University Professor Ryoji Noyori, President of RIKEN and a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (2001), has contributed numerous articles to "Kamitsubute" in Chunichi Shimbun since January 2013. Based on the articles, he holds regular academic talks with students at Nagoya University. At the Ninth Noyori Academy Salon, held on September 26, 2014, Prof. Noyori and four students from different backgrounds openly discussed the topic of "Scientists and Artists." -Science and arts are the accompanists of our life- stated by Prof. Noyori in the "Kamitsubute", he pointed out that scientists and artists should closely share intelligence, emotions and technologies. Creativity for the truth and virtue is not always born singly inside each field."
Yutaro Saito, a second-year student at the Graduate School of Science
When I was a child, both music and science were my favorite; however my high-school-life has changed me. The more developed science and arts, the more difficult to understand the both.
Prof. Noyori
Science and arts exist in the same world. They may be considered as different studies and disciplines as science is disregarded by arts. However, we had better notice that both science and arts have a great potential to interchange. The important thing is to provide the connections to the next generation.
Hanako Hagio, a first-year student at the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences
My elder sister was a musician; at the same time, she liked math. If scientists hold a science café as musicians play in concerts after a lot of practice, science and arts may be associated with each other.
Prof. Noyori
Scientists have to describe and present the interests of science to artists in an easier way. I have got an opportunity to talk at the evening event for science and arts; unfortunately, however, audiences don't listen to my talk although they enjoy pianist's performance.
Narumi Hiramatsu, a sophomore at the School of Medicine
I feel that young people nowadays consider what they express as they like is the arts.
Prof. Noyori
We should tackle science and arts through a more positive action for ourselves. Rather, we are apt to accept passively what is happening. For example, young people try to control computers for their usage, but in reality computers are using those people on the other way around. It turns out that young people are just accepting or enjoying conditions of being passive.
Ryo Hasebe, a first-year student at the Graduate School of Medicine
I wonder if artists could express what scientists want to appeal with their enthusiasm.
Prof. Noyori
Artists convey a thought or feeling as others could understand. You are advised to make a clear-cut explanation of what you are doing in your research even to your father and mother.
You Xia, a sophomore at the School of Science
We need to further extend the knowledge of both science and arts to the public. I wonder how to make it possible.
Prof. Noyori
Science starts from zero and its advancement is endless. My son is a painter. Once he reaches a maximum state, he hasn't much scope left for the next action. I suggest that he should study a little more of science, and then he would gain a new creative idea. Arts can make a different story by absorbing different ideas from other fields including science.
Original article published in Chunichi Shimbun on September 27, 2014.