第三十七期荐语

高中阶段是人生中的重要阶段，是同学们长身体、长知识的关键时期，也是思想的迅速成长期，基础生物学家、中国科学院院士颜宁深受高中化学老师的感染，最终成为一名杰出的科学家。“志存高远，一切皆有可能！”我们要敢于有梦、勇于追梦、勤于圆梦，为自己的将来的人生定好目标、打好基础。

本期推荐人：倪学金

感谢高中老师，“她是对的！”

颜宁，女，1977年11月出生于山东省济南市章丘区普集街道博平村，基础生物学家，中国科学院院士、清华大学讲席教授、美国科学院外籍院士 、美国艺术与科学院外籍院士、美国普林斯顿大学终身讲席教授，深圳医学科学院院长、深圳湾实验室主任。

巴黎当地时间5月29日，“世界杰出女科学家成就奖”颁奖典礼在联合国教科文组织巴黎总部举办，中国科学院院士、清华大学生命科学学院讲席教授、深圳医学科学院创始院长、深圳湾实验室主任颜宁获奖。颜宁教授在获奖感言中，首先感谢了高中老师，关仪女士。老师的自信和鼓励让颜宁至今获益匪浅。

【正文】

我十分荣幸获得2024年欧莱雅-联合国教科文组织“世界杰出女科学家成就奖”。这份荣誉不仅是对我个人努力的认可；对一路支持并激励我的人们而言，也值得庆贺。

我非常幸运，在中学时代就遇到了鼓励我的榜样。她就是我的高中化学老师，关仪女士。她个子不高，留着灰白色的短发，戴着一副眼镜，总是面带自信的笑容。她常常告诉我们：“女孩子善于学习科学，要相信自己。”她是对的！

还有一位多年来一直激励着我的人，那就是我的博士生导师施一公教授。第一次在普林斯顿大学见到他时，我们进行了一次长谈。他当时对我说的两句话，决定了我科学探索之旅：“颜宁，你要志存高远！一切皆有可能！”带着这种精神，我在他的实验室里选择了最具挑战性的项目。后来，我在清华大学建立了自己的实验室。

我们的科研工作专注于揭示膜蛋白的原子结构，这些蛋白能把糖分子、钙离子、钠离子送到细胞内部。通过了解它们的精细结构，我们可以搞清楚不同的药物是怎样调节它们的。基于这些信息，我们就能设计出减缓疼痛的新药物。我们希望为解决阿片类药物危机贡献一份力量。  

除了做出科学发现，能够见证实验室里青年科学家们的成长，也让我倍感欣慰。在过去的17年里，能与优秀的团队成员们共事，是我莫大的荣幸。正因为有他们的支持，我今天才有机会站在这里。

谈及支持，我也深深感恩我的家人。感谢我亲爱的奶奶、父母、我的妹妹和她的家人。你们是我的力量支柱。你们无条件地爱与支持，塑造了今天的我。

最后，我想对所有正在观看这场颁奖礼的女孩说，也是对所有人说：成为女科学家的道路或许充满挑战，但还不足以阻碍你前行的脚步。所以，请勇敢做自己。

谢谢各位！

【英文原稿】

Wow! I’m deeply honoured. I’m truly grateful to UNESCO, to the Foundation L’Oréal and to all the jury members for this recognition. It is not just a testament to my own efforts, but also a recognition … a celebration of countless individuals who have supported and inspired me along this remarkable journey.

I regard myself incredibly lucky to have had an inspiring role model at a young age. It is my Chemistry teacher in high school. Her name is Ms. Guan Yi. She’s not very tall, with short grey hair and a pair of glasses. She always had a confident smile. She always told us, “Girls are good at science. Believe in yourself.” And she was right!

And another person who has inspired me throughout these years is Professor Shi Yigong, my Ph.D. advisor. I still remember the first time I met him in Princeton University, we had a long conversation. Two sentences from him have determined my odyssey in science: “Nieng, aim high! The sky is the limit!” This spirit has really inspired me. And with this spirit, I decided to choose to work on the most challenging projects when I was a trainee in his lab, and later on, when I established my own laboratory in Tsinghua University.    

Our research aims to reveal the atomic structures of membrane proteins that take sugars, calcium ions and sodium ions into our cells. We try to find out how these proteins are regulated by different drugs. Based on this, we will be able to develop new drugs for pain management. And we hope to help address the opioid crisis.

Aside from the discoveries, it is truly gratifying to witness the growth of young scientists in my lab. I’m so proud of my fabulous team members in the past 17 years. Without them, I would not be able to stand here today. Thank you for being here with me.

And speaking of support, I am truly, truly grateful to my family, to my beloved grandma, parents, my sister and her family. In particular, my little niece suggested me to wear flats today, because she wants me to feel comfortable anytime to be myself. Thank you for being the pillars of my strength. Your unconditional love and support have made me who I am.

Finally, I have a message to all the girls and everyone watching this: It can be challenging to be a female scientist, but not to the extent that anyone should be stopped. So, be brave; be yourself.

Thank you!