No one country can monopolize science, and the attempts of some countries to build walls and work behind closed doors are completely wrong, Steven Chu, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics and former U.S. Secretary of Energy, said Tuesday at a forum in Shanghai, without elaborating on which countries he was referring to.

Organized by the Shanghai government, the 2019 World Laureates Forum was attended by 65 recipients of the world’s most prestigious academic awards, including three winners of this year’s Nobel Prizes in physics and physiology or medicine, all of whom gave talks about their groundbreaking work.

During Chu’s speech at the end of the opening ceremony, the former U.S. Cabinet member said that while some scientific research such as the quest for another habitable planet might not bear fruit over the short term, it could fundamentally change the course of the human race in the long run. Chu added that one researcher’s findings have a tendency to inspire those of another, yielding a net gain for the global scientific community.

Since last year, Washington has tightened visa controls on research collaborations between China and the U.S. for fear that such arrangements could result in intellectual property theft or endanger national security. (Image: 2019 World Laureates Forum)