57th Lindau Meeting
Participant Comments, G-N
Jodi Gilman
Brown University
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health
I think that it's easy for graduate students to get burned out and also to get extremely wrapped up in their own particular field/topic, and I felt that the meeting helped with both of those issues. It made me excited about science, and it was extremely inspirational for us to hear so many success stories! Also, it was very valuable for us to learn about what everyone else (both the other students and the Laureates) was doing, and helped me see all the best science going on around the world outside of the small area of cognitive neuroscience. The contacts that I've made with both the other US students as well as the international students will hopefully benefit me tremendously in my scientific career.
I attended a lot of discussions, and all of them were extremely valuable. I loved the round-table discussions because I think that when the Laureates did not have prepared speeches, you could really see their personal views and personalities. I gained a tremendous amount of insight from my discussions with them, about the value of risk-taking in science and why it's important to try to do things that no one has done before instead of always doing what you know will work. I also had conversations about the value of basic research and how important it is, despite everyone's inclination toward clinical application.
I was so impressed with the people I met. Everyone was so smart and interesting and had such a colorful background. I made instant connections with several of the students there who are totally outside of my field, who I never would have gotten the chance to meet otherwise. The international students were also very interesting to talk to, since their graduate experiences were so different than my own. Also, I realized that I would have an intelligent conversation with a Nobel Laureate! At first, I think we were all intimidated by the prospect of approaching a Nobel Laureate, but we soon realized that they were just people like us who happened to be extremely bright and very lucky. I don't think I'll be nearly as intimidated when I speak to other investigators in my career.
It is so rare for such an incredible group of people from all different scientific disciplines and from all different countries to come together for a whole week of conversation, and yet it is such a valuable experience. I'd never been to a conference like Lindau, and I never will again- it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wish that every graduate student could attend the conference... I loved every part of it. I am going to tell everyone I know to apply for this in the future!
Haley Hill
Northwestern University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
The most valuable lecture for me was given by Werner Arber concerning molecular evolution. It was very stimulating to hear a well articulated explanation of the driving factors for molecular evolution, which ultimately influences macroscale evoulution. I also attended Dr. Arber's small group discussion, where we had a wonderful debate and exchange. I attended informal discussions with Craig Mello, Rich Roberts, Blobel, F.Murad and Werner Arber. The discussion with Rich Roberts was the most valuable because we discussed not only his research but what it is like to be a journal editor and start a major biotech company. It was very insightful to understand how a scientist can make the transition from the lab and bench into the world of business while still keeping connected with the scientific community.
Many countries have very different approaches to higher education and the requirements etc. It was fun to learn about the different systems from the students who worked in them. The trip was a wonderful chance to make connections with American and International students and the lectures provided a great framework for scientific discussion. It was extremely interesting to learn about the different projects being done by other graduate students around the world, and to hear how their programs are executed. The discussions with the Laureates were fun and enlightening, as they exposed the students to the many aspects of the professional and personal lives. Showing how a scientist can have a great impact on society in a great many ways.
Samantha Horvath
Ohio State University
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
The main theme from all of the Nobel Laureates was to do interesting research. Even if a Nobel Prize isn't in someone's future, by virtue of his/her passion for his/her field of study, his/her science is important. I think that's most important aspect of the meeting, to find your passion and stick with it, despite (a certain degree) of peer pressure and frustration. Many individuals were interested in winning their own Nobel Prizes, but I am not one of them. I want to do good science and have individuals judge me on the quality of work--that's something that all scientists have in common. As the Nobel Laureates mentioned, winning a Nobel Prize is just dumb luck!
I attended the student discussions for E. Eigen, E. Fischer, and R. Roberts. These student discussions either had smaller discussion groups, allowing for more one-on-one interaction, or featured Nobel Laureates who answered broad-topic questions, rather than focusing on very detailed-oriented questions on his research. My most favorite event was having dinner on Tuesday with Dr. Edmond Fischer. It was fantastic to have the chance to speak with him in such an informal setting. He's now one of my most favorite people!
The new interactions and new friendships made with the international students were really great. I made a friend from Poland. It was very interesting to chat with an "outsider" who could give his/her perspective on American culture. I definitely value the new friendships and colleagues that I met from the American delegation, and I hope to have the chance to see them again and hear more about their research.
Overall, I would rate this opportunity as one of the most important and most gratifying experiences of my life, and I am very fortunate and grateful to have had this opportunity. I hope that this meeting continues to bring international peers together, and who knows maybe we really can gain "peace through science."
Matthew Humbard
University of Florida
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
At the very least, I returned from the meeting recharged and ready to tackle my research project. In addition, I felt like I had gained a greater prospective, having glanced at several different fields of science that I hadn't considered before due to time or lack of interest. I think the Laureates gave us a glimpse at success. Too often we are plagued by our failures on the bench. It’s easy to get frustrated and even depressed about your results. The Laureates stood as example of eventual success. Most of them remained humble despite their obvious achievements. Making it seem possible that success isn't out of the reach of all the students that were at the meeting.
I attended all of the lectures. I don't envy the Laureates having to give talks to such a diverse audience. Most of the talks given were very interesting. My favorite talks were Blobel on nuclear pore complex, Fischer on tyrosine kinases, Hershko on ubiquitin, Sakmann on neurology, and Mello on RNAi. I enjoyed the more technical talks about their personal discoveries. In the small group discussions, I was able to pick Hershko's mind in his session about the N-end rule and targeting of protein substrates in the proteasome and ubiquitin system.
I was able to start a collaboration with a professor I met at the America's lunch. He was from Mexico but was currently working in France. I think our collaboration will be productive and help my career. It was probably the best scientific meeting I have ever attended. Although I didn't give a formal presentation of my research, we never stopped talking science, with the Laureates and other students. I learned an incredible amount of scientific and general knowledge.
Giao Huynh
University of Utah
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Meeting a Nobel Laureate would be great experience for many people. Having the opportunities to meet and talk to 16 of them is a life time experience. I was quite impressed to see how humble they are and their interest in interacting with students and young researchers like us. Talking to them, involving in their discussions has given me extra inspiration to work harder and advance in my career.
My research interest is modeling the infections of virus and bacteria inducing cancers. Hence, I also enjoyed lectures given by Dr. Hunt, Dr. Ciechanover, and Dr. Zinkernagel. These lectures gave me more knowledge on cancer development, and how immune system works within the body. I attended discussions with Dr. Mello, Dr. Ciechanover, Dr. Blobel, and Dr. Zinkernagel. The 'Bazaar' session with Dr. Ciechanover stood out among them for different reasons. He acknowledged that the group involved people from different fields in sciences and he tried to make sure everyone understand the questions, concepts and ideas that were brought forward for discussion. During discussion, he provided examples on viruses that can take advantage of the ubiquitous system within our bodies and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was the most sophisticated virus in his opinion.
I got to know a friend from China and we had a great discussion on her work and my research. She is doing research on patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. This is a type of cancer related to Epstein-Barr virus infection, which is the topic that I am working on for my thesis. Further opportunities for research and collaboration are promising.
Patricia Jones
University of Delaware
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
At first, I was really nervous to speak with the Laureates and was quite intimidated. By the end of the meeting, however, I had overcome my shyness and was able to interact with them with no problem. This meeting taught me that no matter how accomplished a scientist is, most of them are quite approachable and it is well worth my time to approach them and learn from them. I also left the meeting with an energized view toward my research, ready to get back to work and apply what I've learned to my own research. These new insights will be so valuable to me no matter what avenue I pursue in my scientific career.
Although I learned something from every lecture, I would say that Sir Timothy Hunt's lecture had the most value for me. His personality really came across in his presentation. His work on the cell cycle is also fascinating. I had heard from past students that had gone to the meeting that they learned that the Laureates were really down to earth, but I guess I didn't realize that until listening to Dr. Hunt's lecture. He is a very talented speaker and very engaging to listen to.
I learned that even the Nobel Laureates can be stumped on a science question! In addition, I learned that they have a careful, insightful approach to research marked by a great deal of preparation.
I was so happy to meet all of the American students, I made friends that I believe I will have for a very long time. I also met several international students that I will keep in touch with. Even though we all work in very different places, we all experience the same disappointments and triumphs and we all are deeply invested in our research.
Steven Jung
Savannah River National Lab
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
Traveling as a group is important in my view. It helps to get the majority of the introductions out of the way so that our time could be spent meeting students from other delegations.
I think hearing the stories and perspectives from accomplished scientists can help and inspire young scientists to make tomorrow's discoveries.
I met several people that I have already contacted and are communicating with on both professional and personal levels. The meeting is a great opportunity to increase our networking circles for future collaboration.
The meals with the Laureates were probably some of the least formal gatherings, and were nice because I felt they really opened up as opposed to those at the meetings. The international students were fun to meet with and had interesting perspectives on the world in general.
Steven Karpowicz
UCLA
Sponsor: Mars, Inc.
Conveying the Laureates' enthusiasm for science was, I feel, the central purpose of the meeting. While not everyone can win a Nobel Prize, every scientist can strive to enjoy the work they do and try their best in discovering how nature works. I consider the greatest benefit of the meeting to my career to simply be the inspiration to become the best scientist that I can be.
While some of the lectures did interest me more than others, all were informative. I especially liked Richard Roberts' talk on the diversity of bacteria and Rolf Zinkernagel's talk on potential HIV and TB vaccines. I attended discussions with Eigen, Roberts, Blobel, and Zinkernagel. Student questions to laureates ranged from requests for laureate thoughts on a students research to their opinion on the current and future state of their scientific discipline to their life history and any bits of wisdom they accumulated during their time. Especially, it was the personal anecdotes, experiences, and opinions that the laureates shared that I found to be most interesting. A common theme that arose from many was a great love for science. Summarizing the words of Richard Roberts, “Imagine the perfect job. I have that job. Science and research is my hobby, and I would not want to do anything else.”
As I was supported by the Mars Corporation, it was especially valuable for me to speak to the scientific director of Mars and learn more about the company. To network with potential employers is always a professionally positive experience.
The Lindau meeting was a truly unique experience. To enjoy the scientific and personal discussions with the Laureates was a grand opportunity for learning. Further, the international aspect of the meeting allowed meaningful exchanges with students from many countries and cultures, which enhanced the feeling that science is a truly global enterprise working to the good of all.
Joyce Lin
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
The question and answer sessions were interesting in that we were able to hear what the Laureates as well as the students had to say. The round table discussions were perhaps the best, though. I learned a lot about the different types of work that are being done in the field of medicine. I also heard a bit about personal lives, beliefs, and advice for a successful career.
Through interactions with the international students, I learned a lot about the way universities in other countries operated, as well as the differences and similarities in the way science was regarded abroad. The other students in the American delegation were really open to discussing their research. I was able to see what other kinds of things were going on in other parts of the country. I was able to exchange contact information with some international students, as well as with many American students. It's important to see science in the light of other countries and people. The insight will help tailor future research to more important and universal themes.
Aaron Livingston
Washington State University
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
Experiences with the Laureates gave us a good understanding of the road that is ahead and what to expect, while these individuals are good scientists it is more effort, then brilliance that leads to great discoveries.
The discussion with Roberts was the most insightful, he showed us that while these are great men of science they are slightly powerless elsewhere in the world. Roberts reminds us that there is more to life then science and our opportunity of living in academia does not mean we should isolate ourselves from the world. Being the future means more then staring down a microscope, we have to be prepared to look at the world and ourselves and not be afraid to take a step in the right direction.
The Laureates inspire us, not for what they discovered, but how they did it and what they sacrificed for the knowledge of the world. I met many great people, international and American alike and they remind us why we choose to do science in the first place. We are all searching for answers that are the purpose of science, and who better to give us ways to start looking then those that have found the greatest answers of their days. It really was an experience like no other, something we all will carry and treasure throughout our careers, especially to the few of us that will come back to Lindau as Laureates ourselves.
Sara Lorenz
University of California, Irvine
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
The opportunities for networking with peers, colleagues, and potential future employers during the meeting were everywhere. Beginning in Washington, DC, I was able to meet many individuals that have the potential to impact my future career. I have made at least three contacts will peers for potential collaborations. I was also able to make some professional contacts with future employers as well. Also, spending a week surrounded by scientists with a variety of backgrounds with only a passion for science in common was inspirational.
Although it is a difficult decision, I would have to say that the lecture by Craig Mello was the most significant for me. Although his prize winning work is not really related to my field, I felt that he gave an outstanding presentation. He set an excellent example of how to present scientific material to a general audience and make it accessible to almost anyone. He was also able to make his talk humorous and was able to hold the audiences attention. It was also refreshing to see him promote scientific involvement in political forums. Often as scientists we become so engrossed in our work that we forget that we also have an obligation to our surrounding communities, whether it is local or global, to offer our scientific perspective on political issues, ranging from global warming to the implementation of medical advances in third world countries.
In addition to meeting many people from the U.S., I also had the opportunity to meet many people from all over the world. I am still surprised about the number of emails I continue to receive from international students that I gave my business card to. In terms of my professional development, I was able to form many relationships with people that have the potential for future collaborations.
Overall, I would say that this was a once in a lifetime experience.
Daniel Lutterman
Ohio State University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
The interactions with the laureates have motivated me to work hard in an area that I find interesting and keep my eyes open for interesting discoveries. The common denominator in every Laureate’s prize winning story was that they were not looking for the discoveries they made. They were just hard working scientist in the right place at the right time.
I attended all the lectures and found the round table discussions to be the most useful. The debates in the round table discussions were eye-opening and allowed us to see the humanity of these Laureates. We can read about the science that won each Laureate their award, but seeing them discuss current topics allowed us to see these researchers as people and not just amazing scientists.
Another amazing aspect of this conference was the interactions with other scientist at the same or near the same level of education as me. These are the people that I will be working with in the future and it was a great experience to be able to form bonds with some of the delegates and develop friendships that I hope can grow into fruitful collaborations in the future.
In general, the one word that best describes my experience in Lindau is awesome. The setting, the people, and the Laureates were all amazing. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I would gladly endorse to anyone.
Diego Martinez
Los Alamos
National Laboratory
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
This experience has shown me several points about a career in science. 1) Few people win unshared prizes, and Mello underscored this point in his comments about how important an open collaboration was in his prize winning discovery. 2) It is OK to say "I don't know." We are not required to know everything, but you should be top notch in the field. It was also interesting to note how focused this special group of people are, and that seems to be a key in achieving at this level.
I have had the chance to interact with many, many students and form friendships with some of the best future scientists on the planet. I handed out approximately 30 business cards and have heard from some very nice international students! While I may not see any of them again, science is a small group and I will run into a few of them I am sure. Within the American group I will always value the discussions I have been a part of and the great times we had. In a few cases, I have already discussed a possible collaboration with members of the American team.
Carlee McClintock
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Meeting other students before and during the orientation at DOE headquarters fostered a sense of camaraderie that persisted throughout the journey. And hearing from representatives of the institutions that made our trip possible gave us important insights about their mission to fund research endeavors, as well as a sense of responsibility to fulfill the call for scientific leadership.
A career in scientific research is a journey into the unknown, embedded with formidable obstacles and hidden treasures. The Lindau meeting provided a forum for these Nobel Laureates to share their experiences and allowed students to ask personal questions pertaining to issues faced both early on and throughout their careers. Sir Tim Hunt encouraged us to be stubborn despite expected failures, and Craig Mello emphasized there is a kernel of wisdom to be gained from every failed though well-designed experiment. Edmond Fischer urged us to step away from the bench or computer simply to dream and foster our innate creativity that can help us view things from a different perspective. Revisiting sentiments such as these shared by the Laureates may serve to fuel my motivation when the going gets tough, as they assured us it will.
In the mornings, lectures were given by Laureates in a variety of styles, often diverging from their pioneering work into various applied topics. Of the thirteen lectures presented over the week in Lindau, a few stood out in my memory. Craig Mello won an opening round of applause by attributing his success to communicative and trusting collaborations, then went on to unfurl the story of RNA interference that has revolutionized targeted gene function studies. Günter Blobel enthusiastically described the structural dynamics of the nuclear pore complex that allows bidirectional traffic across the nuclear membrane. Rolf Zinkernagel closed the lectures by outlining the challenges facing vaccine development for diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV, largely due to the ability of these pathogens to populate regions of organs outside immune surveillance.
The afternoons held more informal question and answer sessions with individual Laureates that often gave way to open-dialogue discussions. Students took issue with Harmut Michels rejection of biofuels as a viable energy source, and discussed with Lee Hartwell the bioethical issues that future generations may face about genetic engineering of humans. Sir Tim Hunt pondered a cell’s ability to know its purpose in forming and maintaining the delicate structure of a kidney nephron, and Bert Sakmann fielded questions on recording electrical signals between neurons to better understand brain circuitry.
Scott Melton
Tulane University Health Science Center
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
Being able to talk with the persons responsible for shaping the field of molecular biology for past forty years was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I got to see firsthand how all of the Laureates are passionately curious about their science. None of them were actively seeking a Nobel Prize; they were just doing what it is they have to do. I hope and think that some of that curiosity has rubbed off on me. I’ve returned to my lab excited and invigorated about my research and when the tedium begins to bear down Ill be able to look back on this meeting and the people I met that week and be recharged.
I attended the discussions with Professors Michel, Arber, Mello, Blobel, and Roberts. The discussion with Professor Arber had the most value for me personally. It was obvious from his comments that he was getting as much from the meeting as the young researchers. The group I was with discussed a very diverse range of topics including Dr. Arber’s Nobel winning work, a modern view of evolution, and how a scientist can reconcile his or her religious views with their role as an investigator. I also particularly enjoyed the discussion with Dr. Blobel. I agree with him that while hard work and perseverance is integral to scientific discovery, time to dream and freedom to fail is also very important for truly creative work.
This meeting was perhaps the best one I’ll ever attend throughout my career. Interacting with the Nobel Laureates in a casual and informal atmosphere is an experience I will never forget. It was inspiring to have reaffirmed that the basic tenets of biology were not passed down from on high, but were discovered by real people speaking at this meeting. At this meeting I was able to talk with people who epitomize what a scientist should be as well as learn from them principles that I will use in my own research. Along those same lines, meeting graduate students from around the world was truly eye-opening and enriching. I feel that many of the people I met that week will remain friends far into the future. I would certainly recommend this experience to anyone.
Jared Minkel
University of Pennsylvania
Sponsor: Mars, Inc.
I think the lecture on biofuels was the most valuable for me because I am very interested in the intersection between science and policy. A recurring theme throughout the conference was how to use scientific progress to solve problems of global relevance. It was also a good lesson in how to make a principled argument that is easily understood by most people
It is not possible to recount all of the personal and professional experiences I gained from the meeting, so I will just hit some highlights. One of the best professional experiences I had was discussing modern biochemistry approaches to evolution by natural selection with a Polish graduate student. I study evolution at the cognitive and behavioral level and wanted to see how well the ideas from this field match up with those of more basic science. It turns out the two fields complement each other beautifully, which was a pleasant surprise for me. It was also helpful for me professionally to be among hard scientists as I am a "soft" scientist. It was very helpful to get straight answers to questions about the perceived scientific merit of my field.
The Nobel Laureates investment of their time, energy, and patience was almost surreal. The shared openly about both general issues of scientific discovery and quite practical and specific information about their work, such as the differences between working for a university and a for-profit corporation. The international student peers were as varied as one might expect from the many countries they represented. Many were open, friendly, and respectful, embodying the best that the international scientific community could offer. Overall it was an incredibly rich and meaningful experience that I will never forget.
