywell hopes that this initiative can help better prepare students from a workforce and succeed through the use of their knowledge of STEM subjects.
Honeywell works closely with Malaysia’s technical universities on programmes such as engineering lectures, collaborative projects, student events, academic thesis opportunities and internships.
Source: Digital News Asia