世界百位名人谈世博：李嗣涔

李嗣涔 1952年生，毕业于台湾大学电机系，分别取得美国斯坦福大学电机系硕士和博士学位。先后担任台湾大学电机系副教授、台湾大学教务长。主要研究半导体领域，是台湾地区早期研究非晶矽的学者，也是国际电机电子工程学会会员。2005年起担任台湾大学校长。

In human history, cities have drawn criticism as often as praise. Through the development of cities, mankind has freed itself from the restrictions of nature. At the same time, however, mankind has gradually lost its attachment to nature. It’s ironic that the independence acquired from urban expansion has actually fettered our freedom. Facing this contradiction, we must therefore reorient urban life to achieve a balance between development and nature, between technology and humanity. We must cease allowing the vanity of urbanization to usurp nature, our fellow human beings and our core values. This is the paramount challenge of our generation.

城市在人类历史的发展上，向来毁誉参半。人因为建立城市，而不再受制于自然，但同时也逐渐丧失了与自然的亲近。因此，吊诡的结果是，人因为城市的扩张而建立的自主性，其实也逐日地淘空了人的自主性。在这样一个矛盾的关系中，人如何将已走上不归路的城市生活，化为兼顾发展与自然、科技与人文的动能中心，而不再扮演为人类虚荣而牺牲自然、其他人类、人的内在等的头号杀手角色，是我们这代人最重要的使命。
　　
The theme of World Expo 2010 Shanghai China–"Better City, Better Life"–exemplifies the mission we face. We must address the adverse effects of technology with better technology. We must save society by developing better concepts than those we call progress in the face of rampant development. We must re-establish harmonious ties with nature. None of these missions can be accomplished at one stroke. Instead, they require our acute awareness, our determined cooperation and our commitment to achieving success in our aims. The World Expo will duly provide us with a rare opportunity toward that goal.

上海世博会以“城市，让生活更美好”为主题，正呼应了这个当代关怀，以更先进的科技，改善科技为人类带来的弊端；以更进步的观念，挽救以“进步”之名肆意发展所造成的残局，以城市的再造，带领人类重回自然的怀抱。这一切都非一蹴可几，而须人类在大彻大悟之下，通力合作，长期耕耘。世博会正是难得的全球合作与全球教育的契机。
　　
As the host city for a milestone event with such an enlightening theme, Shanghai has shown its courage in addressing the challenges of future urban development and defining the global responsibilities of cities. It is my belief that through World Expo 2010, China will advance from the world factory of material production into an international cradle of civilization’s promising future.

而上海能以这样进步的主轴，主办这样有深远意义的活动，也意味着上海不但勇于面对来自城市未来的挑战，也勇于承担起城市的全球性责任。相信，在上海世博会的带领下，中国也能从一个物质生产的沃土，逐渐成为进步观念的乐园。