Gong Pengcheng Dialogue with Overseas Scholars No. 9: In the postmodern context, human society ruled by technology can only gain the power of cultural rebirth by strengthening dialogue and reconstructing the ethics of communication. This is not whose theory, but an activity that everyone should practice. Mr. Gong Pengcheng traveled the world and presided over the "World Sinology Research Center". We will successively launch a series of articles on "Gong Pengcheng Dialogue with Overseas Scholars" and invite him to talk to some meaningful souls in the academic world. The scope is not limited to sinology, but involves a variety of disciplines. In order to hope that the water of the deep mountains and long valleys will come out on all sides.
dr. omar adame-arana (Omar Adamu-Alana)
Omar Adamu-Alana (dr. omar Adame-Arana), postdoctoral researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science (Department of Chemistry and Biophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel), 2020-present. He received his bachelor's degree in physics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 2011 and a master's degree in physics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 2014.
Max planck institute for the physics of complex systems Institute of Physics, Ph.D., top academic results, was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Complex Systems Physics.
Pengcheng Gong: Hello Dr. Omar Adamu-Arana, thank you for participating in the dialogue. First of all, I would like to know what prompted you to come to the Weizmann Institute of Science after many years of studying in Mexico. Purely for academic reasons, or is there something else, such as religious and cultural identity?
Omar Adamu-Alana: Hello, Professor Gong. Before I moved to Mexico, I lived in Germany while I was studying for a PhD in physics at the Technical University of Dresden. My partner at the time, now my wife, was invited by a research group in Israel to become a postdoctoral researcher. After learning that the research group in Israel had a good reputation, I myself started looking for postdoctoral positions in Israel. The Weizmann Institute of Science is one of the most prestigious scientific institutes in Israel, so it is a natural choice. The scientific environment here is very pleasant, and there are several famous scientists who are resident. The group I work for is relatively small, but my mentors have a good reputation in the industry. I think he's a great mentor who can move my career forward. So far, this has indeed been the case. It is also convenient to work at the Weizmann Institute of Science, which offers a number of conveniences, including housing and very good infrastructure.
hi dr. omar adame-arana, thank you for participating in the dialogue programme. firstly, i would like to know about what brought you to the weizmann institute of science after years studying and researching in mexico? is it purely due to academic reasons, or are there other reasons, like religion, cultural identity?
when i moved to mexico, i was based in germany where i was graduating as a phd in physics at the technical university of dresden. my partner, who is now my wife, received an offer to join a research group in israel as a post doctoral researcher. knowing that the research community in israel has a strong reputation, i started to look for postdoctoral positions in israel myself. the weizmann institute of science was a natural choice because it is one of the most prestigious science institutes in israel. the scientific environment is very pleasant, and the institute hosts several notable scientists. the group in which i work is relatively small, but my scientific supervisor is a well-known figure. i though the would be a great supervisor and would push my career forward, which so far has been the case. working at the weizmann institute of science is also convenient since it provides several benefits, including housing and a great infrastructure.
Gong Pengcheng: People say that scholars are all citizens of the world, and they belong to an academic community compared to their place of birth and the nation-state, and this community is more like a real country to them. What do you think of this sentence?
Omar Adamu-Arana: I partially agree with that statement. On the one hand, I agree that the scientific community is like a "nation", we all speak a common scientific language, and nationality is irrelevant. Moreover, in my research collaborations, people from many countries are involved, and my closest friends are scholars from all over the world. But on the other hand, I note that there are cross-country barriers even in the field of science. Both research institutes I have worked for are made up of many foreign scholars. However, I've found that the circles I can make friends are often also formed by researchers from nearby regions. This is not to say that this happens every time, but it can be seen that gathering together according to nationality is a very common phenomenon. This may be because people identify more strongly with people from their own geographic region, or because cultural differences make it difficult to fully mix groups. But to be honest, I really don't know the reason behind this, it's just a personal observation of mine.
people say that scholars are world people, compare with birthplace, nation country, they belong to an academic community, and this community is more like a real country for them. what do you think of this saying?
i partly agree with the saying. on one hand, i agree that the scientific community is like a “country” as we all speak the common language of science, for which nationality is irrelevant. also, in my research collaborations there have been a large number of nationalities involved, and my closest friends are academics that come from all over the world. on the other hand, i have observed that even in science there exist barriers across countries. the two research institutes that i have worked in so far host a broad international community of academics. nevertheless, i could find that groups of friends are often formed between researchers coming from nearby geographical regions. this is not to say that it happens every time, but one can see that clustering of people according to their nationality is a wide spread phenomenon. this may be due to the fact that people identify themselves more strongly with people coming from their own geographical region, or it may be due to cultural differences that make it difficult to have fully mixed groups. but to be frank, i can’t really tell the reason behind this, it is just an observation.
Gong Pengcheng: Can you introduce us to your two institutes in Mexico and in Israel? What's the most exciting thing about working there?
Omar Adamu-Arana: I completed my undergraduate and master's studies at the Faculty of Science and the Institute of Physics of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, respectively. The National Autonomous University of Mexico is a great place. People from all over Mexico come to study at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and the quality of their courses is very high. It's a place where everyone feels comfortable, regardless of their origin, financial status, or sexual orientation. The campus there is also very beautiful, and its physics institute is also a good place to work. The institute is large, employing more than 100 professors and undertaking a wide range of research topics. The professors are also very friendly to the students. Because one thing that made me often miss that institution from the bottom of my heart, we had a coffee room there with a good coffee machine and great coffee beans. I sat there with friends and colleagues and made great memories. From time to time, researchers come to discuss a variety of topics with us, which is inspiring for students.
After graduating, I moved to Dresden, Germany, where I was pursuing my PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Physics of Complex Systems (MPI-PKS). This institute definitely offers a researcher everything he needs to study academically: a comfortable workplace, powerful computing resources, very reliable IT technicians, and an international community of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. The most exciting part was the interdisciplinary work done with experimenters at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics. As a theoretical physicist, I find it exciting to discuss their experimental developments with biologists and attend their presentations.
The Weizmann Institute of Science, where I work now, is located in a small city called Rehovot. It has a very beautiful campus, great college facilities, and an excellent scientific research environment. But unfortunately, for months I couldn't really enjoy what the Weizmann Institute had to offer because I was here at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, I have more time to research, often attending seminars and meeting with colleagues. Although the Institute is large, my group is smaller than the Max Planck Institute, which is a good thing for students because they can spend more time with their mentors. One of the exciting things about the Weizmann Institute is its interdisciplinary environment, where you can easily take courses in different branches of science, as all the buildings are within walking distance.
would you like to introduce the two research institutes in mexico and the institute in israel you are working with to us? what is the most exciting part of working there?
i did my undergraduate and master studies at the school of sciences and the institute of physics, both based at the national autonomous university of mexico. the national autonomous university of mexico is a wonderful place. people from all over mexico come to study at the national autonomous university of mexico and the quality of the lectures is very high. it is also a place where all kind of persons can feel comfortable, irrespective of their place of origin, economic status, or sexual orientation, and the campus is beautiful. the institute of physics is a great place to work. the research topics are broad since the institute is large, employing more than 100 professors. the professors are friendly with the students. one thing i really miss about that institute is that we had a great coffee room with an ice coffee machine and great coffee beans. i have good memories sitting there with friends and colleagues. from time to time a researcher would come and talk to us about all sort of topics, which for students is motivating.
after i graduated, i moved to dresden, germany, where i did my phd at the max planck institute for the physics of complex systems (mpi-pks). this institute provides absolutely everything a researcher needs to develop science: a comfortable place to work, powerful computational resources, great staff in charge of the it, and an international community of phd students and post doctoral researchers. for me the most exciting part was the interdisciplinary work done in conjunction with experimentalists at the max planck institute of molecular cell biology and genetics. as a theoretical physicist, i found it exciting to discuss with biologists on their experimental developments and attending their talks.
the weizmann institute of science, where i am working now, is located in a small city called rehovot. it has a gorgeous campus, great facilities, and the scientific environment is very good as well. unfortunately, for many months i could not really enjoy what the weizmann institute has to offer because i arrived at the weizmann institute when the covid pandemic began. but now,i spend more time there, attending seminars and meeting colleagues in person. although the institute is large, the groups are smaller than at the max planck institute, which is great for students as they can spend more time with their supervisor. one of the exciting things of the weizmann institute is its interdisciplinary environment. you can easily attend courses about different branches of science as all the buildings are in walking distance from each other.
Pengcheng Gong: What is your current research?
Omar Adam-Alana: My field of study is biophysics. This means that I use physical theory to explain biological mechanisms within living cells. In my work, I often collaborate with biologists who do experiments because they need quantitative theories to understand their data. Physics helps to understand biological phenomena, and that's where I started. For example, through physical theory, we can understand the organizational structure inside living cells. Cells are made up of various components, including proteins and DNA. Over the past 20 years, it has been shown that proteins will be isolated. This process is similar to the process of separating water and oil after mixing. Proteins divide into so-called membrane-free organelles that perform different functions within the cell. In my research, I built physical models to explain the assembly process of these organelles. Currently, I'm developing models that study chromatin tissue, which are fibers made up of DNA and the histones that make up chromosomes. It is worth noting that the physical processes of isolation appear to be closely related to the organization of genetic material in living cells. In the future, I plan to study the special physical properties of membrane-free organelles, such as extremely low surface tension.
what are your research interests and area?
my research area is classified as biophysics. this means that i use physical theories to explain biological mechanisms within living cells. in my work i often collaborate with biologists who perform experiments and require a quantitative theory to make sense of their data. physics helps to understand biological phenomena and that is where i come into the picture. for example, with physical theories we can understand the organization of the interior of living cells. cells consist of various components that include, among others, proteins and dna. in the past two decades, it has been shown that proteins phase separate. this process is similar to how water and oil separate from each other after you mix them together. proteins phases separate into so-called membrane-less organelles which perform distinct functions inside the cell. in my research,i develop physical models to explain the assembly of such organelles. currently, i am developing models to study the organization of chromatin, which is the fiber made of dna and histone proteins that makes up chromosomes. remarkably, the physical process of phase separation seems to be closely related to the organization of the genetic material in living cells. in the future, i plan to investigate the peculiar physical properties of membrane-less organelles such as their extremely low surface tension.
Gong Pengcheng: Have you ever worked with Chinese academic institutions or scholars? If so, how does it feel? If not, what do you expect from the future?
Omar Adamu-Arana: I have a PhD student in my team at the Max Planck Institute for Physics of Complex Systems from China. I remember a few times we had lunch or coffee together. He was always friendly and liked to ask me questions about Mexico. In Dresden, I also met a Chinese postdoc that I talk about a lot. I invited her to go hiking in the national park near Dresden with some other friends, and I'm sure she will remember that day for the rest of her life. We inadvertently took a very hard hiking route. On the hike, we need to climb some boulders and cross narrow passages. Of course, her mood that day was still good, as amiable as usual, but the next day she told us that she was sore. We have fond memories of that day. Later, we became collaborators on a research paper and published it in a prestigious journal. The collaboration was very enjoyable. She has been very involved in our research and her contribution to the work has been tremendous. As an expert in numerical methods, she developed a computational program to solve a complex set of equations. I will definitely work with her in the future.
There are many researchers from China at the Weizmann Institute. However, due to our work in different research areas, there has been no opportunity for exchanges.
In the future, I hope to meet more Chinese scholars. Science in China is developing rapidly, and Chinese scholars are all over the world. If one day I become a professor, I want to visit a Chinese university and invite Chinese scholars to conduct research visits.
have you had any experiences in working with chinese academic institutes or scholars? if you have, what was it like? if not, do you have any expectation in the future?
one of the phd students in my group at the max planck institute for the physics of complex systems was from china. i remember the few times that we had lunch or coffee together. he was
always very nice and liked to ask me questions about mexico. in dresden i also met a chinese postdoc with whom i used to chat often. i invited her, together with some other friends, for a hike in a national park near dresden, and i am sure she’ll remember that day for the rest of her life. we took inadvertently a difficult hiking path that was physically exhausting. during the hike we needed to climb some boulders and pass-through narrow passages. she was of course always in good spirits and as kind as ever, but the next day she let us know that her whole body was sore. we have good memories of that day together. later we became collaborators on a research paper that we published in a reputed journal.the collaboration was very pleasant. she was always very committed to our research and her contribution to the work was great. as an expert in numerical methods, she developed a computational program to solve a complicated set of equations. i would definitely be collaborating with her again in the future.
currently at the weizmann institute there are many researchers from china. however, we have not had the chance to interact as we work in different research areas.
in the future i hope to get to know more chinese academics. science in china is being developed at a rapid pace and chinese academics are everywhere in the world. if i become one day a professor, then i would like to visit chinese universities and to invite chinese academics for research visits.
Gong Pengcheng
Gong Pengcheng, born in Taipei in 1956, ph.D. of National Taiwan Normal University, is a famous contemporary scholar and thinker. More than one hundred and fifty books have been published.
It has universities, publishing houses, magazines, colleges, etc., and plans urban construction, theme parks and other places. Lectures are given all over the world. He has also held calligraphy exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Taipei, Paris, Japan, Macao and other places. He is currently the Chairman of the Gong Pengcheng Foundation.