CHEMISTRY

Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, Dean of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, received the 2021 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology for his pioneering contributions to a new theory of computation and communication and a fundamental theory for its security. Yao’s Commemorative Lecture “A Journey Through Computer Science” is published at the 2021 Kyoto Prize Special Website. In his lecture, Yao shares episodes from his youth and research career as well as insights he gained from his achievements in physics and computer science. “In science, the paradigm is the search for truth. In this process, we sometimes discover patterns and beauty which can lift the human spirit. It also leads to innovations that can improve human conditions and prepare us for future human challenges,” says Yao, looking back at the journey of his research life. 

Andrew Chi-Chih Yao created new trends in computer science and made a great contribution to cutting-edge research in various areas, especially in security, secure computing, and quantum computation through establishing innovative fundamental theories for computation and communication. His achievements are continuing to influence current real-world problems such as security, secure computing, and big data processing. 

Yao and the other two 2021 Kyoto Prize laureates are introduced on the 2021 Kyoto Prize Special Website with information about their work, profiles, and three-minute introduction videos. This year, the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences went to Robert G. Roeder, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The Rockefeller University; Arts and Philosophy to Bruno Latour, Professor Emeritus of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po).