Educate. Inspire. Connect.

The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings

The annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings provide a globally recognised forum for the transfer of knowledge between generations of scientists. They inspire and motivate Nobel Laureates and international Best Talents. Lectures of Nobel Laureates reflect current scientific topics and present relevant fields of research of the future. In panel discussions, seminars and during the various events of the social programme young researchers nominated by a worldwide network of Academic Partners interact with Nobel Laureates. The Meetings of Nobel Laureates in Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and in Physics have been held since 1951. Since 2004, the holders of the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel have also held meetings on Lake Constance. The Lindau Dialogue has been given extra impulse with the interdisciplinary conferences. This year’s 61st Meeting of Nobel Laureates is dedicated to Physiology or Medicine and takes place from June 26th to July 1st, 2011. 26 Nobel Laureates and 570 young researchers from 80 countries will attend this unique forum.

The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and their vision can only be turned into reality thanks to the active support of Nobel Laureates. Through their numerous interactions with young researchers and their lectures and seminars at Lindau, these outstanding scientists make these unique meetings possible. More than 230 Nobel Laureates demonstrate their support for the Lindau Meetings through their membership of the Founders Assembly of the Foundation.

Laureates from the respective fields of science are invited to the Lindau Meetings for physiology or medicine, physics, chemistry and the economic sciences. Every year, between 20 and 25 Nobel Laureates spend a week in the Lake Constance area meeting young international scientists of tomorrow. The special character of the Lindau Meetings is shaped by the fact that the Nobel Laureates can freely choose the topics of their lectures which range from retrospective to current cutting-edge, prospective to blue-sky. The Laureates hold these lectures in the mornings during the conference. The afternoons are reserved for discussions between themselves and the young scientists. During other events on the social programme and on the joint trip to the Isle of Mainau, the Laureates willingly talk about their own work and current scientific topics.

The Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and the Foundation Lindau Nobelprizewinners Meetings at Lake Constance organise the annual meetings on an honorary basis. Together, they work for the “Mission Education”. The Foundation was founded in the year 2000 by the Council and the Bernadotte family on the initiative of Nobel Laureates. Joint initiatives regarding the advancement of the Lindau Meetings and the establishment of an international network of Academic Partners are key priorities. The Foundation regards its task as to provide sustainable funding for Nobel Laureate Meetings in the future through an endowment. Meanwhile the Foundation uses outreach to safeguard annual funding. More than 220 Nobel Laureates are member of the Founders Assembly of the Foundation and demonstrate – through their membership and their participation in the Lindau Dialogue their support for the principle of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Personalities from the worlds of science, politics and industry have been inaugurated into the Foundation’s Honorary Senate in recognition of the special commitment they have shown towards scientific excellence and the promotion of young researchers.