Empowering Women & Girls

Eighteen local high schools and nine international schools from 5 countries gathered in Taipei for the Taipei International Youth Science Forum. On behalf of ABAF, I had the honor of attending this inspiring event and listening to the 2010 Nobel Laureate in Physics, Professor Andre K. Geim, share his journey and insights during his speech and Q&A session.

What I’m sharing below is a message I prepared for those bright young students , especially the ones who love science but still feel unsure about what the future holds. After the session, a few girls came up to me, curious about what fields they should study and how to choose their focus areas. That heartfelt moment was what started this message:

Good morning everyone, On behalf of ABAF,  It’s such an honor to be back here, at the school that first taught me how to be curious, and where I learned that every great journey begins not with knowing the answers, but with daring to ask the right questions.

We are living in an extraordinary time. A time when artificial intelligence can write stories, paint pictures, and even help scientists discover new medicines. The world moves at what I call the “0-0-2 crazy speed”: working from midnight to midnight, resting only two hours, racing to keep up with the speed of innovation.
But here’s a secret: the faster technology moves, the more we need to slow down,  to think deeply, and to understand the basics.

When I work with AI engineers in the U.S., Israel, and Taiwan, I see that the people who truly lead in this field are not those who simply use the newest model, but those who understand why it works. They know physics, mathematics, logic, and human psychology;  the same foundations you are learning right now in high school.
AI may seem magical, but behind every “magic” are people who understand how neurons fire, how probability works, and how language carries meaning. Basic science is not old-fashioned,  it’s the fuel for every AI revolution.
If you love physics, you might one day design the systems that power autonomous robots
If you love chemistry, you might one day invent the materials that make AI chips faster.If you love biology, you might use AI to decode how our brains learn. If you love math, you already speak the language of algorithms. And if you love literature or art, you’ll teach AI what it means to be human.

So my message to you today is simple: Don’t chase AI,  understand it. Be curious. Be patient. Build your foundation in science, and your imagination will take care of the rest.

In this AI era, machines can calculate, but only humans can dream. And the world needs dreamers who know their science.

Thank you and I wish the TIYSF 2025 conference great success and I can’t wait to see what you’ll create next!