The pressures of publishing work in scientific journals, coping with failure, and work-life balance were some of the topics brought up in a panel discussion at the inaugural Global Young Scientists Summit@one-north on Monday.

About 300 postdoctoral and PhD students from all over the world attended the discussion, themed "The Ups and Downs in the Life of a Scientist". The panel of speakers comprised four Nobel laureates, including Prof Dan Shechtman who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2011, and Prof Cedric Villani, who won the 2010 Fields medal, the top prize for mathematicians.

The summit which ends on Friday, will feature lectures and master classes conducted by invited speakers, as well as visits to research and development organisations in Singapore. It was organised by the National Research Foundation and other agencies.