Schekman Urges Young Scientists to Take Risks
At the 2026 World Laureates Forum in Shanghai, the 2013 Nobel laureate called for bold, unexpected research.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Science — General
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Randy W Schekman, winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, urged young scientists to take risks and pursue unexpected discoveries at the 2026 World Laureates Forum in Shanghai. He also criticized reliance on journal impact factors and political barriers that have complicated US visas for some Chinese scholars.
Why it matters
Schekman's remarks point to concerns about how research is evaluated and who is able to share it internationally. His criticism of impact factors, which he described as commercially manipulated, challenges metrics that shape funding and careers.
The forum ran from October 30 to November 1, 2026, and Schekman's 2013 Nobel Prize places him among the field's most senior voices. The extraction does not report how many Chinese scholars faced visa barriers or which specific metrics he was criticizing.
The players
Randy W Schekman
Schekman is an American cell biologist who shared the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on vesicle trafficking in cells.
World Laureates Forum
The World Laureates Forum is an annual gathering of Nobel and other prestigious prize winners held in Shanghai.
The details
Schekman, who chairs the selection committee for the WLF Prize in Life Science or Medicine, said the prize aims to recognize major discoveries that the international community has overlooked. Some of this year's winners are scholars based in China, and he said young Chinese researchers presented important work at the forum. He also said he has been researching Parkinson's disease.
Timeline
October 30 to November 1, 2026: 2026 World Laureates Forum held in Shanghai.
2013: Schekman wins the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Within five years: Schekman predicts a promising Parkinson's approach will reach the clinic.
The Big Picture
Schekman's critique of journal impact factors, which he says are commercially manipulated, questions a metric that has long shaped how research is judged and funded. His remarks also point to a broader debate about whether prize committees and forums can surface work that mainstream evaluation overlooks.
Researchers and students evaluating where to publish or apply for funding may find Schekman's critique of impact factors relevant to their own choices. Scholars considering international conferences may also want to weigh the visa barriers he described.
The takeaway
Scientists judged by impact factors may benefit from pursuing unexpected questions, a message Schekman delivered to young researchers in Shanghai. Keeping an eye on how evaluation metrics and travel barriers affect research careers can help readers understand where the field is heading.
Further reading
Explore more in Science — General for broader context on research funding and scientific culture.
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