On June 7, Prof. Zhongxian Zhao, recipient of the National Top Science and Technology Award of China and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was invited to give a Chern Lecture titled "Enjoy Scientific Research — A Talk at CIM" at the "Nankai University's Centennial Grand Forum".

Before the lecture, the President of Nankai University Xuetao Cao met with Prof. Zhongxian Zhao in Shiing-Shen Building and exchanged views on the development of scientific research and the connotation of scientific culture. President Cao then presented Prof. Zhongxian Zhao with a forum speaker commemorative certificate at the lecture.

Prof. Zhao began his lecture by extending warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of Nankai University and reminiscing about some past moments he spent with Prof. Shiing-Shen Chern, after which he started the main topic of the lecture.

Scientific researchers, according to Prof. Zhao, should be primarily driven by their responsibilities to the country and the society, and then their ambitions and interest. He took Prof. Guangzhao Zhou, a renowned physicist and academician, as an example and described how Prof. Zhou turned from the study of basic theories to research on national defense science and technology as a response to the call of the country; how he combined his responsibilities and ambions with his career; and how he managed to enjoy and gain a sense of fulfillment through taking responsibilities and making contributions to the scientific development of human civilization. As a suggestion to young people, Prof. Zhao stressed that learning to take responsibilities as early as possible is beneficial to both personal growth and scientific research. He also shared some of his personal experience in figuring out the connection between achieving ambitions and taking responsibilities, seizing opportunities, keeping being curious and developing interest towards scientific research, etc. His words throughout the lecture were full of concern and expectation for young students.

After the lecture, Prof. Zhao had discussions with the teachers and students present and answered their questions.