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June 29/30 | July 1 | July 2 | July 3 | July 4 | July 5

Daily Trip Report: 2007 Lindau Meeting

Lectures and Meetings: July 2

After a hearty German breakfast buffet at the hotels, the students gathered at the Inselhalle for the opening session of the 57th Meeting.

The first talk of the morning was given by Craig Mello who won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2006. He presented a lecture on “RNAi and the Development of C. elegans” or “How a Worm Won 5 Nobel Prizes in Medicine.” In his opening remarks, he imparted his belief that science should be conducted in an atmosphere of openness and trust and that communication with collaborators is essential.

Mello's lecture focused on the role of Argonaute proteins in controlling RNAi (RNA interference) pathways for gene silencing. These interactions were studied in the nematode (roundworm) Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), for which the different stages of development and cellular function have been comprehensively characterized. RNAi is an important mechanism for regulating development in multi-cellular organisms.

Ferid Murad, who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998, presented a lecture, “Nitric Oxide as a Messenger Molecule and its Role in Drug Development,” in which he explained the role of nitric oxide in controlling biochemical pathways. He described wide-ranging functions of nitric oxide ranging from acting as a neurotransmitter to serving as a hormone. He discussed approaches to applying this basic knowledge of the multiple roles of this very simple molecule to designing treatments for situations in which abnormal amounts of it either are the cause or are a symptom of a disease.

Hartmut Michel, winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1988 for determination of the three-dimensional structure of the photochemical reaction center, then presented a lecture on the topic “Biofuels – Sense or Nonsense.” He evaluated various proposed approaches for meeting growing needs for energy in a period during which traditional fuels will become less available. In his view, the very high efficiency of photovoltaic cells compared to that of the production of biofuels argues for emphasis on the former in long-range planning. He envisioned a world-wide network of very large photovoltaic installations, perhaps one per continent, connected into national electric grids by superconducting cables.

The three lectures gave the students a taste of the wide range of science that is discussed in Lindau, from fundamental biology through basic medical research to large-scale practical applications.

While the students sponsored by Mars, Incorporated held a group lunch at the Lindauer Hof Restaurant, other members of the U.S. delegation had lunch at the Hotel Stift with delegations from Canada, Czech Republic, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Brazil.

After lunch, the students convened in small groups for focused discussions with the laureates who had given lectures in the morning program. These meetings ran for two hours, allowing for discussion of points from a Laureate’s lecture as well as broader implications of his field of interest.

The evening program brought all students and laureates together for an evening of socializing and dancing. Laureates were seated at the centers of long tables with students around them. During the buffet dinner, students had unlimited access to the laureates at their tables. After the meal, the American delegation congregated for a group photo with Countess Bettina and Count Bjorn and to present gifts to the Bernadotte family. Presenting the gifts were Kathy Davis, Jason Ford-Green, and Carlos Cela.

The highlight of the evening was the traditional polonaise during which women and men paired up at random, promenaded across the dance floor, and finished with a waltz. Later the music became more modern and the dancing faster as students from all countries and laureates enjoyed a different kind of communication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional Polonaise

Students participate in the traditional polonaise during which women and men paired up at random.

 

 

 

 

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