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The British Nobel Laureate Lecture Series, a collaboration between Keio University and the British Embassy, commemorates the 150th anniversaries of the founding of Keio University, and the initiation of UK- Japan diplomatic relations. Four lectures will be held as a part of Keio's 150th Anniversary Commemorative Project and UK-JAPAN 2008.

The first modern comprehensive higher education institution in Japan, Keio University is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2008. To commemorate the 150th anniversaries of the founding of Keio University and 150 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and the UK, Keio University and the British Embassy in Tokyo will co-host a series of public lectures by British Nobel Prize laureates, with a focus on those who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of science and innovation. The lecturers will look back on their lives, sharing their childhood memories and paths to receiving the Nobel Prize. The lectures, which are intended for both academic and nonacademic audiences, will be free and open to the public. While there are concerns about the declining popularity of science among young people, this will be an exceptional opportunity to get to know the true stories of researchers who have realized their dreams in the fields of science and medicine. The Lecture Series is one of the UK-Japan 2008 accredited events.

About the Lecturers

Wednesday, 11 June 2008 16:00-17:00
Sir Tim Hunt
Biochemist (Cell Cycle), Principal Scientist, Cancer Research UK
His discovery of cyclins, which turned out to be components of “Key Regulator(s) of the Cell Cycle,” led to a share of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001.
Lecture Title: "How to Win a Nobel Prize: seaside adventures of a biochemist"

Main Publications and Papers:
John Wilson, Tim Hunt. Molecular Biology of the Cell, Fifth Edition: The Problems Book, Garland Science (2007).
Andrew Murray, Tim Hunt. The Cell Cycle: An Introduction, Oxford University Press (1993).

Friday, 11 July 2008 11:10-12:10
Sir Harold W. Kroto
Chemist (nanoscience), Francis Eppes Professor, Florida State University
The discovery of Buckminsterfullerene led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996.
Lecture Title: To be confirmed

Main Publications and Papers
Y Q Zhu, W K Hsu, H W Kroto and D R M Walton. An alternative route to NbS2 nanotubes. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 106 (31), 7623-7626 (2002).
R L D Whitby, W K Hsu, H W Kroto and D R M Walton. Conversion of amorphous WO3-x into WS2 nanotubes. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (4), 3938-3940 (2002).

Inquiries
Office of Communications and Public Relations, Keio University

E-mail: m-koho@adst.keio.ac.jp

Associated websites:

• http://keio150.jp/english/events/2008/20080611e.htmlhttp://keio150.jp/english/events/2008/20080711e.html