The Countdown Is On: Preparations for #LINO24

Soon, the Inselhalle, Lindau’s prestigious meeting venue, will welcome science enthusiasts and inspiring intellectuals for a week filled with knowledge exchange and personal encounters. As the organizing team of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of a multitude of brilliant minds to our modest island.

At this point, it’s likely that you have already completed several stages of preparation. To assist you further, we would like to provide you with some extra direction and practical recommendations.

The Programme

Perhaps you’ve already had a chance to check this year’s meeting programme. If not, don’t worry – here’s the link to the full programme (to be amended in the upcoming weeks).

Getting Here

Since there are no shuttle buses to Lindau organized by us, you will have to organize your trip to Lindau yourself.

Most likely, you’ll be arriving in Lindau by train. Most of the surrounding airports offer connections to ‘Lindau Inselbahnhof’ (train station on Lindau Island) or ‘Lindau Reutin’ (on the mainland). It is possible to buy a ticket at the train station or via the website at www.bahn.com. Usually, if you travel via an airport located in Bavaria/Baden-Württemberg (the two states in the south of Germany) the “Bayern/Baden-Württemberg-Ticket” is a good option and can be used for all regional trains in Bavaria/Baden-Württemberg (not for ICE, IC or ECE) and busses in Lindau. It is valid from 09:00 to 03:00 of the following day of purchase; on Sat, Sun and public holidays, it is valid from 00:00 to 03:00 of the following day. As soon as you see water all around you, you have arrived on Lindau Island. Welcome to Lake Constance!

Alternatively, there are also intercity bus connections to Lindau. You can check connections and book your bus ticket at www.flixbus.com.

After registration, you can use your personal name badge to take the bus to your hotel, if it is not located on Lindau Island.

Registration

In order to take advantage of everything the Lindau Meeting has to offer, please register with us and get your meeting materials – these include your name badge, which gives you access to the various programme events, your personal agenda, the final programme and more. If your hotel is located on the mainland, your name badge and lanyard is valid as an 8-day-bus ticket from 29 June to 6 July for the Lindau “Stadtbus”. You will receive this badge with your meeting materials. Please be sure to have it with you any time.

Registration will take place on Saturday, 29 June (13:00–18:00 CEST) and on Sunday, 30 June (09:30–20:00). Please note that you will have to show a valid ID for registration. On Sunday, please make sure to register early in order to take your seats in time for the Opening Ceremony.

Everything Else You Need to Know

The Opening Ceremony starts on Sunday at 14:30, so please be sure you are registered and seated by 14:15. For security reasons, you are not allowed to bring any large bags. Kindly note that there is a luggage lorry outside the meeting venue, where your luggage will be securely stored. Please have your valid ID card or Passport ready for registration.

For a Google Map with all the important places in Lindau, please click here.

What to Bring & What to Wear

There is no specific dress code for the regular scientific sessions, we recommend to wear “casual”. For invitational dinners, you may want to bring something more festive (suits, cocktail dresses). Our dress code recommendations might help you pack your suitcase. As the lake is great for swimming, you may want to bring swim wear. Sunscreen and mosquito repellents are a good idea as well.

Make sure to bring comfortable shoes that are suitable for cobblestone roads and different weather conditions. Please keep in mind that you might need an adapter/voltage converter to use your electric devices at the 220 V power sockets that are used in Germany.

Over the last years, one of the events has become particularly popular among all participants: the ‘Bavarian Evening’ hosted by the Free State of Bavaria. For this occasion, it is a great idea to wear a traditional festive attire from your home country. Those of you who own a traditional Bavarian costume (a Dirndl dress for women and Lederhosen for men) are more than welcome to wear that.

Morning Workouts

For those of you participating in the morning workouts: please bring comfortable sportswear, a towel and sturdy sneakers. Water will not be provided for these sessions, so we suggest to bring something to drink with you. Please be on time at the Oskar-Groll-Anlage on Lindau Island for the start of the Morning Workout. Additionally, post-workout shower facilities are available at the “Jahnturnhalle”. This is also the place where the workout takes place in case of bad weather.

Internet & Phones

The meeting venue is equipped with wireless LAN (WiFi). You will receive the access information with your meeting documents at registration.

It’s always helpful if you bring along your mobile phone so that we are able to contact you easily. The German country code is +49.

Money

The currency used in Germany and many European countries (except e.g. Switzerland) is the Euro. Money can be exchanged at airports. Credit cards (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) and Maestro/EC cards can be used to withdraw money from ATMs (called ‘Geldautomaten’) using your PIN, and to pay in many (not all) shops. Please check the Google Map to see where to find the nearest ATMs. Cheques and traveller cheques have become rather uncommon and are hardly accepted anywhere.

Emergencies

In case of an emergency at the main meeting venue, please contact the staff. Please note that our staff is not authorised to hand out any medication. A paramedic team is present at the meeting venue and can help with all health-related issues. If you have an emergency at a different location, please either contact any of the staff present or call 112, the official emergency number that will work in all of the EU countries and in Switzerland. During the meeting, Young Scientists studying outside of Germany will be covered by a health insurance policy provided by the organizers.

A Highlight to Round Things Off

Having spent almost one week on Lindau Island, we will explore another island located in Lake Constance in occasion of the closing day. The final day of the meeting will start with a cruise on the largest boat on Lake Constance.

We will head to Mainau Island for the last panel discussion on “How to Preserve Trust in Science in the Age of AI?” This session will be followed by a short closing ceremony and a musical highlight, a concert by the West-Eastern Divan Ensemble.

After the programme, the traditional Science Picnic provides lunch surrounded by beautiful nature in a relaxed atmosphere enjoyed by Nobel Laureates and Young Scientists.

In the afternoon, you will have time to enjoy the lovely island which is famous for garden art and a sea of blossoms.

Everyone who will start the journey home from Lindau will take the boat back to Lindau to again to celebrate new friendships, future collaborations and unforgettable moments with a big alumni party. It is not just a time to say goodbye – on this trip, Young Scientists become Lindau Alumni 2024.

At the end of the day, everyone who will start the journey home from Lindau will enter the boat once again to celebrate new friendships, future collaborations and unforgettable moments with a last #LINO24 party.

All Young Scientists who will be leaving on Friday, will have to check-in their luggage in the morning in Lindau harbour. There will be two lorries: one for participants who will start their home journey from Mainau Island, located near Constance; and one for participants who will leave from Lindau where we will arrive at about 19:00.

Code of Conduct

Please keep in mind that the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings aim at providing an environment for scientific exchange that considers mutual respect and peacefulness as natural behavior, and thus is free of harassment and aggression. That’s why all participants were required to acknowledge our code of conduct during the preparation process and must act accordingly.

Last but Not Least

If you want to get a taste of the ‘Lindau Spirit’ prior to the meeting, you are invited to take a look at our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, follow us on Twitter (@lindaunobel) and Instagram (@lindaunobel).

Throughout the meeting week, we will try to post as much interesting content as possible via #LINO24, this year’s official hashtag. Do join the conversation – we’d love that!

My colleagues Nora, Saskia, Kai, Fabio, and I will be happy to assist you at the Young Scientist Help Desk, should you have any questions. It is going to be a great week, so let’s make the most of it!