image: The 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting takes place in Lindau Inselhalle
Credit: Christian Flemming/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings
Today at 14:30 CEST, Countess Bettina Bernadotte af Wisborg, President of the Council, will open the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting – welcoming around 35 Nobel Laureates and hundreds of Young Scientists as well as guests of honour in the Lindau Inselhalle: “At a time when the world's societies are all too often divided, it is invaluable to provide an opportunity for scientists from throughout the world to come together. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings pursue this ambition every year, and we see it as our contribution to a prosperous future characterised by growing mutual understanding.”
Key Themes With Particular Relevance to Society
Today’s ceremony marks the beginning of a week dedicated to the many facets of the Nobel Prize discipline of Physics. Until Friday, various of the programme’s scientific sessions will highlight topics of particular relevance to society at large: solutions for the future of energy supply; the potential and impact of artificial intelligence; and a broader discussion of basic and applied research on quantum physics. During the Opening Ceremony – available at the Lindau Mediatheque tonight – the Lindau Meetings also recall a pivotal moment in their history: 70 years ago to the day, Albert Schweitzer participated in the 4th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, the first Peace Nobel Laureate to attend a Lindau Meeting.
Two Nobel Laureates are contributing very visibly to today’s Opening Ceremony: Donna Strickland will offer the Laureates’ greetings. Steven Chu in turn will give a survey of “Current Key Topics in Physics” before the Meeting’s scientific chairs, Rainer Blatt and Heiner Linke, introduce its scientific programme.
Representatives of Research Politics at the Opening Ceremony
Bettina Stark-Watzinger, German Federal Minister of Education and Research, as well as science politicians from Bavaria and Austria will contribute to the Opening Ceremony.
Bettina Stark-Watzinger:
"Our world seems to be going off the rails: Crises, conflicts, catastrophes. Freedom is essential. It is essential for science, too. Freedom is the strength that we must bank on. Particularly in eventful times like these. I have greatest respect for the Nobel Laureates: for their scientific achievements, but also for being here, for sharing their knowledge, supporting young research talent and thereby sowing the seeds of new peak performance. Multiple generations of researchers gathered on Lake Constance – curious, open-minded, motivated. That is what the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings are about."
Markus Blume, Bavarian State Minister of Science and the Arts:
"Lindau is Bavaria's Stockholm these days. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, close to Austria and Switzerland, are steeped in history and tradition and at the same time innovative and forward-looking. Luminaries such as the Bavarian Nobel Prize winner Prof Dr Reinhard Genzel pass on their knowledge to ambitious young scientists here. Answers to questions of tomorrow are found here today – that is what makes up the unique "Lindau Spirit". I am proud that this global innovation forum is being held in Bavaria. Bavaria is Europe's most innovative region and we do everything we can to keep it that way."
Martin Polaschek, Austrian Federal Minister of Education, Science, and Research:
“These annual meetings are simply unique, and an exceptional opportunity for young scientists to meet and discuss their ideas with eminent scientists. However, we live in an age where the freedom of science and research faces challenges, and our liberal global standards, as well as trust in science and democracy are increasingly under pressure. I am a strong advocate of exchange and cooperation among trusted and like-minded partners to bolster excellence in international research. It is the enthusiasm of young scientists that inspires and motives others to explore their interests, and Lindau is a superb place to host such an extraordinary international community.”
Once again, the ensemble of the Vienna Philharmonic provides a musical note to the opening, which is followed by an official reception hosted by the Free State of Bavaria.
Scientific Programme With New Formats
Texas A&M University will host this year’s International Evening (Monday, 1 July). Cutting-edge research on the conference’s core topics is presented by more than 40 Young Scientists who have qualified for our Next Gen Science Sessions. As an innovation for the Meeting, the “Scientific Exchange Among Young Scientists” offers a forum where our international community of Young Scientists were invited to rank the most promising among their colleagues’ papers. Furthermore, Lindau continues its cooperation with the Heidelberg Laureate Forum by means of the Heidelberg Lecture delivered by Efim Zelmanov (Fields Medal, 1994).
Even beyond discussing pure science, the participating Nobel Laureates and Young Scientists will have ample opportunity for informal exchange with each other at established programme formats, such as Open Exchanges, Laureate Lunches, and Science Walks. The Meeting traditionally ends with another highlight, the “Baden-Württemberg Boat Trip” from Lindau to Mainau Island on its final Friday.
On Mainau Island, the closing panel will combine two trends into the pressing question of “How to Preserve Trust in Science in the Age of AI?” As a first-time at the Lindau Meetings, the West-Eastern Divan Ensemble led by Michael Barenboim will give a concert – continuing the tradition of international understanding and coexistence associated with the island ever since the Mainau Declaration of 1955. After the Closing Ceremony and the unique Science Picnic, the Young Scientists will leave Lake Constance as Lindau Alumni, becoming part of a global network.
#LINO24 in Numbers:
- About 35 Nobel Laureates, including Anne L’Huillier, 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physics
- Apart from Anne L’Huillier, 5 Laureates are present in Lindau for the first time: Alain Aspect and Anton Zeilinger (Physics 2022), Didier Queloz (Physics 2019), Saul Perlmutter (Physics 2011), as well as Richard Henderson (Chemistry 2017).
- Several formats offer a big stage to around 35 Young Scientists.
- The connection between scientists from around the world and Lindau as a city is reinforced through more than 50 local host families for Youngs Scientists.
For Journalists, Bloggers, Science Influencers
Nearly all programme sessions will be gradually published in the Lindau Mediatheque. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings’ team and participants will share their impressions on social media using the hashtag #LINO24. The media guide for the Meeting is available in the media section. Photos of the week will be added to our Flickr profile on an ongoing basis.
If you have any questions about the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and our services, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Media
Wolfgang Haaß
Daniela Thiel
Valeria Wollenweber
Social Media / Lindau Alumni
Christoph Schumacher
Lindau Mediatheque
Patricia Edema
About the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings
For over seventy years, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings have served as unique forum for exchange between Nobel Laureates and Young Scientists. Every summer, more than 600 of the world’s most talented Young Scientists and more than 30 Nobel Laureates are invited to spend a week in Lindau on the German side of Lake Constance, a week full of mutual inspiration and scientific encounters. Since the first Meeting in 1951, more than 35,000 Young Scientists have participated in the Lindau Meetings – for many of them, it has been an experience that has changed their careers and lives, making them part of a unique international network of scientific excellence. Even after years and decades, they are still connected with each other and with the Lindau Meetings through the Lindau Alumni Network.
The original idea of the Meetings goes back to two physicians based in Lindau, Franz Karl Hein and Gustav Wilhelm Parade, as well as to Count Lennart Bernadotte af Wisborg, a member of the Swedish royal family who quickly became the spiritus rector of the Lindau Meetings. From the start, they saw the Meetings as a means to reconcile the peoples of post-war Europe, in particular, the younger generation. Lindau quickly developed into an international forum for the exchange of knowledge between nations, cultures, traditions, and disciplines.
All year long the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings continue to pursue their ‘Mission: Education’ aimed at emphasising the importance of science and advocating science and research. This is also the purpose of the Lindau Mediatheque as a learning platform with teaching materials for schools.
Contact Communications
Wolfgang Haaß
+49 8382 277 31 26
wolfgang.haass@lindau-nobel.org
Further Information
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www.lindau-nobel.org/blog
mediatheque.lindau-nobel.org
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