Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings

#LINO24 Alumna Xuemei Gu’s (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light) research revolves around the usage of artificial intelligence in experimental quantum physics and the discovery of new quantum-enhanced hardware for practical applications. Her career path wasn’t linear though – read about her interesting journey and outlooks for the future in our new #WomeninResearch interview with Ulrike Boehm on our blog!

Last week, I had the immense privilege of attending the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings as one of ~650 Young Physicists across the globe. The event was attended by 31 Nobel Laureates. When I was selected by Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd, then The Royal Society and finally by Lindau, I was unsure what to expect. Excited in anticipation, yes. But as to what exactly, I knew not. About a week and a half before my flight, I was informed that I had been chosen to co-host the Opening Ceremony with Adam Smith. This was the first time the committee decided to have a Young Scientist on stage, and I was their top choice. No, I did not apply for the role. Of course, I said yes! After a 10-day journey through Europe, attending a workshop in Geneva and giving an invited talk in Trieste, I arrived in Lindau. Following a brief orientation, I was on stage the next afternoon. I nearly got tongue-tied, but my dance performances since age four helped. I love the stage, but the nerve-wracking experience of inviting the German Minister for Education and Research, Donna Strickland, Steven Chu, discussing with the science panel, and speaking in front of my heroes and over six hundred young physicists from nearly all nations was unparalleled. I was so jazzed post-ceremony that it took me ten minutes to realize I was having a one-on-one conversation with Saul Perlmutter and Brian Schmidt who were congratulating me! The week is still too fresh to pen in words. The built-up emotions, the passion and love. At ten in the night, Bill Phillips was chatting outside surrounded by us about fundamental constants (there was free booze inside but who cares, right!) Steven Chu started an impromptu science walk on Mainau, enlightening us about Atomic war politics from the era of the Cold War till now. Saul Perlmutter taught me one-on-one about why he thinks we will soon have some extra clues about dark energy. Didier Queloz, Anne L'Huillier, Reinhard Genzel, Walter Gilbert, John Mather....tirelessly chatted with us all day long. This is a childhood dream come true, and it is not about winning any prizes, it is about acknowledging the passion behind curiosity and the hard work it takes to make human civilization move. Recognition is amazing, but even without it, the pure joy in the quest for knowledge is all-encompassing. Never stop dreaming, and never bow to societal pressure. If you want to check my co-hosting: https://lnkd.in/e4zVakQJ My dearest Shanika Galaudage clicked the third picture!

I am very proud to be vice president and scientific co-chair (together with Rainer Blatt) of this year's Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings #LIN024 in Physics that wrapped up around a week ago. This recent write-up in Nature Magazine from last year's meeting describes very well why this is such a unique and great event. The meeting annually brings together more than 30 Nobel laureates with over 600 young scientists from more then 90 countries to network, to learn and to be mutually inspired. The meeting's diversity in terms of gender, cultural and geographical background vastly exceeds that of any other scientific meeting I know. An extensive nomination and selection process involving a large number of partner organizations all over the world ensures a wide reach and very high level of scientific merits, engagement, ambition and enthusiasm among the young scientists. This year, the Nobel laureates also renewed the 1955 appeal against nuclear war with the Mainau Declaration 2024. https://lnkd.in/dm7DpUe4 Next year's meeting will focus on Chemistry and the national and regional nomination processes will begin soon. If you are a master or PhD student or postdoc in Chemistry or related fields, I recommend to keep an eye out and consider applying. A big thank you to the fantastic and professional organization team in Lindau and all donors and supporting organisations. https://lnkd.in/dgDyjmsz

Nobel Laureate Didier Queloz spoke about the “Exoplanet Revolution” at #LINO24 – planets, including some, that are nothing like the ones in our solar system are not rare but have been discovered in great numbers by now. 🪐 These findings redefine the perception of our own singularity. Missed this fascinating Session? No problem – watch Lectures, Agora Talks and much more in our Lindau Mediatheque and enjoy #LINO24 over again!

Heute am Kiosk: Großes #LINO24 Spezial in der Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Happy 90th birthday, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka! Professor Soyinka, who received the #NobelPrize in Literature 1986, gave two remarkable lectures at our events over the years: ➡️"A Time of Lethal Ambiguities" at the Online Science Days in 2020 #LINOSD ➡️"When Survival Seems Learning Enough" at the 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings #LINO15 Find recordings of both lectures and more in our Lindau Mediatheque: https://ow.ly/pvpR50SAef7

Two #LINO24 Agora Talks tackled the big questions and the weird things in cosmology – Nobel Laureates John C. Mather and Brian P. Schmidt touched upon “The Greatest Challenges” and Nobel Laureate George F. Smoot gave us some insights into the fascinating topic of Dark Energy and Dark Matter. Read about these entertaining Sessions in our new blog post by Ben Skuse.

Two sessions at #LINO24 showcased how the scientific method and cross-disciplinarity are pivotal to both navigating and improving our modern world: ➡️ Nobel Laureate Saul Perlmutter's Agora Talk on "Scientific Thinking for All" ➡️Seven presentations by Young Scientists on cross-disciplinary research projects from TB to climate change. Learn more in our new blog post by Ben Skuse:

This year at #LINO24, the 1994 Fields Medal recipient Efim Zelmanov held the Heidelberg Lecture on the topic of “What Do Mathematicians Think About?”. You can watch the session now in the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings mediatheque: https://lnkd.in/geMHAahW

Reflecting on an incredible and intense week at the #LINO24 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, I am filled with inspiration and gratitude. Engaging with Nobel laureates and young scientists from around the globe was an unforgettable experience and a highlight of my career. This prestigious event brought together 37 Nobel Laureates and 650 young scientists, fostering an environment where ideas flowed freely and collaborations flourished. The discussions sparked fresh perspectives and a spirit of innovation that will shape the future of science. The insights I gained have deeply enriched my scientific journey, and I am eager to integrate them into my research. Listening to laureates share their groundbreaking research, career paths, and challenges was incredibly enlightening. Despite their remarkable achievements, what stood out was seeing them as individuals with their own opinions, biases, and struggles, much like everyone else. Engaging with them provided invaluable career and mentoring advice, offering a glimpse into the human side of these scientific giants. Their humility and openness in sharing their experiences left a profound impact on me and many others. The camaraderie and passion for science were palpable throughout the event, creating a strong sense of community and shared purpose across disciplines. This experience reaffirmed why we pursue science—to explore, to understand, and to contribute meaningfully to our world. The boat trip to Mainau Island and the musical performances throughout the week beautifully blended science and art, adding a special touch to the experience. A standout moment was witnessing 30 Nobel Laureates in Physics and Chemistry from over 10 countries sign the 'Mainau Declaration 2024 on Nuclear Weapons.' David Gross's powerful speech highlighted the urgent need for action against the dangers of nuclear arms. For me, the best part of this meeting was connecting with so many talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. We, the next generation of scientists, are motivated to change and improve academia. We are creative, inspiring, and collaborative. I'll cherish this experience forever and hope to meet some of you again in the future. I am eager to apply these insights to my work and contribute to meaningful scientific advancements. Here's to new beginnings, lifelong connections, and the exciting possibilities ahead in the world of science! Deep gratitude to the INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials and Volker Presser for the nomination. Once again, thanks to the Leibniz-Gemeinschaft for this opportunity! Special thanks to the council members, Nadine Gärber, Christoph Schumacher, and the entire organization team for curating such an amazing program. #LINO24 #LindauNobelLaureateMeeting #Science #NuclearDisarmament #Leibniz #Physics #Chemistry #YoungScientists #NobelLaureates