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Speech by Professor Shih Choon Fong*
President, National University of Singapore
Brown University Commencement Forum
24 May 2008
Journeys to the West: Science, Technology and Culture
Page
1/6
Abstract
The talk deals with the modern significance of Journey to the West, the 16th century Chinese classic that recounts an epic journey in search of knowledge and wisdom. European explorers launched “journeys to the West” to discover new lands, frontiers and fortune. More recently, journeys to the West have sought scientific and technological advancement. In today’s interdependent and culturally complex world, journeys to the West have come full circle to also become searches for understanding of different peoples and cultures.
Opening
Colleagues, seniors, alumni and proud parents. I am delighted to be back in Providence with the Brown family. It’s a great honor to be speaking with you, and a pleasure to see so many old friends and colleagues. The 15 years I spent here as a faculty member in the division of engineering were happy ones, and my wife Lily and I especially treasure Brown as the place where we spent many happy years.
I started as an associate professor under President Howard Swearer and left for Singapore when Vartan Gregorian was President. Brown has always been close to my heart, and whenever I have had occasions to meet with President Ruth Simmons, I have viewed them as opportunities to be reconnected to Brown. Just a week ago, Ruth and I were in Hong Kong to discuss Brown’s Asia strategy. At the inaugural meeting of the Brown Advisory Council on Asia, we were joined by many enthusiastic alumni and parents as well as Chancellor Emeritus and Trustee Art Joukowsky.
Much has changed at Brown, yet much endures. Coming back this time, I was delighted to find that some things remain the same.
After we arrived in Providence, Lily and I took a walk to Thayer Street and the side streets, including Meeting Street. We were glad to see that our favorite haunt, the Meeting Street Cafe, still serves a special chicken sandwich drizzled with honey-raisin curry dressing. My colleagues, graduate students and I had spent many stimulating hours over those tasty sandwiches. Just yesterday, Lily and I met several long-time friends and two Brown rising sophomores for lunch at the Café.
Beyond nostalgia, I am assured that Brown’s quintessential values – of openness, cooperation and choice – remain steadfast.
| * President-Designate, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology |
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