„Meaningful Exchanges – Not Possible In More Formal Environments”

Following a long journey from Egypt to Lindau in southwest Germany, here I am standing in front of the Inselhalle, the venue of Lindau’s prestigious meeting, filled with several questions about what happens inside this building overlooking Lake Constance. They say Nobel Laureates come here every year since 1951. As a science journalist, I had the great opportunity to attend and cover the 73^rd edition of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Let’s start from scratch and see what happens there!

Exploring!

Upon entering the building, I took a moment to consider what the Nobel Prize means to me as an Egyptian. We have four Nobel Laureates from Egypt in different fields: Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat, the former President of Egypt, won the Nobel Prize in Peace in 1978, being the first Arab to win the prize. Then, Naguib Mahfouz, the unique Egyptian novelist, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988. Afterwards, Ahmed Zewail is an Egyptian chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999. Last and I hope not least, Mohamed ElBaradei, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Therefore, who of them may have previously attended the meeting? I might exclude Al-Sadat, ElBaradei, and Mahfouz because the meeting is designed for natural scientists and every third year addtionally for economists. Even if there was a programme for Literature, I think Mahfouz, who did not travel to receive the Nobel Prize himself, would not come since he did not prefer to travel. Then maybe I could find a trace for Zewail. Something else preoccupied my mind, will I find Arab or Egyptian Young Scientists?

Opening Ceremony

Here we go, the inspirational Opening Ceremony commenced on 30 June 2024, with an important and good question “What are the elements of a life in science?” Well, the answer is provided by four motivating elements of the periodic table, which are: Carbon (C), Copper (Cu), Iodine (I), and Cobalt (Co).

These elements represent, in a sense, the human qualities that support science. For instance, Carbon (C) refers to Courage in Science, which means accepting setbacks and failure and getting back up to carry on the work. Then comes Iodine (I), referring to Innovation in Science, which acknowledges boundaries and successfully overcomes them to breakthrough innovations. Next, Copper (Cu), which is Curiosity in Science, curiosity is the fuel that drives researchers to ask questions, continuously searching for the best answers. Last but not least is Cobalt (Co), Collaboration in Science, an instrumental key to achieving success in research work.

On the same day, I was fortunate enough to meet Muna Hamed Al-Hinai, a Young Scientist from Oman, she attended the meeting this time as an Alumni to present her project during the Sciathon Forum on Monday. Expressing her enthusiasm about the Opening Ceremony, she said to me: “The vibes of the Opening Oeremony are a great welcome of all these scientists; it is encouraging to go for the rest of the programme.”

Science, Science, Science!

Back in my university days, I used to hear the bell ring, announcing the beginning of the lecture. Maybe other biology students, like me, were eager to attend the lectures. However, in Lindau’s Agora Talks or Lectures, once the bell rang, a wide variety of attendees, from students to Nobel Laureates, hurry up to attend the Lectures and Agora Talks, where Nobel Laureates present the latest scientific findings in different disciplines from the cell to the vast universe.

I was fortunate enough to attend several Lectures and Agora Talks. I will not delve into their valuable content, so I suggest you watch the recordings. Nevertheless, I desire to convey my feelings from those moments.

I have witnessed this scene before at the Faculty of Science, the professor stands on the stage, delivering the lecture in a simple academic way. Everyone remains quiet while the brilliant professor delivers his/her lecture, highlighting the cutting-edge research, and sharing their perspectives. Quite often, they touch on humanitarian advice, implying a hidden message that a researcher must have a sense of humanity before entering the lab. This atmosphere was fascinating to me.

Mohamed Gad, a 24-year-old young scientist from Egypt, expressed his takeaways from Lindau’s Lectures and Agora Talks: “Since Anne L’Huillier is one of the recent Nobel Prize winners in Physics 2023, I was eager to attend her Lecture, particularly since she is an expert in optics and laser physics, the same area of mine.”

“Anne discussed the story of her brilliant work of Attosecond Pulses of Light for the Study of Electron Dynamics, highlighting some unresolved aspects that may lead to a potential future Nobel Prize. I shared her insights with my colleagues upon my return to Egypt,” Mohamed added.

Unforgettable Moments

Usually, the Inselhalle is quiet during Lectures or Agora Talks. However, that quiet is interrupted during the break, and many voices are sparked. I stood there many times, observing unforgettable scenes and moments, particularly intrigued by a scene where a group of Young Scientists is gathering around a Laureate, explaining something to them on paper. This Laureate was Duncan M. Haldane.

“This year I met Prof. Duncan M. Haldane and I’m grateful to him for giving me the chance to hold the Nobel Medal and letting me take photos,” said Muna Hamed Al-Hinai.

Another scene that impressed me, was the gathering of diverse cultures from all over the world. Many Young Scientists were exchanging their contacts for future collaboration. I witnessed that while sitting among Arabic Young Scientists. What a wonderful feeling to meet them at such a prestigious meeting!

“As an Arab scientist at Lindau, I also served as a cultural ambassador. Sharing my experiences and perspectives with other participants helps to bridge cultural gaps and fosters a better understanding of the Arab world’s contributions to science. This cultural exchange is essential in building mutual respect and collaboration between researchers from diverse backgrounds,” said Ahmed Farouk, a scientist from Egypt.

This scene is unique to the Lindau meeting too: Imagine that while you are making coffee, a Laureate is making his coffee at the machine across from you. They are queuing with the students, even though they embody the science that deserved the Nobel Prize. In the Lindau Meeting, the ice is completely melted. Once the break has ended, the foyer of the Inselhalle suddenly gets deserted, and quietness reigns.

Arab Experiences

One of the several benefits of the programme is opening the door for Young Scientists to have lunch or a walk or open discussions with the Laureates, an extraordinary opportunity to get closer to the Laureates’ personalities. Many Young Scientists have already gone through this experience. They shared with me their experiences.

For instance, Warda Al Saidi, a Young Scientist from Oman, said: “One of the most unforgettable moments was having lunch with F. Duncan M. Haldane. We spoke about his experiences, and I loved that we took a photo together with his Nobel Prize medal. He was incredibly kind and treated us as if we were all family.”

Ahmed Farouk said enthusiastically: “The opportunity to interact directly with Nobel Laureates was an extraordinary aspect of the meeting. Their willingness to engage in conversations, answer questions, and share their life stories and scientific journeys was both inspiring and humbling. The informal settings, such as lunch tables or small group discussions, allowed for meaningful exchanges that might not have been possible in more formal environments.”

Moroccan scientist Siham Refki appears to have had the fortune to interact with several Laureates. She said: “I had the privilege of discussing with several Nobel Laureates, including Anne L’Huillier (2023 Nobel Prize in Physics), Donna Strickland (2018 Nobel Prize in Physics), and Duncan Haldane (2016 Nobel Prize in Physics). I also shared a memorable lunch with Walter Gilbert (1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry). I was deeply impressed by his extensive experience and his ongoing passion for science. These interactions were incredibly inspiring and motivating for me to work harder toward achieving my own goals.”

Mahmoud Afify, an Egyptian scientist, was seeking advice to pursue his career as a scientist.  “I met John C. Mather and asked him for advice after completing my postdoc scholarship, he suggested that I collaborate with researchers from different disciplines, as working on various projects is better and improves the result.”

Others, like Muna Hamed Al-Hinai, have productive discussions regarding their fields. “The discussion with Sir Konstantin Novoselov after the Partner Breakfast was great as I’m working in graphene oxide and he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 jointly with Prof. Geim. It was a fruitful discussion – with the inventor of graphene oxide.”

Some, like Mohamed Gad, dealt with the human side of the Laureates. “I was lucky enough to meet Bill Phillips, who discussed his work with us, and the challenges he faced. He works in a field close to mine. I wished that the time would not run out. He gave us gifts and some cards.”

“To me, the aspect of the Laureates’ personalities that surprised me the most, was their patience and humility. We were allowed to ask them personal questions.”

Breathtaking Time

On the last day, we went for a boat trip to Mainau Island, where the scientists signed the “Mainau Declaration 2024 on Nuclear Weapons”. There, Nobel Laureates and Young Scientists had a great time, and the chemistry between them was noticeable. “The boat trip was a memorable time, especially the moment when Nobel Laureates were leaving the boat and said goodbye to Young Scientists. I felt that they were sending the message that you are the future of science,” said Muna Hamed Al-Hinai.

So, the meeting was coming to an end and still I could not find any trace of Ahmed Zewail. However, after the boat trip, I arrived at the Inselhalle. I was lucky enough to see Mohamed Gad there, who guided me to the near lake, where Ahmed Zewail’s name was engraved, documented as having come to the Lindau Meeting in 2002. I wondered, what if Zewail was alive, would I have met him? Would our meeting have been in Lindau or Egypt? While I was lost in my thoughts, a voice suddenly interrupted me saying: “Let’s go, Alaa, the bus is coming!” I had no choice but to leave the Inselhalle, gratefully for my 2024 Lindau experience.