57th Lindau Meeting
Participant Comments
| Sara Andria | Jeff Cameron | Carlos J. Cela | Kathryn Davis |
| Meredith Barnes | Brian Capell | Julianne Chung | Gabriel Eichler |
| Carolyn Bayer | Lisa Carlson | Megan Daschbach | Amy Ensign |
| Melissa Bonner |
Sara Andria
University of Cincinnati
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
It was nice to see that the Nobel Laureates had many interests beyond their own research. Topics such as the impact of science on society, religion and politics were continually addressed at the round table and small group discussions. The Laureates also stressed how important it is for all scientists to be able to communicate to the non-scientific community. The Laureates clearly conveyed that as leaders in the community, it is imperative that we become involved in and educate ourselves on things outside of own research and science in general. The fact that the Laureates have done this and have still been successful has certainly impacted me, and it is something that I will remember as I continue my scientific career.
The lecture that I was most intrigued by was given by Bert Sakmann. His research involves monitoring the current flowing through single ion channels in cell membranes. This research is important because it can determine where damaged tissue is present. Because I use electrochemistry in my own research, it was interesting to see how it could be used for medical applications.
This meeting has certainly been a wonderful experience for me. It was very exciting to meet other students from the US who I may possibly be working with in the future.
There were several opportunities to have lunch and/or dinner with students from the other delegations. This experience was a lot of fun! In particular, it was really interesting to learn about the education systems in other countries and the different types of research going on there. Everyone I met was very nice, and I enjoyed getting to know them!
Meredith Barnes
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sponsor: Mars, Inc.
Interacting with Nobel Laureates has given me insight into the enormous amount of hard work and dedication that goes into a successful research career. Although we cannot all win the Nobel Prize, I think it is a worthy goal for all scientists to strive for work worthy of such recognition.
In the afternoon informal discussions, I went to the sections of Dr. Mello, Dr. Fischer and Dr. Roberts. The day of the Laureate Bazaar, I met with Dr. Hartwell. I found all of these discussions to be valuable. I most enjoyed hearing about the Laureates past experiences and life outside of research. It was reassuring to know that they are really just like the rest of us; they had once been graduate students whose experiments never worked and they suffered setbacks and challenges in their professional careers like everyone else. I also found it particularly interesting how many of the Laureates view winning the Prize as an opportunity to advance not only science, but social change as well. All of them emphasized the importance of science education worldwide and the need for greater collaboration and sharing among researchers. I was very impressed with how excited and interested the Laureates were to be talking with the student delegates.
Meeting other students was one of my favorite aspects of this trip. I had the opportunity to meet graduate and medical students from many countries and hear about their research and educational experiences (which as it turns out, graduate education is very different than here in the US!). The other American students were great as well. Not only do I have possible collaborators at other universities, but wherever I go in the US from now on, I will have a friend.
The Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Students was a once in a lifetime experience that I will not soon forget. I found all the interactions with both the Laureates and my peers to be rewarding. Talking about my research and hearing the success of others really gave me a renewed passion for my work. This experience gave me a sense of how I, as an individual researcher, am an important part of the global scientific community.
Carolyn Bayer
The University of Texas at Austin
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
This meeting offered an opportunity to see the Laureates as people, not just scientists, which was helpful to understanding their motivations and what has allowed them to excel in research. I particularly enjoyed Dr. Michel's lecture on biofuels because it was beneficial to hear about a Laureate's current research and interests, and not just the established research for which they won their prize. I attended informal discussions with Dr. Mello, Dr. Roberts, and Dr. Hartwell. The discussions which focused more on the impact of research on society, rather than in-depth technical discussions, were most valuable.
I made contact with a few American students who are performing research related to my own, and hope to continue contact with them in the future. Overall, it was inspiring to see such a large group of international students meet together for research discussions.
Melissa Bonner
University of Delaware
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Having had this exposure at such an early point of my career is very encouraging. Meeting the Nobel Laureates and hearing about their struggles with their careers, and the obvious rewards that were awaiting them on the other side of those struggles, really motivates me to persevere. Grad school can be rough at times and it is motivating to be told by a Nobel Laureate that you can do it.
I made a lot of new American and international friendships that I consider to be very valuable. Talking with all of the other students at the conference was also incredibly helpful because it made me realize a lot about myself, and in particular, about my current lab situation. The conversations I had while away definitely encourage me to make a lot of changes now that I'm home.
The trip was greater than I could have ever expected. It is so awesome to be in an environment where scientists are being chased around like rock stars! This was the trip of a lifetime. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with my peers. I appreciate the opportunity to gain insight from them and the Laureates.
Jeff Cameron
Washington University in St. Louis University
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
The experiences that I had with the Nobel Laureates will influence and benefit my scientific career in several ways. They further emphasized the notion that the most popular and highly studied fields are not necessarily the ones that will transform the field of science. Many times the unpopular fields will lead to discoveries that will change the way people think about many aspects of science and biology. I also learned not to be discouraged when others feel that your work is not necessarily important.
I found that the lecture by Dr. Helmut Michel had the most value to me. The value was not in the content of the lecture, but in the overall outlook. Dr. Michel spoke about the area of biofuels and had the opinion that this field will go nowhere, and from the title of his lecture biofuels are nonsense. Although I did not agree with what Dr. Michel said, I found great value in hearing what others think of the field and what their ideas for future energy needs are. I had the opportunity to attend informal discussions with Dr. Michel, Dr. Fischer, Dr. Murad and Dr. Roberts. Of these discussions, the one that was most valuable was with Dr. Ferid Murad. The discussions focused more on the personal side of Dr. Murad and less on his scientific achievements. He taught me that to have a productive scientific career, one must make sacrifices. If you are truly passionate about your work, then some sacrifices are needed. He also instilled the fact that hard work can pay off and also that the easy road might not be the right road.
This meeting allowed me to have excellent conversations with numerous Nobel Laureates and international students that would not have normally occurred. By bringing together people in a wide array of disciplines I was able to learn way more about science, politics and international similarities and differences than in any forum that I have attended or expect to attend. The meeting provided a platform to make lasting connections and gain valuable insights. I could not have asked for a better experience. I am grateful for the opportunity that I was given and am already planning on sharing the experience with my department in the form of a seminar.
Brian Capell
New York University School of Medicine
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
Having the chance to hear the Laureates speak on both a formal and informal level was really an opportunity of a lifetime. It was very inspiring for my own scientific career to hear about the process through which they arrived at their major discoveries as well as to see that they are completely normal human beings like us. As a future physician-scientist, it was great to see how such basic work can lead to clinical therapies.
I attended Craig Mello's, Avram Hershko's, Richard Robert's, and Gunter Blobel's informal discussions. I found all of them very valuable in a similar way to what I mentioned above. I was able to ask Gunter Blobel a particular question that I was curious about and enjoyed that he continued to refer to my question throughout the rest of the informal discussion. I wrote down all of my favorite quotes from the meeting, including one of Blobel's that came from these discussions: "Einstein once said, 'You don't need to be incredibly intelligent to do science. You only need be passionately curious.'"
I learned a great deal about the way that science and medicine are practiced in places ranging from China to India to Great Britain. Likewise, I was able to teach them more about the U.S. regarding numerous medical and political topics.
Lisa Carlson
University of Rochester
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
Spending a week with the Nobel Laureates was a highly motivating experience. My scientific career will directly benefit from this meeting because I have gained a greater appreciation for the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of science. The Laureates repeatedly stressed that their discoveries would not have been possible without their mentors and collaborators. They also emphasized that scientists must be involved not only in research, but also that they should participate in education, politics, and the communication of scientific ideas to the public.
I attended the discussions with Michel, Hershko, Blobel, and Zinkernagel at the Group Discussions and Ciechanover, Hunt, Hartwell, and Roberts at the Laureate Bazaar. I particularly enjoyed the discussion lead by Richard Roberts at the Bazaar, who commented on scientific competition and the importance of publishing quality over quantity. The prevailing theme of this part of the discussion was that researchers should focus less on the number of publications they contribute during graduate school, and more on the quality of the work that they are publishing.
Having dinner with Dr. Fischer and his son-in-law was a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed hearing him talk about his reaction to winning to Nobel Prize and his son-in-law provided an interesting perspective about the impact that winning the prize had on his family and friends. I also appreciated the holistic feel of the meeting, that science was important, but that meeting other students and being able to share our experiences together in Lindau was just as significant.
The Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates has been one of the most valuable experiences of my graduate career. I applied for the meeting hoping to come away with a better sense of the global scientific community and the role of researchers in meeting the needs of our society, and I feel as though I have gained that perspective. I felt that meeting the U.S. and international students was just as important as meeting the Laureates, and some of my favorite moments took place when talking with students from other delegations. I want to thank the sponsors and organizers again for making this opportunity a reality.
Carlos J. Cela
North Carolina State University
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
I did enjoy the lectures, but what was really outstanding was to be able to access the Laureates as persons, to see how they faced some of the same situations I am facing now. I think most of us students could identify with experiences described by the Laureates in these informal settings, and this brought about a sense of sharing a part of our life, of belonging to the scientific community way beyond the sharing of scientific knowledge. And in my opinion this feeling of belonging, of being part of a broad scientific network, is extraordinarily important for our careers, as they entail a lifelong effort.
I appreciated insightful comments regarding practical matters from several of the Laureates. Come to mind Prof. Hunt's words '..wishful thinking is the enemy of good science', Prof. Hersko giving us guidelines on how to choose a good research topic, Prof. Murad advice on how to present our work to fellow scientists and society at large, and Prof. Fisher's comments about how important is to take time to think and understand our work.
We always had available the information we needed for the events in advance, to a point that I found people from other delegations will ask me about what was going on in Lindau, because we were always well informed and prepared. We were provided with ample access to the Laureates and opportunity to network with a lot of the international students.
The basic experience I got out of sharing time with the Nobel Laureates is that anything can be achieved if one perseveres and keeps an open mind. It was particularly encouraging to share meals and other informal activities with people who have attained the highest levels of professional recognition, and hear from them how they built their knowledge, lives and careers one day at a time, through hard work, applying simple but consistent principles.
Julianne Chung
Emory University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Having the delegation meet in Washington D.C. before going to Lindau was crucial to establishing a sense of community and friendship among the group. It was the perfect opportunity to meet and converse with the organizers of the program as well as the rest of the students.
The impromptu or informal conversations with the Laureates over dinner or coffee were most insightful and one of my favorite parts of the meeting. During lunch on Thursday, I had the immense pleasure of being inspired and amazed by Dr. Avram Hershko. Over the years I have met many scientists who love what they do, but none as much as Dr. Hershko. He just radiated with joy whenever he talked about science. He was a warm, kind man and whenever he smiled, you couldn’t help but smile too. As he left the table, he told us to enjoy and love science.
Though meeting with the Nobel Laureates was the central component of the trip, I think the friendships and connections that I made with the other American students will be the long-term benefits from attending this meeting. Having a diverse group of scientists made the week feel less like a scientific conference, but rather an enriching experience in which we were a united group of scientists teaching and learning from each other.
My experience in Lindau is one that I will never forget. Never have I felt so much passion and enthusiasm for science in one place than when I was in Lindau. The week overflowed with engaging lectures and round table discussions, conversations with Laureates and interactions with US and foreign students. It was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life as a scientist!
Megan Daschbach
Washington University in St Louis
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
These men and women are the heroes. The Laureates are the few who have shown themselves to be capable of seeing what nature protects from the rest of us who feel hopelessly blind. These are the people I once saw as being so different from myself. This meeting has served to highlight our similarities and show that it is possible for hardworking people with a passion for science, and yes, a lot of luck, to make it to the point where our work leaves this world a much better place than before we began. The energy with which I left this meeting, I will carry with me throughout my program and my career.
Dr. Murad's lecture, Nitric oxide as a messenger molecule and its role in drug development, held the most value as far as my own research is concerned. My group and I are very interested in the cellular membrane and thus communication between the cells, especially with the use of a molecule that can diffuse through the bilayer, was of the most relevance. Not only new insights into my research, but motivation to continue what I love to do.
I met so many wonderful people, both from my own delegation and from around the world. One minute I was drawing some of my newly synthesized molecules as an illustration on a napkin and the next I was giving my opinions on religion and politics. This is an experience that all scientists should have, because when we can come together like we did in Lindau, and be able to see each other for our similarities through our differences, a really unique type of learning takes place. I'm convinced now, having had the experience, that that is truly necessary for us, the future of science, to push for a more united global front in both our field and our friendships. I have been receiving emails since before I even got back into the country from scientists I met in Lindau for post doc opportunities. I know that it is only a matter of time, as I get back into my own research, before I begin to pull out business cards of scientists I met to ask their opinion on a problem I'm having or to ask if a collaboration is possible.
This is what the meeting in Lindau is: it is unity, it is excitement, it is knowledge, it is experience, it is wisdom, it is science, and it is life changing.
Kathryn Davis
University of Pittsburgh
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
One important thing that I learned from my experience with the Laureates is to find an engrossing problem and build your research around it. It doesn’t matter if others find it just as interesting: if it engages your talents and your imagination and fills a gap in the knowledge base, it’s a good problem for you to address. You can often spend a lifetime on the subsequent questions posed by the original question and barely even scratch the surface! However, the most important thing I learned in Lindau is the great need for communication, not only from one scientist to another but also between scientists and non-scientists. Dr. Craig Mello’s comments about his ongoing collaboration with Dr. Andrew Fire, with whom he shared the Nobel Prize, showed me that the best and most progressive research is ultimately realized through sharing ideas with your peers, not by locking yourself in the lab and trying to do everything alone. Throughout the course of the week, several other Laureates commented on ways they have used their special influence to inform people about issues of science that intersect with public policy, such as cancer research or AIDS treatment.
Personally, the Lindau meeting reaffirmed my desire to become a good teacher. It seems to me that the ramifications of scientific advancements are increasingly debated in the public sphere. In light of that, I find it critical and a fascinating problem - to help non-scientists to get as full of an understanding of these problems from a scientific standpoint as they can, to inform a personal viewpoint on these subjects.
My stay in Lindau, as well as the Meeting itself, was fantastic. Every staff member, student and Laureate that I met was friendly and inviting, and it was a privilege to spend time talking with them in such a lovely setting.
Gabriel Eichler
Boston University
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
Learning about the dedication and commitment that these scientists had for their research was inspiring and humbling. Great discoveries and progress are neither made day by day, nor month by month, but rather year by year.
I most enjoyed the opportunities to speak with the Laureates in small break out sessions.
I, of course, made new friends with the other delegates and other international students. Seeing the breadth and internationality of the scientific community was very inspiring and encouraging that I have many fellow researchers among my same generation. Eventually we will be the leaders of the labs and institutes of science.
This has been a great, life changing experience. It was extremely well organized and we, as a delegation, made me proud of the American scientific community.
Amy Ensign
University of Rochester
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
My career ambitions include teaching. As such this experience will bring science to life in my classroom. Being able to share the information I heard directly from Nobel Laureates will hopefully excite students about science. The Lindau Meeting creates enthusiasm about science and made me eager to continue my education.
For me the lecture with the most value was Craig Mello's. His lecture was accessible to a general audience and he had an excellent presentation. I think this was of the most value to me not only because of the excellent science behind his talk but because of the manner in which he presented his work. Scientists need to be effective communicators in order to disseminate scientific knowledge. Watching Craig's lecture provided me with the opportunity to learn from someone who has excellent presentation skills. I attended informal discussions with Hartmut Michel, Lee Hartwell, and Rolf Zinbernagel. Lee Hartwell is very concerned about diagnostics techniques for early disease detection. I think his genuine concern for public health is admirable and a wonderful example of how a Nobel Laureate can use his or her influence to promote change.
The interactions with Nobel Laureates left me with the impression that persistence and dedication leads to achievement. The Laureates are humans who let their love of science lead their careers and were fortunate enough to be recognized for it. I found it admirable that, for the most part, their awards left them humble and down-to-earth. I am excited to share these experiences with my coworkers at my University and with my future students.
