Seven Nobel laureates are hoping to spark a wave of scientific curiosity in Beijing next month with a series of lectures on life sciences.

The topics include human diseases, drug development, basic science and science education at a forum from Sept. 5 to 7.

The laureates are Chinese-born Lee Tsung-dao, winner of the 1957 Nobel prize for physics, Robert Mundell, winner of the 1999 economic science prize, Robert Huber and Hartmut Michel, who shared the 1988 chemistry prize, Ferid Murad and Louis Ignarro, who shared the 1998 medicine prize, and Aaron Ciechanover, winner of the 2004 chemistry prize.

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) will also speak on bird flu, new diseases and the human genetic projects.

Prominent scientists have gained celebrity status among the Chinese public. In June, 6,000 people came to hear world famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, although many said they couldn't really understand his theory and they just wanted to see a famous figure in person.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2006)