On the evening of November 20th, 2023, Professor Erwin Neher, Nobel Prize laureate, gave a lecture entitled “Synaptic Plasticity: Focusing on the Pre-Synaptic Mechanism” in the Auditorium of Siyuan Academy in Haidian campus. The lecture was participated by both online and offline audience of 3,000 from three HNU campuses, Yazhou Bay Science and Education Park, and Chengxi Basic Teaching Department. Luo Qingming, President of HNU and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, presided over the event.

The lecture venue: Auditorium of Siyuan Academy. Photo by Xie Zhuo

Erwin Neher is giving lecture. Photo by Jiang Mingxi

Erwin Neher began his lecture by elaborating on the concept of “synaptic plasticity”, and then reviewed the research on the intensity changes of synapses under the long-term potentiation mechanism. He pointed out that research over the past few decades has mostly focused on post-synaptic mechanisms, which was followed by the brief introduction to the research of pre-synaptic mechanisms. He said that the detailed analysis in research supports the idea that some proteins can be categorized into promoter proteins. Some promoter proteins with structural domain can control synaptic plasticity for a long time through long-term potentiation. His inspiring lecture offers much thought to the audience.

“It is not the Nobel Prize or other awards that drive me to engage in research, but curiosity and urge to find solutions to problems,” said Erwin Neher. He encouraged all students to be curious about new things in learning, and be problem-oriented in choosing research topics, with an aim to solve practical problems. “Students should seek new knowledge from basic disciplines and try to achieve new breakthroughs in the transformation of research results,” he added.

After finishing his lecture, Neher answered questions from the audience with his professional knowledge and wisdom, winning great applause from all the participants.

Q & A session. Photo by Jiang Mingxi

Luo Qingming, on behalf of HNU, presented a certificate to Erwin Neher. Photo by Yang Yangbing

This lecture is one of the Distinguished Scientists Lecture Series, a brand academic event initiated by Hainan University in 2020.

Fu Xuanguo, Secretary of CPC Hainan University Committee, attended the lecture. Attendees include other members of HNU leadership, chiefs of Schools and Departments, and representatives of teachers and students.

(Editor: Wang Yiqin)