Nobel Laureate | Shuji Nakamura: Education system should change to get youth involved in science

The education system in Asia must be improved in order to engage more young people in science, said Nobel Prize winner Shuji Nakamura. The Japanese professor, who invented blue LED lighting, told the Times that, “although children in elementary school are very much interested in science, when they go on to high school they’re too focused on the national entrance examination.”
Alongside Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano, Nakamura received the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics, “for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources.”
According to the Nobel Prize official website, blue LEDs proved to be much more difficult to create. The blue light LED has allowed for the production of more modern energy-efficient white lamps, and enabled the creation of color LED screens.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the Blue LED Exhibition, on display at the Macau Science Center until May 6, Professor Nakamura stated, “It seems the purpose of the education system, especially in Asia, is just to go to a famous university, and that’s why we do not have as many young people interested in science here.”
“When they’re children they are very interested, but we need to think of how we can change the education system because young people need to focus on science rather than being too concerned about entering a famous university,” said the Japanese Nobel Laureate, who is currently a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
When he and his colleagues made the first blue LEDs in the early 1990s, Professor Nakamura did not imagine it would someday be widely used by millions across the world. “When I started I only expected that [blue] LED could be used for displays like those in a football or baseball stadium where we have big LED screens,” he told The Times.
According to a BBC report, red and green LEDs had been around for quite some time. Blue LEDs posed a challenge for scientists back then; without them, the three colors could not be mixed to produce the white light we now see in LED-based computers or TV screens.
Blue LEDs are now widely used in our daily lives: inside the lights and screens of smartphones, or white LED lamps used in many households and offices.
Mr Nakamura noted that the blue LED lamps are much more energy-efficient than conventional lighting such as incandescent or fluorescent lamps. “By using LED, we can reduce energy consumption and it can contribute a lot to minimizing global warming,” he stressed.
The professor recalled that the use of LED lighting is particularly helpful in a city like Macau. “Macau enjoys many different kinds of lighting, especially at night. Many people are trying to use LED in order to reduce energy consumption,” he added. “By reducing energy consumption, they can reduce air pollution too.”
The Nobel Laureate gave a public lecture on Friday at the Macau Science Center, which organized the event in cooperation with the Association for Promotion of Science and Technology.
The event was also sponsored by casino operator MGM Macau. The company took the opportunity to consult with Professor Nakamura on promoting sustainability within its facilities.
The director of Facilities Management at MGM Macau, Peter Chan, told the Times that the casino operator has implemented a process to save more energy and water. “If we have efficient lighting we can cut down on our energy consumption bill. But at the same time we need lighting with nice colors. So the professor has a very nice product,” he acknowledged.
Professor Nakamura told reporters that LED lighting is more expensive, but considering the low energy usage, users get their money back within one year.
Throughout the public lecture, the Nobel Laureate spoke of the challenges encountered to invent the blue LED and its significance, while also addressing his experience of winning a Nobel Prize.
The Blue LED Exhibition is on display at the Macau Science Center until May 6 and is free of charge.