Final Preparations: Lindau calling! (2016)

In just a few days, Lindau’s Stadttheater (= city theatre) will open its doors to a week full of science and inspirational exchange and education. We, the team of organisers, are very much looking forward to having this incredible number of bright minds here, on our small island.

By now, you’ve probably gone through the numerous different phases of preparation, perhaps even packing. So here we are, about to give you some last minute guidance and lists for repacking your gear.

The Programme

Perhaps you’ve already gotten around to check this year’s meeting programme. If not, don’t worry – here’s the link to the full programme booklet.

Getting here

Actually, it does make sense to start from scratch. As there will not be any shuttle buses to Lindau that are organised by us, you will have to organise your trip to Lindau all by yourself.

Most likely, you’ll be arriving in Lindau by train. All airports you might be flying into offer connections to “Lindau Hbf” (the train station to head to) via train. You can either buy a ticket at the train stations or via www.bahn.com. You have arrived in Lindau as soon as you see water to your left, to your right and in front on you. Welcome to Lake Constance.

Registration

In order to take advantage of everything Lindau has to offer, you need to register with us and get your conference materials. Upon you will receive your name badge that indicates to our staff which events you will attend, your personal agenda, the final programme and more.

Registration will take place in a small tent in front of this year’s meeting venue Stadttheater (Address: Fischergasse 37, 88131 Lindau) and open on Saturday, 25 June from 3:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m and Sunday, 26 June from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Please note that you will have to show a valid ID at the registration desk.

Everything else you need to know

The opening ceremony starts on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. , the Stadttheater will open its doors at 3:00 p.m. For security reasons it is not allowed to bring any large bags. For your convenience, there is a depository truck where your luggage will be securely stored just outside the Stadttheater next to the internet tent. You will have to have your name badge and valid ID-card with you for access.

For a google Map with all the important places in Lindau, please click here (or check the meeting app):

What to Bring & What to Wear

There is no dress code for the regular scientific sessions. For invitational dinners, you may want to bring something more festive (suits, cocktail dresses). As the lake is great for swimming, you may want to bring swim wear. Some of the local swimming pools even offer free entrance for the participants of the Lindau Meeting. Sunscreen and mosquito repellents are a good idea as well.

Make sure to bring comfortable shoes that are suitable for cobblestone pavement or various weather conditions. A hairdryer as well as a voltage converter (220 volt) or adapter may be useful as German socket-outlets vary from those abroad.

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, it is a great idea to wear a traditional festive costume 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 instead.

Internet & Phones

There is an internet café with work stations at the meeting. In addition, the meeting venue is equipped with wireless LAN (WiFi). Please check your conference for the log-in credentials.

It’s always helpful if you bring along your mobile phone so that we will be able to contact you easily. To use a mobile phone in a German network, it needs to support the GSM standard (used all over Europe). The German country code is +49.

Money

The currency used in Germany and many European countries (except Switzerland) is the Euro. Money can be exchanged at airports or at local banks. Credit cards (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) and Maestro/EC cards can be used to withdraw money from ATMs (called “Geldautomaten”) using your PIN. Please check the map to see where to find the nearest ATMs. Cheques and traveller cheques have become rather uncommon and are hardly accepted anywhere.

Emergencies

Please note that our staff is not authorised to hand out any medication. In case of an emergency at the main meeting venue, please contact the staff. 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 if present, or call 112, the official emergency number that will work in all the EU countries and in Switzerland. During the meeting, you will be covered by a health insurance policy provided by the organisers.

The Meeting App

For the first time, there will be a conference app avilable at this year’s Lindau Meeting. All the information from this post can also be found in there (…and more!). For an in-depth explanation on how to get started with the app, please to refer to my colleague Vincenzo’s guide.

Last but not least

If you want to get a taste of the “Lindau spirit” prior to the meeting, we invite you to take a look at our Facebook page or follow us on twitter @lindaunobel. Throughout the week of the meeting, we will try to post as much intersting content as possible via #LiNo16, this year’s official hashtag. Do join the conversation – we’d be happy!

My colleagues 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!

And finally, if you haven’t seen them yet, take a look at our new bags, which will soon be yours 😉