57th Lindau Meeting
Participant Comments, O-Z
Judy Oakes
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Meeting in Washington DC gave the U.S. delegation time to get to know each other and come together as a group with a common purpose; an adventure of a lifetime! Immediately bonds of friendship were formed and it became clear, that although we were a diverse group, we shared very similar interests, with science being the foundation.
Hearing the Laureates candidly discuss their careers, their successes and failures revealed the sincerity and uniqueness of each Laureate. It put some context to my own work that made it seem possible for me to succeed and to place different definitions around success and failure.
Having dinner with Professor Ciechanover, and lunch with Professor Murad are very memorable experiences. Discussions with Professors Sakmann, Fischer and Zinkernagel were also fantastic. These talks were not always directly related to research, but included discussion regarding trends in culture, children and other life events.
This was an excellent experience. Everything was well organized and we were well informed along the way.
Jessica Osmond
Medical College of Georgia
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
As I progress in my career I will continue to reflect on the experiences I had at the meeting. I will be challenged to persevere in my research efforts because so many of the Laureates explained that perseverance was the key to their success. Also, as I attempt to study treatments for stroke I will attempt to keep in mind how my research can affect the majority of society instead of a select few because one of the ideas I gained from the meeting was the need for therapies that are accessible and affordable.
The Laureates were very accessible and eager to interact with students. Hearing their stories, their struggles and triumphs was motivational in that it challenged me to keep persevering despite failure and not to be afraid to try something new. Interacting with international students opened my eyes to the idea of science being a common language among all students who attended the meeting. Despite language and cultural barriers, it was the interest in science that united the participants and allowed for interaction to take place.
Jennifer Patterson
Virginia Commonwealth University
Sponsor: Mars, Inc.
Meeting Nobel Laureates will benefit my future scientific career in many ways. When talking to the Laureates I realized that, although they are famous and have made extraordinary contributions to the scientific field, they are just normal people. This really gave me motivation to get back in my lab and put my heart into my research. Seeing that normal people can make a difference with scientific contributions really gives you a renewed sense of why we do the research that we do. Having met with the Nobel Laureates, I now realize that the goal for my career is to do research that will leave a lasting impression on the scientific community by taking into account the welfare of the human population.
I particularly like the lectures by Werner Arber, who discussed Darwinian Evolution, Richard Roberts, who discussed his favorite bacteria, and Rolf Zinkernagel, who discussed the immune response to virus infected cells and the potential for an HIV vaccine. I attended discussions by Craig Mello, Leland Hartwell, Richard Roberts, and all the round table discussions. I particularly liked Craig Mello's discussion. Hearing about all the hard work he put in to making his discoveries that lead to the Nobel Prize gave me motivation to continue my research on a bacteria which has very little known about it. Getting to talk to the Laureates and ask them questions allowed us to see that they really are just normal people who have a great sense of work ethic, and who like to constantly challenge themselves.
This meeting was an extraordinary experience. It has been my dream to be able to meet Nobel Laureates and this meeting lived up to all of my expectations. Talking to the Laureates allowed me to gain insight into parts of the scientific field, such as grant writing and funding, that I had never thought of before. Being able to interact with the Laureates also gave me an increased motivation to come back to my lab and put my heart into my research. My experiences with my international peers were also extraordinary. It was great to be able to learn how their scientific education system worked and I'm sure they felt the same learning about our own educational system.
Jonathan Phipps
University of Tennessee
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
In a nutshell the Lindau Meeting gives me hope about my own career. It was nice to hear someone who is at the top of their field say that they got there by simply doing what they wanted to do.
RNA interference is the foundation of my current project. The lecture from Dr. Mello provided insight into where the idea for RNAi came from as well as what the immediate future holds. From the informal discussion with Mello I learned a lot about where RNAi might go. From Roberts I learned that sometimes a little rebellion in the lab can take you a long way.
This trip provided me with the opportunity to interact with many people who are outside of my area of research. I found this to be very enlightening and rewarding as it served as a reminder that there is a large world of ongoing research. Meeting with other delegations and other American delegates also provided me with a base of contacts and new friends that might one day bear the fruit of collaborative work. On a more personal note the meeting provided me with a once in a lifetime experience for interaction with the brightest minds I have ever encountered.
This was a richly rewarding experience for me. I have come away from the Lindau meeting with a renewed sense of excitement for science and my career. I have also come away with a new sense of belonging with my fellow delegates, both foreign and domestic, from the interaction opportunities that were provided by this meeting.
Beverly Piggott
University of Michigan
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
One of the most encouraging things I obtained from meeting the Nobel Laureates was realizing that they are just normal people. They all worked very hard at their careers and managed to persist with the numerous failures that are imminent in science. For my future as a scientist I feel I have gained perspective on the role of science in life and society.
Speaking to Dr. Neher was especially nice because it was a small group of students. We were able to all ask questions and it was a more relaxed environment. I also enjoyed Dr. Neher's thoughtfulness, patience, and especially his perspective on the existence of God.
I really enjoyed the opportunities to have dinners and lunches with international students and Laureates alike. It provided us with an opportunity to interact in a more relaxed environment which facilitated excellent conversations. This opportunity has further strengthened my love of the scientific community for its collaboration, diversity, and persistence to uncover the truths of life.
Elizabeth Rahn
University of Georgia
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Meeting the Nobel Laureates and having the opportunity to discuss relevant humanitarian, political and scientific topics has solidified in my mind that each of these intelligent individuals has been gifted with an important position and powerful voice in today’s society. It also made me realize that the each of these individuals was approachable and human. I believe members of the scientific community as well as the lay public tend to look at Nobel Laureates as demigods. If we, as young scientists allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the prevailing scientific prowess of members of our field we have the potential to be blinded by someone’s reputation and fail to question the merits of the work conducted. Science is about questioning and a constant struggle to achieve more. At future meetings, I plan to ask more questions of the notable scientists in my field and never shy away from questioning the science.
I attended discussions with Dr. Mello, Dr. Sakmann, Dr. Murad, and Sir Hunt. I felt that Dr. Sakmann’s discussion held the most value as he really seemed to care about the diverse topics that students wanted to discuss with him. Also, his discussion did not become so field-specific that everyone not in his field was left behind during the discussion. I gained some interesting insight into current research in the field of cortical mapping.
This experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I had a great time listening to as well as talking with Laureates and my scientific peers from other countries. We have a lot in common; we also have a lot that is dissimilar. I believe that we in the US often take for granted the scientific freedoms that we possess.
Warren Ruder
Carnegie Mellon University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
The biggest thing I noticed from the meeting with the Laureates was the ability to make some conclusions on issues I've been confronting in my own career. Decisions such as whether to postdoc abroad, how to balance the need for grants with the need to do great research, whether to look more at scientific discovery or engineering inventiveness in my own career as a biomedical engineer - all of these were things I was able to finally make some conclusions about. In many cases, I've started to realize things similar to the approaches the Laureates took will be things I'd like to try, but at the same time, there are many approaches they took that I will probably avoid - not because they were wrong, but because they would clearly be wrong for me and the type of investigator and researcher I am. Of course, the key was hearing their motivations for choices they made and realizing how my personality and skills would compare.
The lecture from Tim Hunt was probably the most valuable lecture as it discussed how he went about his discoveries and the challenges he faced. I attended discussions by Mellon, Roberts, and Hershko. All of these were valuable. I enjoyed Hershko's comments to avoid getting into the overpopulated highly valued fields and seeking out your own path. Roberts discussions about ignoring the establishment were also great.
Overall, this was an incredible experience that I absolutely enjoyed. The opportunity to interact with so many great people (particularly my peers) was fantastic.
Brian Saar
Harvard University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
I took from the meeting a couple of general lessons. First, the importance of taking risks. All the successful laureates who spoke emphasized that the work they did was perceived as crazy or impossible at the time, and they only succeeded through tremendous confidence in themselves and their ideas. Second, many people (particularly Dr. Mello) emphasized the importance of making mistakes in science. All scientists make them and this is a key part of the scientific process that should be welcomed, not feared. These two key insights about how to achieve success in science will most likely be the lasting impact of this meeting on me.
The timing of this meeting could not have been better - at a time in my career when my training phase is nearly completed and I am thinking broadly about my Ph.D. project and its impact. The meeting encouraged me to take risks and trust myself in a way that is hard to do but can provide enormous rewards in the end. That struck me about meetings with the laureates and international students is that we all have a remarkable amount in common, from fundamental curiosity to insecurity about whether we are taking the right approach to our particular problem. It made me seriously consider whether I should gain experience as a postdoc internationally and opened my eyes to the commonality between seemingly very disparate disciplines.
Jacqueline Sayyah
University of Florida
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Although the Nobel Laureates are extremely bright and talented individuals in their respective fields, they too have experienced some earlier setbacks but have always persevered. What I learned from the Laureates is to work hard, not be afraid of failure, and always explore new ideas. I attended most of the lectures but found Sir Timothy Hunt's lecture the most interesting since it pertained to cyclins and the cell cycle, an area of research that I am interested in. I enjoyed listening to him because he was very articulate, humble, and had a good sense of humor.
I attended several discussions but two that stand in my mind are those with Professors Mellow and Ciechanover. They were both very candid and approached each question with care, elaborating at length about the topic. In addition, they made me aware about their role inside and outside the scientific community in that both were trying to bring stronger awareness to the pressing health issues in third world countries.
The Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates was an unforgettable experience. Most of the Laureates were very humble and approachable despite their status. Their lectures and discussions were both enlightening and inspiring. A frequent comment made by the Laureates was "truly enjoy what you". I believe these words are a key to success in science. I also appreciated the time spent talking to American and international student peers during lunch and dinner.
Chessa Scullin
University of New Mexico
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
I believe the meeting has opened my eyes to other fields of research. The meeting has also encouraged me to look past my current work and at the bigger picture of where my research can go or where the research needs to go to make an impact.
I gained insight into my own research through discussions with other peers that I met at the smaller group discussions. The people I met at the small group discussions gave specific feedback to my work, but I might never have met at a larger meeting. They are peers that I will see again at other meetings and now know.
Denis Seletskiy
University of New Mexico
Sponsor: Mars, Inc.
I attended all of the discussion sessions, trying to switch between different groups in order to see and compare styles of discussions led by the Laureates. I can't really point out any particular discussion which was valuable to me, but the whole experience definitely was! Discussions had a balanced mix of scientific details and more general topics - global warming, politics, religion, etc. The points that really resonated with me and I find myself in full agreement with were how Laureates promoted importance of collaboration in science, regardless of politics and research impact on society, especially as immediate as in Physiology and Medicine.
My overall experience from this Meeting is very positive. Getting out of the everyday routine and enjoying the atmosphere at the Meeting was rewarding, but it is the scientific discussions with Laureates and students all over the world that I've taken away from Lindau with the greatest gratitude and pleasure. This brief week has re-energized my personal quest for understanding Nature and has provoked interesting thoughts on the meaning of science and discovery. I've made even more new friends and I hope for interesting and fruitful collaborations in the future.
Eric Steen
UC Berkeley
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Energy
The trip was excellent. It was intellectually stimulating and seeded some friendships. The meeting was great because it gave me a chance to engage some of the top scientific minds in the world.
Kandace Thomas
Louisiana State University
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Meeting with the Nobel Laureates has inspired me to give science my all. The Nobel Laureates are not that different from us. Winning a Nobel Prize seems so unattainable in theory, but hard work and a passion for science can definitely make that light at the end of the tunnel not seem so far.
I attended several of the discussion but valued the discussion with Dr. Prof. Craig C. Mello. His views on third-world issues were very thought provoking and also gave me a renewed belief of why I pursue the answer to some of science's questions.
I met a student that suggested theoretical calculations to obtain the band gap of the materials I study and I plan to contact him for more information and a possible collaboration. There was also a student that studied some of the same elements I work with and sharing ideas/information could be very beneficial to our graduate research.
Both the Nobel Laureates and the students had the same interest: to learn more about the other. I believe this made it very easy to talk with the Nobel Laureates about science and life experiences. It also created an atmosphere where conversations weren't pressured or uncomfortable. My experiences with the international students were enjoyable. Learning about their scientific endeavors as well as their day-to-day life as a graduate student was great. I especially enjoyed the lunches with the international delegations. A convivial atmosphere was presented as an avenue for easy conversation between students.
Susanna Thon
UC – Santa Barabara
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
I really enjoyed hearing the laureates speak candidly about topics such as how to pick research projects, how their careers evolved over time, and how to get involved in political issues that science can shed some light on. My experience with the Nobel Laureates made me think seriously for the first time about the "big picture" of my career outside of my immediate day-to-day research activities, and it motivated me to get involved in political causes related to science.
My favorite lecture was given by Dr. Hartmut Michel on biofuels. This lecture had the most value for me because I am particularly interested in the topic of alternative energy, and I was excited to hear a biologist's summary of the pros and cons of biofuels. I admired Dr. Michel for two reasons. First, that he took the extra time to extensively research and speak on this important subject instead of giving a lecture on his Nobel prize work (which would have required much less effort on his part, I'm sure). Second, that he was able to distance himself from the political issues surrounding biofuels and apply a rigorous scientific analysis to the subject, even though the conclusion he reached is probably unpopular. I also really enjoyed Dr. Richard Robert's lecture on the world of microbes. I just found the subject matter purely fascinating, and I appreciated the fact that Dr. Roberts made the material completely accessible, even to non-specialists.
I attended the discussion with Dr. Hartmut Michel on Monday, Dr. Leland Hartwell on Tuesday, Dr. Avram Hershko on Wednesday, and Dr. Richard Roberts on Thursday. The discussions with Dr. Hartwell and Dr. Roberts had the most value for me, because I felt that they were the most willing to answer questions frankly. Dr. Hartwell talked a bit about his experience running a large center. I gained some insight into the administrative side of science, in terms of the politics involved. Dr. Roberts talked about his experience working for a research lab outside of academia including the history of the founding of the lab. I learned that it is possible to do serious fundamental research outside of academia, although I think that the case of his lab is still fairly unique.
I enjoyed meeting international students at the lunches arranged by the American delegation. I had a great conversation with a Japanese postdoc working in Europe about the differences between the American, European, and Japanese research systems (the American and Japanese systems are actually very similar, but the European system is a bit different, especially in terms of the number of hours worked by a typical student).
Nicholas Whiting
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Sponsor: Oak Ridge Associated Universities
It is without doubt that having personal interactions with the Nobel Laureates was an amazing experience and will hopefully leave an enduring touch to my scientific career. When you are around someone who has achieved greatness, you are more able to study that person and figure out what choices he/she has made to get to that pinnacle. The Nobel Laureates all seemed like hard-working, creative people who were able to come up with great ideas. That is my take-home message, and will hopefully motivate my future research endeavors.
I was able to become friends with many in the American delegation. We all come from different background scientifically, and it is refreshing to talk to someone who performs a high level of research that is not necessarily in chemistry. I was also able to talk to and get to know several international delegates. Likewise, they came from different backgrounds, and had different journeys that led them to this conference. These different backgrounds gave me insight into what the rest of the scientific community is up to. Nowadays, you really have to be a jack of all trades in the sciences. You can’t get by only knowing how to do one thing. You have to be able to diversify, and hopefully see new applications to the research that you are performing.
I am very grateful to have been able to attend this conference. It was a very insightful meeting of the great minds of the world. There are countless benefits to having been part of this. I was able to get a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive researchers to achieve great successes. I was able to meet and get to know people from around the world, and learn of their successes as well as failed attempts. I learned what other young researchers are interested in. This is beneficial, because one is always looking for more potential applications to their own research. If I can apply my research to someone else’s major field, then it is of great benefit to have an ally in that field. Overall, it was a tremendous experience, and will benefit me in my future endeavors.
