Curious and Empowered by the Lindau Community – Simon Nirenberg’s #LINO25 Farewell Speech

Simon Nirenberg from Brown University gave a heartfelt farewell speech at the 74^th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, reflecting on the power of curiosity and courage.

From the moment I entered this Meeting, I felt empowered to pursue curiosity. The Nobel Laureates were very deliberately walking around like all the Young Scientists – just normal. While many of them got to  present their work, so did many Young Scientists, including me, some random 19-year-old. So, the distance between myself and the Laureates had shrunk immensely, and it was very clear that with it, the activation energy of pursuing my curiosity had also shrunk. But the same was also true for the other Young Scientists.

From the intimate size of the group lunches and workshops to the unique spirit brought about by everyone’s beautiful clothing at last night’s dinner. Every interaction was geared toward curiosity. (…)

For my fellow Young Scientists, I encourage you to reflect on all the times this week that you have faced the crossroads of curiosity, and all the times you chose to pursue that curiosity. Think about the fantastic, life-changing stimulation that led to the friendships, the mindsets, and the collaborations, and keep it with you when you leave, as you move on and encounter adversity and fear.

Remember the Lindau Spirit and let it guide you as a compass toward the most fulfilling and joyful scientific careers you can imagine. For the Nobel Laureates, thank you for engaging in this fantastic mission, for your phenomenal wisdom, fascinating conversations, and your inspiring stories. I hope that you will continue to attend and that you too continue to be empowered in your curiosity and your courage to try new things. Never stop challenging the status quo, and never stop sharing your stories with young people.