image: The 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting begins today at 13.30 CEST with the opening ceremony. view more
Credit: Christian Flemming/Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings
Today at 13.30 CEST, Countess Bettina Bernadotte af Wisborg, President of the Council, will open the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting – welcoming around 40 Nobel Laureates and hundreds of Young Scientists as well as guests of honour in the Inselhalle: “In addition to the question of how the meetings will deal with climate change and artificial intelligence in the future, diversity continues to be important this time: We are firmly convinced that greater diversity helps us to achieve our leitmotif and goal ‘Educate. Inspire. Connect.’ more effectively. Furthermore, looking around us, we see a world in conflict. Let us make this Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting a statement of hope, and of our belief in a better future. And we base this belief on the power of exchange between cultures and generations, and what this exchange can yield.”
Representatives of Research Politics at the Opening
Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister of Education and Research, emphasises in her speech in Lindau: "Cutting-edge research thrives on exchange across borders and generations. When the perspectives and findings of scientists from different nations come together, global challenges can be solved. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings are particularly valuable for this as an international forum. Here, not only important networks are created but also bridges between nations. In the Federal Government, we are always happy to support the meetings. I am very pleased that artificial intelligence is on the agenda this year. Because AI is a huge opportunity that we must seize."
Markus Blume, Chairman of the Joint Science Conference and Bavarian State Minister for Science and the Arts, at the opening of the 72nd Nobel Laureate Meeting: “Lindau once again turns into a grand stage for science. The Nobel Laureate Meetings are a unique platform for networking and for the exchange of young researchers with the scientific elite. There is no better place for such a meeting than Bavaria, because the Free State is investing substantially in the research and education of the future with its 5.5 billion innovation program 'Hightech Agenda Bavaria'. We are systematically expanding the already excellent conditions for innovative research, making Bavaria fit for the future as a world-class science location. Welcome to Bavaria – not only in the context of the Nobel Laureate Meetings, we are always happy to attract outstanding scientists from all over the world!”
Scientific Programme Running Until Next Friday
For the upcoming six days, the meeting programme is dedicated to the Nobel Prize discipline of Physiology/Medicine. With artificial intelligence in medicine and the effects of climate change on health, current issues will be discussed. In keeping with its self-understanding, the meeting will again address topics from the field of “Science in Society” – this year with a special focus on diversity in research.
The opening will take place on Sunday, 25 June, at 13.30 CEST, with musical accompaniment by an Ensemble of the Vienna Philharmonic, followed by a reception hosted by the Republic of Austria in the foyer of the meeting venue Inselhalle offering opportunities for personal exchange. In a video message, former U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (2007) Al Gore calls on the meeting participants to actively advocate their research findings – particularly in the context of climate change – to policymakers and government, the private sector, businesses and civil society. At 16.45, a panel discussion will kick off the scientific programme: Nobel Laureates Martin Chalfie, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard and Harold E. Varmus as well as the Young Scientists Rasha Shraim and Marwa Shumo will discuss the topic of diversity in science.
The big stage then belongs to Frances H. Arnold, 2018 Chemistry Nobel Laureate, for her first lecture in Lindau: Innovation by Evolution – Bringing New Chemistry to Life. Morten Meldal, who will lecture on click chemistry afterwards, has already experienced the Lindau meetings before – even though he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year: Meldal was invited in 1986 as a 32-year-old Young Scientist and is living proof of the high-calibre participants at the meetings. He is the second Lindau Alumnus to return to the meeting as a Nobel Laureate, following Bert Sakmann (Young Scientist 1963, Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine 1991). This year’s host country is the Republic of Indonesia, which will present its activities in research and science as well as their national culture on the International Day – traditionally the Monday of the meeting week.
As part of the Next Gen Science Sessions, more than 40 Young Scientists who have qualified for this stage with convincing abstracts will give insights into their current research topics. The so-called Heidelberg Lecture in cooperation with the Heidelberg Laureate Forum will be held by Shwetak N. Patel, speaking about “The Emergence of Mobile Phones and Wearables for Health.” Patel was awarded the 2018 ACM Prize in Computing.
Until Friday, 30 June, the participating Nobel Laureates and Young Scientists will have ample opportunity for intensive exchange with each other at Lake Constance. Various programme formats such as Agora Talks, Laureate Lunches and Science Walks promote personal dialogue. Traditionally, on the final day, as part of the scientific programme, the “Baden-Württemberg Boat Trip” from Lindau to Mainau Island takes place. Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science, Research and the Arts of the State of Baden-Württemberg, is expected
to attend. The topic of the closing panel will be the impact of climate change on individual and societal health.
New Member of the Honorary Senate: Marius Müller-Westernhagen
During the opening of the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, German singer and songwriter Marius Müller-Westernhagen will be inducted into the Honorary Senate of the Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. In his laudation, the Chairman of the Board, Professor Jürgen Kluge, emphasises: “Not only with his lyrics, but also with his personal commitment, does the artist, who has been influential in the German-speaking world for decades, stand up for diversity, humanity, freedom and against racism. It is this attitude of Marius Müller-Westernhagen that fits perfectly with the objectives of the Lindau Meetings.” The Honorary Senate is the most prestigious committee of the Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Says Müller-Westernhagen: “I support with all my heart your vision and your hard work for a better and fairer world. Keep up the good work and thank you!”
#LINO23 in Numbers:
- Around 40 Nobel Laureates, including Morten Meldal, 2022 Nobel Laureate and Lindau Alumnus from 1986
- Together with him, 6 Laureates are present in Lindau for the first time: For Physiology/Medicine, Charles M. Rice (2020), John O’Keefe (2014) and Mario R. Capecchi (2007); for Chemistry, Emmanuelle Charpentier (2020) and Frances H. Arnold (2018)
- Next Gen Science Sessions offer more than 40 Young Scientists
a big stage
For Journalists, Bloggers, Science Influencers
With an accreditation for the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, media representatives have access to the programme and can follow the exchange between Nobel Laureates and Young Scientists. Media representatives who are unable to travel to Lindau may follow selected highlights from the programme via live stream at lindau-nobel.org. Nearly all programme sessions will be successively published in the Lindau Mediatheque.
The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings’ team and participants will share their impressions on social media with the hashtag #LINO23. The press guide for the meeting is available in the media section. Photos of the meeting week will be added to our Flickr profile on an ongoing basis.
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