The 2026 Future Science Prize will name its awardees in August, and a series of related events — such as scientific forums, speeches and an exhibition — is planned from September to November to raise young people’s interest in science.

At a lunch with the media on Thursday, Vivian Yam Wing-wah, co-chair of the prize’s program committee, said that press conferences to unveil the prize’s awardees will be held on Aug 13 in both Beijing and Hong Kong.

The Future Science Prize Week will be held from Nov 6 to 9, featuring a host of symposiums, guided tours and dialogues, with two Nobel Prize laureates participating: Omar M. Yaghi, a winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and a world-leading chemist and materials scientist, and Thomas C. Sudhof, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2013.

A monthlong Future Science Prize exhibition will be hosted at Hong Kong Science Museum from Oct 16 to Nov 18.

Two “Hello Scientists” lectures will feature top scientists, including physicist and Future Science Prize laureate Dai Xi from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and Hong Kong microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung, who will deliver speeches on Sept 19 and Oct 27, respectively.

Through the AI Walk and Talk event in November, middle school and university students will have the opportunity to access leading labs at the HKUST to gain deeper insights into working in the science field, Yam said.

Victor Wang, a foundation donor for the Future Science Prize, stressed that the award is deeply rooted in Hong Kong, bridging the Chinese mainland and reaching out to the world.

“Next year, we plan to include non-Chinese judging panel members for every award category,” Wang said.

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The award is steadily going global, Yam said, noting that over 50 media outlets broadcast the event live last year, and related events attracted more than 80,000 participants, with over 25 million online views worldwide.

The Future Science Prize was established in 2016 to reward scientists who have made outstanding scientific achievements on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The award offers a $1 million prize across three categories: life science, physical science, and mathematics and computer science. So far, 46 scientists have been awarded.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com