Published 2 October 2024 by Garima Aggarwal
A Personal Anecdote On the Versatility of #LINO24
#LINO24 Alumna Garima Aggarwal has shared her Lindau experiences – and tells what invited Young Scientists might expect from their days at Lake Constance.
With a plethora of events spread across the week, the mornings at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting start early at 7 AM each day. Young Scientists can choose between an hour-long morning workout session to warm up for the day or attending Science Breakfasts, where lively debates are sparked between private industrialists, Young Scientists, and Nobel Laureates. The discussions at the Science Breakfasts range from the role of Physics in solving global problems to the Perpetual Planet Initiative by Rolex, and even how physics can shape the future of biology. These interdisciplinary discussions provide invaluable opportunities for Young Scientists like me to learn about the challenges of interdisciplinary research and identify potential avenues for our future research prospects.
From Monday to Friday mornings, the main hall of Inselhalle, the venue for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, is brimming with Young Scientists eager to gain knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration from the world’s best minds. As Nobel Laureates take center stage, they address current research findings, elaborate on their historical achievements, and raise awareness of fundamentally important issues. The presentations are crafted with the diverse backgrounds of the attendees in mind – understanding that a cosmology aspirant may not be well-versed in quantum physics and vice versa. The Laureates excel in delivering lectures that are simple, inclusive, and above all, exciting.
The Excitement Isn’t One-Sided
The Nobel Laureates themselves are thrilled to return each year to this holy abode of Science, where they inspire young minds to learn, observe, and stay curious. As William D. Phillips, the 1997 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, remarks during a discussion: ”Do you know? This meeting is about you and not about us! We keep coming back here because you all are here! We are excited to know what you are up to!”
The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting consistently delivers on its promise of excellence. After her first Nobel Prize win in Physics in 2023 for her work on attosecond pulses of light, Anne L’Huillier made her debut at the 73rd Meeting with the opening Lecture. Donna Strickland struck a chord with the female Young Scientists when she shared: ”When I won the prize in 2018, I was one of the three women to have ever won a Nobel Prize in Physics and the only one alive. And today, I am happy to be one of the three living women who have won a Nobel Prize in Physics.”
The Interdisciplinarity of Physics
The Scientific Programme this year takes participants on a journey from the quantum wonderland to the darkest secrets of our universe. The themes for #LINO24 include Quantum Physics and Quantum Technologies, physics-based solutions to the Energy Challenge, and Artificial Intelligence in Physics.
Physics, often regarded as the foundational science, naturally transcends traditional boundaries, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the natural world. The interdisciplinary nature of Physics is highlighted at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, where several attending Nobel Laureates, who identify as Physicists, have won the prize in Chemistry.
This meeting is not merely an opportunity to meet, greet, and converse with the Laureates; it’s a chance to explore what is happening around the world and to glimpse the next big scientific breakthroughs. As an Aerospace Engineer, I had never given much thought to the importance of understanding how a cell is structured or looks like. However, the series of lectures on structural biology leaves me baffled and eager to learn more. My enthusiasm is further fueled by a Science Walk with Richard Henderson, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017 for developing cryo-electron microscopy, a technique that produced a detailed, high-resolution three-dimensional image of a molecule back in 1990.
But What Exactly Is a Science Walk?
During a Science Walk, a Nobel Laureate spends time exploring picturesque spots in Lindau and its surroundings together with ten Young Scientists. It’s a rare opportunity to choose which of the 37 Nobel Laureates you’d like to talk to, and I chose to engage with Richard Henderson for multiple reasons – one of them being a memorable session I had with Frances H. Arnold (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2018) back in 2020 during the 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, which was held online. During that session, she explained how studying biology is key to understanding human chemistry.
As an Aerospace Engineer, my work does not directly align with Richard’s research. However, the ambivalent aura of scientific learning and curiosity at Lindau throughout the week encourages you to be curious and courageous, engaging with these Science Heroes about anything and everything. The Science Walk provides another opportunity to discuss topics such as space sciences and the role of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at the meeting.
Another event to is the series of Laureate Lunches, where a Nobel Laureate sits with up to ten Young Scientists at a local restaurant in Lindau. Just imagine how it feels to share a meal with a Laureate sitting next to you – it’s surreal, an experience that only a place like Lindau can offer, connecting the wise and the young in an intimate setting.
But it’s not only the Laureates who do all the talking at Lindau. This year, the meeting introduces the “Next Gen Science” and “Scientific Exchange Among Young Scientists” sessions. These sessions set the stage for a select group of Young Scientists to present their own research, based on themes such as Artificial Intelligence in Physics, cross-disciplinary research in Physics, and physics-based solutions to the energy challenge. I don’t remember any speaker who isn’t confident and bold about what they work on. They are excited. They are heads-on with science.
Embracing Every Moment
The lunch breaks provide ample opportunity for Young Scientists to connect with fellow participants and learn about their research. One such afternoon, with jet lag setting in, I decided to take a nap at the famous Lindau Nobel Laureate Pier. This pier is a tribute to all Nobel Laureates who have ever attended the Lindau meetings, with almost 400 names listed on individual bars along the guardrail. Each bar displays the Laureate’s name, the year they won the Nobel Prize, and the year of their first visit to Lindau. Bars for first-time visitors are marked with a yellow ribbon, while those for returning Laureates have an orange ribbon.
The pier also features a large bench, perfect for a quick afternoon nap. Just as I was about to zone out, a fellow Young Scientist walked by, and in no time, we both decided to explore the beautiful island of Lindau. Our impromptu adventure took us to iconic sites like the Bavarian Lion statue, the Stone Lighthouse, and St. Peter’s Church. It’s only in a place like Lindau that one would choose to forego sleep and make the most of the daylight, embracing every moment of this unique experience. After lunch, Inselhalle comes alive with six to nine Nobel Laureates spread across different rooms, and this time, it’s the Young Scientists who get to choose which Nobel Laureates they wish to interact with. Without a second thought, I chose William D. Phillips, having wanted to meet him ever since our first online interaction during the 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Interdisciplinary) in 2021. I also chose to engage with Donna Strickland, inspired by her striking remarks during the opening ceremony, and Eric Betzig, who stands out for having received the Nobel Prize based on papers he published while being unemployed.
Lindau is probably one of the few places on Earth where the celebrity culture in science is not only evident but also celebrated. As a friend of mine put it: ”You leave a bunch of Laureates on an island amidst a group of 600+ knowledge-hungry students. Well! They have nowhere to go.” Young Scientists eagerly seek autographs, selfies, and photographs with their science heroes.
All work and no play makes a Young Scientist a dull scientist. The evenings at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting are dedicated to networking, fun, and, well, fun networking. Texas A&M University hosts this year’s International Evening on Monday, featuring a Country-Western Dance in front of the Inselhalle, bull riding in the foyer, and a concert night filled with Texan music and dance. The stark transition from Texas to Southern Germany comes out on Thursday, with the Bavarian Evening hosted by the Free State of Bavaria. This event is a feast for the eyes, with rodeo, cattle drives, alphorns, beer, lederhosen, and everyone – from the Lindau Council to the students – dressed in traditional attire from their own cultures.
The last day of the meeting brings a mix of excitement and bitter-sweet farewells as the Young Scientists and Nobel Laureates prepare to visit the Island of Mainau. Friday begins early with a two-hour cruise from Lindau to Mainau Island. This 45-hectare island, located just off the shores of Lake Constance in the far southwest of Germany, is close to Switzerland, and is known for its stunning gardens and exemplary environmental practices.
Closing Day: A Rollercoaster of Emotions
This year, the Young Scientists have the privilege of witnessing the announcement of a new Mainau Declaration, signed by the Nobel Laureates who attended the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. The Mainau Declaration serves as a warning and an appeal against the use of nuclear weapons, and many Young Scientists have already shown their support for this important cause. The day also features a concert by the West-Eastern Divan Ensemble, the closing ceremony of the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, and a Science Picnic where all 600+ Young Scientists and 22 Nobel Laureates share a meal together on the grass.
The cruise back to Lindau is a rollercoaster of emotions. The Lindau Council throws an after-party onboard, celebrating the transition of participants from Lindau Young Scientists to distinguished Lindau Alumni. It’s hard to imagine Nobel Laureates as anything other than serious, but here, at the after-party, the Young Scientists witness quite some funky dance moves by the Nobel Laureates, one of them even bringing an umbrella to the dance floor. Working with them is a dream, but dancing with them is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. The Lindau Council has a unique way of creating unforgettable memories, and I feel incredibly honored and grateful to have been part of such a prestigious meeting.
This recollection offers a brief peak into how I spent the best six days of my life on an island brimming with unfathomable knowledge and wisdom. I have no doubt that I matured a little, made new friends, gained fresh perspectives on global problems, and, above all, felt immense pride in having interacted with some of the best minds – the Nobel Laureates and the 600+ Young Scientists. The humble Nobel Laureates deserve all the love and honor, and I hope we, as Young Scientists, were able to shower them with admiration throughout the week.
