We asked several of the young scientists who will be attending the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting about their expectations for their week in Lindau. Here are a few select answers:

 

Matias Acosta, Technische Universität Darmstadt:

What would you do if you could meet your role model face to face? What if you could actually spend a week with him or her? This idyllic scenario comes true for us, young scientists, each year during the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. We can meet not one, but many Nobel Laureates and enjoy  their companionship and enriching discussions during one week. How to react and what to expect from this scenario?

I would love to hear how the Nobel Laureates cope with pressure or distractions. What drives them to continue on their way to success? There are of course many questions that I would like to ask at this point. The most important one would be whether the efforts were worth it.

I am sure that obtaining a Nobel Laureate is a life-changing event. The awarded becomes instantly the role model of thousands of young scientists or even of non-academic people. I would like to know about the feelings of the Nobel Laureate when he or she hears that he or she is someone’s role model. Being the role model of many people is not easy. It brings along new duties and responsibilities that I would be very interested to hear. Even more importantly, I would be glad to know how the Nobel Laureate uses these new possibilities and responsibilities to make positive change.

Photo: Courtesy of Matias Acosta

 

Il Jeon, The University of Tokyo:

Amongst many things that I expect from the Lindau Meeting, I have to say networking is the most important one. Through proactive interaction with the qualified scientist froms around the world, I want to form a network of research collaboration.

I am also very keen on the panel discussions. While interacting with the Nobel laureates is of the utmost importance, discussing with other scientists under the supervision of the senior scientists is equally important.

Photo: Courtesy of Il Jeon

 

Funeka Nkosi, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa:

It is a lifetime opportunity and I am grateful for this opportunity. That is why I want to make the most out of this opportunity. I desire to meet at least 30 of the Nobel Laureates coming to the meeting.  To engage with them and other young scientists, exchange ideas and views. I want to learn from them, be inspired and motivated to do great work in science.  I hope my participation in this meeting will result in the development of international research networks that will result in scientific collaborations which will be helpful in growing the research in lithium-ion batteries and energy storage materials in South Africa.

Photo: Courtesy of Funeka Nkosi

 

Shrikrishnan Sankaran, INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken:

This meeting has an excellent selection of Nobel Laureates from way in the past to very recent. I am very eager to learn about their approach to science, career paths, challenges and personal attitudes. Apart from their scientific brilliance, I believe several other personality and environment based factors play a great role in their success. These are some of the things I hope to learn about at this meeting.

Apart from the Laureates, I also expect to have inspiring exchanges with other young and passionate scientists attending the meeting.

Photo: Courtesy of Shrikrishnan Sankaran

 

Ana Torres, Texas A&M University:

I feel pleased to be part of the upcoming 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. I am personally delighted and professionally motivated to be part of this unique event as a proud representative of Mexico. Along my young academic life in Chemistry, I have been inspired in many ways by important and laureate scientists. It could be an honor to have the opportunity to get to know them better and to listen to their personal and academic experiences. Moreover, to exchange professional interests and key concerns of science in such inspiring atmosphere will surely enrich my life and empower me as a woman scientist to reach my goal to pursue an academic job in theoretical chemistry. This opportunity is coming at the right time when I needed encouragement to establish collaborations and go ahead in the next step of my professional life.

Photo: Courtesy of Ana Torres